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When I think of Bespop, I often picture him in this area of his yard, near his grape arbor. Of course, he would be leaning on his cane, wearing his straw fedora hat, and smoking his pipe of cherry tobacco. I miss his smile. I miss his laugh.

We had a fun gathering tonight with two of Brad’s high school friends and their families. Jonathan and Shannon own two Friesian horses. My kids were over the moon at the opportunity to brush them and give them treats. I worked to compose and expose this photo to show off their wonderful barn and the crew inside.

Clyde Butcher, famous for his black-and-white photographs of the Florida Everglades, often photographs huge cumulus clouds passing over the wetlands. Though I am standing in an overgrown asparagus field in Michigan, this scene on Conrad Road reminds me of some of Clyde's landscape images that often include a tree connecting land and sky. F13.0 at 1/80, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

They had an old-fashioned tractor ride today from Scottville to Ludington in honor of Duane Cooper. Duane loved restoring old tractors. One of the riders was our good friend Roger Thurow. Roger is who makes all the custom stretcher bar frames for our gallery wrapped canvases. I was glad I captured this image of Roger on one of his tractors as the parade of tractors passed me on Conrad Road.

I know I have mentioned our family’s front field before. Tonight, I visited it again. The golden magic light and the field were mesmerizing!

We spend most evenings working with the fair animals. Several of my nieces and nephews house their animals at the farm too, so it is usually hard work but fun to spend time with cousins. And how can you beat this view?

The woods on our family farm always brings peace to my heart. Fair preparation was in full force this Thursday evening, and I needed a break from the organizing, planning, and packing. I took a walk down one of our lanes, breathing in the quiet air.

After leaving the funeral in Fremont for our friend Lawrence Monfils, who had been the head chef at Legends Ranch for many years, my dad and I spotted this old barn and farmstead. My dad helped me get on top of his truck to make this image. I needed to be higher to get the vantage point I wanted because the corn was so tall. I waited for the clouds to get into the right locations for my image to sing.

How often do I drive by the crops in Michigan farm fields without giving much thought to what a contribution American farmers make to our great nation? I tend instead to be focused on the beauty of these crops and farmlands as I travel the highways and byways of Michigan. This farm crop was visual food for my artistic soul when I discovered it while driving along Victory Drive in rural Mason County. F22 at 1/15, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 24mm

When I see "amber waves of grain" in the American landscape, I feel blessed to live in America where we have so much farmland and an abundance of food. I appreciate Michigan farms like the Andersen farm on Andersen Road in northern Mason County. F22 at 1/30, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 175mm

I have watched many storm clouds over the years. I have seen the sky change colors. Never have I ever seen a sky turn purple like tonight. I was so in awe I almost missed the photograph!

My niece, Lucy, and my daughter, Kasey, spent time washing and walking their steers together in the show arena. Tomorrow is the big day! All the kids’ hard work with their beef and sheep comes down to the show.

I came across the Woodland Farm Market driving back from dropping the kids off to their dad one weekend. I was in heaven! They have the biggest, most flavorful blackberries for sale here. I bought many quarts for the blackberry jelly that I was making and have every year since!

This tire swing in our apple orchard was hours of fun for me! My sisters would see how high we could get it swinging. On windy days, we would look out the window and say the ghost was playing with it that day. My kids love taking turns on it now.

I love passing by the Bentz farm on Conrad Road between Ludington and Scottville and viewing the beautifully manicured garden in front of their well-maintained old barns. Today a sunflower rises above others to stand out in front of one of the barns. F4.0 at 1/640, ISO 400, 500 mm lens at 500 mm

The kids love gathering the chicken eggs. We hope to set up a stand at the end of our drive one year with fresh produce and farm fresh eggs.

On October 9, 2010, the Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the 3rd annual Barns & Byways Tour in Mason County. This year, the tour will take place in Victory Township. The beautiful Victory Trinity Lutheran Church will be included on the tour. F6.3 at 1/250, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 27 mm

If you have never had one of the homemade cookies at the Old Mission General Store, do yourself a favor, and go visit this Michigan treasure. The owners are the nicest people, and the store is like walking back in time. Rachel and I had the best visit there today. I blew my diet, but it was so worth it!

Magic light strikes the path to the Green family farm on Beaver Island. Ludington friends Tony and Betty Green invited Debbie and me to visit the 120-acre farm established by Tony's family nearly 150 years ago when they emigrated from Arranmore Island, Ireland to this Lake Michigan island. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 200, 80-200 mm lens at 165 mm

Our friends Paul and Lisa Cooper have turned their new homestead on South Stiles Road into a little farm they call Carn Brea. Currently they have four mini horses and four of the cutest little sheep I have ever seen. This sheep looks huggable! F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm