Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Monday, February 19, 2018

a misty morning...


My son and I decided to go for a walk in the rain this morning...we found ourselves...in a movie like setting...think Lord of the Rings...Game of Thrones...really otherworldly.   We were so sorry we didn't have our good camera but did our best with my i phone...

as Winter draws to a close here in the Midwest...it is magical to capture the beauty of a gray, drizzly Monday...snow melting...the promise of Spring in the air....

enjoy....



















                                                                XO Emily

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Corn Maze"ing"...


How can I call my self a true Midwesterner if I don't (at some point in my life) visit the largest corn maze in the world?!

I waited until my children were old enough to tackle this monster and recently we made the hour trip out in the country to visit the fun Fall festivities at Richardson Farm....



aerial view of this year's maze....



The Richardson family has owned this farm since the 1800's and were pig farmers until recently when they wisely opened a Fall cavalcade of FUN on their property including a corn maze...designed with a different theme every year.
 
 
 
 
 
We went a little late in the season...the corn was dry and rustling in the wind...but it was still over our heads...
 


Looking down into the maze from a very tall tower on the property...


Different routes are named for the Fab Four!




Here I am trying out "farm life"...


Two little of friends of mine loved exploring the maze...all 11 miles of it!


There was good ol' farm fun for all the kids...even the troupe of teenage boys we brought along had a great time! Not a cell phone was in use all day...whoopee!











I loved all the graphic Autumn color on display...



Pumpkin "Chuckin" from the tower is another fave activity...




So are the baby pig races...



The pigs have been named for famous Beatle songs... 


 



Another favorite activity...(not so "farm like" but still fun) is this...two people enter the bubble and are strapped in....and then pushed down an incline...





into a field...




rolling over and over...ugh...



you would NEVER find me doing this but it was fun for teenage boys for sure!



 


Here is the tall tower on the property which also includes a zip line.... 


 
If you go don't miss a bag of the fresh and delicious kettle corn....
 



 



Cuties!






The group...



Definitely a wonderful day filled with fresh Autumn air and sunshine!


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

A River Runs Through It!

I like to get out in Nature as much as I can! I especially love hiking in Autumn. One of the smartest things Urban Planners did in the suburbs of Chicago was to create beautiful forest and prairie preserves with easy access. One of my favorite hikes is along the Des Plaines River...on a stunning Fall day... it is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!
 
 




A little history of the area...





The river today...one of many vistas along the way...



Pussy Willows are so fabulous in abundance...




they symbolize Autumn to me and I just can't get enough...as you can see...



beautiful marshes filled with flowing grasses are also a fave...



I love this bridge...




There is very little Fall color yet.. (which is unusual) but I managed to see a bit just beginning....


 

 
This old lumpy tree reminded me of a scary forest...do you see the profile of the troll in the tree?
 


We passed over a babbling brook...


and a dry creek bed...




More views along the river...we walked for an hour without seeing another person!









 

The older I get the more I appreciate majestic trees...aren't they magnificent?


Off the main paths are sweet green forests...I will be back in a few weeks to enjoy all the Autumn color!

 
 



The main trails look like this...again...empty on a beautiful Sunday afternoon!
  

A little refreshment can be found in this antique pump...great for watering kids and pets! lol

 

Are you out and about exploring Nature this Fall? I highly recommend it! Happy Tuesday!

                              XO Emily
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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