Stay with Me

We just love seeing wildlife in its different species and colors, and at a spot close to the Niagara River, we had seen these ducks swimming against the current and wind. Turned out to be a Mother with her ducklings, and how cute these were! 

Ice Donuts of the upper Niagara

Have you ever seen these? Seen first while in Norway. Now I can say I've seen these in the USA! Caused by pieces of ice in the river streams or water where there's water in motion. As the water freezes, it'll spin in the current to eventually appear as these floating ice discs! Very cool! There's never one that looks exactly like another! Really!

Tonight's Sunset on the Upper Niagara

You should have been here....   

The sunset and the clouds were almost perfect tonight on the upper Niagara River. It's been quite a few days since I've taken my camera with me to see the sunset since I've been working almost nonstop reviewing and archiving image files, though this exciting work has been going on for well over a decade now. I just love being parked in front of a monitor for so many endless hours each day!!

Who wouldn't enjoy such a golden cloudy sunset like this?

The last few weeks have seen empty skies above a setting sun, and I don't even use my camera when the skies are clear like that. Tonight however, was not the same as previous evenings, and I totally enjoyed it, except of course, for the 1,205 flying insects that were buzzing in and out of my camera view, and around and on me! Yesterday, as was the case during the last few times we went out for the sunset, the wind was blowing quite nicely, save for blowing insects onto our clothes and into our faces! The tiny dark spots visible in some of the pictures are the insects flying around with a model release in their little paws......

Nicest sunset in these parts in many days!!

Here's a few images snapped with my S5 of tonight's sunset. These pictures were not edited at all.

Enjoy these golden moments, and leave a few words if you really DO enjoy them!! Remember, you can click on these to see them in a bigger size!

Sheila loves these cloudy fiery sunsets as much as I do!
But she's smart enough to bring a camera when I don't!

Leaving soon after this moment, but not before
we saw the golden light backlighting some
wisps of cloud high up. Soooo lovely!

 I think the upper Niagara River has some very nice sunsets often. There are, of course, many occasions when WE enjoy some quite fiery sunsets. Here's one sample from years ago while I was still new to the area. This is posted at my site at redbubble and will take you to another website. 

click here to fototaker's older image of Fire on the upper Niagara 

I think Winter is still here......

Yes, we were just out again in our hopes of getting a decent sunset today were nice and fruitful. Not the blazing summer end of daylight we are used to seeing in San Francisco, or even the more fiery atardeces we have seen in the Bay of Cadiz, southern Spain in the past, but after two months of below freezing temperatures HERE, and on/off snow storms, we are happy with what we can see. Of course, it was cold and that stiff wind didn't help at all. It was 14°f/-10°c with a colder windchill factor of -2°f/-19°c with 16 mph winds blowing straight into our faces from the west, right off the slow moving waters of the upper Niagara River, and over the other half of the river which still has a frozen ice-cap after all these weeks!

Our sunset of 4 March on the Upper Niagara

Where do you go or do when Winter's last freezing breath is still blowing hard? It doesn't matter the weather nor temperatures, we still head out!!

Snow falls near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada,
as seen from downstream on the Niagara River

Next weekend is the time change for Daylight Saving already!! Where did the time go?

First Sunset of February 2019

Ice on the Niagara River is an awesome thing to see.

A flaming red sunset is also really gorgeous.

Together, it's an incredible scene that stays in your mind and heart forever.....

This morning's sunrise was also a flamer and very red. Did you see it?

ahhhhhhh

ooooooooooh!!

More pictures at http://www.fototaker.net

and 

http://sheilak-lee.pixels.com

Freezing temperatures BUT wonderful winter scenes

The weather was dreadfully cold, very gusty windy and snowing all the while, but WE got out and about yesterday! Traffic was very light as everyone was encouraged to stay home, and especially on a weekend when windchill temperatures drop to 10°f/-25°c!!

When the temps are this low, the Niagara River freezes in various parts of its course through the area. These are snapshots of the lovely textures created by the waters of the Niagara, and how the ice also covers bushes and plant-life near the water also! 

Just love seeing these in the Niagara

Even twigs and branches take on another soul and appearance

This bush by the water was transformed into a huge ice monster

No need for ice cubes or swords here!

Yesterday we spent a good half hour shoveling the snow which was about a foot deep, with accumulations reaching two feet and higher. I love these sights though, and how Nature will blow and sculpt a little mountain out of sand at a beach, or in this case, out of snow around a dwelling!

A view near Goat Island. It was a very grey day, then the sun smiled!

We went hoping to see frosty trees at the Falls as in previous winters, but instead it was just the usual naked trees with light snow on the top of branches. We were disappointed but still, it's quite lovely how Nature paints a snowy winter landscape for our eyes and minds to enjoy for those brave enough to wander out.

I was delighted to see visitors at the Falls too. The weather can change and who knows what can happen between the time when travel arrangements are made, and what is really there upon arrival and while wandering around? I think those who visit from faraway lands, actually luck out because many see the Falls in summer or Autumn, but to see it in Winter is really a special treat!

After our little chilly outdoor jaunt, we return home to another "joy" of winter. The outside screen door was frozen shut and couldn't be opened! We also have discovered in previous winters that same screen door freezes during the night and we can't get out!

