Different and The Same

Motorcycle Week is quite a bit different this year.  Different timing, different climate due to the Coronavirus.  Walking down Lakeside Avenue you didn't see the typical "sea of bikes".  But, rather a combination of cars, bikes and beach-goers.  

Masks were worn by some      and      not by others.  

A steady stream of motorcycles caroused the "boulevard".  What's bike week without a little rain! 

It's always fun to include a little tongue and cheek in the work.

I must say Lakeside Ave. never looked so good.  Without all the tents lined up and down the street you could actually the see the landscape as it stands for the other 51 weeks of the year.

Still plenty of "black" and "leathers" streaming by....

Businesses seeing some business 

...and folks arriving with big smiles on their faces.     Happy to be here!~

Whether you're taking in the sights

or taking a drive through

Welcome to a week that's a little bit    Different      and      a little bit      The Same

enjoy,

k

@ the Home Front

 Coming in...

....HOT               

enjoy,

k

Feed Your Soul

It's certainly been an unprecedented year to date.  Since the Coronavirus has swept the world since March we've all found ourselves in some sort of quarantining - life changing algorithm.  

Since the very beginning we've felt fortunate to live where we do.  A place where social distancing is more easily attained and honestly enjoyed!  

Some rules and regulations are the same as they have been previous to 2020.  As you can see Jim poked a bit of fun at this one - I feel that keeping one's sense of humor through these times is essential too!  Fun to reminisce of days spent here on Opechee Point as a young lad. 

    

make the time...

During a recent morning on my paddle board I ventured out around Lockes Island.  It was a midweek day - fairly calm by Lake Winni standards.  Having an enjoyable paddle I decided to take an extra jaunt around Varney Point and head towards Saunders Bay.  At the Point I noticed what I thought was a Loon playing with two ducks.  As I paddled closer I realized it was a Loon with two maturing chicks.  It appeared she was teaching them to fish.  I rested my paddle and sat for a while - observing.  One chick was fairly independent and diving on his own.  The other chick stayed close to mom and each time she dove down and would come up with a small fish that chick was right there for the snack.  Time passed - I sat and watched.  It was comfortable.  I would say the three were about 15-20 feet from me going about their morning.  I could feel myself relax in such a way that it was noticeable to me and felt good.  

...feed your soul

Beach dinners have always been a summer ritual - going on 40 years.  

Sunsets, early evening swims.   Back in our younger days volleyball on the beach,  nowadays dinner with great friends, catching up with each other and birthday celebrations!

 It is so easy to get caught up in all the negativity that's been going around.  Every one of us has

been affected in one way or another.  Some more than others, yes, everyone of us touched in some way.

Help where and when you can ~ stay positive ~ vent if you must ~ do make the time ...to feed your soul

enjoy,

k

Another Day... Life At the Lake Part II

Summertime has always drawn me to the water ever since I was a young girl.  While I don't go swimming for 8 hours a day like I used to.  I do long to be out in my kayak or any other floatation device that comes available.  

After pushing off from shore I was treated right off the bat with this Red Tailed Hawk looking for lunch in the shallow water.  From what I could see he wasn't successful on that first attempt.  But as I paddled away I'm fairly sure he managed to catch a snack or two.  

As I came around the bend I was looking ahead to where I was paddling.  But something made me turn my kayak around and low and behold I saw this Bald Eagle back tucked away in the trees.  He was eyeing me a bit.  It's actually kind of unnerving when a bird this large "eyes" you.  I had a quick thought - "hmmm... I wish I wore my hat!"  But he meant me no harm and I none to him.  I spent quite a while just letting the wind float my kayak along so I could observe him.  I was looking to see if there were any others.  I did catch sight of another eagle higher in the trees.  

I think both he and I were delighted to watch this egret and heron playfully catching fish together in the shallow water.  

After some time the eagle shifted his stance on the tree branch and put his back towards me.  Every now and again he'd look over his shoulder and see if I was still there.   Yup!  It wasn't my usual high energy kayak excursion.  Not much exercise with this jaunt.  But it felt so relaxing and rejuvenating just the same.

I thanked him as I was leaving.  I do feel that it is a special treat to be able to observe these magnificent birds!  Until next time my friend....

enjoy,

k

Life At the Lake

During a recent recce shoot I made a stop at Silver Lake in Tilton to take photos giving an overview of the area around the public launch.  After speaking with some kayakers heading for the water that afternoon I knew I would be coming back for a revisit.    

Jim and I put our kayaks in for a sunset paddle.  We meandered around the lake.   Many shallow spots offering lovely vistas of life at the lake.  It's a relaxing way to end the day - you can't help but take deep breaths and unwind.

As the sun began to set it made for wonderful light on my subject!  While I missed the "ducks all in row" shot behind Jim's kayak I did manage to get this one of Jim paddling along.  

A little further down the lake a few shots of a Great Egret and Blue Heron.  

This fellow played right into the early evening light...

   casting the individual feathers in his wings  into beautiful light

such lovely elegance ...

This fellow was having a late night snack

success!

...guess he wasn't into sharing

I will return for more....

enjoy,

k

Don't Take the Rocks ~ Milestones Part II

One thing we noticed was the amount of “signage” everywhere you go nowadays …not always due to current events.  

One sign that just made us chuckle a bit each time was “don’t take the rocks”.  This sign was posted in more than one location.  No worries we get it - but needless to say it amused us just the same.  

We walked out a narrow path to this beach.  As I was making this photo I was thinking of my 60 years that I’ve lived and, hopefully, to many more years ahead that I have yet to live.  

        I’d say we can look at our lives as we would these rocks.
            Some years were big ….others not so much.  
            Some years were colorful ….others not so much.
        Perhaps we may have a few in there that we’d like to pick up and toss back out into the sea.

My thoughts     ...keep the rocks as they lay.
Embrace the milestones that were good and perhaps learn from the ones that may not have been as big or as bright.  Each one has been shaped by the ebb and flow of daily life.

When you put them all together like this - I see it as a tapestry of sorts.  If you were take one of the rocks you'd leave be left with a hole in that tapestry.

                                                    don't take the rocks

enjoy,

k

Celebrating 60 ~ Milestones Part 1

We ventured up to Acadia National Park to celebrate my 60th birthday.  Spent a few days cycling the carriage roads, hiking up cliffs and around mountains and honestly just relaxing 

 being together and getting away.  

Bridges to cross with glimpses of the Maine coast

making our way to Southwest Harbor - the quieter side of Acadia.

Biking the carriage roads

truly a beautiful landscape from the mountains to the sea.

So many interesting hikes - we're thinking a repeat trip during the off season will be in order as we didn't even scratch the surface of what is offered.  

The architecture around each bend ~ quite interesting

Views from above looking over the cliffs with iron clad ladders to get to the top vistas.

It was a "put your feet up" type of the day when we headed back to the shanty

Quintessential Maine

From sunset

     ....to sunrise

enjoy,

k