Spring

How do you take a photo that does justice to the change of season? 


Today, Leap Day, just felt like Spring had arrived. Overnight it rained and the ground glistened. Along with the rain, the temperature had risen to 45°F, shirt sleeves weather! (By midday it topped out at 56°F.) The sun was shining brightly and I just knew I needed to find the perfect picture. 

With the snow gone, warm temps and wet ground, I remembered growing up in Vermont and decided this photo should be titled
 "Mud Season."

Then I saw a tree and knew the Spring Photo for today should be "Sugar Maple."

As I started to leave I began to wonder if the sap was running, so I looked under the lid, and sure enough, there was a steady drip, drip, drip. A cold night followed by a warm day is a perfect sugaring day, even in Illinois.

Evening Daylight

Tonight's photo celebrates the lengthening of daylight. This photo was taken in the same spot as yesterday evening; about 10 min later.

Yellow Sunset

Driving home tonight I was chasing the sun.

Winter Tree

The beauty of a "dead" tree in winter.

Carving

Some years back I went to a Wood Carver's Show and couldn't resist buying this duffer.

Snow

Woke up this morning to wet snow clinging to the branches. It had been windy and the snow stuck to one side of the trees.

Lichens

What is there to photograph on a dreary, overcast, February afternoon. Not much. But when I stepped out on my 2nd floor balcony in the drizzle and looked down I saw the lower branches of a tree. I went outside to see if I could get a better, closer shot of the lichens growing on the branches. What do you know? None of them can be seen from ground level. You have to be above looking down to see their beauty. It reminded me that God sees the beauty in me even when it's not visible from the ground.

Sand Rose

Today's artifact is sometimes called a Desert Rose. This one came from the Sahel Desert in Niger, Africa. It gets it's color from the sand. I got it in early 2009 when I was in the national capitol Niamey, to help facilitate a conference.

Sunset

The days are getting longer and tonight I drove home during sunset. This tree is about 3 miles from my home.

Occasionally the clouds in flat Illinois gather into "mountain peaks." Tonight's sky was filled with them.

Light

This winter candle holder came from Nice, France.

Mark

I made a new friend today when I stopped by Kline Creek Farm to see how lambing season was progressing. My last visit was 3 weeks ago. After seeing the new lambs, I met the shepherd. In our conversation I mentioned growing up in Vermont next door to an orchard/sheep farm. He told me he was from Massachusetts and asked what town I was from. To both our surprise, he knew my neighbor and the Dwight Miller Farm. He had even served with Dwight on the national board of the Southdown sheep breed. How fun to make a friend who knew and respected my childhood neighbor. Here's a short interview with Dwight.

Bean

I went downtown into the Loop to see Luminous Field, a light show at Cloud Gate (commonly called "the Bean") in Millennium Park. This photo during the "Blue Hour" turned out amazing.

There were so many people standing around the bean you could only see the light show as a reflection but even that was impressive.

Long Way From Home

Today I saw this bumper sticker on the back window of an older pickup truck with Illinois plates. 

Motorcycle Week

82nd Laconia, NH

June 11-19, 2005

Clouds Roll In

When I stepped out of my car this morning the entire sun-ball was visible. By the time I walked 10 yards back to the high-point in the road, a cloud had already moved in. Within a minute, the sun was almost hidden.

Delft

These ceramic houses from Delft in the Netherlands depict the "skinny" multi-storiend homes of the region.

Coffee

I got a new supply of coffee this week and have lots of choices. I've become a K-cup fan.

Daybreak

Sunrise was glorious this morning!

Bible Poverty?

Today I took the "Bible Stacks" Challenge. This idea came to me from The Seed Company. I Knew I had many Bibles but didn't really realize just how "Bible Rich" my life is. The Seed Company reminded me that many people around the world don't even have one Bible. You can take the challenge too. Click on the link above.

I found Bibles on various bookshelves around the house and since I took the photo I've found 2 more. This also doesn't take into account the 5 or 6 electronic Bibles I have. What a gift it is to live in country and age when Bibles are readily available.

Gourd

This hand-carved baby rattle was given to me by the pastor & his wife of the church my parents attended when I was born. They got it when they were missionaries in Peru.

Sock Hop

Tonight's entertainment was a 50's Sock Hop. 

The Magneto Brothers Band played tunes from the 50's.

50's food included....Coke in real bottles. 

Wax bottles filled with "koolaid"?

...Hostess Cup Cakes...

...White Castle Sliders...

... Twinkies...

...and Little Debbie Hearts

Cloud Mountains

Today the sky was noteworthy at sunset. The low clouds in the west looked like mountains from a distance.

Blue Sky

It was sunny at noon when I went out for lunch. 
The sky was best part of the walk outside.

Toucan

A Toucan from my collection of tropical birds.

Valentine's

This house has heart lights and other decorations for Valentine's Day.

Railroad Town

Metra commuter train heads west out of West Chicago. West Chicago was the first town in Illinois founded by the railroad industry. In the early 1900's three train lines intersected there. Today the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian National Railroad continue to intersect in West Chicago.

Coca Cola

I found this old billboard today on the backside of a downtown building in West Chicago. It just has that long ago hometown feel.

String Art

A colorful parrot that I found 20+ years ago while living in Venezuela. As a geometry teacher I was intrigued by the preciseness of the work.

Antique Bird

My friend Carolee Blaschke gave me this antique bird one time when she stayed at my house. She had noticed I had a number of toucans and parrots and thought I would enjoy this bird as well.

Grinder

I found this German made antique cheese grater, 10+ years ago at a yard sale, I think.