So Windy!

 It was a windy day here in Michigan. The temperature plummeted from 59F (15C) to 39F (4C) in about an hour! What a drop! We had really high winds too. MIL lost power for a few hours but luckily we didn't. A few things were blown around the garden, but we didn't lose any trees (thank goodness). We have a few really tall trees at the bottom of our garden. They have survived wind storms so far but you never know! As I sit here now it sounds as though the winds have settled down a little. 

I didn't get a lot done today. We were gone for a lot of the day. We took a trip to the lakeshore and stopped to drop off some things that middle son had bought and had shipped to our house. I think I've said this before but having packages delivered to his apartment usually includes having to either drive to the post office or waiting until the office (located in another apartment complex owned by the same company) is open so he can go get it. That usually doesn't work out too well due to his work/sleep situation. 

Husband wanted to get his booster vaccination today so on the way back we stopped to do that and I picked up some shopping while waiting. I later learned that daughter and her husband got theirs done today. My oldest son had his on Thursday so at this point we have all had it. After the shopping/vaccination we stopped at the post office (I was surprised it was still open as it was later on Saturday!) and then we stopped and picked up some bird seed we had ordered online. 

The lakeshore was really windy! Husband got out for about two minutes and then decided he was going back in the car. I braved the winds - stayed at a distance - and got some photos. It is really striking to see the waves and to realise that this is a lake - it's not an ocean or sea with regular tides and waves. I had to brace myself to stay on my feet! 

This is St Joe Lighthouse close to where my middle son lives. No walking out to the lighthouse today lol. 

Wild Waves at the Lakeshore

I did end up going to the lakeshore a little later in the afternoon after ringing my Mum and chatting with her. I was going to wait until husband got off work, but he's on nine hour days and by the time he had got home and we got to the lakeshore I knew the light would be fading. So I got up the courage to go by myself. The drive wasn't too bad, but I was glad I left when I did. When I got there the water had come up over half of the car park. Some people were driving through it to go round and park, but I wasn't that brave. I ended up pulling through a parking place to another that was out of the water. The water got higher and was quite deep by the time I left.  It was cold and a little rainy so I had to make sure to try to keep my lens dry and clean. I did get a little wet as - though I was standing what I thought was well enough back - a wave came up and went over my boots wetting my feet. Brrr… it was cold!

It always amazes me just how wild the waves get. The lake looked really angry as the skies were dark too. I ended up moving up to the cliff top and walking down some steps to higher beach to get some photos. I wish I had started out there as it seemed a little less crowded and safer. There are lots of people who come to see the water when it gets that wild.

I took this photo just so I could document how far up the water came. The car is not even in the furthest part of the car park. They were a lot braver (or more stupid) than me. I would not have parked there! You can see nothing of the beach at all.

A couple of different views.  I'm glad I went - but I've had enough excitement for a couple of days!

I hope everyone in America who celebrates Thanksgiving had an enjoyable day. It was a pretty quiet one here. We did go to MIL's for dinner - lovely as always.

Out and About

It's been a blustery, wet couple of days here. Even today, now that the wind has died down, it's quite gloomy. I took a leaf out of http://sybilwitterson.blogspot.com/ and took a drive by myself to somewhere I don't usually drive. As the winds were blowing I thought I'd take a drive to the lakeshore to try to get some photos. I've been there plenty of times with husband but not by myself (for a couple of years at least). It's not too difficult a drive but along with lacking self-confidence for other things I don't like driving places too far away. Anyway it started off okay, though it was raining when I left. However about half way there the road was closed due to an accident!!! I followed the directions on my Sat Nav/GPS but it took me around a long way. I was quite nervous, but I did make it! The drive back was a little better as the accident had been mostly cleared and the road was down to one lane.

I was glad I went. The waves were just wild. It always amazes me that a lake can create such waves! I would never believe it if I didn't see it for myself. Here's one of the photos I took. I was really carefully, standing back in these little concrete circles that were off the beach as the waves were coming up completely on the beach - even the playground was under water! There were people from the coast guard watching to make sure people weren't stupid enough to go onto the pier.

I managed to drive there and back, do some shopping I had on my list and get back in time to ring Mum. Today I'm trying to get ahead on the washing as tomorrow (fingers crossed) is supposed to be sunny and I might go hunting some Autumn colours to photograph.