It’s been hot across the Midwest and to add to the heat, there have been successive days of air quality warnings.
This week’s sign offering is a tie.
a local sign spied on the main east-west road in Wheaton, IL July 16, 2026 at 3:11 PM CDT
I ran into this sign on the way home from an outing on Friday, Ottawa, IL July 17, 2026 at 3:57 PM CDT
I am tickled by both. But they don’t make it any cooler.
Thursday evening’s sunset looked like I was looking through those eclipse glasses from 2024.
photo at normal magnification… 1X
photo at zoomed magnification… 2X
photo at zoomed magnification… 5X
Yesterday, I drove to Dwight, Illinois – a town southwest of home to see the Big Boy locomotive stop as it traveled back to it’s base in Wyoming after touring the USA for America’s 250th Independence Celebration.
The Big Boy travelled through Wheaton in early June and I was at the lake. I’ll write more later on this… but the skies were clear and hardly any smoke south of here.
the Big Boy in Dwight
blue skies and puffy clouds south of home
blue skies and big thunder clouds close to home, haze had left
This morning (Saturday), it’s hazy and we still e an air quality warning until midnight but the temperatures are slowly dropping. My regular Saturday morning gig – the food pantry – is closed and was closed Thursday as well due to the air quality. Hopefully, we’ll be back Monday.
I’ll be happy to wave goodbye to the heat, too.Β
I head back to the lake for the annual canoe race next weekend. It’s going to be a family weekend with the my son and his family (the grandies) coming to enjoy a long weekend at the lake. I am looking forward to it.
I’ve been working on this post for a bit too long – so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Today is going to be an amazing day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, even. when it takes a couple of days to finish a post.
Do you ever get distracted and lose ‘steam’ on a post?
It’s been a busy few days since I last posted. I skipped the sign of the week and a few other things. I have been at the lake for the Independence holiday weekend.
Sign of the Week
America’s 250 years since declaring our independence from the United Kingdom, pales in comparison to our mother country and almost every people across the globe besides those of us whom live in the New World. Yet, we celebrate our milestone proudly.
I bring you three flags, yes there is a third flag in the background.
Attempting to capture a image which does justice to the alignment of hundreds of American flags flying in the breeze is impossible, but I tried.
I was allowed to pick up the flags and planted them along the road at our lake house Friday.
I left Friday morning and was surprised by the lack of traffic on the highway as I patiently drove east, then north.
I was two hours into my drive when I remembered a blog post from my friend Dawn at Change is Hard. She had posted about a field filled with poppies which she and a friend had visited in mid-June. I commented that I drive past the field on my to our lake house. At the time I thought about driving over and back, but decided I had other things I should be doing and filed it away for another time. As I drove along, I remembered the poppy field and recalculated my route to include stopping and paying a visit.
I am glad I stopped. Words cannot describe, nor can a picture; but I tried.
The poppy filed was stunning. I’ll be passing there this evening as I head home for a doctor’s appointment and a Β few other things before coming back for the canoe race. I am excited to see the poppy field in the evening sun.
Independence Day at the lake is always fun, except if you are a dog. Especially, Fern who is terrified of fireworks. She’s a hunting dog breed, but we aren’t hunters so she hasn’t been acclimated to the sounds. She’ll hide when the Guard Camp is doing live fire across the lake or during thunderstorms.
There were fireworks on the lake Friday and Saturday evening, but I chose to stay close to Fern and Nova.
Saturday morning was the day of the boat parade and my daughter had been busy creating her theme for this year’s 250th Independence Day Lake Margrethe Boat Parade.
She dressed as George Washington with her ‘troops’ riding behind. It’s her cousin and his young family as American soldiers crossing the Delaware for a sneak attack on the British at Trenton on Christmas night 1776.
The boat parade wound the shores of the lake and lasted a little over an hour before we finished and gathered for hot dogs, hamburgers, and judge’s results. I am surprised our little band of soldiers made it.
I created the video of the event with other entries, but not all of them. I set it to Ray Charles’ rendition of ‘America the Beautiful.’ Enjoy.
So there you have it, three flags (in front of the house) with three events to celebrate American independence.
