Pictures from An Expedition

If there is one thing better than a day off, it is two days off in a row!! By the second day, you actually have the energy for an adventure... so a week ago last Sunday, my camera & I hopped in the car and took a drive out west on County Route 8 ...

This view was an unexpected turn in the road - I did not even get out of the car. There was no place to pull over! (I did kept one eye on the rear view mirror.) Thank goodness the roads are pretty quiet. Of course, I realized I did not have a map about 15 minutes into my trip, but then I figured, the more adventure the better. You can't get too lost if you can always turn around!

Koerner Rd & Rt 8.

This little corner has caught my eye for a while was what motivated me to get out and drive. I had some kind motorosts stop here to ask me if I needed help as I trudged down the road looking for my view.

Railroad tracks intrigue me. Their lines always sweep the curvature of the land in a beautiful way, yet they cut through harshly, all metal...

... both rough and full of graceful wildflowers...


And the road runs on...

by a gem of a farm...




And another one tucked away,
with almost full grown corn, well above my head when I crept down for a different angle.

This picture just captures the midafternoon sun weighing on the fields.

It was so quiet in the heat...

All that could be heard were crickets, insects and song birds, with the wind

A road unknown...

At this point I really had no idea where I was, except that Route 8 was two turns and several curves behind me and I was now headed north!

Eventually I found myself near Jubilee State Park

I was all ready to explore the historical sites, but the gates were closing. So I ended my adventure, fittingly, at the cemetary...

Closed - a quiet, solemn mystery

Detours enroute home via Orange Prairie Park.

It was full of wildflowers and butterflies, so I tried my hand it some close-ups...

Tall, grand, everywhere!

Profusion of starts, bursting - I haven't found their name yet.

The little pond in the evening light.

Sturdy, bright buttercups, even on rocks...

Butterfly portraits...

August 17, 2008

Oh yes... I moved!

So back in June, I transitioned from my solo apartment to the lovely old house of my friend and fellow resident Kate in West Peoria. The move was one of the biggest surprises of the year, as well as one of the loveliest blessings. Our place is a truly warm old house, full of character...

Before I got there, though, I had many helping hands negotiating the packing paper, boxes, bags and furniture.

Among the pre-moving day workers were Adriana - all the way from Virginia!- Laurel & Anna.

Beaming smiles - who can complain about ice cream breaks at the Spotted Cow?

Contemplating the world from the perspective of a 1 year old.

If I let you in the side door, as true neighbors, you'll be in the kitchen first. The pot rack was our inspired solution to the combined kitchenware inventory with way to many items for our cupboard space. The rest is original to the 1930's detailing.



Then the sunny dining room, the center of some lively meals already, between Kate & I and up to 12 others on any given weekend!

Our living room... Kate gets all the credit for color. It looks even more vibrant and beautiful in person - come visit!

The archways are one of my favorite touches to the home.

My own little room, facing north, but getting all sunrises and sunsets.

The rocking chair migrated from the living room scene upstairs - no complaints here!

And my attic, where when I am actually at home, my work gets done - reading, studying, computer, photowork and other crafts.

It is really a perfect hideaway. :)

Like I said - come visit! We love company!!

A Day (Off) in the Life...

Last Monday was my first day off in about two weeks, and I made the most of it!! It started off in one of my favorite places - my own room. It is awfully close to an ideal bedroom - lots of windows, good books, a rocking chair... a lovely place to enjoy a cup of coffee and take in some liesurely reading.

That was not a morning of total solitude, however. I was joined by Kemba, Kate cat - one of the most talkative and contact-loving cats I've ever met.

He and I find equal satisfaction in the windows of my little room.

Shortly thereafter we headed out to the garden, which was in dire need of attention.



As usual, Kemba was right along in the thick of things - er, weeds.

Kemba? What exactly do you think you are doing?


"Well that's no good as a basket - what else is going on here?"


Critters!
Lots of them.


Kemba thought stalking the oversized crickets bouncing around was especially entertaining.

I, on the other hand weeded my way to a semblance of order for a couple of hours, brought the crazy profusion of tomatoes to light, then made a discovery....


While putting away tools I discovered a garden plan etched in to the garage wall. It is dated May 1942 (May 19 and 20 to be precise). If you can read it, you can imagine that that year's garden must have been beautiful! I think the trellis would have been against the back of the garage wall, since there is still a bar with multiple hooks on it hanging - imagine a giant double rose flanked by California poppies!

The back fence was also planned out, featuring phlox, marigolds and a mysterious entity called 4 o'clocks.

It's certainly a quaint old garage....

As you can see, lots of potential - and lots of mowing - awaiting.


My next day off (today!) was marked the smiling presence of my old Chicago roommates -

Becca & Sarah!

Down at the Peoria Riverfront, after a slow coffee-savoring morning and a successful tour through the riverfront farmers' market.
I picked up fresh spinach, home made pita chips, some lavender and mint for the garden. Summer, in all its abundance, captured in a day....

August 16, 2008