The End Was Near

Can you imagine? One minute the sky is beautiful and then out of the corner of your eye you spot a dark cloud that morphs into most of the sky filled with this powerful dark cloud moving towards us. I was in Michigan visiting my family, we were all taking photos of it approaching (we all love weather) – after this passed the warm air cooled considerably. This was so dramatic! Was the end really near? Absolutely not – I’m not a storm chaser, just a lover of weather, I’m quite fascinated by it, always have been, especially when what you see is so striking! A cold front? I believe so, it was quite chilly afterwards!
📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Photos this week – Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Stunning Sky Over Marsh – Michigan

Marsh View in Michigan
Yay iPhone! This camera can take some bedazzling photos if I do say so myself! I get many comments on photos which I really appreciate, but truly, it’s not me… I mean just LOOK at this sky! All I did was push a button! These clouds go on forever and ever and are brightly reflected in the water. Vibrant green grass against a stunning blue sky. Wow.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Photos this week – Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Over the Moon

Michigan Moon Over River

Be still my heart. Look at that moon! The subtle glow reflected in the pinkish water. I tell you, when I’m in Michigan I’m constantly running outside to snap photos of basically the same location. The ways in which this one view changes makes me so happy. It goes from sun, to wicked dark & stormy skies, to pop your eyes out sunrises and sunsets and now this… moon glow!

I’m over the moon with this moon shot 😉

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

 

A Michigan Sunset…

I am crazy about a sunrise or sunset. This is a Michigan sunset, near my parents house. They have such wonderful skies. Seems like it’s so dramatic a good bit of the time.

Enjoy your Saturday, take time to soak in the beautiful views wherever you may be!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED… 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

First day of Winter…

Tree

My calendar says WINTER BEGINS… It depends on where you live from what I’ve read, some places it’s today and others it may be tomorrow, in any case the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, the day when the sun is up for the shortest amount of time. After this, days will begin to get longer – hard to believe, ha ha… it’s a slow progression no doubt, one that I am thankful for!

This is my desktop image for the month of December, I just love it! This is a tree that my dad has made from the table and umbrella that sits near the river – how clever is that? Just look at that sky! LOVE IT! This image brings good memories of a happy holiday season!


🖼 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

How is this for a room with a view?

Room with a View

A river view is a beautiful thing. Treasured. The St. Clair River in Algonac, MI flows beautifully – and just look at this lucky bird. He built his home with a river view. Smart.

I love how the morning sun hits the roof of the birdhouse. Electric! Beautiful sun on the branch of the tree. I kick myself every time I miss a sunrise when I’m visiting. They’re so spectacular, they’re worth getting up for!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist: Dylan Metrano!

Inn at Night 8x8" Papercutting by Dylan Metrano 8x8

Inn at Night 8×8″ Papercutting by Dylan Metrano

Dylan Metrano. Papercutting that is above and beyond. His work is fabulous. I’m sure those of you Monhegan lovers will recognize the Island Inn image, Inn at Night, simple, yet regal, just like the inn itself!

Island Inn Rooftop by Dylan Metrano (SOLD)

Island Inn Rooftop by Dylan Metrano 5×5″ Papercutting (SOLD)

Me… and orange. It draws me in every time… this piece is already sold, but I had to share! I love the shingles with the purple and that sky… That sky is exactly what you could see on Monhegan, Maine! Wild and bright! I am a big fan of Dylan’s work!

Do you wonder how Dylan does this? I did too! Whew, it’s a lot of work, check out his time lapse video!

Read a bit about Dylan, what a cool guy, from his website (be sure to check out his list of galleries – on Monhegan he is also in the Lupine Gallery!):

For more than ten years, Dylan Metrano has been cutting the likeness of friends, animals, and architecture from colorful origami paper. He grew up in Newburyport, MA, where he was an active member of the theater and music communities. He co-founded the annual Free Art Show, which gives away hundreds of art pieces in boxes located throughout Newburyport and beyond each December.
Dylan currently lives on Monhegan Island, Maine, where he’s been inspired by a landscape trapped in time. Its centuries‐old buildings and migratory birds have been carefully rendered in meticulously cut paper.
Drawn to the simplicity of form, the boldness and relationships of colors, and cleanness of composition, Dylan’s artwork is entirely comprised of cut and carefully layered paper.
Dylan is a self‐taught artist, and has had his artwork featured on numerous album covers, book covers, posters, and in exhibitions throughout New England.
He has shown work at the Newburyport Art Association, the Rockport Art Association, The Lupine Gallery (Monhegan, ME), Chameleon (Newburyport, MA), The Firehouse Center for the Arts (Newburyport, MA), Nahcotta Gallery (Portsmouth, NH), and many other galleries.
In February 2016, Scholastic published “Every Day Birds“, a children’s book which Dylan illustrated with his papercuttings.

Dylan also plays in the bands Tiger Saw and Cape Snow.

Be sure to check out Dylan’s list of galleries, on Monhegan he is in the Lupine Gallery and in his porch gallery through Columbus Day, here are the details:

My Monhegan porch gallery is now open for the summer!

Visiting hours are Tuesdays, 3-5 from now until Columbus Day (or by appointment).

Second house, off the second path off Horn Hill Road.

All images via DylanMetrano.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Marine City Fish Company – Michigan!

Bell's Battered Fish & Chips

Bell’s Battered Fish & Chips – Marine City Fish Company, Marine City, MI

Last time I went to Michigan to visit family, we stopped at a favorite place for dinner. Marine City Fish Company. They have fresh seafood from the nearby lakes (wallet, perch, whitefish, salmon) and they have “Oceanside Seafood”. Normally I pick the local variety, but this flash fried, beer battered, Icelandic cod sure did sound good. The hand cut shoestring fries were amazing, and I’m not a big french fry eater… the homemade tartar sauce was impeccable. The carrots tasty, as was a good-size garden salad. Very good! Of course I had to get the photo shoot in prior to taking a bite, I’m just glad I remembered! Check out their menu! I love menus, ha ha!

This photo is from a previous visit, this is the Cedar Planked White Fish with homemade chips. Wow! Wow! Wow! This actually won a photo contest years ago (thank you Jericho)! It’s as beautiful as it was delicious!

Marine City Fish Company

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sit and dream…

Sit and dream...

Is there anything better than sitting and watching the water? In the cooler weather just watching the current flow, and the few fishermen out and about is a treat, but in the summer… whoa! Boats, people, people floating on rafts. Sailboats, race boats, big boats, little boats – it’s more entertaining than sitting inside in front of the TV! Don’t these two chairs look inviting?

Back to normal posting 5/16!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Mackinac Island Trail – Can you hear the silence?

Mackinac Island Trail – Michigan

Have you ever been in such silence that you can hear it? Most of us are in areas with noise, a lot of noise. From traffic to assorted yard tools the sounds are endless. When you get away to someplace wonderful like Mackinac Island and you bike and hike, if you get into the woods it’s the most wonderful silence. It’s just heavenly!

Who knew silence could be so loud, ha ha!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A heartfelt thought on this winter day…

100_4593

This bird is happy and free… the light from the sun is magnificent, leading you to another place and time.

This post is in honor of Randy Locke, a wonderful man who is loved by many.

I wish I had the opportunity to know him.

Godspeed. ❤️

Thinking of his family and friends, may they always feel Randy’s presence in their lives. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a peaceful weekend…