Summer Sundown

For two nights now we've experienced the incredibly beautiful reflections of sunsets on Lake Aspen. This was yesterday evening's treat.

The Lilies of the Field

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith. Therefore, do not worry . . . indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” – Luke 6:28-32

Last Light

Just minutes ago, I took this photo of a sunset in the west reflected on the clouds beyond the northeastern shore of Lake Aspen and in its placid waters.

Rosy Dawn

I struggled out of bed at 5:30 this morning to capture this awe-inspiring scene. It was worth it.

Happy 50th, Louise & Tom

Last evening, family and friends got together to celebrate the 50^th wedding anniversary of Louise and Tom Cini. This shot shows them entering the patio of their daughter’s home, not yet fully aware of all who were there to greet them.

Updraft

The actions of clouds fascinate me. Last evening, I could visualize the vertical force of the wind building this cloud into a possible thunderhead later in the evening.

Evening Storm Shielding Sunset

This evening, storm clouds brewing in the western sky are pierced by the rays of the setting sun.

Sailboat at Sunset

While we were touring Lake St. Louis last Saturday at sunset we spied this cabin sailboat off our starboard.

Lake St. Louis Sunset

This was the scene yesterday evening as we returned from a nautical tour of Lake St. Louis hosted by our good friends, Dan and Jean O’Connell.

Sweet Sign of Spring

These beautiful Rambling Roses greet all who come to our front door.

Canopy of Trees

On warm, sunny days, it’s pleasant to walk in the shade of the trees covering West Aspen Circle Drive. This is the view on our return from Geneva Cove.

Serene May Day

 Our balcony view of Lionshead Beach at Lake Aspen on a sunny afternoon in May.

Loo at the Lake

Discreetly hidden in the woods at the intersection of Lionshead Beach Drive and Lionshead Drive is this public convenience. On major summer holidays at Lake Aspen, it is joined by a number of others that are far more public.

Innsbrook Stonehenge

In the meadow in front of Innsbrook condo buildings four and five rests this semi-circular arrangement of monoliths, perhaps not as old as the Neolithic period.

Monday, Monday

Woke up this morning to another dreary, rainy day in Innsbrook. The rain gauge in our garden registers 4½ inches of rainfall for these past seven days. However, the weather bureau is forecasting two sunny days for this week.

Taps

Looking at this sunset, I could almost hear the sound of taps in the distance: the end of a perfect day.

The Rain Must Fall

Last evening, this big black pall covered Lake Aspen, presaging the deluge that would come late that night. By morning the downpour had filled two inches of our rain gauge.

One Fine Spring Afternoon

This is a shot taken yesterday of the meadow in front of our condo. An aged crop of rocks grows in the meadow, covered by the bright blue sky with soft white clouds and surrounded by the green of the lawn and trees which line either side of the ribbon of asphalt leading to the Geneva Center and on to Lake St. Galen beyond.

Aspen View

This is the view of the villas at Lake Aspen that greets us each time as we reach the crest of the hill on Lionshead Beach Drive.

Rainbow in the Morning

Awhile back, after seeing a rising golden sun in the east trying to pierce the heavy downpour early one May morning,  I looked out front to see this multi-colored rainbow arching across whole western horizon – so large that I was able to capture only one-half of the rainbow at a time.

  

Afternoon Moon

A branch of a large Northern Pine points to a first quarter moon in the bright afternoon sky to the west of our condo.

Boat on the Black River

We saw this colorful boat tied up along the shore of the Black River in South Haven, Michigan, during one of our vacations there.

Clouds’ Illusions 2

Look at these high, thin clouds. What do you see?

Lake Aspen Dawn

I awoke at 5:30 this morning to view this scene from our balcony.

Sunrise through the Rain

My photo of this scene, taken through the pouring rain at 6:30 this morning, doesn’t do it justice. The sky was a bright gold when I first saw it, and it painted a bright rainbow against the whole darkened, western sky in front of our condo.

Misty Sunrise

One of the pleasures of living on Lake Aspen is its beautiful sunrises created by the sun’s light rising from behind the trees and reflecting through the mist on the placid water.

Sunset Silhouettes

One recent April evening, I walked out our front door to see this serene scene of trees darkly silhouetted against  this beautiful sunset.

Clouds' Illusions

Looking at these clouds, on a nor’easterly course following a storm that just passed through Innsbrook on last Saturday, made me think about that old tale that thunder is the sound of angels bowling in heaven.

