Whenever I’m out on a lake I’m always looking around at the sky, the clouds, the shoreline and the reflections — anything for a delightful image and photograph. Last week I wrote about musical patterns that I saw in the surface of a lake with the reflection of cattails and lily pads. This week I found raindrops dancing on a lake surface. It was early evening when we put our canoe into the water, with a sun sinking into the west and a bank of clouds passing by. The sun was still out and when I looked around I could see small circles on the surface of the lake, and not of the fish-kind. Although we couldn’t feel it ourselves it was starting to rain. The single drops spaced themselves on the surface of lake, making beautifully concentric circles and ripples spreading outward. With the sunlight and the blue sky reflected in the surface, I was presented with a wonderful photographic opportunity. As quickly as the rain had started, it then stopped. After awhile the sun slid below the horizon, painting the sky a shade of pink and orange; the full moon rose over the trees, the stars filled the sky above, and we were treated to another beautiful summer’s evening on a Minnesota lake.
sunset
Savoring summer
Although Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes that is actually quite modest as there are thousands more. The advantage for those of us in urban areas in the state is that we are never very far from a wonderful lake. Within a 10-mile radius of our home are a dozen plus lakes to enjoy. On a calm summer’s evening earlier this week, we launched our canoe for a leisurely paddle. We took along a light dinner to enjoy, a transistor radio to listen to the baseball game, and good attitudes to relax and appreciate the beauty of summer in Minnesota. The colors of the sky and sunset reflected in the quiet waters of the lake. In this photo you can see the power lines and electrical towers of the city, but you can’t see the interstate highway that is just on the other side of the far tree line. On this evening there was no noise audible from the traffic, and we were serenaded by the call of a loon that was residing somewhere on the lake. Except for the power lines, we could have easily been miles away from our urban life. We were out on the lake for only a couple of hours but this short respite from the hustle and bustle, the noise and cacophony of the city life was a wonderful way to appreciate and savor the best of the summer season.
Summer sunset reflection
For the past week we’ve been treated to some spectacular sunsets. Part of this has been due to residual smoke from fires burning in Canada that has swept into Minnesota, and part has been due to the weather conditions here. The other night while we were out enjoying an ice cream cone, I noticed that the western sky was setting up for what looked like a great sunset. I scurried home to get my camera, then headed out to find a choice spot with a great foreground to make my photographic image of the setting sun. As would happen, the conditions were changing rapidly. I pulled into the parking lot of a commercial building that overlooks the interstate; mind you, not the “choice” spot for a great image. But although what I saw looking to the west was not photogenic, what I saw as a reflection in the building behind me caught my eye. With the curves in the glass and its separate panels, the sunset took on a look that reminded me of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” The colors of the sky seemed to swirl about in the reflection, yet were anchored by the lamp and its post. So although I didn’t find what I was expecting, I was delighted at what was presented to me by chance.
A drive-in delight on a hot summer’s night
It’s summer here in the mid-west. We’ve had temps in the 80’s and 90’s, and humidity that sometimes matched those temperatures. One of the best ways to cool off on a hot summer’s night is to be on or near the water, whether it’s a pond, a lake, or a river. So last night we headed over to Hudson, Wisconsin and with our feet in the water, we watched the sun set over the St. Croix River. It was beautiful and delightful, especially with all the sailboats and recreational boats on the river. Afterwards, it seemed only appropriate to finish off the evening with some cool ice cream. We were on the east side of Saint Paul and stopped at the Dari-ette Drive-In. Here you can order from your car or walk up to the window. We ordered our ice cream and sat outside at a table to enjoy the evening. With its neon sign, the flashing ice cream cone, and the lights of the cars going by, I couldn’t help but pull out my camera to photograph one of the last few drive-ins that still exist in the state. If you’re in Saint Paul or passing through, I’d certainly recommend a stop at the Dari-ette Drive-In.
Up north to the lake
“Up north to the lake” is the common weekend occurrence here, whether it’s a small lake or a big lake. And the biggest lake is Lake Superior. We spent the weekend in Ashland, Wisconsin, along the southern shore of Lake Superior. It was a perfect summer weekend — warm daytime temperatures, cooler nighttime temps, the lake close by, along with a special 4th of July celebration. We were treated to beautiful sunsets with calm waters that reflected the boats in the marina as well as the fireworks that were set off after dark. A perfect dose of summer relaxation!
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