In early July we visited a friend’s cottage on a local lake. Many of these lakes are surrounded by forest now, but a hundred years ago they were surrounded by farms. In most cases the land was marginal, at best, and the farms have long since been abandoned. By now the forest has reclaimed the fields, leaving the abandoned equipment among trees.

Birch trees are fairly common, with their distinctive peeling bark.

And of course there is the water. Near sunset it is often calm and the water has a glassy look disturbed only by the occasional passing boat.

The full moon was rising as the sun was setting.

As darkness descended, the moon through the trees was stunning.

Of course, the mosquitoes were also biting, so it was a short trip outside. But I still love the picture.