Lake effect takes its first victim: Benton Harbor, MI

I traveled to the other side of the lake last Friday (November 21 for those of you keeping score), and this was AFTER I had already rescheduled a client meeting from the previous Monday, because of lake-effect ice and snow on the interstate.
It's a 90-minute drive from Chicago to Benton Harbor to visit my client, and sometimes the 60-mile gap between the two shores is literally worlds apart.
Friday was no different. The first two pictures in the set are of the cloudless sky on the Chicago-side of the lake, one with a picture of the cloud cover that started mid-lake and headed towards the eastern shore.

It was only after I took the exit off I-94 in Benton Harbor that I caught the full gravitas of the snow-situation.

At least a foot of snow had fallen the night before. And was still falling.
Astonishing.
There was so much snow that the plows hadn't really done much work, and most of the roads were completely snow-covered. I had to drive reeeeeeeally slow through town, and ended up doubling the amount of time it usually takes me to get to the office.

But it was a pretty sight to see so much of the white stuff.

As you can see, once I arrived at Whirlpool, I could see that they had also barely plowed their parking lot, and the snow was a good foot deep. It continued to snow until I left 4 hours later.

Suffice it to say, we haven't had any real lake-effect yet, and I'm not sad about it - just yet.
But we'll wait and see what old-man-winter has in store for December...

Winter's welcome mat

Chicago had a light dusting of snow yesterday and today. Nothing I'd call legit after living through a winter here- but definitely white stuff. As I spend more time here, i've come to peace with the emergence of winter. I really do feel the seasons more and that makes me feel more aware of life and how time passes.
My second winter up north begins.

Michigan coast

This the view across the pond in Benton Harbor. I stopped for the first time last week after a client mtg. As you can see, fall is on its way out - but it was still a beautiful day. And interestingly enough, I've been traveling to Michigan for over a year now, and last week was the first time I actually stopped, got out of the car, and took a few minutes to really stare across the lake. It was a good feeling.