Pine Beach Resort - Side Lake

02/28/2026

This evening, if you step outside 30 minutes after sunset and gently rotate from west to east, you'll glide your gaze across six planets in the solar system.

On February 28, six planets are visible in the evening sky at once: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. They trace a sweeping arc along the ecliptic, the invisible path the Sun follows during the day. This is the same flat plane our solar system was born from, 4.6 billion years ago, and tonight you can see it drawn across the sky in planets. ✨

Here's what to expect realistically. Jupiter rules the eastern sky, blazing at magnitude -2.3 near Castor and Pollux in Gemini, with a 92% Moon glowing just 4° away. That alone is worth stepping outside for. High above Orion, Uranus rests below the Pleiades in Ta**us, visible with binoculars.

Now turn west. This is where it gets tricky. Venus, Mercury, and Saturn are all huddled low on the western horizon in the fading twilight. Venus is the brightest, but sits low. Mercury is fading fast. Saturn is almost gone. You'll need a clear, flat western horizon and good timing. Neptune is near Saturn but requires a telescope.
Clear skies ✨

02/28/2026

🚨 Don’t Miss This, Sky Lovers! 🌙
In the early hours of Tuesday, March 3, the Moon will slip into Earth’s shadow during a breathtaking Total Lunar Eclipse, turning a rich reddish-copper color across much of the United States.

This happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up perfectly, with Earth in the middle. Instead of going completely dark, the Moon glows red because sunlight bends through our atmosphere and softly lights its surface — the same effect that gives us colorful sunrises and sunsets.
No telescope needed. Just step outside, look up, and enjoy.

🌅 Special treat for the East Coast: Just before sunrise, some locations could witness a rare Selenelion — a short window when both the rising Sun and the eclipsed Moon appear above the horizon together. It’s a beautiful optical effect caused by atmospheric refraction, and it doesn’t last long!

⏰ Check your local viewing times and head out a little early to let your eyes adjust to the dark.

Moments like this remind us how incredible the sky can be — quiet, powerful, and unforgettable. Don’t sleep through it! 🌌

02/23/2026

02/10/2026

Sometimes a gal needs to take a few mental health days......and go to the woods. I am so thankful that the sound of the river brings joy again. I have missed this for the last few years. I will be back in the office on Thursday. I wish you could smell the pine trees. Blessings and joy to you all. Kim

02/07/2026

Great day for a long walk, lots of sleds out and about.

02/06/2026

Perfect

02/04/2026

Interesting

The Great Lakes now have the most ice on them in 4 years. We are a couple days away from the most ice cover since the 2018-19 winter season when 80.9% of the Great Lakes were covered in ice.

02/03/2026

🧊 Great Lakes Ice Is Expanding FAST 🧊

The deep freeze over the past couple of weeks is showing up in a big way on the Great Lakes. Ice coverage has surged rapidly, with some lakes jumping from near-normal to well above average in a very short time.

Here’s the latest breakdown:
• Lake Superior: 24%
• Lake Michigan: 27%
• Lake Erie: 95% ❄️
• Lake Huron: 54%
• Lake Ontario: 38%

Lake Erie is the headline grabber—nearly locked up and flirting with complete ice cover, something that only happens in the coldest winters. A little over two weeks ago it was only 1% covered, now its above 95%. But the story doesn’t stop there. Ice is expanding quickly across all five lakes as persistent arctic air, light winds, and long winter nights create the perfect setup for rapid growth.

With more cold in the pipeline, I expect these numbers to keep climbing. We’re watching one of the icier Great Lakes stretches in years—and winter clearly isn’t done yet.