Enjoying what could be the end of our Fall colors with a dicey weekend weather forecast… that might even include some snow?!!! But for today, this sumac bush is really showing off in all of its Autumn glory!!!

So I told myself if I was productive in the studio in the morning, I could go outside to play in the afternoon. And I was… so did! And I had an AMAZING time out in the Autumn splendor with vibrant Fall colors, glistening reflections, blue skies & plenty of fresh air… and perhaps even a Great Blue Heron! Such a perfect day for hiking around Rock Cut State Park. Exploring the scenery… and reminiscing a bit as we used to family camp here a lot when I was a kid. Great memories… great scenery… GREAT DAY!!!

From this morning’s sunrise bike ride!!! I’m usually so focused on the horizon to the east for the sunrise… but this magical surprise was hanging low & off to the west.

With overnight rain, we went from a hot “summer” day yesterday… to a wet & chilled “autumn” day today! The autumn colors are just now starting with almost a 20-degree drop in temperature & some much needed rain!

Fall is here… and ORANGE is my favorite color! So I’m excited that my back porch has taken on a new autumn appearance! Thanks to the folks at ART IN THE BARN who decorate the art fair grounds with mums, pumpkins & gourds…and then sell them off at the end as a fundraiser for the hospital auxiliary board. I was there for it… I mean… ORANGE !!!

Some beautiful redbud flowers still hanging on after the storms, the wind & the hail over the past few days… plus yesterday’s crazy “dust storm”?!!! Excited as these are my favorite trees in the Spring… including the three in my front yard!

Woke up to rain this morning… but with April Showers come… ummm?…
DANDELIONS!!! And I’m here for it.
Might be a weed… but still a colorful sign that Spring is here!!!

Still a bit chilly, but bright blue skies sure help when highlighting these beautiful forsythia branches. Always a welcome sight as Spring is finally blooming all around us!

Well, it’s officially the “First Day of Spring” … and we woke up to SNOW!!!
More than an inch overnight. Welcome to Spring in Chicago!!!

Guess our little “hint of Spring” is over?!
It was nearly 80-degrees on Friday… and today it’s about forty degrees colder with SNOW!!!
Welcome to Chicago weather… ugh.