Winter in The Big Woods Valentine's Day 2021

 Finally winter has arrived. Cold temperatures, evening lake effect snow, and light winds have created a fairy land in white. This is the weather I love for the winter. Everyday, shovel 2- 4"  of snow from the driveway pad and front walk. Watch the snow piles get higher and higher. 

Trek through the snow to fill the bird feeders; keeping all our feathered friends well fed in the cold snow covered woods.  We also feed the furry little and big squirrel as they raid the suet feeders. Since there isn't a lot to do with the pandemic enjoying our woods, the snow and the critters makes life interesting.

I am including a few photos and a quick video of the back yard for you to enjoy as much as we do. 

 

Here is our view from the back of the house.

Love the shadows cast across the snow. The tracks are from the neighborhood turkeys,

I intend to use this as a starter for an ink drawing

Our front view.

Keeping the walk clared is a daily exercise,

  

Now this is my idea of a good winter!

 

 

                                 Happy Valentines Day to all

Sunset Muskegon State Park

On January 20, 2021 we decided to take a quick trip to the Park to watch the sunset. 

It had been a wonderful day. A new president had been sworn into office. The sun has come out as it was time to change our country from darkness to a new much needed light. 

As the sun set we were hopeful for the change to come. Realizing, as always, that there is plenty of work for everyone to accomplish the positive road we seek. The journey will hopefully be as fantastic as these photos of the setting  sun. 

An old story is told about Benjamin Franklin's reaction to the signing of the Constitution. He supposedly remarked that he had been watching the chair behind the presiding officer. He couldn't decide if it was carved with a rising or setting sun. He decided at the final signing it was a rising sun bringing a new dawn to our nation. 

This is how it felt for us as we watched the inauguration of our 46th President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

A new day dawning with the potential for a brighter future. 

Just as we came back from a civil war, just as we rose from the Great Depression, just as we defeated the Fascist regimes with our response and victory in WWII; we can, with a united effort, defeat covid-19, bring back the economy, and stop if not reverse global change. We need to do this for our children, grandchildren, and the future generations of all mankind.

Please enjoy these beautiful photos.

Some Ink Work

 I am not sure if I have posted this ink work before. I have been getting back into black and white work again. As I was looking through my work I stumbled upon these items.

An Old Victorian Brick

Rigging from the Manitou in Traverse City

Lake Light based on a Sky we saw as we walked the channel in Muskegon.

I have always enjoyed black and white work for the starkness and clarity it provides. Using the new technology of encapsulated ink pens has made this an easier way to go. I remember using dip pens some 50 years ago, then moving on to loading cartridges for my Koh-I-Noor pens. So nice to just pick it up and go to work, No hassle no mess. I seem to stick with Prismacolor pens now but there are many others out there.  I suggest if you like to doodle or more that you give them a try.

Will try to post more as we move into this year.