Today was my day off, so I was happily holed up my my house, catching up on some neglected things (like my Blog) thankful that I didn’t have to drive in the snowstorm.
Then the phone rings. Okay, no big deal, a few people know I have the day off. I answer.
“Hi Mom!” my son Eddie says cheerfully. “Guess what? I’m in a ditch!”
Okay~ I ask if he’s okay. He says he’s not hurt, he just slid off the road on his way to work and his truck is fine (little S10 Chevy), no damage, he’s just stuck. Not to worry though, he’s already called the tow truck and it’s on it’s way.
Okay good. I tell him to call me back when he gets out. We hang up. A couple of minutes later the phone rings again…. “Hey Mom, Guess what? I locked my keys in the truck and you have the only spare! Can you bring them to me?”
Sigh… So much for not going out today.
He went off the road across from the Illinois River Lock and Dam Visitors Center. I grabbed my camera on the way out thinking I might as well get a few shots of the river while I’m there.
The roads were a mess, it was slow going, but I saved the day (again) and made it in one piece.
By the time I got there, the tow truck had pulled him out and was long gone. One of the people who worked at the Visitor Center was kind enough to let Eddie sit with him in his car until I got there~ Yes, there are still good people out there! Thank you Bob!
The snow was really coming down now. The Geese above were hunkered down for the night, heads tucked down against the snow. The looked quite comfortable.
And the other side of the river was barely visible.
I snapped my pictures and then we drove slowly home.
Of a day I rued.
Okay, I’ve had enough already! Bring back the warm! |
| Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL |
It snowed two days ago actually. This was the first time I could get out with the camera.
I must admit, I wasn’t thrilled when it started snowing because I was at work had to drive home in the middle of the storm. I am a transplanted Illinoisan and driving on snow and ice doesn’t excite me, but now that the roads are cleared and the sun is shining again, it really is very beautiful.
I love the way the light sparkles in the snow in the late afternoon sun, as in these pictures here. And the way the long blue shadows reach across the snow is very inspiring.
Yes, I guess you could say I do love the snow, from an artist’s perspective that is….
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| my tracks |
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| weeds on cliff at river’s edge |
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| Illinois river~ South Channel, looking East towards Lock & Dam |
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| Illinois river, Lone Point Shelter, (south bank), looking west toward Starved Rock |
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| Tiny Iceberg on Illinois River, Looking North |
See that little brown bird with a white head? It’s in the exact center of the photo! Look close!
That’s a Bald Eagle!
I swear someday I’ll get a telephoto lens for my camera! Then you’ll be able to see that eagle!
There is a river between me and the eagle and this is as close I could get.
Another photographer came up beside me, “Did you get a good shot?”~ he was holding his DSL with it’s big ole long lens…Yeah Right!
I had to crop this one just so you could make out that there was an eagle in the picture!
Anyway, the Eagles are back at Starved Rock State Park.
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| Last sunset of 2011 |
Another Year has come and gone, ~too fast for me it seems.
I gave up making new years resolutions long ago, as I never keep them, but instead strive to live every new day the best I can and be happy with who I am and that God has given me another day to touch the lives of those around me.
I’ve sent my third son, the Marine, back to California today, so he can continue training before his deployment to Afghanistan in the Spring. I really wish he didn’t have to go, but that is not my decision. He is comfortable with this, so I must be too, though I will fight it every step of the way. Only Prayer and Faith give me comfort now.
“Winter work” now keeps me busy. The Horse making has slowed to orders for birthdays or just because~ Just enough to keep me in practice. And I have resumed painting and writing my books again, something I really enjoy~ a “great escape” if you may….
And with the arrival of the seed catalogs, the gears begin to change again. I am making lists of seeds I need to order, answering requests for special varieties and gathering growing supplies.
I will soon be busier than heck again~ but hey~ It keeps you young, right?
And as I close this post, I will ask all my family and friends for forgiveness in advance~ for my neglect in correspondence. As you are finding out, I am terrible at it…
I will try to be better…..
Happy New Year One and All!
Lil
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Lil's Garden Tour 