Scenes from Rural Michigan, in the Snow

Last week, we were in Hillsdale, Michigan, in the south central part of the state. It is a relatively poor region, with no big cities, mostly small to medium-sized towns. Allen, along US12, is a center of antiques, with many dealers along the highway. I never tired of the drive from Hillsdale to Coldwater, where …

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #383: Looking back to #174-Shapes and Designs

I learned that "shapes" are what are found in Nature; "designs" are what humans make, often mimicking that Nature. "I think that I shall never see a Poem as lovely as a Tree" is a little snippet of poetry that I'll bet every school child learns (author is Joyce Kilmer, who was male-yeah, I never …

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It’s a First! Gotcha, Mr Cardinal!

We are in south central Michigan this week for a Hillsdale College conference. The high temperature so far has been 23F. Until today, I hadn’t seen many birds at all, but when I looked out the window at breakfast this morning, I saw my first Northern Cardinal. Cardinal on branch I think I am lucky …

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Whoa!! See what Russia’s Kamchatka Region is getting?!

This is real, not AI. https://twitter.com/chayasclan/status/2013264799296078228?s=46&t=AkJV8dX_RyhUKPG8uj0KNQ Hit the Play button Now that is some serious snow! Beautiful in its way, but scary, too. Russians are used to harsh winters, but this is worse than usual. https://twitter.com/electroversenet/status/2013280295341179216?s=46&t=AkJV8dX_RyhUKPG8uj0KNQ Whee!!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #379: Favorite photos of 2025

I think I took some very good photos last year, and I am quite happy to post them again. I'll start with my very favorites, the best ones I took last year. I think they would make good postcards. They are boats at the Everett Marina, which I took after dark in November. There was …

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #378: Last Chance 2025

As per the rules, this last challenge is supposed to be photos we have not posted before. Like Tina, many of my photos are plants and critters, from my back yard first, then other places. We are fortunate to have a yard with plants that turn gorgeous colors in Autumn, especially our Japanese Maple trees. …

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