Field Trip

One of the favorite activities at Cantigny Park & Gardens is to climb on all the Army tanks.
http://www.cantigny.org/

Garden Progress

After a few sunny days things are in bloom.

Hidden Treasure?

It's late and I almost forgot to take a photo today. This Carnival glass candy dish was a $2 find at a church yard sale a week ago. Who knows it might be an Antiques Roadshow treasure!

Closed

I stopped in Winfield on the way home for Monday Classic Car night and was hoping to get a good Deli sandwich here. Unfortunately it had closed an hour earlier. Notice the bricks adding weight to the table. Wonder if they came from the "do-it yourself" landscaping materials sold by Winfield Fuel & Materials in the background. 

Outdoor Wedding

On any summer weekend day you'll see a wedding photo shoot at Cantigny Park & Gardens. Today there was also a wedding on the lawn followed by an indoor reception. People couldn't help watching for a few minutes.

http://www.cantigny.org/weddings/weddings_and_receptions.aspx

Tractor For Sale

This was Yard Sale weekend throughout Winfield, IL. There were over 100 yard sales within the village limits. This old International Harvester McCormick Farmall Cub tractor caught my attention and I just had to stop and take a few pictures. 

Train Gone

The train had just passed and the gate was still down. It's interesting that both lights are flashing. To the naked eye, only one is on at a time, but the camera shows them both red at the same time.

Over & Done

The event is over and the street is empty but the NO PARKING sleeve remains.

After the Storm

This morning the sky was deep blue and the clouds billowy. What a dramatic improvement after yesterday's nasty winds and torrential rains. It's drizzly again but it only a nuisance after the scare last night.

Storm Coming

The darkening sky and the increasing wind made it clear a storm was coming. This was taken about 6:30 PM. By 7 PM rain began. The rain was heavy but short-lived. Then between 8:15 and 8:30PM the weather siren sounded - a Tornado Warning. I think it was the worst in Warrenville about 8:30. The sirens have sounded two more times though the worst line of storms seem to have moved into Chicago. The Tornado Warning for Warrenville expired at 9:00 PM. I'm fine and still have power.

Fish Tacos

DELICIOUS
DOS FLOUR TORTILLAS PILED HIGH WITH FRESH WHITEFISH SEASONED AND GRILLED WITH ANCHO-CHILI POWDER, JALAPENOS, CILANTRO AND LIME. TOPPED OFF WITH CILANTRO LIME SLAW, GREEN ONION & SOUTHWESTERN TARTER. PICO DE GALLO & SOUR CREAM ON THE SIDE

http://www.pepperjacksgrill.com/

Farm

As you approach the intersection of the Illinois Prairie Path-Elgin spur and the Fox River Trail, you pass the Kenyon Brothers Co. It's a wholesale livestock operation and a dairy farm. This was at about the 10 mile point in my 31+ bike ride today. Winfield (Elgin spur) to So Elgin, to St. Charles & Geneva (Fox River Trail) to West Chicago & Winfield (Geneva spur). It took me 3-1/2 hours in 80 degree heat and was my longest ride so far in 2011.

Deli

In between yard sales and buying tomato plants at the Naperville Farmer's Market I found this vintage butcher shop & deli. I had a delicious chicken salad sandwich on rye. 

Declaration of Independence

Saw the musical 1776 tonight performed by Wheaton Drama.
In this picture are: Ben Franklin (lower left), John Hancock (upper left) and John Adams (lower right). 

Daily Herald article about 1776

Celebration

Tonight the Wheaton Municipal Band played Typewriter as a tribute to IBM's 100th Birthday. Band members played six old typewriters during the song and allowed the audience to try their hand at typing during intermission.

http://www.youtube.com/wheatonband#p/a/u/0/mb7JH5_IjTM

Farmer's Market

For a condominium dweller, there's nothing better than a salad made with fresh produce from today's Farmer's Market. What could be better than ingredients that were "Fresh picked this morning?"

Shades of Pink

The downtown Warrenville bridge over the West Branch of the DuPage River features beautiful flower boxes again this year.

Blimp

Tonight I chased the "Direct TV" blimp as it flew to the DuPage Airport for the evening. It was moving faster than I could drive with a posted 40 mph speed limit, so I gave up after about a mile. These blimps seem to come every summer for various Chicago sporting events.

1858 Vintage Base Ball

These replica vintage base ball bats were  used on Sunday, June 12 in a game between the Chicago Salmon and the Milwaukee Grays. The Salmon won, 2-1. 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-Salmon-Vintage-Base-Ball-Club/107739222601206?ref=ts

The photo was taken on June 12 but I forgot to upload it until June 13.

1025 Gamon Road

When I saw this unusual home in Wheaton, IL today I had to stop and take a picture. Above the garage is a screened-in porch and the entire upper floor is surrounded by a shiny steel railing. This south face of the home is almost entirely windows. Though a fairly modern structure, the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright (letting the outdoors in) is striking.

Danger...

...Another Train Coming

This new warning system (visual; flashing sinage and audio; voice announcement) allows freight or express trains to continue through a Metra station while a commuter train is stopped. Tonight three trains passed each other before the crossing re-opened to car and pedestrian traffic.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/traffic/transit/Metra-UP-Upgrade-Safety-Features--117054373.html

Allée

allée (French): a walkway lined with trees or tall shrubs Merriam-Webster

This is one of four allées at St. James Farm, part of the DuPage Forest Preserve in Warrenville, IL 

Canoes

Locked up for the night. 

Herrick Lake Forest Preserve

Flag Season

...the time between  Memorial Day and  Independence Day.

Turkpike Cruiser

'57 or '58 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Turnpike_Cruiser

 

Discovery

The Japanese Garden in the Fabyan Forest Preserve, Geneva, IL.

Deal of the Day

This was my yard sale bargain of the day; an almost new single cup Keurig coffee maker and K-cups at about 1/3 the original price. Now I can have great coffee at my desk at work.

Community

This is my Bible study group. We meet once a month for study, prayer, dessert and fellowship. Currently I'm the newest member and many have been part of the group for years. Tonight we Skyped a couple who used to be part of the group and moved away about a year ago. It's great to be part of this community.

Heirloom

My great-grandmother, from Northwest Ohio, Mattie Wyse's iris is blooming in Illinois. When I came back from the long Memorial Day weekend it had "exploded."

Route 66

Dwight, IL Welcome Center on old Route 66. 
This was a working service station into 1997.