Sparkly

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?    

Morning and Evening

I just love the interesting clouds and weather patterns that keep sliding through Chicago.  The top photo is from Thursday morning (around 9), the bottom photo is from the early evening (around 5:30).  The middle of the day was actually rather sunny.  

Twenty Minutes of Weather

Icy Sunset

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

Autumn Sunrise

Temperature-wise, Winter has been here for awhile. Astronomically, it is still Autumn.

Storm Repercussions

That storm that blew down the roof of the Minnesota Metrodome also did a job on the roof of the Skyline Pavilion at Navy Pier. Sunday was a tough day for roofs.

Pearl Harbor Day

Chicago remembers Pearl Harbor annually with a ceremony at Navy Pier. It includes a cannon salute (which is what caught my attention) and a fireboat display.

The Lock Bench

The Lock Bench, also part of the Water Marks Mosaic Sculpture, shows the development of the city of Chicago from a harbor/water perspective. It has scenes of the Chicago Portage (first crossed by Father Marquette), DuSable's Cabin (Chicago's first resident), freighters, and the recreational boats that use the lake and river.

Silurian Seat

Over by Navy Pier is an art installation that is called the Water Marks Mosaic Sculptures that celebrate the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The I and M Canal was a major water route for the early traders and pioneers as it connected Lake Michigan to the Illinois River. It was instrumental in Chicago's development as a major city and trading hub.

The Silurian Seat portion of the sculpture is a bench that represents the pre-civilized Chicago landscape; images show the glaciers and subsequent tall grass prairies, fossils, plants, and people who lived in the area, built and used the I&M Canal.

Hi Bob

This beautiful warm Autumn weather we are enjoying prompted Dr. Robert Hartley to move his couch out to the park near his condo building. Things got out of control, though, because everyone who walked by said "Hi Bob!".

Never Get Tired of This

I never get tired of the sunrises. They are just all so very different.

August 25, 2010

August 30, 2010

September 3, 2010

(Uh-Oh! This one has an "autumn" look to it)

Fog Rolls In ...

Time to quote Carl Sandburg again:

"The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over the harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on."

I wasn't going to post another sunrise series (since I posted one on Sunday) but this morning's sunrise was pretty cool. Along with the sun came a fog bank rolling in from the North. First it looked (to me) like sand dunes taking over the lake and Navy Pier. In the last one it almost looks like a giant wave crashing over a tiny Navy Pier sand castle.

To see a winter Fog Attack that I posted a while ago: Click here

All Sunrises are Different

Three Days, Three Sunrises: August 3, 4, 5

Flattened

To me, it appeared that something was flattening the sun a little this morning. It wasn't its usual oval shape as it can over the horizon. Some atmospheric optical illusion made it look more square. Square or oval, it was lovely.

Same Time Last Year

Must be something about early March and the almost Spring conditions that brings out some pretty sunrises. Purely coincidentally, I posted a sunrise photo last year on March 3, too. The sky looks springlike but, as you can see, the marina is still full of ice and snow. And, they are predicting 50 degree temperatures for later in the week (which was the same forecast for "later in the week" last year, too, according to my 2009 post).

River Walk

A glimpse of the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel between the trees along the Riverwalk.

Up Up and Away

There's a new "ride" at Navy Pier. In addition to the Ferris Wheel, Carousel, various dinner cruise boats, and some spinning swing thing, there is now a balloon ride. It seems to just go as far as its tether will let it, which is fairly high (maybe 30 stories up).

Two Views of ... DuSable Harbor

Today's "Two Views" is of DuSable Harbor. Now (on the left) and when it didn't exist (on the right).

Scenes from the Start of the Chicago to Mackinac Race

The 101st Chicago to Mackinac race started on Saturday July 18. At 333 miles, it is the "longest annual freshwater distance race". According to the website, 337 boats are participating this year and 260 of those are getting tracked by GPS. I think they start getting to Mackinac Island Michigan on Monday, but it seems they haven't had a lot of wind.

(Click on the photo collage to enlarge it)