A spectacular sunset on a rare evening boat ride. Water and sky meeting in benevolent flames.
The world is just dripping with jaw-dropping wonder.
#extraordinaryeveryday
211/365: sunset, reeds, and ripples
CABIN
good bones
A favorite tree seen on our daily walks. It happens to be dead. Stark, scraggly, and standing tall against the sky, it was impossible not to notice it in the midst of the lush green woods and marsh. I wouldn’t say it stood out like a sore thumb – I enjoyed the contrast.
210/365: tree skeleton
family portrait
Only wish Sawyer had been along for the walk so our shadow yoga family portrait was complete…
From left to right: Zola, me, Brad, Rocco.
209/365: three in tree + one down dog
dispatch from up north
Since I have a lot of catching up to do, I decided to break with form and put all my daily photos from our week at the lake into a single post (mainly to spare my email subscribers a total barrage of Terra).
We had a great time, as always. Memories were made, wildlife witnessed, great food consumed. Cold beer, boat rides, fishing, a grand parade. It was pretty much everything you could want from a week at the cabin (except, maybe, another week).
180/365: rocco, nearly 10 months (happy dog)
181/365: goofballs (sawyer & zola on the boat)
182/365: bubbles, side lake 4th of july parade
183/365: wild daisies @ the sand pit
184/365: luna, international wolf center, ely, mn
185/365: bobber, pickerel lake
186/365: birch bark
repetition & variation
My eye is drawn to pattern. But it is the flaw or abnormality that makes it truly interesting. In theory, tire tracks in the sand should be ordered, regular; I like how the tracks don’t hold. The relative strength or weakness of the impressions. The mild disturbances. The parts that are missing. There is so much to see (even when there is nothing to see).
142/365: sand tracks
all smiles
I was kind of a lazy photographer on this trip to the cabin. Saturday was so gorgeous, so uncharacteristically warm & sunny for mid-May in northern Minnesota, I just soaked it up and sat near the water as much as possible.
These shots were taken near dusk when our 8-month-old puppy, Rocco, decided to take a seat next to Brad and join us at the picnic table after dinner. He not only got away with it, he seemed to fit right in.
141/365: brad & rocco at the lake
09.04.13 where the birds are
Our favorite destination on any boat ride is the eagles’ nest. The gigantic structure sits perched in a tall tree on an island overlooking the expanse of Big Sturgeon Lake. I like the stand of scraggly, grizzled old trees almost as much as an eagle sighting. On a skinny spit of land that sees its share of harsh winters, the trees are an assemblage of characters, like the town elders, each with a story to tell and the scars to prove it.
247/365: eagle island, late august
09.02.13 some spider!
As you might have guessed, I’ve never been afraid of spiders. I credit kind-hearted Charlotte with my affection for these fascinating creatures. The funnel web spider is particularly cool, building large nets across the ground that include a little tunnel – like a hunting blind – where the spider can hide in wait. (This one just emerged on top of the web for a look around.) In the morning dew, the webs are not only easy to find, but totally spectacular creations.
245/265: funnel web spider
09.01.13 crystal brown
The lake at the cabin is the color of tea. For years I assumed that it was the iron – this is the Iron Range after all – but it turns out that it’s a tannic lake; the brown color comes from decomposing leaves and wood, not iron. It’s crystal clear, it just has a warm color. When the sun shines through the shallows, the rays dance like streaks of honey on the golden sand.
244/365: self-portrait on the dock
08.10.13 beautiful world
We spent the weekend at the cabin and enjoyed three days of crisp, beautiful sunshine punctuated by enormous pouffy cloud and surprise, pop-up showers. It’s so good to stop and just take it all in.
222/365: clouds on little sturgeon
avant garden 365 