Arboretum

I went to Morton Arboretum tonight for the sunset. It's amazing how you see different things when the light changes. As I was walking along I saw this leaf hanging in thin air, caught in a spider web.

As soon as I lifted my camera to take pictures a little wind came along and the leaf started floating. It took about 5 tries before I got this shot.

PS As I drove through the park, a 4 or 5-point buck loped in front of my car. By the time I stopped and picked up my camera it was lost in the trees. It was a beautiful deer.

Music

This summer's yard sales included lots of music CDs for sale. Here's a stack of the ones I bought. Prices ranged from 25 cents to a dollar.

This collection includes: Josh Groban, James Galaway, Charlotte Church, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Aaron Neville, Billy Joel, Benny Goodman, U2, Peter Gabriel, Harry Connick, Jr, Quincy Jones, & Yanni. There is Irish, German and Italian music, classical, jazz, pop, rock, & world music. Probably the earliest recordings are by Benny Goodman from 1937 and thew newest are from 2010. A couple of the classic albums form the 1980's say "Made in West Germany."

Fishing

A family outing at dusk in Blackwell Forest Preserve.

Neighbor's Garden

My neighbor has transformed the area around the dumpster and mailboxes into a beautiful garden. 

River View

I stopped at a yard sale on this private road and decided to go to the end for a view of the west branch of the DuPage River. What a lovely place this homeowner has created.

FLW House

Today I went to see Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the Chicago North Shore suburbs. Many of them were hidden behind trees, shrubs, and "over growth." I guess you get tired of people stopping by to look at your house and take pictures. I think FLW would have liked these natural settings. 

This house is located on 1689 Lake Avenue, Highland Park, IL and was designed for George Madison Millard in 1906. It was one of the more open settings of the 18 locations I visited today.

Butterfly

Spent a couple of hours this afternoon at Morton Arboretum.

Monarch

Railroad Roundhouse

The Roundhouse in Aurora is the oldest and maybe only stone railroad roundhouse left in the US. It's been converted into a brewpub restaurant.

The building is the oldest limestone roundhouse in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The roundhouse is actually a tetracontagon (40 sides). The walls of the structure were constructed with locally mined limestone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Historical_Roundhouse

Wyse Farm

Just before 9 AM the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak Train bound for Chicago from Boston/NYC rolled through Archbold, Ohio my father's boyhood town. 

Just east of town, is the family farm established by my great grandfather S.S. Wyse, then owned by my grandfather Jesse Wyse, my uncle Dale Wyse and most recently by Dad's oldest brother Sparks Wyse. Dad was born in the white house on the left of the picture and moved into the brick house as a boy.

Waiting to Board

Monday, August 22, 2011

Just before midnight the #49/449 Lake Shore Limited Amtrak Train (NYC/Boston to Chicago) arrived in Rochester New York, a mere 60 minutes late. Passengers huddled around the door waiting to get on board.* 

While passengers were getting off, a Border Patrol officer came through our car asking each passenger for their citizenship (and documents if it was other than US.) After the waiting passengers boarded, a second Border Patrol officer came through asking everyone the same question. 

A few minutes later I looked outside and saw an officer carrying the backpack of a handcuffed man. Shortly after he put him in the back seat along came another officer with another man in handcuffs. This man appeared to be Hispanic. I saw at least four Border Patrol officers during the time we sat in the Rochester station. On the Eastbound part of my trip the Border Patrol officers got on in Buffalo. 

*This photo was taken 1 minute too late at 12:01 AM on Tuesday, August 23 but it was the best one to go with this incident. 

New England Farm

This typical New England farm on Route 63 in Winchester, NH shows how outbuildings and barns are are strung together at the back of the house. This allows the farmer to go from house to barn without going outside in the snow during the dead of winter.

Dixville Notch

Today I went to Dixville Notch and saw The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. It is here where the first votes in the nation are cast for the presidential election every 4 years. There are only a handful of voters in this tiny New Hampshire town and they cast their votes just after midnight on election day in the Ballot Room of this grand hotel.

The historic placard says:

Dixville Notch

"First in the Nation"

New Hampshire has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primaries since 1920. With the first presidential "beauty contest" in 1952, our citizens have personally met the candidates and by popular ballot have declared their preference for their party's nominee. Since 1960, Dixville has been the first community in the state and the country to cast its handful of votes in national elections. On election eve 100% of the eligible voters gather in the Ballot Room of the BALSAMS. At midnight polls open and a few minutes later promptly close. The results are broadcast around the world.

Kayaking

Friday, August 19, 2011

My long-time friends, Butch & Mary Brunk took we to the North Woods of New Hampshire for some kayaking. This is very near the Canadian border, above the 45th parallel. Here is my view from the kayak.

* Photo taken Aug 19 but not posted until Aug 20 because there was no internet service in the cottage where we stayed.
P.S. There is also no cell phone service in this remote area of New Hampshire.

Back roads

This afternoon I drove around for a couple hours on back roads in Dummerston and Putney, VT where I spent my childhood. A small, old, but freshly mowed neighborhood cemetery caught my eye, and I stopped to take pictures. When I got home I googled the cemetery and found out that former Vermont Governor and long-time US Senator (1941-1975) George Aiken is buried there.

The grave stone that was most significant to me was the marker for my 3rd and 4th grade teacher Mrs. Kelsay. She died 10 years ago at the age of 87. By the time I knew her she was "getting old," almost 50! She was a kind teacher. I also remember her because she drove a ragtop Jeep to school. Seeing her headstone, brought back good memories of elementary school.

Softball

I'm back in my hometown, Dummerston, VT for a few days visiting my parents. Tonight I watched my brother play a playoff game in the local softball league. Evening games under the lights with family and friends watching is such a part of summer in a small town. Years ago, in my 20's I used to umpire these games. 

