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The turkey is almost done cooking and family members will soon be arriving at our cabin for Thanksgiving dinner. I am taking time out to savor an additional blessing

The sunshine is a welcome sight today! I love long casting shadows.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today in Ludington the weather was gray and ugly almost the entire day. But just before sunset, the sun broke through the cloud layer and everything turned neon orange and pink. Luckily, I was ready and waiting at the end of the new pier near the Loomis Street Boat Ramp. F22.0 at 1.0, ISO 100, 14 mm lens at 14 mm

Bob and Nancy Buchert are the newest owners of the home at 607 W. Pere Marquette in Ludington. This is the blue home on the corner of Pere Marquette and Ferry Street that I grew up in. While chatting with Bob and Nancy tonight in the front yard of their newly redone home, I noticed the magic light hitting the old birch trees in the backyard. I remember climbing these trees often as a kid.

How many trees look as spectacular without leaves as this giant maple along Conrad Road? I photographed it on Day 209 with green leaves and on Day 290 when the leaves turned golden. Today the size and symmetry of its branches stand out. F4.5 at 1/640, ISO 100, 80-200 mm lens at 80 mm

The kids and I have still been at home quarantining, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to get our Christmas tree up. It is filled with a lot of special ornaments, including my very first Christmas ornament. I always must put this one on the tree, and it must have a light behind it for it to shine bright.

The waves were rocking out on Lake Michigan today. I wanted to get in the water to shoot this wave, but it was too rough and too cold. I have been inspired lately by the photography of Clark Little. He shoots photos of waves from in the water; however, he has a waterproof system and lives in Hawaii. F5.6 at 1/2000, ISO 100, 600 mm lens with 1.4 extender at 850 mm

Our assistant manager, Hannah Ruhlig, recently told me about a home near her house that was decorated in tons of Christmas lights. Tonight, while trying to figure out what to photograph, I remembered the house. I drove there and struck up a conversation with the owner, Bill Olson. Then I went to work making this image.

A strong current keeps this offshoot of the Pere Marquette River from freezing today but I know it will eventually ice over. Today I am enjoying the beauty of branches turned into ice sculptures. F16.0 at 1/8, ISO 1000, 80-200 mm lens at 155 mm

The light was bland today, and it didn’t appear as if there would be any color for sunset. I took a walk around the yard to see what I could see. I am always amazed at pine trees and their structure.

We had a dramatic sky tonight over Lake Michigan. As often happens, the afterglow was even better and more colorful than the sunset at the first curve at Ludington State Park.

Among the most overlooked beautiful places at Ludington State Park are the dunes on the inland section of the park east of M-116 and south of the Sable River. This evening the view as I see it is spectacular. F4.5 at 1/125, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 13 mm

We have been on pins and needles waiting for our COVID-19 results. Hoping that we don’t have it, and more importantly, that we didn’t spread it to others before we knew Joshua had been exposed. David’s results have come back negative. Crossing our fingers, the rest of ours do too! David was so excited to hang Christmas lights up all around our dining room, kitchen and living room today.

While enjoying the sunshine today as I was taking a hike through our property near the Pere Marquette River, I stumbled upon this assortment of leaves in a creek. Some of the water had frozen overnight and was barely moving, which allowed me to make a sharp photograph. F8.0 at 1/200, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

I think these modern Christmas lights are really cool. This home on West Ludington Avenue, a few blocks from the beach, looks brilliant and festive.

The sky is on fire this morning as I scramble to the shore of Pere Marquette Lake. I prefer to move more slowly first thing in the morning, but the dawn of this day has jolted me awake and into high gear. This click of the shutter feels really good; I can savor the digital image over coffee. F4.0 at 1/30, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 17 mm

Finally, our results have all come back negative. What a relief! The anxiety of waiting for these results has pulled all my energy. I used what little I had left to make this image of the top of a gift box that is designed like a snow globe..

When Julia, Ethan and I walked outside this morning to head off to daycare and work, Julia pointed up at the pink clouds and told me that I should go shoot the sunrise. I quickly loaded the munchkins in my truck and we headed for the Pere Marquette River flats on Conrad Road. F8.0 at 1/10, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

Pat Shinn took me on a hike on their property along Lake Michigan today. We found all kinds of treasures, including this giant heart-shaped rock. The rock was so shiny it looked like it was spray painted with chrome paint.

After stopping at Ludington State Park to congratulate retiring Park Manager Dan Flaherty on his fine career, I have headed further into the park to look for a picture on a dark, rainy day. I like the view looking straight down while standing on this leaning tree trunk. F4.0 at 1/40, ISO 400, 12-24 mm lens at 12 mm