Wordless Thursday

Winter Photograph Part 2

It is growing cooler as we head north on Lake Michigan. The wind is fierce, howling across the lake and unto the beach. Sending sand flying like is was snow.

There is wind erosion everywhere. At the north side of Manistee Lighthouse I climbed up on the sand dune and was shocked to find I was actually standing on the top of the protective fence. I shot the photograph above before climbing down to get back in the car and try to warm up.

You have to be a dedicated fishermen to go out on the pier for the Muskegon channel marker He is all alone and if he was washed into the lake, I don't think we could get to him in time. It amazes me how many birds we see flying even in these stiff winds.

I think for my next trip I am going down to warmer climes, something like the Florida Everglades.

Winter Photography

A question on an Etsy Team got me thinking. What would I do if I had a week off and could do a road trip. Well my answer was a trip along Lake Michigan would be my choice. So off DH and I went. We only had 2 things going out that we wanted to do; photograph a picture barn I was told about and stop at the Chocolate Garden.

On our first day we accomplished both.

For winter shooting I take besides a winter coat, a vest, wristies, gloves, ear covers, a hat, and fleece socks, besides the usual camera gear. We haven't had much snow, at least not where I live, and it has also been warm so we didn't know what to expect.

We started in Michigan City, Indiana. The vest was the first to go, it was in the sixties. Nice and warm, but the wind was vicious. I walked out to the the old lighthouse along the beach, had to look for a place I could get up the sand dune to access the pier. Even though there were fishermen on the pier, I stayed back where it was safe. There are all kinds of warnings about going out during high winds that create waves that can knock you into the icy water.

To save time I decided to walk back along the boardwalk. Big mistake. The sand was reclaiming the walkway. I had to place my camera under my jacket, turn away from the wind and hope for the best. I was being sandblasted. It took me a long time to get all the sand out of my hair.

From there we headed north to St. Joesph.

To Be Continued...........


Cathy 3 / 12 / 2012

5 Years Coming Up!

I find it hard to believe that on April 15, 2012, I will have been on Etsy for four years and will be starting my fifth year! I joined in March but didn't listing anything until April 2008.

Where does the time go?

It has been quite a ride! I love Etsy!

2011 was banner year for Celtic Cat!

Etsy has given  me the chance to sell off season, which for Celtic Cat Photos and Thistle And Shamrock Publishing is Dec. 10th to the springtime. 2012 will be the first year we won't be doing outdoor summer shows. We are selling our tent, I will miss my summer vendor-friends, but I won't miss putting up that heavy KD tent, sitting in heat, the long summer hours and early mornings.


Cathy Feb. 18, 2012

Winter In Michigan

Usually In Michigan we have temps well below freezing and in the single digits at night. Not this year.

In fact my Day Lily under a pine tree came back in December because the weather turned warm. The poor plant has been struggling, until it finally got too cold and it died. One day it is cold here, then it gets warm for a day or two, then cold again.

Not that I am complaining. I haven't had to shovel snow this season.

Cathy 2 / 1 / 2012

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends out there, in cyber-space, at Etsy and GCU. 

In 2012 may all your wishes come true!

Cathy  12 / 20 / 11

Greeting Card Maker of the Month: Jennifer of Scrap About Love

I'm Jennifer. By day, I work in TV and IT, by night I'm a wife to a wonderful husband, Josh, and 'mom' to adorable pups, Fry & Leela(Named for the Futurama characters). When I'm not at work or spending time with my family, I have a small time photography business doing portraits and sports photography, as well as my photography oriented Etsy shop: By Jennifer Leigh. My biggest hobby has come to be scrapbooking and card making, which is where my shop, www.ScrapAboutLove.etsy.com comes in.

I have found a huge creative outlet with ScrapAboutLove. I get to play with paper, markers, stamps, ink and glue ~ it's like being back in Art class in grade school (except with a more sophisticated result, lol). When I'm not scrapbooking adventures taken with my family, I'm usually trying to keep up with birthdays and holidays and the like, and on occasion, I find a new idea popping into my head, and that is what ends up in my shop.

The reason I have found that I have taken a liking to creating cards was the reaction I got from my brother of all people. I felt if he could appreciate the time and effort(and love!) put into a handmade card, there would be other people that would appreciate my cards as well.