Tangled

An Extra Foggy Day

Does anyone else wonder why the ancient calendar makers decided to put Leap Day in February instead of in - oh, any of those lazy Summer months?  But, February?  Isn't winter - even a mild one like we've had - already long enough?    

Tahquamenon Falls

The swirly waters of Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan's Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

Sunset at Mackinac Bridge

Used the car door as a tripod to get this long-exposure sunset photo.

Best of Both Worlds

Ice Crystals and Sand on the beach

Patterned Pine

A little dusting of snow on pine trees makes an interesting pattern.

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry III

Another view of the Fishing Pond at Palmisano Park (Stearns Quarry) along with a close-up of one of the limestone boulders, left over from the old quarry, that adorn the park.  Are those ridges signs of fossils?  

Palmisano Park Fishing Pond

Limestone Boulder from Stearns Quarry

Park History Interpretive Sign

Blink and You Missed It

It snowed on Thursday.  If you blinked, you missed it.  A few minutes later the sun came out; then another snow shower; then the sun came out again.

I got confused!  I wasn't sure if it was a sign that Winter was coming or if it meant that today was the start of Baseball Season ;)

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry II

This is the fountain at the entrance to Palmisano Park (the old Stearns Quarry).  Although it was turned off for the season, it is quite impressive.  Apparently, the water is drawn from the Fishing Pond.  The fountain is connected to a chute that recirculates the water back down the park's sloping landscape to the pond.

The terraced landscape of the park

The Interpretive Sign about the park's fountain

Exploring ... Stearns Quarry I

Stearns Quarry was a limestone quarry in the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago.  It closed around 1970 and became a clean construction landfill.   The Chicago Park District turned it into a very scenic and welcoming park, named Palmisano Park, in 2009.   Here's the link for more information on this park.     

Information on the Fishing Pond (above) 

from one of the Interpretive signs in the park

Autumn Starburst

An Autumn burst of color

Now You See Him

Now You See Him ...

Now You Don't ...

Wired Sunset

The sun sets on a hot day, perhaps giving the electric wires, surely humming as air conditioners are running full blast, a rest.

More Wild Clouds

After all the wild weather on Thursday, these clouds (also, as yesterday's photo was, from Friday July 1) made me wonder if Sigourney Weaver was going to be showing up with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Who you gonna call, then??

Summer Stargazing

Stargazer Lilies. A summertime scent-sational flower.

Wild Weather

I didn't think just setting the camera on the table and putting the shutter speed at 30 seconds would really get anything.

I hoped.

Apparently Mother Nature wasn't camera shy on Thursday night.

Here's what the storm looked like as it rolled in over Navy Pier.

Summer Solstice

Happy Summer! It's the longest day of the year. Get out and enjoy - whatever the weather.

Watch Out!

It's happened to me and I've seen it happen to others. Red Winged Blackbirds are very protective of their nests. Certain colors of hats and shirts seem to really set them off and they also - quite sneakily - sometimes attack from behind you.

There's been a pair by the Shedd (I don't know if it is the same pair each year) that are particularly territorial and protective. I think that's what prompted these signs.

Watercolor Sunrise

Icy Sunset

A Winter sunset complete with some interesting lace-like ice patterns.