tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33767560023094101202025-11-01T10:42:49.744-04:00 A Lake Poet's MusingsDawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-32068864566694228182025-09-07T11:44:00.001-04:002025-09-07T11:45:03.501-04:00Lake MichiganThe view of Chicago from the 31st Street Beach pier is rather nice. The water was a beautiful choppy blue:Chicago skyline on Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 © Dawn Nelson 2025A warm blue sky day journey to Lake Michigan on the beach in New Buffalo, Michigan:The beach in New Buffalo at Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 © Dawn Nelson 2025The beach in New Buffalo at Lake Michigan. September 2, 2025 Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-4447058348813647932025-03-05T13:48:00.004-05:002025-03-05T13:48:42.507-05:00Last of the River Ice at Argo PondMost everything has melted now, but here is a nice characterization of the complete ice cover of the Huron River in late February. It was thick enough that someone cleared a patch to ice skate on, which leads all the way across the Argo Pond to the NEW Center. Very impressive ice cover.© Dawn Nelson 2025 Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-61429539477546342772024-11-29T17:36:00.000-05:002024-11-29T17:36:04.319-05:00Snow Day The first real snow day of the winter season. I am mesmerized by the snowfall. Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-19530336597602427542024-01-22T19:02:00.004-05:002024-01-22T19:02:52.353-05:00The Huron River DaysI've kept a pretty good journal of several observation spots along the Huron River bend along Depot Street in north Ann Arbor for several years now. Sometimes I lose steam on recording via video, but I am determined to finish a solid collection by the end of this year.It will be my contribution to the natural features inventory for this area.I am entering a new era of my life, and this year may Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-12453320254060634422023-10-30T12:42:00.003-04:002023-10-30T12:43:13.687-04:00Return to Stone CoveI finally had the opportunity to return to the Stone Cove after several years. This little cove is one of my favorite places on the earth. It is a little cove in a state park on South Bass Island, Lake Erie. This is a place I can sit and listen to the sound of the waves for hours, which is exactly what I did this fine morning of September 11, 2023.© Dawn Nelson 2023. All Rights Reserved.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-58455405770796410932023-09-24T11:05:00.001-04:002023-09-24T11:05:55.855-04:00The Davis Besse A view of the Davis Besse power plant as seen from the Jet Express Ferry on Lake Erie. September 2023.© Dawn Nelson 2023. All Rights Reserved.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-70855151737572736262023-07-17T21:01:00.002-04:002023-07-17T21:01:38.537-04:00The Huron River Lately One of my first compilation videos, beginning at the Broadway Bridge and along the river to the Canal Street water gage station. Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-20169635689717392662023-06-30T23:44:00.001-04:002023-06-30T23:44:22.323-04:00Lake St. Clair
Where the sailboats set off to race, at the top of the Detroit River into Lake St. Clair. Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-23850281142099207932023-01-31T18:25:00.000-05:002023-01-31T18:25:24.705-05:00Slightly FrozenRemarkably, the lake froze over since last week. It was all open water last Monday, and now there is a sheen of ice all the way across. I'm confident it is quite thin, but at least it is there.Zukey Lake, January 31st, 2023. © Dawn Nelson.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-53206798284411417622023-01-01T18:10:00.000-05:002023-01-01T18:10:11.697-05:00New Year's Day 2023The pond near my apartment on New Year's Day. © Dawn Nelson The snow is now gone. It is hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit on the afternoon of New Year's Day. It is a wild swing from last week's weather of subzero temperatures, only to swing back later this week. Such a fun time! My only wish is that we get enough of a stretch of cold weather that the lakes freeze over long enough toDawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-21365245655243147782022-12-31T22:54:00.002-05:002022-12-31T22:54:56.728-05:00Snow on the banks of the riverYet another Huron River lately... the snowstorm made for some beautiful winter landscapes. The rain has already washed away the snow, however, so these moments were fleeting: © Dawn Nelson 2022. All Rights Reserved.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-35879480363289520232022-11-30T23:31:00.000-05:002022-11-30T23:31:17.195-05:00The Huron River LatelyRecently I thought about my proximity to the river differently. I decided to journey just a bit further north to the docks on Lakeshore Drive and was not disappointed. The platform that juts out into the river makes for excellent immersion into blue space and it was precisely what I needed. I had also recently contemplated the notion that even if some of my observations are just a bit Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-51455744367884919652022-10-27T21:47:00.002-04:002022-10-27T21:47:22.105-04:002022 Water Year ReportI did it. I finally did it. I sat down and entered in all the precipitation data for the last water year for 2022. It only took me about 2 hours total, probably less. There is unfortunately some missing data for August, but I'm just glad I finally completed all the entries. While it appears to be a much dryer year than on average, I will note that my gage site is not ideal and there is some Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-66162597549546906882022-10-04T23:50:00.000-04:002022-10-04T23:50:10.272-04:00Lakes, Trains, FishI spent some time at the lake these past two days, and enjoyed watching the small fish school around near shore while the train passed by across the lake.Very peaceful and existentially satisfying, it was.Blue space is something to experience as often as possible, it is healing and calming.And the weather was beautiful.October is a great month to spend time near this lake, as most folks have goneDawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-2511686231987062112022-09-22T23:46:00.001-04:002022-09-22T23:46:28.982-04:00Autumn EquinoxThe temperature dropped today, entirely in sync with the equinox. I brought all my plants in from the balcony. So many plants.The season has changed.
Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-74413707656271740272022-09-19T22:24:00.000-04:002022-09-19T22:24:15.561-04:00Drifting RudderlessToday I was adamant with myself that I needed to go for a drive to the lake. I had a specific place in mind, but I wasn't sure if I would find it again so easily. Fortunately, I found it just fine.Where the Maumee River meets Lake Erie. Photo by author, September 19, 2022.It wasn't just about lake time, though. Today was about finding a new way to anchor my ambition and career goals. Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-90594534654457382662022-09-02T14:26:00.003-04:002022-09-02T14:26:50.369-04:00River walking © Dawn Nelson, all rights reserved.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-8821022550208642612022-08-31T23:44:00.001-04:002022-08-31T23:44:20.945-04:00Zukey dreaming
Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-68660177293759162972022-07-31T13:45:00.006-04:002022-07-31T13:47:30.421-04:00Pond Dwelling Midsummer has brought lovely overgrown edges to the pond.A lovely wilderness in all its simplicity.© Dawn Nelson, 2022. All rights reserved.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-1249959683556331292022-06-30T13:08:00.002-04:002022-06-30T14:30:05.249-04:00Bonsai Sojourn Another sojourn to Lake Erie, this time by way of the Bonsai garden and greenhouse. My first stop was on the River Raisin near the Old Mill house that is now a museum.The Old Mill on River Raisin. June 28, 2022. The Bonsai greenhouse on the way to Lake Erie. I did in fact pet the coy fish. They are kind of like dogs. Coy fish in the greenhouse.And then, the sea.I have arrivedDawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-4489113854723632612022-05-31T21:24:00.000-04:002022-05-31T21:24:21.151-04:00Rambling the ZukeyA bit of afternoon gardening and tidying up preceded a walk down to Zukey Lake and memory lane. I once caught small fish with my hands in this lake, long ago. I'm hoping I'll manage to catch a few fish this summer (with a fishing pole) and remember how to clean them and prepare them for dinner. Not too many though, PCBs and all. I imagine there are more than a few. Good thing my child bearing Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-47237292966426619402022-05-19T11:34:00.006-04:002022-05-20T13:40:25.970-04:00A Lake Erie Kind of DayShallow waters at the edge of a long beach on the western basin of Lake Erie. May 17, 2022.Finally, after five months of intending to get back to the Lake Erie shore, I finally made it happen on a late Tuesday afternoon. It's amazing how much calmer I feel after a long stroll on a beach of the western basin. My favorite landscape feature, twin smoke stacks in the distance. May 17, 2022.A Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-8753073863330070642022-04-05T14:56:00.001-04:002022-04-05T14:56:17.703-04:00the Huron River latelyA lovely sunny Tuesday afternoon revealed an unexpected and delightful walk by the riverside. Funny how just yesterday it was snowing gigantic snowflakes.A large snowflake day. April 4, 2022. I've been experimenting with writing on Medium and have started to develop a longform content series I am currently calling the 0100 series. It seems to be unearthing a fair amount of narrative from me Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-61954768723781606292022-03-29T21:19:00.007-04:002022-03-29T21:21:40.659-04:00FastThe river was moving pretty fast so I decided to stop by a take a quick video near Canal Street (1310 cfs streamflow at 17:00 today). This time I stood right next to the USGS water monitoring station. The little concrete dock is no longer used, but the fancier model is tucked away in the shed mid-video.Huron River at Canal Street, USGS station #04174500.--- © Dawn Nelson, 2022.Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3376756002309410120.post-53907487217968628942022-03-15T16:46:00.008-04:002022-03-26T13:46:17.720-04:00Detroit River riverwalk Short video of the Detroit River, Windsor in view. March 14, 2022.A short stroll along the Detroit River riverwalk near sunset on an early spring day. Many birds chattering in the trees made it a comforting occasion on a Monday evening. Detroit River, facing downstream to sunset. March 14, 2022.© Copyright Dawn Nelson, 2022Dawn Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10882946565265003124noreply@blogger.com