We had several hours of partial sun last week, resulting in tonight’s pics…. We did get a bit of snow out of the most recent storm but not really all that much . The bay has iced over but no shanties as yet.  No ice on Crystal to speak of.  I did learn that the big lake is currently  5 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. That has the potential to bump up the Lake effect snow amounts for the next few weeks. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Be well,  Jay

Location is everything.   We’ve just came out from a two day Blizzard warning.  Naturally the weather forecasters were having a field day.  10 – 20 inches of snow, 50 mph winds, “biggest snow storm of the season” (the first storm of the season).  Inland did get snow and the accompanying blowing and drifting.  Here however, we got the saddest excuse of a snow storm that I’ve ever seen.  After two days of “blizzard” we have maybe 2 inches of snow. The ground in the woods isn’t even completely covered.   It’s supposed to clear somewhat this afternoon, so I’m hopeful that there may be some ice buildup at the lighthouse that will be photogenic. Today’s pictures are from earlier in the Fall.  Thanks to everyone who came to the bonfire New Years Eve.  A light turnout, but fun none the less.

Be well and the best of everything in 2012,   Jay

Merry Christmas….
We awoke this morning to 4 inches of the first snow of the season…yea…At least a white Christmas is guaranteed and the brown grass and pine needles are covered up. I hope everyone has a relaxed  Christmas and enjoys all of the festivities….a reminder of the New Years Eve, sunset bonfire at Point Betsie. Chili, cornbread, cardiac cacao and socializing. (the more the merrier)  The beach at Betsie has re built itself but I don’t, know as yet about the weather…

Be well,  Jay, Anne and the staff and management of Crystalnews

I don’t know where they are, but I do know where they aren’t.  I built a new feeding station here at the house in hopes of getting some good, Winter, bird pictures….In three weeks I haven’t seen a single bird of any flavor…(unless you count the pictured, fur bearing, bird…) I haven’t even seen my turkeys. I’ve heard them once or twice but couldn’t entice them out of the heavy brush. I haven’t even seen them out around the neighborhood… I’m thinking that once we get some snow cover, things will change for the better.

Be well,  Jay

Good evening,
Still no snow here in Frankfort, but the wind is back again…This is the fourth or fifth time this Fall of 35mph+……The ski areas were making snow this past week and are open.  The sand picture is either part of the Grand Canyon or eroded, frozen sand, down by the harbor. ..your choice…
Be well,  Jay

Just an interesting cloud formation and color….   Be well,  Jay

I was out walking the Betsie Valley Trail the other morning, near Railroad Point and went down to the new DNR boat launch on Crystal Lake.  I hadn’t  seen the actual launch site before.  The upper parking area has been visible for a year or so. The site is well designed and they are doing lots of work with plantings and landscaping.  The lay of the land is such that boaters will have to park in the upper lot, after launching. This necessitates ,walking down the stairs to their boat, and later, back up the stairs in order to to get their car and trailer and come down to pull their boat out.   The pictures show the staircase (about half of it), shot from about half way down the hill,  the launch area is compact and well built. (the rail trail is the pathway going around the left side to the picture).  The water pic is taken from the end of the dock, looking West down the lake
.  I’ll be interested to see how the usage of the facility works out….I’m tired of looking at the brown grass.  I’m not going to use the S word, but I wouldn’t mind a different color for the woods and fields.  The weather lately has been mostly rain, cloud and cold.
be well,  Jay.

Non-Winter continues to favor us with mild temps and none of the nameless white stuff…We’ve had several wind events in the past few weeks but the daytime highs are quite pleasant, compared to our normal highs.  I just hope we don’t end up getting slammed later in the Winter…..I was out beach walking today and it was quite comfortable. The beach at Betsie has healed itself…I’m hopping to get out and shoot new locations this Fall and Winter.  Location suggestions are welcomed…A huge Thank You to everyone who ordered calendars.  The response was truly phenomenal…I had to do a second printing….Today’s picture was shot the other evening, during one of the winds.  The sunset really set it off…enjoy…

Be well,   Jay

Have a pleasant Thanksgiving with all the food and family that goes with it.  Nice mild weather here, so the grandchildren aren’t housebound for the whole day.  ( I’m tempted “Here’s a butterfly net, go out in the woods and catch a turkey for diner”. They would probably be back by Spring….)  lol   I haven’t seen “my” turkeys as yet this Winter and probably won’t until there is snow on the ground.  Today’s pictures are from years past.

Be well, Jay

Here it is November and of course it’s windy (45mph)  with all of the inherent side effects.. The sand from the beach is migrating down Main street, flags are shredding, tree limbs are bailing.and for a while this afternoon, the roar of a train in the tree tops..I watched a young man, taking pictures on the beach, trip and bury his camera in a sand dune….I had my own dummy move later in the day.  In all of my time kayaking, I’ve never come home wet….Today, standing on the Elberta beach, I was too involved in the viewfinder and ended up wet to the knees.  Those random large waves can really climb up the beach  The saving grace was that I didn’t have an audience to share my chagrin….The beach at Point Betsie is rebuilding well today….A friend shared the link below.  It aired on Nature earlier this week. I think I learned more about wild turkeys than I knew.  A most interesting film.  About 25 minutes, but worth it.  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/my-life-as-a-turkey/full-episode/7378/