A European Time Traveler Visits Michigan

Time-traveler Sophia, Princess Palatine, left her home in 17th century Netherlands to visit one of my favorite parks in 21st century suburban Detroit as part of the Institute of Arts’ novel advertising campaign.  She seems to be enjoying the floral bloom of spring.

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Mystic Chords and Memories

You must know that there is nothing higher, or stronger, or sounder, or more useful afterwards in life, than some good memory, especially a memory from childhood.”
Alexei Karamazov

The northern Michigan woods speak to me across the years of boyhood vacations with my grandparents, and the warmth and affection they gave me as their special gifts.  A lake appearing from behind the veil of pines can touch those mystic chords and the memories return like a long lost friend.

Hartwick Pines, Michigan

Summer Whispers

“It is summer again,” this Michigan brook whispers as it passes by you and disappears around the bend.

Fleming Creek, MIchigan

WPC: Fall Time Favorites

Autumn is a second Spring, when every leaf is a flower.
—-Albert Camus

And so it has been the last few years  in Michigan, when the abundant colors were mirrored in the myriad of lakes and streams–generously having given me material for Photo Challenges past.

Photo Challenge:  Favorites  

Newburgh Lake, Michigan

 

Serenity on a Summer’s Day

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

William Wordsworth

Photo Challenge: A Twisted Course through the Wilderness

The Tacquamenon River in Michigan’s upper peninsula snakes a twisted course through the wilderness, and along the way crashes over waterfalls where the river channel has cut through rocks from the basement of time.

Photo Challenge:  Twisted   

 

Tacquamenon River, Michgan

Photo Challenge: Great Lakes’ Humble Beginnings

In the Great Lakes state, there is an abundance of liquid attractions.  But, even Lake Superior, which could easily pass for  a freshwater inland sea, has its humble beginnings in laughing springs and rippling brooks.   A few of Michigan’s modest tributaries for your viewing enjoyment.

 

Photo Challenge:  Liquid 

Iargo Springs, Michigan

Pine River, Michigan

Painterville Creek, Michigan

The Swollen and the Scrawny

Sure signs of Spring in Michigan: swollen streams and skinny deer.  Not to worry, though, as you can see the deer are foraging heartily  to put on needed pounds.  At this locale, they were much more concerned about nibbling tender green shoots than they were about an errant human wandering into their neighborhood.

Fleming Creek, Michigan

Deer with a Lean and Hungry Look

It is getting greener in my corner of Michigan and none too soon for this guy, who definitely needs to bulk up.  Like a certain Shakespeare character, he has a lean and hungry look.

Photo Challenge, Unlikely: Pugnacious Squirrels and Laid Back Rattlers

 

Three unlikely sights along a Michigan woodland trail.

A pugnacious squirrel.  I think he is saying:  Is that all you got?

 

Photo Challenge:  Unlikely  

 

A rattlesnake: rare in Michigan.   I have never seen one until stumbling across this  (fortunately) lethargic reptile.

Massasauga rattlesnake

And this Leaning Tower of Pine, dipping in salute to the meandering Sturgeon River

Sturgeon River, Michigan