My favorite month?

I often ask myself, "Do I have a favorite month?".  I always think I do but them when I ask myself this question at different times of the year I always get a different answer.  Right now my favorite month is September.  For weeks I've been waiting for September to get here and so far she has not disappointed me.  She's only been here for a week and I've fallen hard for her.  She has brought with her the most beautiful weather, slightly warm days and cool nights, beautiful blue skies with incredible clouds, farmer markets with fall produce galore.  All I want to do is take my camera everywhere and capture September's beauty.    

Although we have a long way to go before colors start looking like this (photo taken last October), I still see signs of colors beginning to change.  

September brings a lot of time spent at Silver Lake.  We've left our trailer at permanent campsite for the month of September so we can spend a lot of time playing and enjoying this glorious month.  We spend every weekend there and we will be there for 10 days towards the end of the month.  Life is good! 

One of my favorite things to do at Silver Lake is hop in the truck and head down dirt country roads totally lost.  I will drive until something catches my eye, whether it be these wild daisy's or an old weathered barn.  I can do this for hours.  

And Zoe (and Fiona too)  love to come along for the ride.  

The sunsets are incredible at Silver Lake.  

Here's to September and the many wonderful memories that it will create for us.  

Things that make me happy

Cool summer temperatures.... yes I am loving this unseasonably cool weather.  

Witnessing the birth of a goat this week.  

Baking a cobbler with berries I picked off the vine.

New episodes of Duck Dynasty starting tomorrow!!!!

Late summer flowers, like dahlias and glads.

Tomatoes!  Oh how I love tomatoes from my parents garden.

Speaking of my parents garden I'll add okra, squash, berries, cukes, and everything else that I am the lucky recipient of. 

Motorcycle rides.... Took a 4 hour road trip Sunday on the bike.  The sites and the smells are amazing.  I could ride for hours every weekend!  

Seeing Jordan finish her last final this week and having her proclaim that she ended the semester with all A's.  That's my girl!  And the best part is that I get to have my girl home all next week.  

Watching Fiona Skype with Jordan yesterday.  She wouldn't stop staring at the screen and her ears perked up the whole time.  She misses her girl too.  

Meeting my Mom for lunch tomorrow at The Phoenix.  

Low census hours this week at work allows me to have a relaxed week.  Loving it!  

Clouds!  I am overly obsessed with clouds lately.  I can't stop staring at them.  They make me smile. 

Pomegranate Tea Lattes from Biggby!  Where have you been all my life!

Sitting on my parents back porch with my Dad and sharing our love of hummingbirds.  He's so proud of his hummingbirds.... boy does he have the hummingbirds!

Rain.... Last summer was hot and dry.  This summer cool and wet..... I'll take it.  Listening to rain as I wake up in the morning..... so refreshing.  

A glass of the best apple cider at a restaurant Sunday night.  Made me crave fall.  

Photo shoot with a toad

Maybe someday I will take more photos of people than dogs, toads, bugs, flowers, birds, clouds..... But for now I'm very happy with my subjects.  I love photographing my family but these photo shoots are awesome.  Today it was a toad.  Cutest little guy!  And he was so patient with me.  He let me pose him wherever I wanted and he stayed put.  Thank you little toad... it was a pleasure working with you.  

When our photo shoot was over I kindly put him in a safe place away from where Caleb was mowing the lawn.  I hope he grows up to be a happy toad.  Happy, Happy, Happy.... 

An evening of solitude

I have an evening to myself...... an evening of solitude.  I'm sitting in the living room watching the hummingbird feeder that hangs outside of my living room window.   I have 3 or 4 hummers that are constantly there.  For the longest time I only had one but he's brought friends.  There's a cool breeze blowing in the window and it feels so good to sit here and relax, in complete quiet.  I needed a night like this.   

I'm feeling the August anxieties.  What are the August anxieties?  Well, it begins in the spring when the weather breaks and we are like caged animals.  We can't wait to get out and soak up every minute of what spring and summer has to offer.  But come August we have tried to cram so much into the good weather months that we begin to get burned out.  I'm ready for some down time.....  

I'm ready to stop and smell the flowers......  

