Today was a cold, icy, nasty day.  Like 15 degrees and 15 mph winds, yielding sub-zero wind chills.  And I had several hilltop properties to look out.  Since tomorrow is supposed to be worse than today, I added some layers and headed out into the elements.  The first parcel sits on a north facing ridge, overlooking Long Lake, and when the snow isn’t flying, Sleeping Bear Dunes in the distance.  A trot up the ridge and some photos showed me what I needed to know- a hike down to the waters (ices) edge will have to wait.

Next a stop at a wooded lot with shared access to Crystal Lake.  Again here, snow obscured any possible distant lake views.  On to the  last pair of lots, which sit on the bluff overlooking Crystal Lake.  As I stepped out of my car, the wind slapped my face, and my eyes began watering almost instantly.  By the time I walked down the lots, tears were streaming and being caught in the wind.  Those that ended up on my glasses quickly turned to little salty icicles.

I snapped a couple of quick photos, and was about to turn my back on the wind, when a quick tear in the clouds let a stream of sunlight through to the lakes surface.  Thank God for small reminders of life’s beauty.

Breaking through heavy clouds, sunshine makes its way to the icy waters