Category Archives: Weekly Photo Challenges

W^2 – crossing

Wednesday, January 5, 2022, @ 9:20 amChallenges, Family, growing up, Learning, Photography, Teaching and Learning, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesday, Writingdriving, Family, making the days count, Mississippi River, Photography, teachingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Cairo Bridge, I-57 N, crossing the mighty Mississippi River, approaching the Missouri-Illinois state line, December 31, 2021, 12:26 PM

I spent the entire week, last week, in northern Mississippi with my brother and his wife sorting through my stepmother’s home and her belongings. It was a tough week.

I drove south over the Cairo Bridge on Sunday, the day after Christmas, and returned New Year’s Eve. Its over 600 miles to her home. The Cairo Bridge marks 382 of those miles from my home in northern Illinois. The trip took through me five states – Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. I crossed the mighty Mississippi River four times on my trip, and I had a lot to think about on the way south and even more on the return.

The river keeps moving and I suppose that is good advice.

Today is gonna be an awesome day, I know it and I can feel it, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, crossing bridges all the time.

What was the last BIG bridge you crossed?

W^2 – restorative

Wednesday, December 15, 2021, @ 6:00 amChallenges, Life in General, Science, teaching, Weather, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesdaygreat days, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, hiking, making the days count, teaching, weatherClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, December 15, 2021

The lake has a layer of ice in the background, winter is near, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve Wheaton, IL December 11, 2021, 3:25 PM

Saturday afternoon Fern and I took a walk at our local forest preserve. It was the first time in while she and I stepped out together on a hike. I couldn’t find my gloves, it was very windy, and my fingers were cold holding the leash and my new hiking stick. Temperatures last Saturday were above freezing, but when we passed the south end of the lake, we could see a crust of ice coating the surface. I did learn one thing, don’t use a hiking stick with Fern on a leash.

It was a good walk to clear the head, move the legs, and breath some fresh air. Like so many things in life, I just to make time for them. Restorative.

There are six days, counting today, until school is out for winter. The solstice arrives in five. It’s going to be an amazing day and it’s already begun. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, working on ways to restore, refresh, and move. Peace.

Where did you go for your most recent walk? Please share.

W^2 – ornament

Wednesday, November 24, 2021, @ 9:17 amChallenges, Life in General, Photography, Teaching and Learning, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless WednesdayChristmas, Family, great days, Lake Margrethe, making the days count, writingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, November 24, 2021

The cottage Christmas tree, a shiny ornament, the lake, and a reflective selfie. Grayling, MI November 23, 2021, 10:57 AM

It is Thanksgiving Break, and we broke away to the lake for a weekend and a couple of days. B decorated the Christmas tree Monday evening while I conducted parent conferences from the loft overlooking the tree. Tuesday morning, I captured the tree, and the day, in all its splendor and light before we broke camp and returned home to spend Thanksgiving at home wit h family.

It is Wednesday, November 24^th and one month from today, it will be Christmas eve, may the Christmas season bring the brightness of light into your life. Let it shine. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, enjoying the brightness of a new day and letting my light shine.

In what ways will your line shine?

W^2 – path

Wednesday, October 20, 2021, @ 9:35 pmFamily, Learning, pets, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesday, WritingDuPage Forest Preserves, fall in the Midwest, Fullersburg Woods, great days, making the days count, Photography, teaching, writingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Fern, the woods, and the fall sun, Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve Oakbrook, IL October 16, 2021, 2:06 PM

It was a beautiful fall afternoon with temperatures in the upper 50s (14-15C) and a clear blue sky. Fern and I were giving a new forest preserve a try. It was an excellent choice. Much of the path was along a creek with woods to the east. We came across a momma white-tailed deer and her three fawns crossing the path in front of us moving from the creek side into the woods. It was an excellent walk in the fall sun. We also ran into a Brittany puppy on our walk and it brought back memories of sharp teeth and house training. Make the Days Count, one day at a time, never knowing what will cross my path.

What has crossed your path lately?

Tommy – 11 weeks old, Fern – 2 and one half years old meet in the woods along a limestone path Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve Oakbrook, IL October 16, 2021, 2:21 PM

W^2 – evening walk

Wednesday, October 13, 2021, @ 4:58 amadventure, teaching, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless WednesdayFamily, great days, making the days count, ScienceClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Fern and her shadow on our evening walk, Wheaton, IL October 12, 2021, 6:35 PM

The days are getting shorter, and the sun sets earlier each evening as a reminder that we are headed into winter. Then the process will reverse again as it always does. Until that time, fern and I will have to start earlier in the afternoon. We’ll continue to Make the Days Count, one day at a time, one step, or sniff, at time, starting earlier each day.

