Gulf Shores 2013

Beautiful sunset, traveling down I-65

Windy day made for big waves!

Long walks on the quiet beach

Beach birds....Sandpipers??

The Fingers of God

"The Fingers of God"

Have you ever heard it called that before... when there are rays of light that stream down through small windows in the clouds? It definitely is a God thing! So beautiful and unusual! And what this small picture can't show is that where the light hit the water way out there, there are wisps of steam rising that are illuminated in a spectacular way. I tried to zoom in on that but lost the light rays then.

This was taken at Ludington State Park overlooking Lake Michigan on February 1, 2013, about mid-afternoon. Temperature was 12* F.

Winter Wonderland

The Crystal River

which runs through the Homestead property and empties into Lake Michigan

(just a few steps away from our condo)

 Note: the center of the picture looks a little blurry...that is steam rising from the river and snow falling!

Barely visible because of the snow-covered giant pines

is the building we stayed in at the Homestead

Visit to the Leelanau Peninsula

Stayed at the Homestead near Glen Arbor, MI for a few days this week. Lots of snow! Absolutely beautiful scenery everywhere I looked! Even up close!

The fluffy snow stuck to every surface and just kept piling up!

Ah...Summertime!

Remember summertime...when it is so hot all you want to do is slowly paddle around the lake? When its cold and snowy I like to get out a few old pictures from summers gone by. Makes me appreciate each season just a little more.

A Sunny Winter Day

Sunshine on new-fallen snow...its even more beautiful in "real life" because I can watch the shadows and lighting change moment by moment. (Looking SW)

This one was taken earlier in the morning, when there was a slight pink glow on the horizon all around...even to the west. Unusual for the morning, I thought.

(Looking NW)

My Christmas Tree...Now that it is all put away!

My Christmas tree is pretty much the same every year. I have lots and lots of ornaments that I have collected over the last 35 years...yet I seem to add a few new ones each year and leave a few of my least favorite in the boxes. And I only use white twinkle lights...colored lights would ruin my red, white, & gold theme. 

But I do put a 2nd tree up in my husband's office that has all blue lights and blue & silver ornaments. So we each get our favorites!

I usually put up our tree between Thanksgiving and the 1st week of  December, but this year I didn't get at it until the 2nd week of Dec. so it didn't come down right after New Year's...I waited an extra week.

When I took these pictures I thought they were "close-ups" but I can see I need to concentrate on just a few ornaments at a time and get even closer. Next year!