AWOL

My apologies for the lack of summer posts. I feel very badly about this because I feel obligated to my readers/viewers (who are still visiting despite my absence!) and also because I think I may be inadvertently creating a chronicle of climate change (or lack thereof, if the current trends reverse themselves). Recall that all of last winter, there was never a layer of ice formed on the lake. This summer we've had barely any rain and temps over 100 degrees on multiple days, and most of the lawns in parks near the Lake are brittle and straw-colored. So I am sorry not to be chronicling this in real time.

Anyway, the issue is with my computer and I had hoped it would have been resolved quite a while ago. Since it has not been, I am reluctant to download photos on the loaner I have been using. I hope to catch up sometime in August with other summer photos.

For now, here is a lovely view of Lake Michigan at Sunrise in mid-June, overlooking Chicago's Navy Pier. This was taken by guest photographer PK.  Thanks, PK!

Snow Beautiful

 Winter arrived, for a short time anyway.

 The snow was still falling this morning as the sun attempted to shine.

 Big, wet flakes clung to every tree branch and rock.

 Fence posts were topped with pure white mounds of snow.

Most of it is gone from the trees at 2pm, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

Overhead

Hidden behind the haze. From Thursday, 2/23/12.

Curds

Forgive me, but those clouds look like cheese curds to me. Calling Miss Muffet. From 1/16/12.

How to choose?

So many pretty pictures, I just couldn't do it. Which is your favorite? From Saturday, 2/5/11.

Ghost Boat

This looks like an apparition. The setting sun made it luminous.

Beachy Keen

This is a catchall post from the last month. Sorry I haven't posted, but I have enjoyed the Lake.

Lovely beach scene.
This is the "Dragonfly Ballet"--lots of dragonflies meeting in the air, eating bugs and mating (?).
Nice clouds!

Nevermore!

Should I be worried to have seen this outside my window today? Or does the fact that it is April 1 (and that's not a raven) mean I'm immune?
Sunny sparkly spring morning.
A few hours later, and the boats were out, and lots of parasailors, too.

Breakthrough

If you click on the picture, you'll see a little patch of sun on the water where it has broken through the clouds above. From Monday, 3/29/10.

Texture

The Lake is restless and the sun shining on the water makes for a rough texture. I love the clouds on the horizon, too. From Monday, 3/1/10.

Cloud Shroud

The clouds created a cover over the sun. But it managed to peek through a little.
An eerie effect. From Wednesday, 2/24.

The Light Beyond

Beyond what? I can't decide if this is mist, a giant cloud, fog, or what, but the light is the sun, and this is a moody photo. From 9:00am.

Light! More Light!

And cold! More cold! But at least it's beautiful. And not depressing.

Rosy Horizon

There was a hint of pink/peach/orange at the horizon well after the sun had risen. This photo was taken just before 9am. The clouds must have been arranged just so for this to happen. The rushing, roiling waves continued, loudly, for a second day.

Zig Zags and Wisps

I love the cloud-filter on the sun, the zigzag pattern caused by the waves, and the smoky, wispy clouds on the horizon this morning.

Peek a boo

The sun is desperately trying to get out from under that cloud. Good luck, Sun!

Too much awesome

I couldn't pick one image from yesterday.
The newly forming ice...
The amazing clouds...
The steam from the warmer Lake meeting the COLD air...

So here they all are. Enjoy.

Cool Cold

Tuesday it started to cool off and lighten up. Cool rays here.

I don't know how to prevent those sunspot reflections on the lens, and I'm not sure I really want to.

This was taken from inside my office--the reflection looks kind of cool in this shot.

Morning Light: 4 views

This morning I took the lakefront route to work and took this pic at a park near my home.
Here is the empty harbor boatslip at sunrise
And the lovely tree at about 11am
Also 11am--just a perspective shift to the left.

Um, Wow.

Speechless.