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Twice during our week in Muskegon, we put in kayaks at the Happy Mohawk Canoe Livery on the White River. One of the local families was this happy band of swallows, tucked away safely in their mud nest. The children sat intently with heads poking over the edge of the nest, until mom arrived with fresh insects. At that point, mouths opened wide and the loudest squawker got a beak shoved down its throat for insect regurgitation.

HA! Makes my deep fried Twinkie sound pretty good, eh?

A cozy, wonderful, heavy fog rolled in last night, and blanketed the City. The fog makes every morning commute unique, as the fog begins to slowly roll back out to sea for the day.

This morning, as I arrived in my office, the fog had rolled back off the Financial District, but was still clinging to the water near the Bay Bridge. Just minutes after this photo was taken, the fog actually re-advanced and totally encompassed the bridge. Minutes later, the fog had rolled back completely. And of course, by the time the evening commute arrived, fingers of fog were already appearing over the SF hills. Now at 9pm, the City is once-again covered.

We will do this slow dance on most days all summer long. Truly magical.

Our 4th-of-July week in Muskegon flew by in a blur of family time, graduation celebrating, grilling, pine cone collecting, and kayaking.

So, here are just a few random images from the week. The yummy ice cream from Whippi Dip. The decadent deep-fried Twinkie from the Muskegon art fair. A bird nest in a hanging fern at Jeff’s parents’ house. The drive-in hot dog diner–Dogs and Suds. And (of course) the requisite Independence Day fireworks shots over Muskegon Lake.

And yes, here is the previously mentioned “hummingbird pee” shot. And no, I don’t really believe it is in-fact hummingbird pee. But SOMETHING shot through the frame in a very dramatic way. I have about 50-60 other shots with just the hummingbird….snooze. So, let me stick with my version of the story.

Venice’s grand Piazza San Marco is a blur of motion during the day. Crowded with people and pigeons…seemingly of equal numbers at times.

Most guide books will either 1) focus heavily on San Marco or 2) tell you to avoid this “tourist trap”. Well both of these are so totally wrong. Venice is much more than San Marco, but to miss it is to miss something unique in the world.

What I enjoy most about San Marco is how its mood changes with the time of day and the weather. Fortunately, most paths across Venice pass near or through San Marco, which give you the chance to pass through (quickly if you like) and see what mood the square is in.

I was editing this photo from a gallery window in Venice this evening, and it reminded me of our evening trip to the deli.

Let me start by reminding folks that I’m a proud carnivore, but I prefer to ignore the origins of the “constructed” meats I consume. For example, American sausages are usually A-OK, because the ingredients are not readily apparent.

But tonight at the deli…excuse me…the gourmet deli…we ran across a few items that threw me: “blood and tongue sausage” (“perfectly seasoned” read the label) and “Bavarian Headcheese” containing identifiable pork tongue in gelatin.

Not necessary 🙂

So, I am cleansing my palate with our favorite tiramisu from Venice: Ristorante Rosa Rossa.