Good morning! I hope that your week is going well, are you looking forward to the weekend? I am, it has been a busy and productive week at work and I am looking forward to a little down time. I want to see a movie, read a book and catch up with my favorite blogs.
It has come to my attention that I have been a little, no make that a lot whiny these past few weeks about the incessant cold, snow, polar vortex, and freezing weather. Did I mention snow?
I apologize but I do write a blog about life and right now that is my life. I promise to tone down the weather reports and to write more about books, recipes and other interesting things.
Today although it was only 15 I was out looking for signs of Spring, I did not see any but maybe tomorrow.
Lake Michigan was stunning today, the sky was blue and the ice was bobbing along the shore. Dare I hope that it is starting to thaw a bit?
This year the Great Lakes are 88% frozen over, that has not happened since 1994, and that means that there is 82,940 square miles of ice covering the largest collection of fresh water in the world. Isn’t that amazing? It also means that the Lakes will not warm up in June as they typically do but will take until August. Swimmers be ware…
The ice keeps the lake effect snow down and will raise the water levels which have been down for years so I guess it is not all bad.
I love to walk along the shores of Lake Michigan no matter what the weather, it brings back so many happy memories of growing up. My mom used to take us to the beach everyday(except in winter) to picnic and play in the sand. Oddly enough I do not recall swimming in the the water but remember vividly catching little guppies in my yellow pail and saving them for my sister who was at school. Sadly the little guys never made it because I always thought the lake water too cold for them and I would fill up the pail with warm tap water. Consequently my sister was often presented with a big smile from me and a bucket of floating guppies. It is the thought that counts isn’t it?
Are you a fan of water? Did you or do you spend time at the waters edge? Do you have a favorite lake or body of water that you spent a bit of time at? What is your favorite thing to do there? Collect shells, walk, picnic, swim?
I hope that you have a wonderful day and look forward to hearing your water stories.

Hello Elizabeth,
Your stunning photographs really do bring a shudder to the spine. The iciness of the blue all around is so penetrating. One can only imagine what it has been like for you living with this freezing weather but, yes, perhaps a thaw is now on its way?
We never get in water unless it is after being run into a soap bubble filled bath. However, we do love to watch the sea in all its moods, particularly when stormy. We are fortunate that our apartment in Brighton looks directly out to sea and we can even lie in bed and see the water…..bliss!
Wishing you a happy and restful weekend when it comes. Your plans sound like fun.
Oh boy Elizabeth, all I can think is how cold it looks, brrrrrrrrr!
Have a great weekend.
Di
X
Have you seen the ice caves over at Lake Superior? Thousands of visitors are going to see what looks like an ice-age phenomenon, and it is stunning, but I am so cold that I found myself yelling, "MOMMA", yesterday as I was driving to work and my car swerved into a pole!!!!!!!!!!! Dear Lord above, bring us spring?
Magnificent!
Spectacular shots of the lake!
I have heard about the conditions of the freezeover this year… and yes, it should at least help with the lake levels during the rest of the year.
Hi Elizabeth,
My first time visiting your blog! I love the lake Michigan pictures! I grew up in area as well. I remember going to the sand dunes, yes the water was cold in the summer. As a young girl I thought it was the other ocean! My family lived north a bit on a lake that we enjoyed all summer it was warm and gorgeous. I visit annually from SoCal, I plan my visits in the Spring!
Lovely to connect. Visit me sometime!
Hope Spring will come soon…
xo
Gail
CasualLovesElegance
Your images are stunning Elizabeth! This winter girl will start my moaning in the heat of summer.
Just read your 'about me', what an accomplished woman you are with such diverse interests, found it fascinating
This side of Lake Michigan, Chicago, is equally pretty
Cheers
Debra
Reading your posts always makes me smile. So many of my friends spend the summer near Lake Michigan, because it is cooler than the gulf waters. I am happy to sit near the water's edge with a book. I do hope you have a beautiful weekend. Bonnie
Your photos are gorgeous…and make me chilly just looking at them. I fall firmly into the whiny camp this year too – I think I have a bonafide case of SAD. Thank goodness it is almost March and I will be traveling much of the month!
Have a wonderful, and hopefully relaxing, weekend! xoxo
I hear you, my friend….I so hear you! 🙂
Your photos are STUNNING!!
And I giggled at your sweet story..(the poor guppies) 😉
I think you know, I was born on the Black Sea and my memories are very vivid, even though I left there when I was 6 1/2. I love water….
This is why we try to get up to Duluth every summer…Lake Superior (like Michigan) is magic….soothes my soul…
(We are water signs after all, you and I)….
xoxoxo