A Summer of Minnesota Sunsets

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There is something about summer that is truly fun. It is a time of year that I always feel once again like I am sixteen. The warm summer skies and sun make me come alive with energy and a sense of utter freedom that I only feel this time of year. Perhaps it is because after months of being trapped indoors, I can finally be outside for hours and hours every day. Or else it is the warm humid air or the feeling of the silky cool lake upon my skin that bring me back to my amazingly fun days of youth. The smell of lake water a constant reminder of my childhood growing up surrounded by lakes. The fragrance of roses, watermelon, sunscreen and an evening fire.

Summer is the one time I allow myself to truly let go, to dive in and embrace life. To not be stuck inside on my computer but to be outside running, biking, walking, swimming and reading under a big shade tree. To drive with the windows down letting my long hair blow wild, singing to the radio at the top of my lungs.

This summer I took on a new adventure and tried my best to head down to the lake every night and catch the sunset. As long as there were some clouds to add color and it wasn’t raining, I either jumped on my bike or took the dog down to the lake to capture the stunning views of summer’s ultimate gift: Her extraordinary sunsets. For me, this has been a summer of sunsets and here are some of my absolute favorites from my lovely neighborhood lake.

“Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” – Marilyn Monroe

“Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes and dance.” – Oprah Winfrey

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Anonymous

“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud” – Emile Zola

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them”. – Henri Matisse

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one”. –  Dr. Seuss

I have been having way too much fun enjoying summer sunsets. I will be sad when it is over. At least there is fall.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Fun. 

44 thoughts on “A Summer of Minnesota Sunsets”

  1. I like to think of the clouds and light as God’s gift every day. Nicole the stunning sunsets you have been posting of the lake are stunning and seeing them in this post as a series is wonderful. I am going to put this on my new Pinterest for my blog and my personal one. Thank you for sharing your beautiful summer. Hope it is an Indian one …

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thank you so much Louise! That makes me feel so good. Really glad you enjoyed the photos! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  2. Jane Lurie – Hello! Berenice Abbott said, “Photography helps people to see.” It is satisfying when someone looks at one of my images and remarks that they now see something in a new way. I hope that my photographs delight and surprise you.
    Jane Lurie on said:

    Such vibrant sunsets and what a gorgeous spot. Love the one with your dog and the rim light on his ears.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jane! The dog photo is of our new puppy Winter. He is five months now. I love how the light caught his ears too. The one with the couple arm and arm by the beach is me and my husband on our 16 year anniversary. 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank so much Amy! All of these ones have been posted on Instagram as well so you may have seen them. 🙂

      Reply ↓
      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Oh thanks Amy!

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I bet. I love the call of the loons. It is something that always makes me utterly happy.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Janet! So glad you like the photos! Yes I’m starting to feel really sad that summer is coming to a close. At least we have September, a wonderful month!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Rachel!

      Reply ↓
  7. toomuchtotweetblog – The last best place... – I am a mostly SAHM, I say mostly because I work PRN as a sonographer at the local hospital. The majority of my time is spent at home, educating my three children, scratching their backs, making them meals and running interference between sibling clashes. I'm a small town girl, who loves to travel to places where I can find amazing ethnic food. I'm passionate about all things autumn, I run (mostly to stay sane, not to break any records). I've been married to my favorite man in all the world for over two decades and plan on having him by my side for the next 5 decades, at least. I love to write about life, mostly the mundane and fabulously amusing stuff that makes up my ordinary days.
    toomuchtotweetblog on said:

    Gorgeous photos. Love the living outloud quote.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I love that quote too. I love quotes in general as they always inspire me and are fun to throw in with pictures.

      Reply ↓
  8. Sue Slaght – Calgary, Alberta Canada – www.traveltalesoflife.com Many years from now, when I am an old lady sitting in the nursing home, I hope to be the twinkly eyed resident still entertaining anyone who I can corner to listen, about all of the wild adventures attempted in a lifetime. Well into the second half of the game of life there is no time like the present to get out there, live big and laugh a lot. Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.
    Sue Slaght on said:

    Nicole I loved seeing your sunsets on IG and here as well. It sounds like summer is a very special time for you. Lovely words to go with these gorgeous images.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sue! Yes each one of these photos was posted on Instagram and I’ve joined this wonderful Facebook group that only posts sunsets and sunrises which has inspired me to get out there more and take photos. I’ve enjoyed it. Sad summer is coming to a close thought.