It’s Wednesday and it’s already the best Wednesday this week. I’ve got a couple of chores and some packing before I head home. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the rest of the day. Making the days COUNT, one day at a time, making every moment worthwhile.
Have you ever been somewhere special and gone back to see it in a different light?
the original photo, taken Thursday, 6/25 at 12:04 PM. It was a beautiful sunny day.
an updated photo taken Sunday, June 18 at 4:54 PM. It was raining.
Yesterday on the way home from Loaves and Fishes, I was listening to the Astros baseball game. They were behind 6-5 in the top of the eighth inning.
The Detroit Tigers made a pitching change which didn’t work out for them. The Astros clawed their way back into the game with a couple of hits and a little misfortune on the Tigers part. While I was listening, my mind wondered and it found its way to a book I read a more than a dozen years ago, Imperfect, an Improbable Life.
The book was about a baseball player, Jim Abbott, who was born with a partially formed right arm who taught himself to play baseball. It’s an inspiring story and I wrote about in this blogpost – Saturday Morning – late April – published April 28, 2012. And I went back to read it. As I have discovered with many older posts, my writing has changed and the links I added, no longer worked. So, I did a little revising to the links.
This morning’s post was about book lending and it took me back to the book I had read about Jim Abbott and his journey from Flint, Michigan to Yankee Stadium and beyond.
I lent that book, Imperfect: An Improbable Life, a few times before I lent it a final time. I haven’t seen that book since, or that person for that matter.
It doesn’t matter, I could (and probably should) lend more of my books and never get them back.
Beth’s post sent me on a rabbit chase of sorts where I discovered a video about Jim Abbott that was produced by ESPN last summer. I missed it, I was busy with other things. The trailer below is about how he learned t play baseball one handed.
Jim Abbott overcame an incredible amount of hardship in his life. Much of it through his own hard work and determination. But baseball, like life, is a team sport.
Nine players on the diamond to play a game.
Every player has to be all in for it to work.
before editing
after editing
Today is going to be a great day, especially when I go down a rabbit hole in time. Like every day, I have a lot to do and today is no different. I am watching the grandies in a little over an hour and as usual I am behind on the things I thought I’d get to this morning.
Rabbit holes.
So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, even when I am diving into rabbit holes.
When was the last time you dove into a rabbit hole?
NOTE: I posted this unedited versions of the sign on Sunday and only noticed the mispelling after a commenter noticed it. I went back Sunday afternoon and the error had been corrected. As always, I was reminded that some times my most effective proofreading comes AFTER I press publish.
It’s Father’s Day and I received my gift several week’s ago when my kids ‘surprised’ me with a trip to Wrigley to watch the Astros play the Cubs.
When the day came, it really wasn’t a surprise, but there was a surprise involved.
my Father’s Day gift was early! Best day ever!
A couple of weeks before the game, I called my daughter on her way to work and shared that the Astros were going to be in town and asked if she wanted to go. There was a silence on the other end and then an answer,
“You didn’t hear this from me, but I’ve been watching for tickets…Father’s Day is coming”
A few weeks before, she asked me if I had any baseball trips planned for the summer. I told her,
“No, all the good weekends are taken.” I said.
“What do you mean?” she replied.
“Well, all of the games I’d like to see are weekend when I can’t go. Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, my brother’s visit, Race Weekend, weekends when I can’t go.” I explained.
I finished my bucket list last August when I watched the Astros play the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. With that game, I had made it to all 30 of the baseball cities and 33 baseball stadiums.
With that milestone, I needed a new bucket list item! So, I added a new item to my bucket list, it’s a updated version of the original bucket list item – to see the Astros play in every stadium. Presently, I am at 17 cities where I have seen my team play.
It had been a while since I had been to a game with my daughter – it was 2018 before the Astros cheating scandal when she stopped rooting for the Astros.
ready for the last baseball game with my daughter – Astros at home in April 2018 and the last picture of the two of us with my mom…. April 2018
I wrote about a trip to the park almost a dozen years ago,Β Weekly Photo Challenge: Between June 2014. I had to go back and edit – the link to the seventh inning stretch was broken, but I was able to find the video and update it!
