Tag Archives: Central Illinois

Looking for Spring 2025

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The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke, American author, educator, and clergyman

I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems to me that Central Illinois is weather-weary.

Tired of gray days and cold temperatures. Bored by day after day of rain and thunderstorms. Frustrated at the capriciousness of Mother Nature.

Still, on the one pretty day we’ve had since, oh, I don’t know, February or so, the Monk and I managed to get outdoors and look for signs that Spring is on the horizon.

Take a look at what we found!

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Fall 2023 Wanes Beautifully

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…I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist and short story writer

How I relate to Mr. Hawthorne’s thoughts!

It seems like Autumn arrived late here, perhaps because everybody was eager for it to chase away the heat, humidity, and drought; but when it finally came (and despite fears to the contrary), it was simply glorious. (“Was” being the operative word — as I post this, we’ve passed “peak” color and are fast headed to Winter).

But I’ve compiled a little slide show (a dozen photos) so you can see some of our Fall trees. Please enjoy!

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Happy Fall 2022

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The leaves, a few weeks ago so green and shiny and sparkling in the sunlight, have turned to yellow, gold, red and brown for the touch of autumn is a magic touch and autumn is in the air. ~Raymond Carlson, “Arizona Highways” magazine

Before Autumn can slip away entirely, I set out to capture some of its beauty. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed snapping them!

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Walktober 2020

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Thoughts come clearly while one walks. ~Thomas Mann, German novelist and 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate

It’s time once again for the annual Walktober, hosted by Robin of Breezes at Dawn.

Today, we’re in Central Illinois, where a prolonged drought has stressed trees and produced a faster color change than what typically takes until mid-October to peak.

Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful day — temps in the low 70s, sunny and clear — so let’s hop into our sneakers and head outside for a two-mile stroll.

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Walktober 2019

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We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman

As the days get shorter and the humidity finally breaks, it comes time for the annual Walktober, a virtual group walk organized by Robin of Breezes at Dawn.

The dates for this year’s walk are Oct. 6-19, and the “rules” are simple: take a walk, post about what you see, include some pretty pictures, and link to Robin, who will round up the links so we can all visit each other’s blogs and enjoy walking together.

Let’s go!

This year (because the trees aren’t cooperating with Fall color), I’m taking you to Arthur, Illinois (the Heart of Amish Country), to visit The Great Pumpkin Patch, a working farm owned by the McDonald family who immigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800s. Six generations later (150 years!), it’s evolved into a business of commercial pumpkin production and the preservation of rare gourd seeds.

If you love pumpkins as much as I do, prepare to be amazed!

Pumpkins … rows and rows of pumpkins

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Walktober 2018

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Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. ~Wallace Stevens, American poet

It’s time once again for Walktober, the group walk organized by Robin of Breezes at Dawn. It’s not too late to get in on the fun (Oct. 28 is the cutoff date), so step into your sneakers and join us!

For this year’s trek, I traveled to Lake Shelbyville, a reservoir located in Central Illinois formed by damming the Kaskaskia River. Some $57 million was set aside (a hefty chunk of change back in 1963!) for the project, which was dedicated in 1970.

Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Lake offers 11,000 acres of surface waters, 172 miles of shoreline, and 23,000 acres of surrounding public lands dedicated as state parks. More than 4 million visitors a year come here to swim, fish, boat, hike, camp, picnic, or sight-see.

What are we waiting for? Let’s start walking!

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Happy Fall, Y’all!

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It’s supposed to be cool in Central Illinois this weekend (50s day, low 30s night), so I wanted to show you how pretty Fall can be before the leaves drop:

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Nearly Wordless Thursday

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Happy Foggy Morning from Central Illinois, U.S.A.!

Fog blankets the eastern sky over Central Illinois

Fog blankets the eastern sky over Central Illinois

(Nearly) Wordless Tuesday

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Sometimes a picture really does say more than a thousand words.

I’ve long been fascinated with weather. It affects all of us all the time, from the picnickers forced inside because of rain to the farmers frantic over a drought or early freeze.

Today we in Central Illinois are looking forward to the arrival of a cold front. Our forecasters promise us it will bring cooler weather and much lower humidity, two things that spell “relief” in the dog days of July. Since clouds are the harbingers of weather changes, I turned my camera skyward to see if they’re going to be right:

Looking south from my patio.

Looking south from my patio.

Almost looks like snow, huh?

Almost looks like snow, huh?

These toward the north look even more like snow.

These toward the north look even more like snow.

I can only imagine what fun God must have had creating these!

I can only imagine what fun God must have had creating these!

My late dad used to call wispy clouds like these mare's tails.

My late dad used to call wispy clouds like these mare’s tails.

Cirrus clouds indicate a weather change in 24 hours.

Cirrus clouds indicate a weather change in 24 hours.

It's supposed to drop down to 56 degrees tonight -- turn off the A/C and open the windows!

It’s supposed to drop down to 56 degrees tonight — turn off the A/C and open the windows!