A Sunday Drive (except it was Tuesday)

I took a Sunday drive except it was a Tuesday this week.  My good friend, Marti and I drove, well she drove, I rode a little over 100 miles (actually it was more than that because as we were driving and doing way too much talking we missed the turn, so add an extra 13 + miles) to Lake Carroll, IL to visit a friend of Marti's that had moved there 20 years ago.  They have kept in contact, which I think is exceptional to stay in contact with those that have moved away....Marti is a master at this....she has friends from childhood, friends from high school, friends from college, neighbors or church members that have moved away that she keeps in touch with which I think is a unique quality.  I can barely remember my high school and college friends, let alone stay in touch with them.  It is kinda sad not knowing how some of my best friends in high school lives unfolded. Did they have happy marriages, how many or any children did they have, are they even still alive?

Oh I do diverse....back to Lake Carroll.  Helen and her husband Lyle have a lovely home buried in a wooded area and after a tour of the house and lunch at the clubhouse, Helen took us on a drive through the countryside. Just a teeny bit of history abut this part of Illinois....very hilly so unlike the Chicago area which is flat as a pancake, but the reason we are so flat and this area which is in the the northwest area of Illinois, fairly close to Iowa & Wisconsin is so hilly is way way back when we were in the middle of an Ice Age, the glaciers made it down to the Chicagoland area, but didn't make it as far as northwest Illinois, and when they melted, they left the land flat.  I didn't know that but everyone I mention it to had heard that.....I really think it was because they were raised here and probably learned this in school, while I went to school in Texas and learned about the Alamo and not glaciers.  Marti had mentioned to Helen that I love finding barns to photograph.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day, sun was shining, slight breezes, blue skies with the most beautiful puffy clouds....give me a red barn, blue skies and puffy clouds and I am indeed in heaven.  And with two wonderful women by my side, indeed a lovely day.

I love this "condo" style barn with all of its windows...altho I wonder if those shutters open or are just decor.

And a blue and white barn, don't think I have ever seen one of these....

We did run across a couple of quilt barns....wish I could tell you the name of those squares, but I honestly don't have a clue.  I could google it but there are problem close to a gazillion different ones.

And we ended our drive with this church.  Isn't this just the perfect setting and site of a country church.

But my post isn't complete without a fence...to link up to TexWiseGirl's Good Fences.  This is very typical of the fences in this part of Illinois, nothing fancy, but gets the job done.

And today is the day I post at my collaborative blog Focusing On Life.  Please take a moment to stop by.

Until next time.....

Aaah Summer

"Aaah, summer - that long anticipated stretch of lazy,

 lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility.

It's a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swimming strokes, 

conquer trees, explore nooks and crannies, and make new friends." ~ Darell Hammond

Until next time.....

Flowers, Colors, Beauty

This is what summer is about, for me anyway....flowers, colors, beauty,  Many times last winter I found myself going back through the images from last summer just to replenish my soul with the colors and beauty of summertime.  Back in the 80's my sweetie and I took a trip to England and I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the gardens there, from the simplest front yard garden to the massive beauties found around the estates and castles.  I was determined to create my own little patch of beauty when I returned home.  My first garden was no more than about 20x20 feet at the side of our home.  And since that time I have added front yard gardens, back yard gardens, mailbox gardens, driveway gardens.   All began as sun gardens only to be gradually converted to shade gardens as the trees began to grow blocking the sun.   I have a few sun flowers, but they are gradually being overtaken with shade.  Remembering back when we first moved into our home some 35 years ago, like all new subdivisions there were absolutely no trees in sight.  As we planted our trees, no more than sticks at the time, I never would have imagined the shade that those small trees would later provide.   And since there is so much shade, I find myself going to garden centers with camera in hand, taking pictures of the bounty of colors that I cannot grow in my shade gardens.  Eventho I cannot grow many of the flowers that grace gardens filled with sun, my trees provide shade and coolness during our hot summer days.  So trading sunny gardens for the coolness that the trees bring is a good thing (as Martha would say).  

Yesterday,during our weekly girlfriend gathering at Barnes & Noble, we watched the dark clouds begin to roll in.  We all decided perhaps it was time to leave and reach home before the heavens opened and the rain began.  I made it home right before the rains came and took this image of the gathering clouds.  Pretty scary huh??  Nothing dangerous happened, just lots and lots of rain.

Which made for nice raindrop pictures after it subsided....

And finally, my contribution to Theresa's meme (TexWisGirl - Run A Round Ranch) Good Fences. Nothing better than a good old adorned, rusty fence.

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." ~Gertrude Jekyll

Until next time.....