Well, we didn't get the eclipse in the states, but here in the Midwest we did get a big beautiful full moon to enjoy yesterday evening.

And also this morning - it was on the other side of the sky. I was on my way into work and as I was passing the beach (on Lake Michigan) I decided to stop and climb a sand dune to see how the moon looked over the water. After hiking the trail for 15 minutes and topping the crest of the dune, I was paralyzed by the beauty. The sun was rising just south of east and the full moon was setting over the water in the Northwest. The lake under the moon was reflecting all the rich pinks and oranges of the sunrise behind me, the sky was the pale blue of post dawn, and the moon shone vividly white in the sky. There were ice floes scattered on the lake surface to break up the sunrise on the water with their blue-white tones. The dune grass and sand ranged from pale yellow to dark tan, and the snow picked up the moon shine.

Hugely grateful I had thrown my camera bag in the car this morning, I hiked along the dune ridge, lost in time, taking in the beauty and tranquility of the lake reflections, moonset and sunrise, and snow, sand, and plants of the dunes.