I love the simplicity of our winter landscape. The white snow clears the distractions and leaves a clean canvas. As I was out for a walk one day I found these plants above the snow. With the sun behind them and their shadows splayed out over the white snow, it appeared they were dancing with their shadows. Similar to a water surface reflection, however the white brings everything down to the basics. Just like in the cold of winter, we look to the basics of warmth, protection from the cold and wind, and the optimism that spring will be on our doorstep eventually.
reflection
The right place at the right light
Sometimes everything comes together wonderfully, and so it was last weekend. About seven miles away is a regional park right in the city, but to walk along the trails is like being miles away from the cacophony and bustle of urban life. I drove to the park before dawn and enjoyed the sunrise accompanied by the ducks, geese, and even some trumpeter swans. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the warmth of the early morning light washed across the shoreline of Sucker Lake. Protected from the wind, the reflection of the colors glowed in the lake’s surface, only to ripple when the ducks flew in. It was the perfect beginning to a fall day.
An unexpected summer’s day
The calendar says the end of September, but we were treated to the glory of a summer’s day with temperatures n the 80’s and warm sunshine. Knowing that these are gifts to take advantage of, we headed out for some fishing. Not only were the skies beautiful, but the fall colors are starting to be evident. The golds are showing and the greens are becoming much more faded and muted. Even the fishing seemed to rise to the occasion of this glorious day – we got our share of sunfish and crappies. I came home knowing that if this is the last time we are fishing for the year, at least we had a glorious finale on a late day in September.
Daybreak over the lake
Last week I shared a sunset photo from our northern vacation. As beautiful as the sunsets were, I was equally amazed at the sunrises. We were staying on Jack the Horse Lake – a quiet lake with only a few cabins and houses and only one resort. The stillness of the morning, while the sun was yet to rise, was wonderful. The air was calm and the lake’s surface was like a sheet of glass. Off in the distance I could hear an owl making its presence known, and eventually the loons would add to the chorus. Slowly the sky would turn from black to a deep rose color, then to a pale pink and eventually to a brightness of yellow as the sun cleared the horizon and the distant shore, all the while reflected in the mirror-like lake surface. It was a wondrous and delightful way to greet the day.
Vacation for the spirit
We’ve just returned from a most relaxing and refreshing vacation. A mere four hours north, in the land of lakes and pines, is a sure spot to restore one’s spirit. The Minnesota north woods were calling us, and we were not disappointed. The weather was perfect with highs in the 70’s and lows in the 40’s. I photographed six beautiful (and equally different) sunsets, one full moonrise, three peaceful sunrises, and many adventures in between. We caught more than our share of bass, crappies, and sunfish. We canoed over an aqua-marine lake, and hiked through the woods. And during all of these we were accompanied by the sounds of the loons – a haunting yet wonderful call. Without the distractions of television, radio, news, and city-life we quickly decompressed into a life of quiet and simple pleasures, relaxation, and the appreciation of the beauty and wonder of this area of Minnesota.
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