A couple of days before the game, I found out the rest of the surprise – my son and his boys would be joining us! I was so excited. A baseball game with the grandies!
I was even able to find a photo! April 7, 2017
It had been even longer since I had watched a game with my son – I think it goes back all the way back to April 2017.
Anyway, Saturday couldn’t come soon enough. Friday afternoon, I listened to the finish of the game in my classroom after school and the Astros won 4-2!
Saturday morning I was up early and excited.
My son had borrowed my car the night before and the grandies loaded and ready to go.
The drive into Chicago went smoothly until we reached the city and got bogged down in lower Wacker traffic. IYKYK!
We had decided to park remotely, instead of attempting to park near the stadium. A WIN because it was free and much easier!
We parked, loaded the bus, and finished with a short walk to Wrigley.
loaded and ready to go….
… where are we going? and this hat!
loading for the ride to Chicago
the bus ride to Wrigley…
Always wants to see where we are headed…
The Astros were up 2-0 Β in the second inning when we got to our seats, but it didn’t matter. We were there to enjoy a day together at the ballpark.
the view from our seats… in the shade
My son had brought snacks and drinks for the grandies and they were happy to watch and take in the game. I got ballpark food the kids and me and got a free peanut (for the photo) from the couple behind me!
I even tried a peanut photo….
… and it was too dark, or it went straight to the mouth!
We had a great time and the Astros were able to tack on another run in the fourth inning.
When the seventh inning came, we were all in and sang “Take Me out the Ballgame” with gusto.
It was a fun game to watch, but to be honest it was just fun being at the ballpark sharing the game I love and spending time with my kids and grandies.
After the game, we let the crowd go before we left our seats… and we let the grandies play before we packed up and headed back to the bus and home.
anther Astro fan behind one of the grandies
On the way home we checked in with mom (my wife, B) and organized an outdoor pizza party to finish the day.
And now, I have a new bucket list item – watch as many baseball Β games as I can with my grandies!
It was an amazing day and I’ve been waiting to share ever since. It’s Father’s Day and I am blessed with two amazing kids and a couple of grandies to boot. Today is going to be an amazing day. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, being father since 1998.
Any Father’s Day memories?
Oh and BTW, Β the Astros won the game 3-0 and swept the three game series with a win Sunday.
It’s Saturday and eighth day of summer break and I am feeling very relaxed and rested.
I was able to remember a few more of the promises I made about summer and acted upon a few before we left town for the lake. We arrived at the lake house very late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. The dogs barked, but our daughter (who was already here) did not wake. We brought in the essentials before collapsing into our beds.
We fully unloaded Wednesday when we awoke to an amazing day.
We’ve been busy since. Thursday I ran to town for errands and got the fixings for dinner and thought I’d capture a few signs for this week’s post and I discovered one of the signs hadn’t changed since late April!
I laughed at this one which can be seen as you drive north along M93.
and I swallowed when I read this one… on the flip side of the first.
Friday was a lazy day. Truly, it was overcast and it rained.
yes, those are my feet…
This morning it was cloudy and wet from the overnight rain, but it has since cleared and the sunshines brightly. Which means my moments of writing are few and fleeting.
The local veterinarian always has good signs and I captured the signs below when we were here in February and the images were ‘out of date’ by the time I had time to write.
cats can be viewed driving west along M72
and dogs can be seen driving into town on the flip side…
There was snow on the ground and it was much colder than it is today. There is a breeze on the lake and it promises to warm to the mid-70s (about 24-26C). Hopefully, it will trigger more memories of other promises I made about getting a few chores done.
It’s Saturday and it is going to be a full day and as I think back to my first post at MtDC I am reminded,
This could possibility be the best day ever! (This could possibility be the best day ever,) And the forecast says that tomorrow will likely be a million and six times better. So make every minute count, jump up, jump in, and seize the day, And letβs make sure that in every single possible way, Today is gonna be a great day!
So I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, because that’s how they come.
Do you have any promises you’ve made which are coming due?