When do you make time walk?

W^2 – huge oak

Wednesday, September 29, 2021, @ 5:05 amChallenges, Life in General, Photography, teaching, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless WednesdayBlackwell Forest Preserve, DuPage Forest Preserves, great days, hard work, making the days count, teachingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, September 29, 2021

the huge oak, Blackwell Forest Preserve, Warrenville, IL September 12, 2021, 9:24 AM

I often joke, “I put the late, in Clayton.” This week’s photograph is from three weeks ago when Fern and I took an ambitious morning hike at a new forest preserve to us. I’d been there plenty of times but never taken Fern for a hike. It was a steamy morning and we turned and headed home before finishing the planned distance. It was a good hike but both of us were spent. I had for too much to accomplish on the 15^th and again on the 22^nd, so on the 29^th here is the huge oak, it’s a tree not a street. It looks like it’s been where it is for a while, and I anticipate it’ll be there long after me, even if I am on time. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, sometimes a delay and sometimes on time.

What is your timing, are you punctual or late?

W^2 – evening hike

Wednesday, September 8, 2021, @ 5:17 amadventure, Photography, Weather, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesday, WritingHerrick Lake Forest Preserve, hiking, making the days count, weather, writingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, Wheaton, IL September 7, 2021 6:21 PM

Tuesday afternoon strong storms passed through the area. My classroom weather station registered 2.27 cm of precipitation, a little less than an inch, but at home – none. Once the storm passed it was beautiful, so Fern and I went for an early evening hike. Herrick Lake is a favorite hiking spot of ours with some elevation change, forest, and prairie with a little bit of wetlands mixed in. The two of us made hay while the sun shined and it was a good hike. The sun set over the prairie as we rounded our halfway point. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, hiking to move and moving to live.

What do you enjoy about a hike or a walk?

W^2 – empty nest

Wednesday, September 1, 2021, @ 7:18 pmChallenges, Family, growing up, Photography, Science, teaching, Teaching and Learning, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesdaychildren, Family, making the days count, Michigan State University, teachingClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Michigan State College marker, date unknow. East Lansing, MI August 28, 2021 6:10 PM

Saturday morning, we loaded our car and took off to take our youngest daughter off to college. It was a hot day and we got everything into her un-air-conditioned dorm room. We helped her unpack and put things away and then drove home. The drive home seemed so much longer than the drive there. Same distance, different circumstances, lighter load and for the first time in twenty-three and half years we are on our own again. Life begins anew. I remember my first week or so away from home and off to college, but I never thought how hard it was on my mom. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, beginning a new journey all over again.

Do you remember your first day away home?

today was O’s first day of class and I sent her greetings from my class! (notice my Alma mater on my mask – Texas A&M University) – Naperville, IL September 1, 2021 10:15 AM

W^2 – storm clouds

Thursday, August 26, 2021, @ 5:00 amScience, Weather, Weekly Photo Challenges, Wordless Wednesdaymaking the days count, Photography, Science, teaching, weatherClay

W^2 or W squared for Wordless Wednesday, August 25, 2021

a cumulonimbus cloud across the prairie. Springbrook Forest Preserve, Naperville, IL August 25, 2021 5:11 PM

a cumulonimbus cloud, zooming in. Springbrook Forest Preserve, Naperville, IL August 25, 2021 5:11 PM

It’s late August and it’s hot, humid, and storms blow up in the afternoon. This magnificent thunder cell wrought heavy rains over a small area for over an hour, then dissipated and moved out over Lake Michigan and parts east. I fell asleep to flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder in the distance, but very little rain fell on my lawn. It’s Thursday, not Wednesday and I am going to make Thursday an amazing day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, day 6 follows day 5, always.

How are your late August afternoons?

Days of Summer: Home for Week 5

Wednesday, July 14, 2021, @ 9:45 amadventure, Learning, Life in General, Photography, Reading, Science, teaching, Teaching and Learning, Weekly Photo Challenges, Writingfitness, great days, making the days count, reading, teaching, writingClay

We’ve been home for the week, and it’s been glorious. The partial drought of late spring has been replaced by more seasonal rain pattern and unseasonable coolness.

We returned home late Wednesday evening wrapping up details at the lake house and driving home while it rained much of the way home, traffic was light, and we made good time on the road.

Day 30 and Thursday was time to catch up on our home. The yard had grown wild and mowed the grass twice once at the highest setting allowed and then lowering the mower one setting and gathered the clippings – two full of grass clippings. I mowed it again yesterday, Day 35, catching the grass and have one bin full of grass clippings for my effort.

It’s that time in summer when nature thrives in the warm sunlight and abundant rainfall. We are blessed.