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If you own a copy of our 365 book, look at my Day 309 of Week 45. You will see a photo of this house. I have always loved Dick and Kathy Bourgault’s house. When it came up for sale a few months ago and I got a personal tour from Dick, it was a God moment for me. I bought the house two days later. The kids and I love our new house, especially on beautiful winter days.

Legends Deer Ranch

After leaving a Valentine

Proud as a peacock, a rooster parades about its pen an hour after crowing in another summer day on a small family farm north of Custer.

The skill and determination of the anglers who surf fish along the Lake Michigan shoreline is inspiring. Wind, waves, rain, and even lightning do not appear to deter the fishing desire of the most aggressive anglers.

Winter sunrises can occasionally be amazing. Early indications are that this morning's sunrise could be one of those. I quickly set up the camera on the tripod on the deck of our home at Crosswinds. After a few minutes waiting for peak color, presto! F8.0 at 1/6, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is a photographer's paradise. I could spend a lifetime exploring and photographing the park without getting bored. Every few steps I can find something that catches my eye. Miners Beach Falls is a popular destination for the thousands of visitors to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Looking like giant Oreo cookies, these striking cattle graced Larry and Jo Sholtey’s Beef and Bees Farm along South Lakeshore Drive between Ludington and Pentwater. Commonly referred to as Oreo Cookie cows, they are more accurately named belted Galloways, a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle. Larry Sholtey had grown up on a farm. He and Jo raised and showed the distinctive, thick-coated cattle for many years after their retirement from Ludington High School, where Jo taught and Larry was principal. I always enjoyed seeing the “Cookie Cows,” occasionally stopping when I thought I saw the makings of a good photograph. I made several images over the years that pleased me but none that wowed me. Then one summer afternoon I spotted them grazing on some Queen Anne’s Lace in a corner of their pasture. I couldn’t stop fast enough. I had not visualized this picture, but I instantly recognized how extraordinary it was. Untold numbers of passersby enjoyed seeing Larry and Jo’s cattle until Larry became too ill to care for them. I will always be grateful to Jo and Larry, for happily and graciously sharing these beautiful creatures with me and countless other passersby

A momentary lull in the wind stops the nearby snow from blowing long enough for me to make an image of the intriguing patterns of the sand, snow, fences, and waves along the Lake Michigan shoreline today.

I remember a teacher asking me in middle school what animal I would be if I had a choice. The entire class roared with laughter when I said a squirrel. The teacher wanted to know why. I proudly stated that squirrels make people laugh and lots of girls think they are cute.

Summer Rush

Ludington Light Redone

Blazing Light

Grains

Spring Meadow

Light Dock

Porcupines Dream

I loved the two-toned sunset this evening. The contrast of the golden tones with the black. The tree line across from my drive was inviting as I arrived home for the evening.

 

Kingfishers are incredible in their ability to dive down and grab fish out of the water. The hunt appears effortless and amazingly graceful. I wonder if this kingfisher chuckled to see that a human angler obviously needed more practice with his or her casting skills, thus the fishing line stuck in the tree.