Around Town

I'm a homebody, and I like being a homebody.  But every now and then, I like to get away.  There's a rather large trip glimmering on the horizon, and I'm really looking forward to it.  For now, it's simply on the horizon.  Meanwhile, instead of just daydreaming, I wondered if I could find some interesting--and even beautiful--places right close to home.

Join me on my little jaunt!

Near the post office and town hall

Even this drain pipe underneath a road proved interesting to me.

This year, I've learned to look up!  The sunlight hit only the tops of the branches in a beautiful light display.

This park bench sits at this little pond, waiting for warmer weather and some human company.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 17 -- 4/22-28

Project 2012 -- Week 17

April 22 - April 28

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My Week 17 Photos

I'm sure you've heard of squatters--people who are living illegally in a house not their own.  Well, we have a couple of squatters; this is the third year they've come back to live in our back yard.  But, we don't mind!  One year they nested right next to the house among the daylilies.  We missed seeing the babies--one day the eggs were there, and the next day the eggs were hatched and the ducks and ducklings were gone.  They let me get pretty close for pictures, too.  :)

[113] Resident ducks

Ellie lay quiet all week until I brought her with me to the Naperville Riverwalk with Jacob and Danny.  Jacob's college music class had a field trip to tour the Carillon, made up of 72 bells.  I'm standing beneath the biggest one, named Big Joe.  It weighs about six tons.  There's an actual carilloneur who plays the bells at certain times throughout the week.

[114] Big Joe

The facade of the Carillon tower is ugly--many people, including me, think so.  But the view--the below is from halfway up--is fantastic, and the $3 tour was definitely worth it.

 [114] Downtown Naperville from the Carillon

Even with a stiff breeze off the lake (Lake Michigan), and cloudy conditions, we could see the skyline of Chicago faintly in the distance.  (FYI, the city is about 30-35 miles away.)

[115] Chicago skyline from the Naperville Carillon

Enough of the far-away panoramic shots.  Back in my own back yard, I counted four little strawberry plants that survived their first winter in my garden.  This makes me happy.

 [116] Baby strawberry plant

I also found some columbine blooming in my garden dirt heap in the back corner of the yard.

[117] Columbine

My older brother's trailer still sits next to our pool, as it has for several years now.  I'm thinking we should charge him rent!  It makes a great, interesting photo, at least.

 [118] Old trailer

It has been cold here, and I've taken to wearing my winter sweaters again.  It is nice enough, though, that I'm a able to get outside more often and capture more outdoor things.  I'm so thankful for warming weather!

Happy week to you!



Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Whalon Lake

Just a mile or so from home lies this relatively new park called Whalon Lake.  I'm slowly getting used to the fact that many new parks in this area are devoid of trees.  Farmers used to farm this whole area of the Prairie State, so few trees existed as the farms evolved into communities, towns, and cities.  In newly built subdivisions, trees are brought in from nurseries and planted.  You can tell when you drive through an older neighborhood by its beautiful mature tree-lined streets.

But enough about trees.  Whalon Lake Preserve doesn't boast trees--yet--but there's a lake, a dog run, and lots of walking paths.  One windy day in March, I decided to hop on over to "see what I could see."  And here is what I saw:

I focused on these black ducks, all grouped together being blown about by the breeze.  I think they are American coots.  I stepped down from the dock area and carefully picked my way along the muddy shore just to get a closer shot.

Below, the duck right in the middle was buffeted by the waves--evidence of how strongly the wind was blowing!  I think these ducks were pretty brave to face that stiff breeze.

The early spring shoreline bared rocks and drab brown grasses.

I saw a hint of white on the wind-blown waves!

I turned to the brown landscape in search of something.  I was challenged to capture something pretty despite the lack of color.

Pre-spring does present its challenges--the cold, the lack of color.  But those same challenges reveal other interesting things--shapes, shadows, and detail.  I'm glad I went to the lake that day.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Back in College

Fernando and I had the chance to visit my alma mater, North Central College, in February when Thomas and his math team competed in the regional math tournament.  Between individual competitions, I had the chance to wander a bit and capture some old, familiar scenes around the campus.  The flag was snapping in the icy breeze as I meandered from one building to the next.

I instantly fell in love with this beautiful, bare tree.  Its dark brown bark and the contrasting smooth white limbs fascinated me.

Old Main

Plenty of ice crystals adorned the tips of branches.

After the awards ceremony, we walked back to our car.  Along the way, I spotted the steeple of Sts. Peter & Paul Church.

Goldspohn, one of the academic buildings on campus.

The sunlight on these pine needles captured my eye.

The steeple at Sts. Peter & Paul Church stands out with its height.  I think it looks pretty in color and in black and white!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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A Pretty Winter Scene

I spent a wintry February day with my mom helping her de-clutter, but before we started work, I ran outside to capture a sweet winter wonderland.  Enjoy this peek of winter--and be thankful we're not still experiencing it!  :)

I love how the snow sticks to the trees as it blew through the air.  And I love all the white-covered branches--so pretty!

I fiddled with the below shot in post-production, and love the old-fashioned feel of the scene.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 16 4/5-22

Project 2012 -- Week 16

April 15 - April 22

How to Link Up With Us

1.  Click here to read the Project 2012 Guidelines, and to get the code to place in your blog.
2.  Fill out the little form below (insert the URL of your blog post, not the main URL of your blog).
3.  Please visit others' links and leave comments; you will receive visits and comments in return!

My Week 16 Photos

Another week of eclectic photos...

I've been posting recipes on my family blog, and the below will be featured in an upcoming post.

[106] Breakfast biscuits with grape preserves

Everything bloomed early this spring in Illinois, including the chives which found a spot to pop up in my veggie gardens.

 [107] Blooming chives

A Scrabble game that started out badly ended with another high score!  I played this one with my mom.

[108] 847

We finished up the weekend visiting Western Illinois University.  Jacob attended a transfer student orientation, where he signed up for fall classes, learned about the many ways to be involved on campus, and got a tour (with us) of the campus and dorms.

[109] Student mail

The below building is the first building that greets you when you enter campus.

[110] Sherman Hall

I couldn't resist getting a shot of Jacob at his future school!

[111] Jacob at WIU

On the way home, my sweet hubby pulled over onto the side of the road in Adair so I could snap this picture (we saw the building on the way in the day before).  This and the Adair Cafe make up the downtown of this little prairie town of about 200 people.  There was actually a guy inside playing pool on this particular Saturday night!

[112] Downtown Adair

All in all, I had a decent week of taking photos.  My brain is filled to overload with college information--admissions, scholarships, financial aid, housing...  Now I have to get to work helping Jacob get the final details in place as he prepares to attend WIU!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Winter Walk in the Woods

I haven't blogged much about all the nature shots I've taken over the past several weeks, so here is the first installment showcasing my nature photography.

Last autumn I found a little trail in the woods near my home that was a nice "escape to calmness" during a hectic week.  I decided to go back during the winter to see if there were any scenes to capture.  Even though winter seems stark, cold, and gray, there are surprises to be found if you pay attention to details.

I'm glad I went in the late afternoon, with the sun low in the sky casting its beautiful light into the bare woods.

The posts on the little footbridge were capped with newly fallen snow.

The trees take on such interesting shapes!

I love stopping randomly and looking up.

The sun was headed down for the evening, and I had to get home to prepare for dinner.  What a beautiful, quiet walk in the winter woods!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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