      Reply ↓
  9. Nomads By Nature – We are a foreign service family living around the world. Our comments and pictures are our own and do not express the views of our employer. Being a bit shy, we kindly request that you do not link us to social websites such as Facebook. Links to your personal blog are welcome. About our Gravatar: This ‘little’ garden sculpture gem was at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town. I’m not usually into sculpture (except I must admit that I do think that the big Easter Island heads are pretty funky looking) but when I saw this one, I fell in love. If I ever had enough money and the weight allowance, this would have been the sculpture I would have bought myself for my garden/yard. It is just whimsical and it made me smile. It felt like the best reminder to relax, play, have fun, see the world from a new perspective. Of course, you could always be a pesamist and look at it like “Whoa, the giant elephant foot of oppression is going to stomp on the head of the unsuspecting happy person”. I choose the optimistic view.
    Nomads By Nature on said:

    Each one of those photos feels like hope and contentment.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! I feel that sunsets offer so much joy and inspiration.

      Reply ↓

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  11. lexklein – I’m a restless, world-wandering, language-loving, book-devouring traveler trying to straddle the threshold between a traditional, stable family life and a free-spirited, irresistible urge to roam. Even when I was young, I always wanted to be somewhere else. I was the kid who loved camp, vacations, sleepovers, and all forms of transportation. Did my restlessness spring from a love of languages and other cultures? From a fiction fixation and all the places I’ve visited on the pages of a globeful of authors? I think it’s more primordial, though, an innate itch that demands scratching at regular intervals. I’m sure I won’t have a travel story every time I add to this blog, but I’ve got a lot! I’m a pretty happy camper (literally), but there is some angst as well as excitement in always having one foot out the door. Come along for the trip as I take the second step …
    lexklein on said:

    I’ve seen many of these, but they bear pursuing again!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Yes these have all been posted on Instagram Lexi. I’ve joined this sunset Facebook group which has inspired me to capture more sunsets. It has been so much fun!

      Reply ↓
  12. Moon – Kolkata, India – A travel blogger from Kolkata, India Hi, my name is Moon. I am a content developer by profession and a travel blogger by passion. As a traveler, I want to explore every nook and corner of my beloved country India and beyond and share my travel stories on my blog. I have written for Hipmunk. You can check out more of my Hipmunk Hotels and Destinations posts here: http://footlooseforever.com/category/travel/usa-hotels/
    Moon on said:

    Amazing shots!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  13. Hanna – "Are you aware that you have got the key to a kingdom. The love you have for nature is priceless." She was right, the lady at the cabin in Norway. My joy is great when I'm on a walk. I would like to share that joy with you. My name is Hanna, and I live north of Copenhagen, Denmark. My walks are mainly in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Get inspired. There are more keys out there. Let me know if you have questions concerning my walks.
    Hanna on said:

    I’m living in the wrong part of the world it seems 🙂 These are stunning shots and exquisite quotes to go with them <3

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed!

      Reply ↓
  14. Tina Schell – I am passionate about photography, love traveling and exploring new places and faces, and seeing the world from different perspectives. My lens is always on the lookout for something beautiful or interesting.
    Tina Schell on said:

    Lovely sunsets Nicole. I especially liked the one with the hammocks

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Tina! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  15. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling. In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and then re-established a home in Vancouver. We now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
    Alison and Don on said:

    A collection of magnificent photographs. The first one if my absolute favourite!
    Alison

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Alison! Really glad you liked all the photos! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  16. Love both your photos and quotes Nicole! I would say that you are always living out loud. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn so much! I try to “live out loud” as much as I can but it can get tough with a busy life. 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thank you Sally! Yes it is amazing how every night is so different. 🙂 That is what I love the best!

      Reply ↓

  18. Every picture is simply superb!!! specially I loved the quotes…..very motivating. I keep wondering how you manage to pic the best ones. Do keep them comming……

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words! Most of these photos – well actually all – were on Instagram which has gotten me to take more photos of sunsets. Always looking for something new to post!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the sunsets. 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Me too! 😌

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Andrew! Life has been very busy this summer and I look forward to getting back into my blog and catching up on all my favorites. 🌟

      Reply ↓

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