Took a short ride to Lake Michigan yesterday. Driving to the channel and stopping at the beach. There was a very light rain, not enough to wet a whistle, but rain still. It has been really dry here. Last year we had water everywhere. This year it has been a cold slow spring. The advantage is that the flowers that do appear last a lot longer than usual. But, yesterday, as were leaving the beach we noticed a very beautiful surprise.
To the south was a fantastic rainbow, large and colorful. To get a better view of it we drove to Snug Harbor Park (a boat ramp, fishing and picnic area with access to Muskegon Lake and the dunes) to find the view was perfect and the colors were fantastic. This area is great place to catch a view of swans and cranes, as the marshy area by the Devil's Kitchen offers them safety and security. (temperature changes create a smoky fog here many times throughout the year thus the name)
Rainbow over Snug Harbor
If you look closely ther is a faint double rainbow to the right of the bright one
Swans at the end of the rainbow. I count about 30-40 here lately.
It seems like the calendar brings us spring on March 2. This is to let us know it's spring, to get our hopes up thinking of warmer days, the burst of greens and the bright colors of those early flowers.
The micro climate in North Muskegon in the shadows of the wooded dunes off Lake Michigan make it a slow arrival here. We experience snow, sleet, and hail. Waking to ice on the bird bath and sunny blue skies is a common event.
Slowly it does arrive with the early flowers and the slow leafing of the trees. Here are a few photos from the gardens.
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
