Snow Globe

 

With insanely high winds the past couple of days, it feels as though we have been living inside a snow globe. I hope you all are staying safe and warm and are enjoying the holiday season! These photos are of the Catholic church in Grand Portage, MN. 

Fresh Snow at Grand Portage State Park

 

We have a lot of snow already this winter!  Lately it seems like it's been snowing every day. I took these photos along the High Falls Trail in Grand Portage State Park. The waterfall is certainly beautiful in December, before it fully freezes!  Water was running over the top of the ice which made for a really cool scene. The fresh snow along the trail was beautiful as well. 

The Winter Solstice

 

As we make our way through the shortest day/longest night of the year, let us not forget the importance of darkness. It wasn't that long ago, really, that we humans survived and even thrived despite not having the capability of lighting the night the way we do today. Being able to see the stars connects us to that not-so-distant history. 

Sunlight is important for our health, but so is darkness. And the night brings a beauty to the sky that is unparalleled. So I say... embrace the night! Like everything in nature, darkness moves in cycles. Right now we have the longest period of darkness that we see each year. And, before we know it, we'll once again have the longest period of daylight that we see each year. Appreciate both for the wonderful things that they are. 

Beautiful ring around the moon!

 

There is a BEAUTIFUL ring around the moon tonight!  This photograph was made looking to the southeast from my driveway along the Lake Superior shoreline. 

Jeep camping under the Milky Way

 

My absolute favorite thing to do... spend time under a sky filled with stars and the glow of the Milky Way. This "self portrait" photograph was made in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona, at a dispersed campsite near the "White Pocket", a unique and endlessly fascinating area filled with surreal eroded sandstone formations. The night skies of the southwestern U.S. are a huge draw for me. The desert is a magical place that I never tire of. No matter how much time I spend there, I always yearn for more. 

A beautiful late November day!

 

We had some VERY nice weather today, a stark contrast to what the norm has been this November. Today the sun was out and the temperature was in the upper 40's.  I'll take that over cloudy skies, storms and freezing rain any day!  This beaver seemed to agree, as he/she was also out taking advantage of the abnormally nice weather. 

Autumn Change

Yesterday the weather was crazy perfect for October. It was warm, the air was calm and the leaves were beautiful; probably as good as they're going to get. 

Last night some thunderstorms rolled through and today it's raining. The temps are supposed to drop and there might even be some snow flurries in the coming days. The weather is, if nothing else, a reminder that change is a constant in our lives. 

I have learned, over the years, that some may not like change all that much, tending to think of it as a negative thing. For my own part, I try to see the positive side of change (as much as possible, anyway... don't get me wrong, I definitely have my negative moments too). And in that process I've discovered that, even though things may be changing overall for what seems to be the worst, there is always something beautiful to see as well.