A little early morning sunrise along the lake…
makes you think it just “might” be warmer than it really is outside!
Brrrr…

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.

So we finally go some snow in Chicago on Saturday night!!! Happy New Year to us all. Not nearly as much snow as predicted, and it was followed-up with beautiful blue skies the next day. So yesterday I put on the hiking boots and went outside to play in the snow! So much more fun than curling up on the sofa… which it seems like we’ve all been doing a little too much of these past few gray & gloomy days!

First snow of the season… and of course I choose to do a quick road trip out-of-town!!! Maybe I need to start checking the weather forecast before I hop in the car!!!

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

Today is the first official day of Fall. I’m still struggling to hang onto Summer a little longer. But the cold rainy day today & leaves already changing color isn’t helping any! Too soon…

Like walking on sunshine… whoa ho… and don’t it feel GOOD!!!
– sing it Katrina & The Waves!

Another hazy, hot & humid morning along the lakefront. Trying to get some sunrise miles in before the heat really settles in for the day. Another “sweaty” sunrise shrouded in the clouds

A beautiful day biking out amongst the cornfields!

Since the pandemic, we have NOT had any water fountains anywhere around the city! All shut down with the fear of spreading disease through close contact at the drinking fountain. Finally, some of the fountains were finally turned on along the bike trail… I’m guessing they’ve determined they’re safe enough… and better than dehydration during the recent hot-spell. But it was funny to see them this morning playfully dancing in the wind!!!