Photos by Big V

I know the names of these, but I can't remember them for the life of me. Can you help? Sign in to see full entry.

Because of the low angle of the sky, the UP got a lot of sunsets like this. I loved every second I spent there! Sign in to see full entry.

I loved Jim Croce and his music. He was killed in an airplane accident, taking him from us far too soon. I don't know why, but every time I drove down this road, I would begin to sing this song Jim made famous to remind me that I do have a name and I have someone who loves me, Sign in to see full entry.

When I found it, this magnificent creature was forming a trap to gather its lunch and dinner for the next few days. Its body was about the size of an American 'nickel' or five-cent piece. I checked in on it every day for two weeks, but then, it had moved on. Sign in to see full entry.

The Great Lakes could always host some "great storms." This shot was taken in the Upper Peninsula, which looks south and slightly to the east. To help you put this into perspective, the bridge is seven miles long, the main anchor to the main anchor, and the height in the middle is ~200 feet in the... Sign in to see full entry.

With rare exceptions, I think everyone loved the song I made my title for this selection. I might have explained why this song moved me to tears the first time I heard it in ~1961-1962. I've made no secret that my mother was 'mentally ill' and she used to beat the oldest four of the six kids in my... Sign in to see full entry.

I ran into this big doe. I couldn't believe she was not only standing there but staring me down. Then, I saw her fawn. Mama deer, like human mamas, will fight you to protect their children. Isn't she a beautiful creature? Sign in to see full entry.

This was taken about two months after Judy died and about two months before Lisa returned to my life. I was very sad, and despite being in such a beautiful place, I couldn't muster a smile. To be honest, I wanted to die about then. I had gained a LOT of weight, and I just didn't care about anything.... Sign in to see full entry.

I was out walking when this big female eagle came swooping in and rested on this old pole. It didn't seem bothered by the presence of Buster and me, it was hot that day, and I think she just wanted to rest. How do I know it was a female? See the white at the bottom of each feather? That's the female... Sign in to see full entry.

I frequently would run into bears as I walked in the Hiawatha National Forest in the UP of Michigan. They got used to seeing me and Buster, my big black dog, wandering the area daily, but even I was surprised to see this female bear wander within twenty feet of me one morning. She gave me a quick... Sign in to see full entry.