Winter Comes Early

Due to the early extreme cold, lake effect snow came a bit early this year.

We ended up with just over a foot of snow last night from the lake effect.   I took my dog Rose out to play in it for a bit. She loves the snow as I do.  That's when I took this picture.

One bright spot in the day

I try to find a bright spot in each day, something to encourage and uplift.  Even in darkness,  one candle can cast light that can be seen for miles.  Does the life we live, our attitudes, the way we respond to those around us reflect the light of our love to the world around us?

Let the light of our love shine in a dark world.

Marina in Michigan

The colder temperatures coming in with the blowing wind is making me miss the warmer months right now.  I think about all of the cold and snow that lays before us and I'm a little wistful for warmer days.

This photo is a marina on the West Fork of Grand Traverse Bay in Michigan.

Dog on watch

One of Rose's favorite spots is by the French doors on the second floor landing.  She can watch out the window for birds,  squirrels and people who invade her territory.

Dog Attacks Toy Pig

Today was Rose's 3rd birthday.  One of her presents was a toy pig that she absolutely loves.

Halloween Snow

Mother Nature is dressing up as Old Man Winter.

Halloween Trick or Treat.

I think it was trick more than treat rhis Halloween with the snow and bitter winds.   Mother Nature dressed up as Old Man Winter this year.

Dog And His Ball

"Is somebody going to play with me?"

A Cold Fall Morning

I woke to a cold crisp fall morning with frost on the ground and fog in the air.

Fall Leaves

Fall collors cover the landscape and blanket the ground surrounding us with nature's beauty.

Tranquil Spot by the Water

I was out in the woods a few weeks back and I came across this place along the water and I thought it was a great place to stop and relax for a few minutes.

I hope as we go through out our busy days, we find a nice little spot to relax for a few.

Roses in Fall

While at my parents house recently,  I saw the roses by their back deck and thought they might make a good picture and I could send them to a friend back home to brighten her day.  I hope they brighten your day also.

Fall Colors in Full Swing

It's a beautiful fall sunny day here. I love this time of year,  even though it's short lived,  it certainly shines bright.

Path to the Falls

We all follow many paths throughout our daily travels which can be rushed and hectic or like this one, peaceful and relaxing.

I hope you find a relaxing and peaceful path to unwind and let the stresses of the day, week, month or even years flow away.

Country Windmill

I enjoy the out doors and the chance to get away and try and find a little peaceful rime to myself to recharge.   I thought this spot was one of those places.   I was right.

I hope you find some for yourself too.

River Walk View

This photo is of the River walk in Mishawaka, IN this past spring.  It's a peaceful place to get out and get a little exercise walking, jogging, walking the dog, or fishing on the bank of the St. Joe River. 

I love being near water and like many people, I live in town so it's nice to find a place to get out and enjoy the outdoors, even if it is in the middle of town.

The day when I got my dog Rose, I brought her here and she was only a puppy.  She saw some ducks in the water and decided to jump in so she could go check them out.  Thankfully, she was on her leash and I was able to pull her out of the water.

Queen of the Mountain

With winter just around the corner, I am reminiscing a little back to last winter and I remember the snow piled so high by our house and Rose running up to the top.  

It reminded me of the game we played when I was a kid, King of the mountain; in this case queen of the  mountain might be more appropriate.

On Watch

My parents dog Stormy loves to watch for squirrels.   Here she is sitting in the front yard last Saturday night keeping a watchful eye for squirrels or any other intruders to her domain. 

Enjoying A Lazy Fall Day

The weather was rainy and cold today and all I wanted to do, but didn't, was lay around the house and relax.

So I rummaged through my photos and found this recent one of one of my friends cats lazily laying around like I wanted to do today and thought I would share it with you.

Animals are often the subject matter of my photos and they are quite fun to watch.

Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse

Robert H. Manning Memorial Lighthouse, Empire, Michigan on the Lake Michigan lakeshore

Old Mission Lighthouse and Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Old Mission Lighthouse, Old Mission State Park, Michigan, on Grand Traverse Bay

Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Leelanau State Park, Michigan, on Lake Michigan

Seeing the fall colors coming on brings back memories and I went back to the fall of 2012 when I was in Traverse City, Michigan on a business trip and while there I took some time out to explore the area and get some photos.

I enjoy lighthouses, so I took photos of several on the Michigan lake shore while I was there.  I hope you enjoy these too.

Rose Exploring on a Fall Day

Since fall is here now and I love the seasons, I started looking through some photos I took last fall and here is one of my dog Rose on a day when I took her to the country so she could run and get some exercise.

