Posted in Ordinary Grey Day, Winter Confines, tagged Lake Bancroft, The Flu, Winter Florals on December 29, 2008| 1 Comment »
Today is a snowy day and I can feel the cold permeating the house. The cold is crawling along the floors. I am in combat mode with Smart Wool socks and a thermal man’s shirt. The flu surrounds me at home and at work. I am trying to zinc-up and hydrate. I am eating bananas and citrus. The flu sucks and I do not want it–who would?
Posted in Weather, tagged Marquette Winters, thaw, Upper, winter fog, Winter Lake Superior on December 27, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Weather, tagged Al Quaal, December Thaw, Iced luminaries, Ski-jumping in the Upper Peninsula, Snowthrower Ariens, Suicide Hill, Upper Peninsula Winters, winter fog on December 27, 2008| Leave a Comment »
How odd for it to be 41 and melting, and I mean a serious thaw! The iced-luminaries that my daughter Ceiri made for Christmas Night have melted. So bright in all the wet the little beads looking like they spun right outta the ice. Lovely!
Mike took the chance to clear the drive of any wet sloppy snow and to work ont he build-up at the end of the driveway. The photo is taken from my studio window on the second floor (and thru a screen) but I like how it captures the ever-day-ness of winter chores.
Once I got my act in gear I was out the door Saturday to Ishpeming to take photos. Much to my dismay and after several phone calls I arrived at Suicide Hill to icy roads and heavy fog. I was there to get photos of ski-jumping. I called ahead to hear they were repacking the jumps and if they did jump it would be somewhere between 1-5:30 p.m. No go! I arrived to a melting road, ice, and no vehicles in sight. So, I drove over to Al Quaal to take photos of the fog and snow-tubes.
I’m getting pretty good at listening to that little voice in my head that says–no shots here why not try…the Lower Harbor. More of those shots to come soon.
Posted in Family, tagged Christmas in Marquette, Christmas Lights, Christmas Luminary, Upper Peninsula Winter on December 27, 2008| 1 Comment »
This is my yard illuninated for Christmas Night. My daughter, Ceiri made the ice-luminaries. The arbor was decorated by Mike and me. I wanted to have a warm welcome to Terry who will come home this evening, and to my grandson on Christmas.
For family photos visit The Dailies.
Posted in Bright Sun, Winter Destinations, tagged Al Quaal, Michigan Photograpjy, Rural Landscapes, trees covered in snow dazzling white and blue, Upper Peninsula Winter, winter macro, Winter Photography on December 20, 2008| 3 Comments »
Winter becomes immensely easier when you are on assignment. There becomes an urgency to get your shots in while there is light and sun. So, even though I was scheduled an 8 at my day job, I got out in the bright white a couple hours before work.
Driving from Marquette to Ishpeming, I became lured by Teal Lake, the heavy weight of snow on trees, the promise of shadow and drift. I put aside my plans to get shots of Old Ish and turned toward Al Quaal. It was a good decision.
After getting the shots I needed, I was headed back to my car and was struck, mesmirized by frozen crystals on catkins. I looked at my watch I had 20 minutes to get to work. I could take a few more shots.
The morning was 14 degrees according to the bank sign at Range. A fellow photographer said he wanted to be out even earlier this morning but it was 7 below 0. We briefly discussed the weather, cameras, and the challenges of winter photography and enthusiastically parted to take our shots.
And, yes, I made it to my day job on time.
Posted in Ordinary Grey Day, tagged Carp River, finding color in winte, Ishpeming, memoir, sometimes even water can still flow in winter, Upper Peninsula Winter, winter rivers on December 19, 2008| Leave a Comment »
I miss blue in winter, not that cold blue, not that ice blue. I miss sky blue, water blue, joy blue. It is what allows me to flow. Riverbanks are only flexible definitions that change and adapt to flow. The water always moving towards home, that body of water, the destiny.
I found that flow can still happen in winter. I am finding it with words and image.
As I return to the written word, that destiny, that home tugs. As I move downhill the force gathers and the contours of the riverbanks become overflows filled with marsh grasses where I can already imagine ducks sitting the nest.
I wonder what will meet the spring sky after winter.
Posted in Wind Chill, tagged Maquette Mornings in winter, windchill, Winter cold on December 16, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Winter Confines, tagged Marquette Food Co-op, Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve Fundraiser on December 15, 2008| Leave a Comment »
It’s not officially winter, yet. The solstice comes in another week–at this point we are still loosing light each sunset. This week was about enduring, planning, pampering.
One thing that helps me get through a long Upper Peninsula Winter is making space mental and physical. I cleaned the studio. Bagged up items for resale and cleaned out my dresser drawers. Way interesting, right? (quirky smile) Try it, though, it works. The more space the lighter you will feel.
The joinery in the photo reminds me that if the old-standby is not working throw some nails into it, dammit. That is one way to think about fighting off winter, pull out all the stops and remember what you butt your life up against oughta rub-off so make it positive, eh?
Each time the sun popped out I moved to a sunny window. If confined by my job, or if I was working with someone who can go on outings to town, away we went. When you leave for work in the dark and return in the dark it is awful.
I was fighting this cold-thing all week. At the end of each and everyday my throat would feel itchy, my glands would swell and I was exhausted. So I bought fruit! Oranges, pineapple, grapes, and apples. I also headed to my massage therapist for a wonderful session on Wednesday. Erik Winkelmann has been my massage therapist since 2000.
Contrary to winter I keep eating salad, and I am loosing weight. I am way colder than usual and I think it is due to not indulging on carbs. But I am determined to lose weight this winter. Most people when they move to the Upper Peninsula from warmer climates put on 10-15 pounds the first winter.
I cut up some magazine choosing colorful images to paste into my day planer. The months of winter may say December, January, February, March, April. But they have green leaves, orange suns and other tiny colorful motivational icons.
I went to the food co-op and was saddened to hear that my old Manager, Bill, is leaving the co-op. His goodbye party is when I am working. I am even more saddened that I will miss this event of appreciation. I have heard through the grapevine that Bill is staying in the Upper Peninsula, though. Bill always had a smile and looked for the silver lining of every cloud.
I am adding music into my day. I sing, sing, sing. From caroles to country, folk to rock. I am dancing. This has helped with seasonal disorder. The darkness gets pushed back a bit. So, I am planning to attend a local fund-raising concert featuring Daisy May and Seth Bernard on the 19th of December.
December 19, 2008 at The Messiah Lutheran Church, info 906-345 9223.
This is part of “A Clean Water Conert” benefit for the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.
Posted in Travels, Weather, tagged Early Morning Departures, Heavy Snow, Marquette Michigan in Winter, Snowstorm December 14 2008, Upper Peninsula Snow on December 14, 2008| 2 Comments »
Sunday mornings often means working and early departures into snow storms. I make sure to clear car fully of snow, especially headlights. I have the usual emergency items in trunk. Today travel was 30-35 miles per hour on the highway–I hardly saw a car this morning. On the way home, I saw several 4-wheel drive vehicles in the ditch or snow banks.
Posted in Community, tagged Happy Holidays Photography, My Favorite Holidays, Random homes in Marquette Michigan, Windows on December 12, 2008| Leave a Comment »
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A Winter Journal 