Monarch Rescue

taken:
day eighty five
09.13.2014

This monarch has a sweet story. As I was meandering the shore of Lake Mille Lacs at my parents cabin I felt a fluttering flip by me. I turned and noticed this monarch floating in the water right along the shore so I went over and gently plucked it out of the lake. I put it on the rocks in the sun so it could dry. Then I sat down and watch it. It flapped it's wings softly and before long it started to walk toward me. I got up a couple of times to move out of it's way, I wasn't sure where it wanted to go, if it was coming to me or trying to go past me. Then I decide to pick some flowers for it. When I put the flowers in front of it, it took a few sips of nectar. Really cool! Then, after a few more minutes, I started to worry because it looked like it was dieing. It seemed to drift off to it's side and almost stop breathing and moving. I wondered if it was nearing the end of it's lifecycle and that's why it landed in the water in the first place. So I started to feel sad and didn't expect a good outcome. But then, all of a sudden, in a quick instant, it lifted off and fluttered through the air above me, all the way up to the tree tops. I was so happy! It was fun to rescue that precious monarch and share a special moment with such a beautiful butterfly.

Roaring Winds And Raging Waves

taken:
day seventy three
09.01.2013

On some days Lake Mille Lacs can really pack a punch. It can make you wonder where you are, on the coast of a great ocean or on the shore of a vast Minnesota lake? 

The day before this, the water was calm, waves gracefully dancing off the shore, leaving the horizon with sailboats and serenity. It was a day filled with peace, rock collecting, swimming and canoe rides.

A day later the waves boasted some sort of raging assault, ripping crawfish from the warm waters of late summer. Not a single sailboat in the distance. Crawfish and sailboats, they don't stand a chance against those crashing waves.   

On days like this, white caps always speak with a roaring wind, the kind of wind that requires you to shout just to be heard at a whisper. But step feet away from shore, up the hill and you'll find quieter, muffled wind. Where you can be heard again.

Solitary

taken:
day seventy two
08.31.2013

One solitary feather among the rocks on the shore of Lake Mille Lacs.

Right Moment

taken:
day fifty seven
08.16.13

Lake Mille Lacs has some of the most stunning sunsets. 

They're even more spectacular when a sweet little family of ducks float by at precisely the right moment.

Summer's Last Storm

taken:
day ninety four
09.21.12

At Lake Mille Lacs, on the last day of summer, in the final hours, a blustery ending brewed. 

Dark, thick clouds hid what would have been summer's last sunset. 

The winds whipped, the waves swelled toward shore. 

Before long the rain began to gush from the sky. 

Summer's last storm, washing away the brightness of summer, brought with it the rich and crisp days of autumn.

Until Next Year

taken:
day seventy five
09.02.12

It was our last day at the cabin on Labor Day weekend. As a Common Merganser floated by, we soaked up every ounce of the sun and beach before we had to leave for home. Back to reality because even though the calendar states that it's still officially summer, everyone knows that Labor Day weekend signifies the end. Good bye to long hot days, bare feet across the rocks, splashes off the dock and relaxing beach afternoons...until next year.

August's Last Sunset

taken:
day seventy three
08.31.12

As the sun sets on the last day of August, over Lake Mille Lacs, the evening becomes drowsy, dreamy and quiet.

Dock at Dusk

taken:
day twelve
07.01.12

The dock at dusk. If this dock could talk, it might tell us about the harsh waves that it endures when the north winds whip down. Or about the bazillions of lake bugs that invade the summer and coat the water top. Or about two little boys that love to walk along it and once they gain their courage, jump off it into the cold water. Or about the duck families and tranquil loons that float gently by. But it would definitely tell us about the medley of breathtaking sunsets that fall on the horizon every single evening lighting up the sky with amazing color. And this was a beautiful sunset to kick off the first day of July.