in a quiet moment

quiet moment

in a quiet moment

the not so bleak

the note so bleak

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.

january river

january river

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!

river ents

river ents

Took another ride today…. the weather is unusually warm for January…. I waited to see if these Ents would say anything…. they didn’t.

bridge and light

bridge and light

One of my favorite spots to photograph along the Illinois River. Must have been in a somber mood when I worked on this image 🙂

happy new year and thank you

winter's tree

Dear WordPress Family: thanks you for your kind words and encouragement. Thanks for stopping by, you are always welcome. May your new year be filled with a little more laughter, a tender hand to wipe away the tears, and the joy of family and friends. Remember this favorite quote: “The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.” Happy New Year.

bridge and sun

bridge and sun

This is the final image from a hike that I took earlier this Fall. You can see this bridge at the end of the tracks in this post. It’s a relatively short hike and a fun spot to explore. Just can’t figure out – yet – how to get to the top of that bridge. Shhhhh….. 🙂

trees and tracks

trees and tracks

This is the second of a set of three images taken on a hike that I took this past Fall. Sorry for the long pause between posts. We just finished up our Christmas production at church. Each year I write the script and coordinate musicians and other artists. On a sad note, I lost a dear friend who passed away suddenly. I also sang at a service for a young mom who passed away in our community. So, there has been lots of sadness, amidst the joy and celebration of Christmas…

river and clouds

river and clouds

Back to one of my favorite parks: William G. Stratton State Park, Morris, Illinois. It is usually peaceful here and it is a nice place to see the seasons change. Looking forward to the beauty and color of the Fall season at this park!

towboat

towboat1

The towboat actually pushes the river barge. Shouldn’t they call it a push boat?