Now Monday, the temps are really low at 3° with a wind chill of -17°, BUT the clouds are few and a lot of blue sky can be seen, but the wind is blowing in excess of 16mph. But the best part of it is the bright warming sunlight everywhere! Yesterday while we were out the gusty winds bit through our outer wear and chilled us a lot, but we have been out in more extreme temperatures and conditions.

​Yesterday's scene at the Falls as the sky broke through. You can't see the snow
falling but it was wonderful! Snapped with my SSG S5 in pano mode ~ really!

Sunday night brought reminders from many near and from far, to not forget to look for the Wolf Eclipse! I kept thinking "see what?" since it was forecast to snow practically all day.....  but before the day ended, I put on my shoes for the last time to go out and shoot that Wolf Moon just before 11pm! I knew there was something wrong with the moon since it was due to be a full moon, and all I could see a little more than a half of the moon! It was frigid cold but I got the shot.

Not bloody red nor blue, but I saw the Wolf Moon!

It didn't turn red, but I couldn't stay
outside to see; it was freezing cold!

Remember you can click any image in any post of my blog to see it larger and beautifully displayed to enjoy!

Back in western New York

It was a loooong drive back home, but we made it back safely. After 88 days in western Michigan, not including the week we drove to WNY to get new tires and have the car in for its annual inspection, etc; we only spent one night on the road to sleep but otherwise enjoyed a nice drive. It's over 500 miles on the roads south of the lower Great lakes, but this time we were delighted to have missed the worst of the rush hour on departure, and enjoying fairly good weather along the way. 

We saw only one bad accident that had westbound traffic backed up for several miles, but this is what can be expected when states set their interstate and highway speeds to 70 (or higher) miles per hour! When the speed limit is so high, I do not believe vehicles are able to stop within a safe distance. Only by encouraging people to drive so fast, is just asking for a massive loss of life and for future accidents of a major type to be the norm instead of the exception. 

You'll remember months ago WE were stuck in a major accident just miles from our Michigan destination, and traffic was at a standstill for over five hours! As you can guess, I am against high speeds for any roadway anywhere. Just because you can drive at a high rate of speed doesn't mean you have to....  and Michigan is a state where cars come up to your back bumper and ride along for some time, hoping you'll be frightened enough to move over so they can finally pass. How close is that "back-bumper" riding? You cannot see their license plates ~ THAT is how close they get! Add to that, the typical Michigan driver who pass you even when the lane has a double-solid yellow line(s), and on curves, and not even use their turn signals, thus building dangerous situations!

We enjoyed being with Sheila's grandchildren, the two twin boys who are more like rockets than little three year old boys. Add to that an adorable little girl who has a gorgeous smile and has now learned to crawl in a forward motion, and when we departed, is now standing on her own and taking exploratory little first steps, and it's a grand occasion to laugh and cry at the same time! 

What's most important - as always - is Family, and being there for each other. 

We enjoyed being able to see a tiny bit of Michigan's lake shores and lighthouses, and a getaway Thanksgiving weekend to the north staying in an old victorian house restored as a bed and breakfast. The Inn at Ludington was built in 1889, and is a delightful flashback to an long-gone era, but the breakfast was tremendous and delicious! According to their website, the morning meal consists of quiche, sausage potato egg bake, bacon, saute mushrooms, oatmeal, cereal, fresh bread, cinnamon rolls or muffins, fresh cut fruit, yogurt and, offering alternatives, such as vegetarian options and choices in meats. That sausage potato egg bake was fantastic, and I had two helpings of that, enjoying it immensely!! After breakfast, we stayed at the dining table and chit-chatted with several other guests for quite some time!

Talking of food, we ate fish and chips at a few places while in Michigan. While it was good, the quantity and appearance really lacked to what we get typically in WNY. One cannot beat the price and quality while in western New York for a Friday Fish Day, or any day of the week for that matter! We continue to get our Fish Fry at a certain TOPS supermarket store near us. You just cannot beat the taste, size and price!

Now THIS is a real Fish Fry!!

We also had time to search for, and photograph a Snowy Owl near Muskegon. As you know, we always attempt to responsibly seek out wildlife without scaring or flushing them, nor do we believe in baiting them in order to get a good picture. We were finally able to photograph one, but as usual, it was so far away that even with our long lenses, it was no larger than a tiny dot for us and the world to see! We've also seen quite a few Bald Eagles while in Michigan, and even along the route while driving to and from WNY and Michigan!

The Niagara Falls weather has been good too; during the past few weeks while in western Michigan, temperatures had been at, or just below freezing, and not improving, and that was without the chill factor considered. Grey overcast skies also do not make for good sunrises or sunsets either, but today Sheila dashed out to snap a sunrise, her first in four months!! You can also see the image at her website, and comment on her fantastic sunrise, as well as other lovely images she has posted! 

Sheila's fabulous sunrise on the Niagara River 
days after returning from Michigan

Work still continues within our humble tiny home, with great expectations for the future ~ so please stay tuned for exciting news. Once someone tells us of the excitement, we'll be sure to share it with you!

Here's another picture link of tonight's sunset from a different perspective  
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/golden-dark-reflections-tony-lee.html