Light Overcoming the Darkness

I took this shot late Saturday afternoon as the sun was breaking free of the storm clouds passing to the north. The sun’s brilliance, reflected on the surface of Lionshead Beach Drive and on the low tufts of clouds racing eastward, lent a measure of hope to the scene.

April Downpour

This was the scene Saturday afternoon outside the indoor riding arena, the site of Innsbrook’s Spring Fest exhibition. You can see the rainfall silhouetted against the red walls of the shed behind the farmhouse. In spite of the heavy downpours, the fest had a good turnout to enjoy the exhibits, the lively Irish music of the Kelly Band and several other forms of entertainment.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

After returning from this year's Innsbrook Spring Fest, where the Innsbrook Photo Club exhibited the work of several members, I spotted this photo op across the lake from our condo. The sun had just started to break through the clouds in the west and was beginning to form a rainbow in the eastern sky above Fireworks Point. Perhaps all the drenching rain of the day was coming to an end. Not!

Entering the Enchanted Forest

Mary Ann and I often like to walk this road toward the Geneva Center condos, Lake St. Galen Drive and East Lake Aspen Circle Drive. We call this spot “the enchanted forest” because it so picturesque in any season.

Lake Aspenetter

This is a beautiful spring view taken yesterday from the road leading to the conference center after crossing the dam between Lake Aspen and Lake Aspenetter. In the foreground is the golf cart path leading from the fourth tee along the eastern shore of the lake. On the opposite shore, diagonally across the lake, is lot 506, where we built our first home in Innsbrook.

Dogwoods in Bloom

This was my first sighting of a dogwood tree in bloom this spring while Mary Ann and I were on our walk today. Another beautiful realization that spring is here.

Iridescent Dawn

This is yesterday’s sunrise over Lake Aspen on a chilly spring morning, reflecting on the high thin clouds, to spread an eerie glow over Lake Aspen.

Gathering Storm

The carport in front of our condo presented this dramatic view of the approach of early spring storm clouds.

Wild Sweet William in Bloom

I photographed this early Spring Missouri wildflower on the Aspen Trail above the Lake Aspen spillway.

The Flyover

The contrast of the contrail of a passing airliner against the azure sky and crimson leaves of the Japanese Maple tree caught my eye as Mary Ann and I were enjoying an early evening quiet time on our deck.

  

Sunset on Lionshead Beach Drive

One evening this past weekend, I came out to see this beautiful sight of the sun setting in the west, peeking through the trees behind Lionshead Beach Drive near our condominium.

The Beauty of Lake Aspen Shores

I shot this while we were cruising along the shores of Lake Aspen this past weekend. Spring was burgeoning everywhere.

Trees: God’s Poetry

The American poet Joyce Kilmer confessed that “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree.” So often, while I’m walking through Innsbrook, I see the wisdom of his statement. 

Spring Scene at Aspen Falls

I diverted from our daily walk this beautiful weekend just long enough to snap this shot of Spring bursting forth all around Aspen Falls.

Sun Peeking Down on Lake Aspen

This is the sight that greeted me early this morning. The start of another beautiful day.

March Morning Sunrise

The power of the early morning sun climbing above the trees on Fireworks Point to pierce and conquer the night's fog on Lake Aspen fascinated me. I had to add it to my sunrise collection.  

A Rite of Spring

Not too long from now, the Memorial Day weekend will be upon us. Early on Saturday morning, members of the Wright City and Innsbrook radio-controlled amphibious aircraft clubs will gather to amaze their the many spectators, young and older, with their deft remote-control flying skills. It's just another perk of living near Lionshead Beach. 

Easter Sunday Egg Hunt

This is a fond memory of an Easter Egg hunt on the south lawn of the Innsbrook Conference Center several years ago when the Easter bunny coached our granddaughter Jamee on the fine points of egg hunting.

Solitary Greeter of the Morning Sun

Early one late winter morning, I caught sight of this lonely person, sitting on the boat hitch rail on Lionshead Beach, contemplating the beauty of the sunrise on Lake Aspen.

The Girsch Family

I snapped this last November, right after the St. Ambrose Fighting Bees ended their football season by trouncing Iowa Wesleyan, 45-0. Our son-in-law, Jeff, the team's defensive coordinator, was sharing the victory with Erin, Jamee and Jill out on the field just before I took the picture.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse

This lighthouse stands on Eagle Bluff in Wisconsin’s Peninsula State Park between Fish Creek and Ephraim on the Door County coast of Green Bay.

Mondavi Winery, Napa

In celebration of our thirty-third wedding anniversary, Mary Ann and I spent the weekend in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. The architecture of this entrance to the Robert Mondavi Winery begged to be photographed.