View from the Train

A glimpse of what I saw today looking out the train window in upstate New York.

 Crossing Gate

 Farm

 A large "puddle" after recent rain and a yard full of boxcars.

 The makings of a small town carnival

 An abandoned bridge

 One building of the New York State Fair

A beautiful old engine from the ADIRONDACK SCENIC RAILROAD

Pay Phones?

Monday, August 15, 2011*

Q: Where do you find a bank of pay phones these days?

A: In the Amtrak section of Chicago Union Station


Yes I'm off on a trip to Vermont to see my parents.


* This photo was taken on Monday, August 15, 2011 but there was no wireless on the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak train from Chicago to Albany, NY so I'm posting it a day late.

Pots

On my bike ride today I came across an art fair in Batavia. A father & son were throwing pots and the kids loved watching. 

I love coming upon unexpected community events when I ride. 

Vintage Buy

Today's nostalgic yard sale buy is a basket from Basketville in Putney, VT. I grew up in the bordering town of Dummerston. I taught in Putney for a year and have shopped at Basketville many times. This vintage basket was certainly made in Putney, before the manufacturing moved to China. 

I'm guessing this "caddy" design is no longer in production because I couldn't find it on any website.

Lincoln

The are many statues of Abraham Lincoln around the state of Illinois, the US and probably a few on other countries. Today I saw one in Racine, Wisconsin. This on is a bit different because it is of both the Lincoln's; Mary Todd and Abraham.

 Three days ago I was in Chicago and saw Augustes Saint-Gauden's famous Lincoln statue in (where else would it be) Lincoln Park. 

 

Here's a link to a Time Magazine article from 1923 about the statue.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,715678,00.html

Frank Lloyd Wright House

William B. Greene residence, 1300 Garfield Ave, Aurora, IL. 
Built in 1912. Another wing was added in 1926.

(#S. 176) in The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright: a complete catalog, 3rd edition, 

by William Allen Storrer, University of Chicago Press.

http://www.franklloydwright.org/fllwf_web_091104/Wrights_Life_and_Work.html

This was my 59th FLW building to see. There are 374 yet to go.

I & M Canal

Today I rode my bike along the Illinois & Michigan (I & M) Canal near Seneca and Marseilles, IL. I rode a 15-mile stretch of the canal from mile 62 to mile 77. In Seneca is the M J Hogan Grain Company elevator, the only remaining elevator used on the canal. In Marseilles there are two locks though these days the canal is empty in that area.

Afternoon in the Park

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I came across this "postage stamp" park name Mariano, where Rush Street merges with State Street. On a Tuesday afternoon it was full of people; reading, conversing, resting, snacking and just enjoying a pleasant afternoon after a long heatwave. The Gelato was excellent. 

Since there was someone at every table, a retired lady invited me to sit with her. Pretty soon she saw a man she knew and invited him over. Turns out they are in the same literature class at Northwestern University. We had an interesting discussion about the books they were reading. One of her classes is about the Panama Canal which she plans to see in Feb. 2012. Talk about lifelong learning.

P.S. This photo was taken on Aug 9, 2011 but I got home from a day in Chicago well after midnight so it wasn't posted until Wed. August 10.

Rain

Last month was the all-time wettest month of July in Chicago; 11.15 inches. It's rained 5 of the 8 days in August and it's raining right now. Already Warrenville has had more than 2.75 inches this month. The average rainfall in August for the last 20 years has been 4.90 inches. The water is pooling in the lawn.

This photo was taken 50 min ago.

P.S The Cubs game tonight is under rain delay.

Fox River Trail

Today I rode my bike (round trip) on the northernmost 11.5 miles of the Fox River Trail from South Elgin to Algonquin. In East Dundee right along the bike path there's Diamond Jim's Bar & Grill with live music. I just had to take a picture of the decor by the door to the outdoor beer garden.

Summer Daze of Warrenville

      Aug 5 & 6 are Warrenville's summer festival. 
     http://www.warrenvilleparks.org/events/2011SummerDaze.pdf 
The Car show featured lots of cool cars. Most were antiques.
 This Jaguar 3.8 Litre was my favorite. 

View through the back vent (triangle) window.

 

Ravinia Festival

Friday, August 5, 2011

Tonight, seven friends and I went to Ravinia to hear Yo Yo Ma play Tchaikovsky. I went by Metra train and arrived first. They got caught in construction traffic and arrived an hour after me. So, the task of saving a lawn space large enough for the whole group fell to me. They had the blankets, chairs and food. I staked out a space with shoes, a backpack, a water bottle, a program and a train schedule. The people around me helped me keep others from setting up in the space I was saving. One lady offered her poncho. Others offered chair bags. It was a group effort to keep the space open while I waited. Here's a photo of me standing in the middle of this open space while everyone was setting up all around me. Just after this photo was taken the group arrived and I was vindicated. ("My friends are coming. I promise.") Thanks concert neighbors for your help.

http://www.ravinia.org/ViewDate.aspx?date=8%2F5%2F2011


P.S. I didn't get home until after midnight so this is posted about an hour late.

Congrats

Tonight we celebrated Elisei Rusu's completion of a doctorate. Here he is with his wife Adriana and two daughters and a son-in-law. 

Congratulations Dr. Rusu!

Buddies

I shot this picture of two buds at the weekly summer concerts sponsored by the Warrenville Public Library.

http://www.warrenville.com/programs/concerts.htm

National Night Out

Warrenville celebrated National Night Out with lots of fun stuff for kids. Here the Fire Department has equipment for kids to put on.

 The rigs were out for everyone to see and enjoy.