So far, October has been a gray and rainy month. It's hard to enjoy the fall color show when all it does is rain. So my solution has been to take a trip to the beach.
I know, it seems like a strange solution to a chilly and rainy fall. But this particular beach is my hometown of St. Joseph Michigan!
When your hometown is a charming little beach town, you can go back any time of year and enjoy it, no matter what the weather.
And if you like to take pictures, well, there are plenty of sights to see.
I was picturing these vivid fall color shots with crystal blue skies. But it didn't happen. Every day was cloudy, rainy and gray. The skies would clear for an hour or so, then the rains would move in again. But honestly, it didn't matter to me. I still love it there.
Anyone who has visited my blog before knows how much I love the beach, and how much I love my little hometown on the shores of Lake Michigan. So sorry if you've seen all this before. You'd think I'd get tired of going there to see the same sights, and taking the same pictures. But I don't!
The challenge is always to find another angle, another hidden spot, another perfect shot. And we all know there's no such thing as the perfect shot. So I just keep trying.
My favorite photo opportunity all week happened the day that I went to just sit and watch the waves roll in. I'd take a few shots, then I'd just sit and daydream for awhile. It was a beautiful way to while away a cool autumn afternoon. Rain kept threatening, but it held off long enough for me to enjoy a good long think. And my reward was this beautiful lake rainbow.
It was so low on the horizon that no one in the town could see it, and it persisted for over an hour. I've never seen a beach rainbow like this, so I took a lot of pictures that day. And even if I hadn't, I still have it all saved up in my mind. You see, you really can go home again.
Wow, what a beautiful place you get to go to! That rainbow was amazing! I don't think I've seen that wide of bands in one before. I enjoyed seeing your foliage and sunflowers, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. You asked if we've had frost. There was a very light dusting a few mornings ago, but we have not had a freeze yet. In fact, we've had highs in the 70s this week, and an 80. Next week, it's supposed to be cooler, with highs in the 60s.
We had the killing freeze last night, and I had a cold yesterday, so was not able to go collect the last of the peppers and bring in some green tomatoes. Well, now I need to concentrate on getting some order in the house.
DeleteYou're right, that rainbow was amazing! It was so odd too, the way it was low and wide. I've never seen a beach rainbow before, and I treasured it. It persisted for well over an hour!
DeleteRobin girl ... you are so lucky to be so close to your sweet little hometown .. it is beautiful and i would love to sit on the beach and just take it all in as well ... I would never tire of it.
ReplyDeletePart of my childhood was spent on the Atlantic coast in a small fishing village ... the ocean part of my heart still.
There is something so calming about water ... I would love to have a view of it from our house ... but now with the privacy fence ... at least I have some privacy ? haha
That rain bow is amazing ! .. it must have caught you by surprise too ?
This month has been a disappointment here as well with the weather ... I wait all year for October and hang such hopes on seeing beautiful colours ... darn !! Oh well ... there is always next year right ? haha
Joy : )
I don't really live close to my sweet little hometown, it's a six hour drive. But totally worth the drive, as you can see! Yes, I'll never forget that beach rainbow. I've never seen anything like it. Very low on the horizon, and way wider than most, not to mention the fact that it persisted over an hour.
DeleteSome really fantastic photos, the scenery looks so beautiful. I think you could easily frame some of them!
ReplyDeleteTrust me Kelli, I often do frame my beach photos. We have our master suite done up in a blue and white beach theme, and that's where they fit best. Thank you!
DeleteStunning beach scenes! Thank you for making me smile. The beach rainbow is indeed special, and I am glad you shared it with us. I also am in awe of the spectacular fall foliage. Go home again? How could you ever leave? Of course, I understand how life pulls us around, but in the end, you are so fortunate to call such a place home.
ReplyDeleteI left my hometown for a career in the big city ever so long ago, then life sent me in other directions. But believe me, I'm thinking we should retire there. That place is in my blood.
DeleteWhat a good idea to go to the beach. I really need to do the same. I live in The Ocean State but as far from the beach as possible in this small state-40 miles or so which is no distance at all. The beach has a way of making one feel very far from home unless of course you live or have lived there. What a great rainbow shot. All I could think about was how large that pot of gold must have been at its end. There mermaids and porpoises are rich beyond belief.
ReplyDeleteYou are only 40 miles from the beach? My goodness, you'd better get yourself there! My hometown is six hours away, and I get there two or three times a year. It's mostly for photo shoot reasons, but I do have old friends there too. Wasn't that rainbow amazing? I've never seen anything like it!
DeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the lighthouse photos!
ReplyDeleteWe think alike...cloudy day at the beach is still a great day!
And how lucky to see that rainbow, too!
I see you took my advice and went to the beach. Yours was lovely too! Aren't we lucky to have these beautiful places to feed our spirits?
DeleteRobin ~ I never get tired of your St Joseph photos. They are like chamber of commerce shots, they make me want to visit! It's beautiful there. I used to love the beach in any weather too but it's been way too long since I've lived near one.... You even have what looks like real "sand" on your shoreline. What people call "sand" around the lakes in Colorado is really small gravel. Nothing the same about it.
ReplyDeletep,s. I hear you on the cosmos issue. They are usually late bloomers here too but not as late as this year. We are lucky it's been an extended fall so we get to see them. I ordered the 'lemon garden' and 'apricot' varieties from Annie's Annuals. The plants were a very nice size but that still didn't get them to bloom any faster. I don't know what the secret is???? I saved some seeds but not sure if I'll start them or not. Thanks for the advice on the begonia too. I did bring it in the house. :)
Well Kathleen, you should consider a visit to Michigan. There are many, many other lovely spots, trust me. You would LOVE it, and your camera would get a workout. Yes, there's sand. Lots and lots of it, dunes full. You should see Sleeping Bear Dunes. One of the most beautiful spots on earth, truly.
DeleteAmazing pictures of a stunning place, Robin. I love the beach whatever the weather, too. P. x
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite times to be at the beach is during a gale. So invigorating!
DeleteOh man Robin, these photos are beyond beautiful. I could never tire of looking at them. The boy silhouette at sunset... the rainbow... the lighthouse photos... the sunflowers, grasses and fall foliage... all stupendous! My favorite however, is 12 down from the top, where you captured blue, frothy waves crashing into the pier--spectacular. (And, in my opinion the sign of a good photographer is making sure the horizon is exactly horizontal, which you did perfectly.) Great post. I hope you felt as invigorated and uplifted visiting here as I did looking at your photos.
ReplyDeleteThe frothy waves you admired were taken on my way out of town. I always stop there last. This time, the skies were finally blue and I was able to get a few shots off before the clouds returned. It's always very hard for me to leave. The final ritual is to take some sand and sprinkle it on my floor mats. Weeks later, and it's still there. Eventually, I'll vacuum it up. But not now, not now.
ReplyDelete