To follow up the previous post (bleak), here is a winter moment with a different kind of beauty. A cold, crisp, serene sunrise along the banks of the Illinois River. Here at home we are just digging out from an apocalyptic snow storm (frighteningly names “Linus”), so I will visit this spot early in the morning to see a new, wintry sunrise. I love this beautiful world.
If Mordor experienced winter, I think it would look like this. This is the first of two images that, for me, capture the bleak and not so bleak beauty of winter.
Taken just before I was able to break free from the tractor beam!
These four gents are the best ride at the Magic Kingdom! We were there last November and their musicianship, quick, hilarious wit, and ability to connect with the audience was the best ride all day!
I have been enjoying the relatively warmer weather for January in the Chicago area (34 degrees is like a heat wave!) by taking some bike rides along the Illinois River. After being rather inactive, I am looking forward to some more exercise and racking up the miles!
Took another ride today…. the weather is unusually warm for January…. I waited to see if these Ents would say anything…. they didn’t.
The Snow Rider rides again!
The weather got a bit warmer and I got tired of nursing an achy knee…. so….
…the Snow Rider once again rode along the river…
…and he was glad he did.
New Buffalo, Michigan is not exactly known as a winter-get-away-from-it-all kind of destination. Especially if you live in Chicago! It’s about an hour and fifteen minute drive from our home and dear friends allow us to stay in their condo, so it has become our destination to celebrate our anniversary. This image, and the next, were taken on a cold winter day, when the wind was especially angry and simply did not grant you permission to take another step without wondering if your internal temperature would leave you looking like Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining. When I took this, I thought the sun might win, but the wind, snow, and clouds seemed to lock it away in some cold, celestial prison where they might play with it, impervious to the immeasurable heat and radiation. We loved it…. and had a great time.
Final picture from a recent hike at Matthiessen State Park. This is a good example of the numerous sandstone formations that are found in the park. The soft surface makes a great canvas for names, messages and other markings.
rutakintome pictures 
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