Officially Winter

Today is the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year and the official start of Winter. On the plus side, the days will start getting longer now. This picture is from northern Michigan, where they have been experiencing unofficial Winter for a few weeks already.

Red and Green 2

Couldn't resist another photo of the Wrigley Building, this time lit up differently. That's the gold top of the Carbide and Carbon building at the top left of the picture.

Although I tried, I couldn't time the photo to get the string of street lights - even stop lights - blinking the bright red and green.

Under the Eagle's Eye

Went snow-shoeing at Fisherman's Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan today and saw several Bald Eagles. We got the distinct feeling they were glad to see us leave when one flew over our car, following the road in front of us but barely twenty feet overhead, as if it were showing us the way, or perhaps escorting us, out of the park.

Amazingly beautiful birds, whether they are glaring at the camera or soaring overhead.

Sandy Snow Dunes

... or snowy sandy dunes?

This picture is not in sepia. The sand has dusted over the snow that piled up on the picnic tables and dunes in Petoskey State Park.

Charlevoix The Beautiful

A little pre-holiday getaway to the Little Traverse Bay area of upper lower Michigan. They've had way more snow than Chicago. This is the Charlevoix Lighthouse in the background and some cool icicles in the foreground. I'd never seen icicles form in a curvy pattern like this.

Red and Green 1

Several of Chicago's skyscrapers have adopted holiday themes for their lights. This is the Sears Tower and the 311 S Wacker Building.

Darn Cold

Yes, that is steam.
Yes, it is coming off of Lake Michigan.
It was darn cold on Thursday.

Darn cold.