Muskegon State Park Lost Lake Hike With Kids

Back corner of Lost Lake.

My kids love climbing the hills, and walking on the fallen tree "bridges".

Access to the lake.

Lost Lake again.

Along the bottom of the dune, the lake is mostly swamp, very beautiful swamp.

My daughter was quite enthralled by these emerging ferns.

She was also quick to point out this interesting tree base with fungi and moss.

Very interesting, how this tree looks as it decays.

Muskegon State Park Dune Ridge Trail - April photos

Ahhhh... a quiet walk in the wilderness. So many beautiful sights in our Muskegon State Parks! We went with our friends, and took our two dogs. This walk was about 1 and 1/2 hours.

Here we are at the dune ridge, taking a break. It was a long uphill climb even for the dogs!

In the background here, we can see the paper mill. Muskegon Lake, for all of its beauty, is also surrounded by industry. For me, the two sides, nature and industry, are inseparable.

We can see a dried up lake bed nestled between the dunes.

Trees and bushes in the dunes have a twisted, almost unnatural, way of growing sometimes.

Another view of the paper mill across Muskegon Lake. Can you see the two swans?

Our very happy dogs, Cedar and Morgan, taking a cool bath after a long walk. Next time I'm bringing my swimsuit!

Let me know if you like my pictures, by leaving a comment!

Muskegon Michigan State Park Trail Photographs Spring Time

In the distance I can see the smoke stack of our power plant.
Almost everywhere I go in Muskegon, for as long as I have been alive,
I can see this very prominent image of our industrial heritage.
Here it is contrasted with the beautiful woodland and sand dunes
that also makes Muskegon what it is.

I was at the top of a large sand dune when I snapped this photo of Lost Lake.

Here is a distant photo of the Muskegon Block House. From it I can see everywhere. It was built as a fort or a look out, for soldiers to survey the land.

Lost Lake is in the background of these shadowed trees.

Lost Lake.

Lost Lake.

This is Lost Lake, with the dune I was standing on for a previous photo, in the background.

Little seedlings in the woodland floor.

The brightest emerald green moss, at least brighter than the stuff in my woods.

Cedar Swamp.

Sunlight shining through the young Cedars.

The roots of a fallen Cedar pull the soft swampy ground up along with it.

Back to the truck. This is Snug Harbor and the swans love to hang out here.

Hope you enjoyed my photos. Leave comments if you like them, and maybe I'll get out and take more local pictures. I love to do it anyway! I wish I had more info on the historical aspects of these areas, but I just like to look at the photos too.

-Alicia

Photos of Yard and Pond, Late March

I'm attached to this kind of weather... strange, huh? It's a love/hate relationship. It's my birthday. But when I was a kid, I didn't like this weather because we could not go outside and play. I know, get out the violins... Plus, I was always sick this time of the year.

Quote That Says It All (for me)

From The New Atlantis A Fable by Francis Bacon
"That whosoever is unchaste cannot reverence himself...
That the reverence of a man's self, is, next to religion, the chiefest bridle of all vices."

You may be wondering, "what is she talking about?" Well, I struggle with a few vices of my own, as I'm sure many of us do. And I wonder, "why is it so hard to change my bad habits?"

So then I read the above quote. (My grandma gave me a whole set of books called The Harvard Classics. This is the first book I am reading of the set.)

I think, "I must not reverence myself." And it's true that most of my life I've struggled (terribly) with a hollowness inside, sort of like low self value.

So then the other part of the quote, the first part. "Am I unchaste?" Is that why I can't "reverence" myself?"

You may not want to hear this, but I don't care really, it should not be kept secret. Secrets bring shame. Probably around the age of 4, I remember being molested by a relative. It went on for about 5 years probably, before I got the courage to avoid situations which may lead to it, at all costs. Even if it meant speaking out... something that was soooo difficult for me at that age of 8 or 9. I really can't remember exact numbers.

So YES, I had my chastity taken from me at a very early age. Which caused me to feel shame, fear, keep secrets, loss of control... Loss of reverence for myself.

To this day, I've little control over my bad habits.
I temporarily became a control freak for a while, and a perfectionist...

Both lead to self destruction.

But hey, sorry for all the doom and gloom.
I feel duty bound to put the issue in the public awareness when the opportunity strikes. Writing about it is much easier than talking directly to people about it because people generally are a little uncomfortable around the subject.

I'm going to end this post then post another with some pictures from around our house.

Starting New Blog - artaxis.blogspot.com

I've finally started my other blog, artaxis.blogspot.com, this is where I will put most of my artwork. I will use designthingsordaydreams.blogspot.com for more personal thoughts and communications.

If I Promise To Be Good?

Theresa and Matt, guess who misses you?

Beautiful picture of Granny and Conrad!

Welcome to our driveway in March.

This penguin is one of my favorites by Conrad.

By Lea... Two Little Tea Drinkers

and also... Birdhouse Peeper