And pick some apples from my Dad's orchard.....

That's one of the reasons that I love my photography.  It forces me to stop, to see and appreciate what is right in front of me, that I would have otherwise missed.  

A quiet evening at home was just what I needed......

It was one of "those" moments

Last Saturday we were in northern Michigan for a wedding.  We decided to make a little road trip out of it and took the long road home Sunday.  Craig wanted to take me to the Leelanau Peninsula.  Ok, what's the Leelanau Peninsula?  Evidently there a state park campground there and Craig wanted to check it out for a possible future camping destination.  Little did I know what a gem we were to find.   

It was record breaking low temps for July, it was cloudy and threatening rain.  The clouds were amazing as we drove there, I couldn't stop staring at the clouds.  

We pulled into the state park and drove back to the campground.  We loved the campground.  Very private, secluded sites in the woods, rustic.... exactly how we like to camp.  We knew the campsites were on Lake Michigan but we couldn't see the water from the campsites.  We could hear the waves but you had to walk down a short trail to see Lake Michigan.  

Craig was checking out some sites and I decided to walk down the trail to the "beach".  Now, if you know me, you know I am not a "beach" person.  Put me in the woods any day and I am a happy woman.  Down to the beach I went.  Here's the part I can't even explain but I will try....

I walked down that trail with the grass taller than my head, not being able to see the lake, not knowing what to expect.  I had no expectations what so ever.  I stepped out of that trail into the most amazing scene.  I don't know if it was because I was not expecting to see what I found, but suddenly out of nowhere I was crying and laughing hysterically.  I don't think I could have been any more moved had someone just dropped me in front of the Grand Canyon.  

I was yelling for Craig to come quick!  I wanted to share this experience with him.  The wind was loud so he couldn't hear me.  I stood there staring at this unbelievable scene with tears streaming down my cheeks.  The clouds were the most beautiful I had ever seen in my whole life.  Peeks of sun broke through for brief moments.  The wind and the waves were like music.  And the rocks!  Oh the rocks!  And there was no human to be seen in any direction.  It was like I was the first ever human to step out into this place.  It really did looked untouched by man.      

Very few times in my life have I ever walked upon something that moved me to tears but every time it happens I am so grateful. 

I was in photography heaven, got some amazing shots.  We only had a few hours to spend here and now I am looking forward to camping here.  We have plans to camp here in September...... can't wait!

This wonderful man in my life makes all these moments possible.  He takes me to these places because he knows I will love it....... How lucky I am!

Sharing more photos

I only live 4 miles from my parents.  I call their place paradise.  It's the most awesome place to go at the end of a stressful day.  And taking my camera along makes it even better.  There are endless things to photography, admire, and be grateful for.  

You would not believe my Dad's hummingbirds.  There are no less than 20 birds buzzing around at all times.  Several times this week I tried to get some good shots of them; not an easy task.  They zip around so fast that it is nearly impossible to focus on them.  I've still got another 2 months of them hanging around so I'll keep trying.  

I got this incredible shot of Zoe a few days ago.  If only she knew what beautiful photographs she gives me.  I am so in love with this laid back relaxed dog.  She makes me happy. 

Last weekend we went camping (the hottest weekend of the year!!).  I'm not a beach and sun kind of girl but the 100 degree temps made Lake Michigan feel amazing!  I couldn't remember the last time I went swimming in Lake Michigan so I need to remember the date this time.  Probably be another 10 years before it happens again.  

I got some fun shots at the cottage a few weeks ago.  

This one of Craig just cracks me up!  Craig says he refuses to grow up. 

Even Fiona needed some relief from the heat.  

These last two photos were taken with my new macro lens.  

I'm looking forward to having a lot more fun with this lens.  

Hello my name is Jessica and I'm addicted to thrift stores

It is no secret that I love thrifting.  I pass two thrift stores on my way to and from work everyday, and several more just a stones throw from my usual path.  It's not unusual for me to stop several times a week.  It's rare that I don't find some little treasure to take home.  Here's a few of latest favorite finds.  

 Clay handmade bird house.... just have to figure out how to hang him.  

