What a great sky!

Arrowhead Bridge

We are lucky to have a 21 mile long paved bike trail only four miles (via two other paved trails) from our home. The Old Plank Road Trail is well-maintained converted rail line that connects Joliet, New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Matteson, Richton Park, and Park Forest.

This bridge was built to help riders cross busy LaGrange Road (US 45) in Frankfort. When it was built there was much controversy about why Frankfort, which touts its "1890s charm", would select such a modern design. But that's just how Frankfort is. Last year they argued for months over what shade of white to paint their new water tower!

Anyway, this picture was taken on a peaceful beautiful pre-autumn Sunday afternoon just west of downtown Frankfort. Next weekend (Labor Day) Frankfort will host its 43rd annual Fall Festival which will turn this little town upside down with more than 300,000 visitors. The forecast is for great weather and Terri and I will be among the crowds on at least one of the three days.

Home sweet web

The web and the spider were illuminated nicely with the sun low in the east. She (he?) was busy making a repair and then quickly scurried off when the job was finished.

Morning light

Blast of color from the annual garden.

Shag-a-delic

Love the shaggy bark on river birch trees.

Two things falling

Just before the Splat! on the floor.

Cooling off

Yikes!

Most things in the college dorms look the same as they did back when I was there. Well, except for some of the signs.

Regal pose

Took this shot of Morgan while on a walk in a forest preserve a couple years ago. Unfortunately, there was some type of a hot spot in one corner-- a purplish glow-- that detracted from the appearance. I couldn't crop it out without cutting into Morgan or the bridge, so I converted it to black and white. I mentioned to son John that it would be a good photo to use spot color on-- just keep Morgan in color. His Christmas gift that year surprised me. He did it! He did exactly what I had envisioned and presented a framed version for above the fireplace. And she's still there.

End of the season

Last night was our last Ravinia concert for this season. The park is still open, but we won't be making the trek there for any more shows. It was a perfect ending to the year. The weather was just right and we thoroughly enjoyed Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.

So, to the bronze fountain violinist who watches over us while we refill our water bottles; to the BoDeans Dancing guy; to the Swing dancing teacher and his trophy partners; and especially to our "Ravinia Friends" Betsy and Gary, Terri and I say, "Hope to see you all again next year!"

Just about to let go

Ever feel like that?

Sold!

Strange coincidences Friday. My ad in Craigslist for my original Nikon 18-55 lens was answered by someone who works in nearby Homewood. We agreed on $85 and that we would meet at the Shell gas station near my house at 5:00.

After driving Sara back to school two hours away, having lunch, and dropping Teresa off at her house, Terri and I went directly to the gas station. We arrived at the pump at the Shell at precisely 5:00. (Those who know me well would not be surprised by that; I'm pretty good at estimating travel times.) I started filling up the van and half-jokingly said to Terri that the $85 for the lens would probably cover the fill-up.

The buyer called me to find out where I was. Turns out he was filling up two pumps away. Terri took over filling and I made the sale. When I walked over to get back in the van to leave Terri handed me the receipt and said, "I swear I never touched the pump. I just took it out when it shut off." The receipt was for exactly $85.00. I love stuff like that!

P.S. This photo of the Nikon 18-55 lens was taken from Nikon's website.

Off to school, first and last times

Teresa, Terri and I took Sara to ISU today for her LAST semester. After Christmas, she'll do her student teaching and then she's finished!

Hiking "The Narrows"

The Narrows-- where the river is the trail.

If you are in southern Utah during the right time of the year, a hike through Zion National Park's Narrows is a great experience. Terri and I were there in June 2009 and the Virgin River was at a very manageable height. We hiked about five miles upstream and then came back with the flow of the river. At its deepest, I was wet up to my upper-thigh. Most of the time the depth was about 12-18 inches. Because the strength of the current is affected by the volume (depth) of the water, our hike gave us just enough of a challenge.

Here we are in a little side canyon where we had our picture taken by the mom of a nice family that we kept running in to everywhere we went.

Flutter-by

In the front yard.

Coleus

A colorful addition to the front garden. It will be invited back next year.

Fresh

Mokena has a French Market each Saturday during the summer months. We don't go enough, but we did this week. The sweet corn was the largest and sweetest I've ever had. I'm thinking we'll be back there next Saturday.

Silent quackers

This shot of three ducks was taken along the Fox River in St. Charles, Illinois. Mom appeared to be calling out repeatedly, but there was no sound. Not a sound that we could hear anyway.

In the woods

There's a fungus among us.

This mushroom (?) was about the size of a frisbee and growing on a dead tree along the Fox River Trail just north of St. Charles, Illinois. There was an even larger one right next to it.

Busy as a...

Flowing

Locally referred to as Aqua, this Chicago high-rise residential building just north of Millennium Park has a distinctive flowing appearance due to its irregular, curved "balconies".

(The building looks better from a distance. Up close the balconies remind me of cooling fins on a motor or an air conditioner unit.)

Pods!

Our yucca plant has sprouted all these pods. And my neighbors are starting to act differently-- should I worry?

Cool sky

Saw this as I was driving Sunday, just before a storm rolled in.

Front garden

All kinds of stuff going on this year!

Strawberries

New (to us) car

Buh-bye 2002 minivan.
Hello 2009 Ford Edge.

Spooning?

Two years ago we visited Zion National Park in southern Utah. It is a beautiful place in the nice, quiet town of Springdale. If you go, make sure you hike "the narrows" where the river is the trail! If the water level is low, it's a great and very do-able hike.

I took this pic because I really liked how the curvature of the tree resembled the shape of the rock-- as if they could nestle together like two spoons in a drawer.

(I'm not sure you can tell in this pic, but the tree and the rock are actually several hundred feet apart.)

Driving east in the morning

I had a boss once who said he liked going on sales trips to Iowa best because the sun was always behind him-- he'd be heading west while it was rising and heading back home while it was setting.

This morning, as I was not heading to Iowa but getting off I-80 east onto I-57 north, I saw the ReMax hot air balloon in the distance. (It is the little dot just left of the rectangular sign.)

You may ooooh and aaaah now.

Hot enough for ya?

If it gets much hotter, we may need these to supplement our air conditioners.

The most interesting man in the world

"Stay thirsty, my friends."

Hanging basket