I stopped by a woods to let her run in the open fields, then I took her into the woods to let her run and explore in there.  She absolutely loved it.  So did I for that matter.  She is fun to watch, especially as she experiences new things for the first time.  She had been in a woods once before at a state park, but she was on a leash and wasn't able to run free and wander to her hearts content.

She is the subject of many of my photos as you might tell in time from looking at my post.  I hope you enjoy the fall as much as she and I do.

Buck caught on camera

I love wildlife and being able to capture images of them in their natural habitat.  My dad set up some cameras in the woods to monitor the deer and captured this buck in one of the frames.  I wish I could take credit for this photo, but it all goes to him.  He loves the outdoors and deer especially, which is where I got my love of the outdoors from.  I hope you enjoy the photo too.

First Fall Leaves

As I was out for a walk enjoying the early fall morning,  I spotted these leaves that had a jump on the rest of the fall foliage.

They were so bright in the morning sun with the darker woods as a contrast.  They screamed "Look at me."

I noticed and had to snap a shot or two with my camera to remember these early bloomers,  so to speak,  before they are nothing more than a distant fond memory come winter.

Take some time to go out and enjoy the fall colors amd mark the change of seasons.

Squirrel Curiosity

This morning while trying to enjoy the view of squirrels and birds feeding and playing in the back yard near the tree line, one brave and curious squirrel came up on the back deck to check me out (probably hoping I had some food for him).

It's nice to be able to take a few moments of our busy days to take in the beauty of the world around us and be reminded that God created it all for us to enjoy.  Unfortunately, we all get so busy with our lives and fail to take a few minutes out of our busy days to unwind and relax and take it all in, or let it all go, so we can find some inner peace to recharge our batteries for another day.

Home Sweet Home

I came down to Seymour to visit for the weekend since I don't make it home often enough.  It is always nice to visit family.

  This is my parents home in Southern Indiana located in a nice rural area.  I miss the country and the quiet that comes along with it.  All I heard when I got there Friday night was the sound of the crickets.  No sirens, traffic noise, loud car stereos rattling the windows of my house and the light pollution that is so bad that you can only see a few stars and the moon of course.

I'm glad for the times when I can get away and enjoy quality family time and the brief moments of quiet I get out here verses the city life.

Bonneville Mill

I took a short trip from home today with my dog Rose to go hiking and shoot some photos.  We went to Bonneville Mill County Park in Elkhart County, Indiana.

I got some good photos today along with an enjoyable little hike with my Rose.

Elkhart River falls

The falls on the Elkhart River at Bonneville Mill East of Bristol,  IN.

Capturing the Moments

This afternoon while I climbed the stairs, I  came upon my dog Rose lying on the landing at the top of the stairs awash in the warm afternoon sunlight. I couldn't resist capturing the moment with a photo.

Our Pet Family

I feel blessed that God gave me the opportunity to have such a blessing in my life.   Anyone who is a pet owner and thinks of them as one of your family,  as one of your kids, knows what I'm talking about.

For those of us who fall into this category,  we couldn't imagine them not being in our lives.   They bring a smile to our faces when we are down, along with lots of kisses and head nudges to let us know they are there. 

They enthusiastically greet us when we come in the door and make us feel as if we were truly missed,  because we were.  They want to go on rides with us to the store because they want to be with us all of the time. They tell us we're loved and wanted and needed,  even when people may not do the same.

They don't care what other people think of us because they only care about what they think of us. No one else matters.   Their words of discouragement have no affect on our four legged friends. They are always trying to please us and in turn themselves,  because if we are happy,  they are happy.

I could go on and on about their virtues,  but the most important thing to know us that they love us and we love them.  They are a gift of God to us and we would do well to remember that and to treat them like the precious gifts they are.

Rose is the inspiration for many of my photos and brings joy to me daily. 

Recognizing The Small Bright Spot In Our Day

Sunrise after morning storms

Yes, like everyone else, I get bogged down with the responsibilities of work or home life and those who need me and depend on me and often find I haYou never know when a moment of beauty will occur.  It sneaks up on us and takes us by surprise.  

If we are fortunate enough, we will recognize the moment and take a minute to enjoy it and use it as a small bright spot to give us the strength to get through the day. 

If we are not so lucky, we miss the moment and trudge through the day unaware of the gift of beauty we were given, but missed, because we are often so busy we can't take the time to enjoy who or what is around us.

I try to recognize those moments and take a second to enjoy it before the hustle and bustle that makes up the craziness of my day takes over again and I run from one task or responsibility to another taking for granted the beauty around me.  
ve little time for myself.  However, when for that brief moment I spot something of beauty, I try to embrace it and use it as a bright spot to center me for the rest of the day.  If I am really blessed, I have a second to capture it with my camera and I can then share it with others to create a bright spot in their day as well.