This is one glass owl of a pair I bought.  I took the other one to work and have him sitting in my office. They are heavy thick glass bookends.  I looked them up online and evidently they were made in the 50's.  I found them on ebay selling for $80 for the pair, I got them for 5 bucks. 

I'm drawn to anything that is nature in theme.  This little brass turtle is actually a box; his shell opens up. 

One of the places I always head straight for is the linen department.  It's a very lucky day if I find a quilt or something beautiful knitted or chroched.  When I found this I didn't really have a use in mind but I fell in love with it.  I can only imagine that some Grandma lovingly made this with scraps of yarn she had.  I have it hanging over the back of the couch in the trailer.      

And this one..... Oh how I love this one.  The colors excited me so.  Can you believe that I got this for $5.  Oh happy day that was.  

4th of July weekend

The last 4 days have been packed with fun, sun, water, thrifting, photography, boating, kayaking, family and friends.... what more could I ask for.  It's Sunday of the 4th of July holiday weekend and I'm  enjoying coffee on the deck with a view of the lake, reflecting on the past 4 days.  Life is good.   

My crazy wonderful son showing off.

Our friends Dawn and Jerry enjoyed the day with us.  Jerry makes a mean dirty martini. 

My wandering mind and eye leads me to anything that says "photo op".  This and the following few photos are from my Mom's raised bed garden (one of her many gardens).  I get lost for hours at my parents house.  Yesterday I was out in the gardens with my camera and Dad comes out and says "Lunch is ready".  I was not expecting lunch but was thrilled to find a huge salad or fresh garden greens (of course from my parents garden).  Best salad ever.  How lucky of a daughter I am to relish the benefits of their labor of love in the gardens. 

Mom's raised bed garden belongs in Better Homes and Gardens.  It's a work of art. 

I've ordered a new macro lens that should be arriving mid week.  So excited!  Look for macro photos soon.........  For those of you that don't know what a macro lens is, it's for taking close up photos of flowers, insects, etc.....  

Summer Lovin.....

Summer is here in all it's glory!  I can't get enough of it.  It doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing.  It's a wonder I safely make it anywhere I am driving.  I find myself just staring at the sky... the clouds are more beautiful than I ever remember them in my entire life.... have the clouds always been that beautiful?  Where have they been all my life?

Photography has changed me.... only for the better.  I see everything through eyes that appreciate things so much more than I ever have before.  The simple things....  

Vacationing last week I was like a kid in a candy shop.  Several times I just jumped in the truck and took myself wherever the road lead me.  I found old barns, wildflowers along dirt road with sunlight in the perfect spots.  

Visits to the beach at sunset were perfect photo opportunities. 

Sunsets in the dunes with our beloved Jeep are awesome.  

This duck photo was a total accident.  Didn't expect to walk up on them at the perfect time and spot but I got it!

I am so grateful for this hobby of mine.  

My Little Road Trip

All the family was busy yesterday and I had no obligations to speak of so I did something I've been wanting to do for awhile.  I took a little road trip to a bird sanctuary.  The last time I was there was few years ago.  It was late summer so any babies that I did see where nearly full grown.  This year there were new babies everywhere.  Oh what fun place to take my camera.  

And what makes this place unique is that even though the birds are wild they are somewhat tame because the sanctuary allows you to purchase buckets of corn and feed them.  It amazes me how close these beautiful creatures allow you to get to them.  Even the ones with babies.  

I'm used to kayaking on secluded lakes where swans and geese try to avoid you.  And if they have babies.... you better watch out.  I've been frightened by a swans and geese with babies on more than one occasion.   OK, maybe I was pushing my luck trying to get "that" photo.  

So this place is a real treat.  The Trumpeter Swans were literally eating out of my hand.  

What is it about Momma's with babies?  These little ones melted my heart.  

Who knows what these two love birds really think of each other?  Are they lovingly gazing into each other eyes, or is one telling the other to beat it?  I like to think they are a pair of those swans that mate for life.  

As I was leaving the sanctuary I stopped at a little pond to photograph a few frogs.  

I'd like to go back again in a few weeks before all the hatchlings get too big.  

Perfect day.........