Boating, Lake Michigan, and a Birthday Celebration

A July day from 2003 that started out on the water. We took the boat out on one of the smaller inland lakes, where the water was calm and the shoreline was packed with thick summer greenery. The air was warm and still, perfect for just cruising around.

Later, we headed out to the big lake. The contrast was immediate. The sky opened up, and the water turned a surprising shade of turquoise under the sun. It was partly cloudy, but the light was bright, reflecting off the surface as the waves rolled in. I spent some time just walking along the shore, watching them crash.

The whole day was really a lead-up to a birthday celebration back at the house that evening. Friends and family gathered in the kitchen, and we brought out a chocolate cake covered in candles. It was a simple, nice way to end a full summer day, moving from the quiet lake to the big water and finally back home.