michigan, a winter wonderland
on the solstice, my sister, atlas, and i went to the lake.
the last time i was there – this fall – i walked down the stairs, walked a few feet over the sand and jewel-colored lake superior rocks, and found the waves lapping at the water’s edge.
now, after weeks of cold and snow, everything has changed.
the colors are different.
everything is white and grey-blue and black and grey.
the landscape is different too.
huge waves of ice and snow have built up, transforming the beach and the lake into an icy wintry playground.
we walked to the edge and looked down at a ledge of icicles that cascaded into the water below.
of course, atlas walked to the edge too.
i wish i could say that i was the sort of person who trusted her puppy and watched him calmly and serenely.
alas, i am not.
i sounded more like this: “oh! oh! oh! watch out! don’t fall in the water! stay back! oh! oh!”
(i am pretty sure that if atlas ever does fall into the lake, it will be because i startle him, not because he slips.)
it’s been a long time since i saw this side of the lake i love so very much.
she might look icy and cold, and she might crackle and sting and bite, but there is an exhilarating loving warmth to her just the same.
(i suspect the same can be said for all of us.)
all of it – the company and the colors and the landscape – made for a perfect way to celebrate the return of the light.
p.s. if you love the wild places, or if you want to experience winter through a lens of beauty + magic + wonder, join me in january as i find the beauty in the cold and the dark and the snow.
Beautiful pictures, Elizabeth. It looks very cold, and Atlas looks very happy.
i would never get that close to the edge!
once when living in northern Minnesota and everything was white . . . i heard eery cracking sounds and then a thunderous crash! a whole portion of what i’d thought was land went tumbling into the icy water. I had been standing on it only moments before.
very scary. but still . . .
always beautiful!
xoxo
GORGEOUS! i love the blue/grey/white winter aesthetic!!!! no snow yet in PRague… sigh…
Hello, dear friend.
I have a few wishes for you.
May 2014 bring you much joy.
May we all have peace in our homes,
laughter by our firesides,
time spent with family,
and contentment in our hearts.
Be well, my friend.
Jerry: He was happy! We had just come out of a cold spell, and he was really ready to RUN. Which he did.
Tammy: Eeeeeeeeeeeek! Now I will not be able to go to the edge either! But you reminded me of something .. when I was younger, I snowshoed partially across the canal, near the end where the canal meets the lake, with a friend. When I came home, I told my parents. My dad popped up with a WHAT?????? Apparently the lake almost never freezes over, so that was not a good thing to do. Ah, the foolishness + fearlessness of youth.
Jessica: Thank you! I imagine Prague to be lovely with snow! (Also without. But also with.)
Relyn: Mmmmmm. I am taking in your wish. May the new year bring you every blessing.
love this post Libby ! beautiful pics
Thank you! I miss you muchly.
back at you !