Full moon over Oakland County, Michigan 1/26/2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photos by Jonathan Schechter

Nothing like a nearly windless winter night under a full moon to walk in silent woods.

Moon shadows dance.

A distant owl calls to the world.

Tracks in snow tell tales.

The world is at peace.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

photos by Jonathan Schechter 1/21/2013   

Avalanche hazards are not restricted to the mountains of our western states.

At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (near Empire, Michigan)  a clear and

 present danger results from powerful winds on shifting sands capped with layers of snow.

But it is a natural living wonderland like none other!

Fire and Ice photos from 2010 and 2012 by Jonathan Schechter

Looks like Mother Nature is bringing snow back to Oakland County!  And just in time,

 for we are less than two weeks away from the sixth annual Fire and Ice Festival in

 downtown Rochester, Michigan to be held January 25, 26, 27.

The festival is a family friendly salute to winter and there are no charges for
 any of the winter events. Translation: FREE! 

Dog sledding!

Tube sledding hill!

Ice Skating!

Snow shoeing!

Cross-country skiing!

Ice carving demonstrations!

Marshmallow roasting!

A Taste/Fest beer tent!
And plenty of fun just walking around town!

To add to the fun a spectacular fireworks display begins at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday
 night near the corner of East Third and Water Streets and a concert by the teen singing 
group  TRUE, precedes  fireworks each night.  It's also a great time to walk down the streets 
and visit with local merchants.  Another bonus: The Big Bright Light Show will illuminate  downtown stores in a rainbow of colors from 6 pm to midnight each day of the festival.

If you love nature and close to home winter adventure it's time to remind Mother Nature 
to  let it snow and snow and snow. 
And more good news, your children can borrow snowshoes!
 Last year the winter festival was cancelled: Why? No snow.

Update and details from our Oakland County Parks Department:

 www.destinationoakland.com/thingstodo/fireandice/Pages/default.aspx

Robin   January 2013 photo by Jonathan Schechter

Robins are looked at by many as a sign of spring and television newscasters often become
 nearly breathless with excitement when reporting  "They are  back!"
 Fact of the matter is clear; many robins spend the winter in Michigan and feast

 on abundant dried berries and seek shelter in thickets. But when suburban lawns thaw, usually

 in late March or early April, we see them more often as they resume their love for 

worm-slurping. The eastern bluebird is another false prophet of spring. Although many do 

fly further south, just as many hunker down for the winter in shrubby areas and thickets and

 even visit bird feeders as my photos below show from the first week of January.

Eastern bluebirds in my yard, January 6, 2013