Life is like a mirror by Fire Fighters Wife
“Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.”
As usual, Beth shares a beautiful thought to go with her equally beautiful photo. See more in her Hello Fall! gallery on Flickr.
Although like many in Michigan I have a light dusting of snow here in Detroit this morning, I’m not quite ready to surrender to winter.
TP writes that he captured this shot of the morning scene on Ellsworth Lake in northern Michigan as the waters stood still at sunrise. The mist hovered over the water as the autumn colors and reflections popped out. See more in his Michigan Autumn Colors gallery on Flickr!
Let the Water Settle by Fire Fighter’s Wife
“Let the water settle; you will see the moon and stars mirrored in your being.”
~Rumi
Here’s a great thought from Beth if you’re worrying about the result of the election. See more great shots in her Waterscapes gallery on Flickr!
Reflected colors by Ann Fisher
“How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.”
– John Burroughs
Ann took this photo back in October of 2015 on the Dead River, just west of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. See more in her 2015 U.P. Gallery.
The Seney National Wildlife Refuge:
…was established in 1935 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The wild land that today is the refuge has not always appeared so wild. This is a land that was once heavily logged, burned, ditched, drained and cultivated. Despite repeated attempts, the soils and harsh conditions of this country would not provide a hospitable environment for sustained settlement and agriculture. So, nature claimed it once again. What was viewed as a loss by early 20th century entrepreneurs became a huge gain for the wildlife, natural resources and the people of Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula.
Seney National Wildlife Refuge is located in the east-central portion of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, halfway between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The 95,238 acre refuge encompasses the 25,150 acre Seney Wilderness Area, which contains the Strangmoor Bog National Natural Landmark.
Lots more information at the Seney Refuge website. Ayman took this back in early August. See more on his Flickr!
Here’s a lovely shot from the Maple River State Game Area which:
…is mid-Michigan’s largest contiguous wetland complex, an extensive area of floodplains, lowlands, and marshes along the Maple River that begins in Gratiot County and spills into Clinton County … Hiking opportunities are available in the East Unit, however. Straddling US-27, the East Unit features pools and diked-in ponds that serve as the water basin for the Maple River and attract migrating birds. Hiking along dikes is easy and the spectacular congregations of birds among the cattails in the warm glows of a late afternoon sun makes this trail system scenic and interesting for families and anybody who enjoys birding.
…Wildlife can be viewed practically year-round in the game area. Spring viewing from March through May is excellent as thousands of ducks, geese, and swans use the wetlands as a stopover on their migration to northern breeding grounds. Throughout the summer herons are a common sight in the area while the observant or those who pack along binoculars might spot bald eagles or ospreys perched on dead snags.
See more in Joel’s massive Trees photo album on Flickr & have a great week!
Reflections by Eric Hackney Photography
Here’s a #TBT (Throwback Thursday) pic from 3 years ago of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton & Hancock on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Wikipedia’s Portage Lake Lift Bridge entry says:
The Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Hancock and Houghton, Michigan, USA, across Portage Lake, a portion of the waterway which cuts across the Keweenaw Peninsula with a canal linking the final several miles to Lake Superior to the northwest. US 41 and M-26 are both routed across the bridge.
The original bridge on this site was a wooden swing-bridge built in 1875. This was replaced by a steel swing-bridge built by the King Bridge Company in 1901. This bridge was damaged when a ship collided with it in 1905. The center swinging section of the bridge was replaced and a similar incident almost occurred again in 1920, but the ship was able to stop by dropping its anchor, which snagged on the bottom of the lake. In 1959, this bridge was replaced, at a cost of about 11-13 million US dollars (sources vary), by the current bridge which was built by the American Bridge Company.
As its name states, the bridge is a lift bridge with the middle section capable of being lifted from its low point of four feet clearance over the water to a clearance of 100 feet (30 m) to allow boats to pass underneath. The Bridge is the world’s heaviest and widest double-decked vertical lift bridge.Its center span “lifts” to provide 100 feet (30 m) of clearance for ships. The bridge is a crucial lifeline, since it is the only land based link between the north (so-called Copper Island) and south sections of the Keweenaw peninsula.
You can view the photo & more on Eric’s Facebook page and see a stunning shot of a rainbow over the bridge & more from Eric on Michigan in Pictures.
More bridges on Michigan in Pictures.
Stillwater, photo by Jamey Robertson
One of the things I love about spring in Michigan – even in a very windy spring like 2017 – are those days when the water is smooth as glass.
View the photo of the soon to be filled Northport Marina bigger and follow Jamey on Instagram for more.
Michigan in Pictures 