GOT SNOW? If you live anywhere near the Midwest you do, and by now you’ve probably had your fill. I literally had to stop the truck last week on my way into work due to the extreme white out conditions.
I didn’t jerk the camera; the wind and snow is just blowing THAT hard!
As much as I’m sick of the cold, there is one place I have to visit every winter and that is Lake Michigan.
Welcome to Grand Haven, Michigan!
Winter has been brutal this year all across the U.S. which also holds true in our neck of the woods. It started snowing before Thanksgiving and just wont let up.
My truck, buried under eight (8”) inches of new snow last night, didn’t even phased me when I walked out to leave the studio. I was just thankful to discover it was the light fluffy snow this time which is much easier to shovel off the hood. No, this isn’t my truck but I admire this one on my way to and from work every day. Isn’t it cool! If I had this in my yard, I would plant it with inpatients every spring.
I drove home in near white out conditions which has become the norm. I must have been driving into the wind because the snow looked like it was coming right at me. You know what I mean? When it snows like that at night, it’s almost hypnotizing ~ not a good combination when you’re already pooped driving home at midnight.
As much as I hate the cold, I have to admit, the magic of winter is still absolutely breathtaking. Some of the clearest memories I have as a child are the trips to Lake Michigan in the winter.
The Grand Haven Breakwater Lighthouse
I would have to be on a boat to shoot a picture in the summer because we’re all standing on the lake. When I turned around and faced Wisconsin (where my cheese-head friend Ann abides :), this is what I saw!
The way the ice freezes on Lake Michigan is truly spectacular! I’m facing Wisconsin in this picture ~ Hi Ann!
As the temperatures fall, waves freeze into the coolest iced waves.
It’s something you really need to experience in person to truly appreciate it. I was absolutely in my glory as it brought back so many great memories of my childhood.
I am holding on for dear life here!
The back side of this was steep and solid ice. I had quite the ride when I let go 😀
Finding a place to park was a little tricky with all the snowbanks!
As you look towards the lake, snow and ice have covered the sand and water. In the picture below, it looks like water in the distance, but it’s actually the shadows of the snow and ice covering the lake. The day we were out here, the lake had frozen six miles out. Down the road a bit in Holland, Michigan ~ the ice went 16 miles off shore. Isn’t that amazing? I’ve never seen the Great Lakes freeze that far out!
Thats so crazy Shelly! I cant beLIEVE that is near my sweet, warm, sunshiney Holland! Beautiful though. Nice to see you with your family and NOT WORKING!!
I know right?! The ice is out 16 miles off Big Red!
With all the complaining we’ve done this season, thanks for reminding us of how beautiful winter is!
I’m ready for summer too but this trip to the lake was awesome!
Thank you! Beautiful, fun pictures! We live in Minnesota. Must say I love winter!
Wish more people would learn to enjoy the beauty of winter……some days I do hate the driving part though. I also enjoy your blog!! Thank you!
The beauty of winter will never cease to amaze me but I could easily pack up and move somewhere warm at this stage in my life. The cold and expense of everything involved is taking it’s toll.
With all the national fuss about our nearby ICE CAVES near Bayfield and Cornucopia, Wisconsin…….It never occurred to me that Lake Michigan could yield such unique beauty in this non ending winter. Thank you for the uplifting beautiful photos!
Lake Michigan is always amazing in the winter, but this year it’s really spectacular. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I was raised in MI and currently live in TX. While I lived there I never visited the lake in the winter..wow did I miss out on the spectacularness (is that a word?) of it all! I visited that lighthouse this past summer, seeing these after seeing it surrounded by water is surreal! I was just there a few weeks ago for 2 weeks, I sure wish I would have visited this sight while home. Texas has also had a cold winter (ya I know I’m not going to get any sympathy from you…) but I’ve bitten my tongue everytime I even thought about complaining about the cold…100 degree temps are litterally around the corner! UGH
oh shoot! Too bad you didn’t know about it while you were here. Well, now you do so if you ever come back around this neck of the woods in January or February, be sure to check it out. It’s crazy how cold the weather has been everywhere; I’m SO looking forward to summer!
Simply breathtaking! Thank you for sharing! I’m in MO, we’ve just been cold here, only one good snow. If it’s going to be below zero, I want snow like you have 🙂
Shelly, this looks like so much fun! The snow is gorgeous! Your snow makes our Georgia snow look so pitiful! Funny, we stop everything with a few inches and your have feet+ of snow and can keep going! Your pictures are awesome!
The above comment was from me- I didn’t catch the login name.
These pictures were so cool. It was really nice to see you all having fun in the cold, cold weather in MI. Thank you for sharing them. Your family is beautiful
🙂
I grew up in Grand Haven and grandparents lived in Holland. Thank you for reminding me what a beautiful little town Grand Haven is!!! I’m of Dutch descent and every year we would wait for my Grandma to make new Dutch dress costumes to wear to the Tulip Festival and parade. I still have my wooden shoes. I am many years older now and reside in NC – it was fun to take the walk down memory lane!