One thing I love about nature is that just a slight change of an angle can give an interestingly different perspective. Like this photo of the same log in the post before this one.
I took this photo on one of the nature trails in the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids. The other day a friend commented to me that most of the places on my website are free. The Blandford Nature Center is another of those free sweet spots. I remember the first time I went to Blandford, I was blown away that such a nice place was free and so accessible.
I’ve spent a lot of time there and what I treasure about it, is the ability to get in touch with nature and yet be in the city. I used to try to go to Blandford a few times a month when my boys were little. We’d walk along the nearly 5 miles of nature trails, talk and get a workout all at once. Here’s a google link, the nature center gate closes at 5:00pm, but you can still enjoy it in the evening. Just park in the little lot at the entrance in front of the gate and walk on into the park.
Okay, this time it’s for real! This is the Little Point Sable Lighthouse. It’s located near Silver Lake in Mears, MI and is one of the oldest brick towers remaining on the Great Lakes.
I fell in love with Pentwater when my mother-in-law took me there to an “Arts and Craps” Show (my disgruntled father-in-law’s term, not mine.) The city is charming, on the water and relaxing to visit. I took this downtown where 3rd Street dead ends at the water (near the intersection with S. Hancock Street.)
Here’s the same spot where I took the picture of the dragonfly. This is the Little Point Sable Lighthouse in Whitehall. Whoops, thanks to help from one of my visitors, I’m correcting this, it’s actually the White River Lighthouse. I also took pictures of the Little Point Sable Lighthouse and will be posting them soon.
This is the view from across the water, which is a little harder to get to but worth it. The view is better and it’s not as busy. Here’s a google map link so you can see it from my perspective in Medbery Park
Okay, so technically this isn’t really called Lilly Pad Park, but it should be. I took this picture in a little park off the beaten path in Whitehall. There is a long boardwalk that goes into this field of lilly pads and cattails, it is near Funnel Field.
For the last ten years, every time I’ve driven by this farm, I’ve said to myself, “Hmmmm, I think I’ll take a picture of that place, could it possibly be more perfect?” Problem is, it’s on Pettis, a rather busy road, and there is no shoulder to park on.
I finally decided to brave the elements and get the shot. I very quietly parked. Quietly, because my car was a little bit on someone’s lawn, and then ran across the street, took my pictures and ran back to my car. Unfortunately, my car locks on it’s own when I shut the door and I locked my keys in it. No problem, I just stuck my hand in the open window and unlocked the car, which of course set off the car alarm. And, I couldn’t turn it off. So, if anyone saw a woman driving down Pettis last night with her horn honking and lights flashing, “hi,” it was me.
You would not believe the grossness I walked through to get this shot. The best photo angle was through a mucky swampy area though, so I walked through it barefoot. I really hope I can get the mud out of my toenails before I have an executive level meeting tomorrow at work.
I took this off Pettis Avenue at Chief Lazy Cloud park in Ada. What a perfect place to watch the sun go down. I heard that the Pettis family owns property adjacent to the park and are going to donate land to make it bigger.
When I discovered Dogwood Avenue in Ada, I thought the people who lived on that street were the luckiest in the world. Not their cars though, because this is a dirt road. Imagine having this in your side yard.
This historic covered bridge provides a walkway over the Thornapple River in Ada. There is a nearby ball diamond and my favorite resale shop, Georgie’s, is just beyond that. I’ll have a lot more photos of Ada soon, I love Ada. Heck, you know that, because by now you know I love everywhere I put on this Blog. I’ll put a google map link to this location tomorrow.