Looks like one of my pottery students weathered the elements today for a little “fortune cookie scavenger hunt” up at Illinois Beach State Park. Good find Ashley… and thanks for sharing your wintery adventure with us!

Think you might need a little help finding some of the fortune cookies at Illinois Beach State Park? Well, here are a few visual clues… one for each of the fortune cookies! Located in both the north & south areas of the park, my textured fortune cookie rattles are waiting to be found to bring “good fortune” to those who can spot them!

Happy New Year 2022… celebrating with 22 fortune cookies!

Yesterday my adventure took me out to Illinois Beach State Park… about an hour north of Chicago, just a smidge south of the Wisconsin border. I enjoyed the fresh snow, the blue skies & just playing out in nature. It was so weird to practically have the entire state park to myself?! I think I saw less than a dozen people all day long!

So I had free run of the place to enjoy the magic & majesty of it all… no random people in my photos! And along with the freezing temperatures came some amazing ice sculptures… windblown & gravity-defying. So much fun to experience these magical moments all around. Such a great day. Such a wonderful adventure.

Waiting for a delayed “L” train… getting the blues?!

With an overnight rain, the gingko leaves came tumbling down… creating carpets of yellow leaves wonderfully spotted with some lingering raindrops!

What a pleasant surprise! Just when I thought my dahlia plant was done blooming for the season… one more beautiful blossom! Good thing I didn’t dig out the tubers too soon!

Beautiful orange hosta leaves with some golden maple leaves
spotted with raindrops.

Looks like the last of the hydrangeas are fading & browning on the bush. Perfect for another natural Texture Tuesday!

#texturetuesday

Intrigued by the gradation of golden brown leaves fading inward to fresh emerald green centers! It seems like they usually just go brown… but not this time!

Fun colors & textures… once green leaves changing to beautiful reds on the Burning Bush… and a warm golden yellow on the Solomon’s Seal. Always fun to see my front yard garden change colors though the seasons.

Unfortunately… the next season is snow!!!