IMPORTANT – A couple of notes on today’s post….. it’s long, it’s personal, and it’s a re-post from 2015. Enjoy.
My dad was a Taurus. Today would have been his 82nd birthday. He passed away after a brief illness on July 20, 2009. He was 76, too young. His passing took me by surprise, though if I had been paying attention I would have known, or at the least been more prepared, more ready.
My dad and his mom – one year old – May 1934
It seems like just the other day, but it was almost six years ago. It was at the end of the school year and I remember the entire event unfolding in slow motion in my memory, as if it were yesterday.
A year after my dad passed away, my brothers and I escorted his cremains to France and spread his ashes where he wanted to spend eternity in the countryside of northern France. Since that summer, Iβve been on a quest to recapture and gather my history, my story β who I am, where I have been, and where I am headed. In a way, MakingtheDaysCount.org has been my journal and my travelogue. Continue reading Taurus the Bull – 11 years later→
Itβs the third Sunday in May and I am winding down on another year of teaching. There are eight days remaining in our school year with the kiddos, then itβs summer break and another opportunity to rehearse for retirement.
Sunday May 3rd, on the way how from somewhere…. blessings > problems
I was reminded by the sign below that I have a great deal for which to be thankful. I found it a couple of weeks ago, and I found the time this morning to write about it.
A week ago, I had a flashback to my first year of blogging and I reached out to a parent of a former student from the 2010-11 school year. It was my first year of blogging and she introduced me to another blogger whom she had met the summer before. I was, and still am, thankful. My message was brief and it took several attempts to find the correct email address before the message went through without a mailer-daemon reply.
Good morning,
I am not sure if this going to work… but I’ll give it a try.
Thought of you and your son this morning as I started my day – it is the day the first Coca-Cola is served in Atlanta!
I remember your family came back from a trip to the UK with a copy of a CD by One Night Only as it wasn’t available in the US.
My son – who’s your son’s age and grade, is now a firefighter paramedic, married, and has twin boys (18 months old). How is your son? And how are you doing?
I hope all is well, peace. BTW, I am still blogging at https://makingthedayscount.org
Semper sharkus,
I received a reply and I have yet to reply, but I will before the day is done. It was great to hear of my former studentβs successes since he left my class, I knew he was destined for greatness as he showed curiosity, resilience, and great sense of humor as a seventh-grade boy.
Friday afternoon, I attended a retirement celebration for three of my fellow educators who are finishing their careers and retiring this year. One of them has been at our school since it opened in 2001 and many former teachers and administrators showed up for the party. It was wonderful to see so many people I havenβt seen for several years and catch up.
One of them was a band teacher who left about the time I had Edward, or maybe it was before. But itβs been a while. As we talked, he shared how he remembered the MtDC posts I would share via Facebook. I stopped sharing my blog posts on the platform when FB labeled them spam and contrary to the rules of the platform. I never understood how it happened, but it was probably a word or phrase that got flagged, so I stopped. The entire thing had me in knots, before I let it go.
Friday evening, it was hazy and humid early in the evening. May 15, 2026, 7:36 PM CDT.
Itβs true I have far more blessings than I have problems as the sign says. Sometimes I just need the reminder.
In a few weeks, my sixteenth year of blogging will roll over to seventeenth. It is hard to believe itβs been that long, but it has. I have learned a lot along the path, and I know I am a better person for my years blogging.
Today is going to be a great day, if I can only trust it. It could possibly be a million and six times better than yesterday. So, Iβd better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time making time to be present and patient.
W^2 orΒ W squaredΒ for Wordless Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Yellow was my momβs favorite color, at least I think it was. Sheβs been gone seven years now and there are so many questions I have that will forever go unanswered. I am going to have to go on believing that yellow was her favorite color.
Sunday morning, I looked out the kitchen window and saw an American Goldfinch, or spinus tristis, at the seed feeder. It was bright yellow and I couldnβt miss it.
I also uploaded it to a new app I discovered while watching CBS Sunday Morning before spring break. Itβs called iNaturalist. The app encourages amateur scientists across the globe to share photos of living things β plants, animals, insects, and birds. I am just beginning to explore with it.
I shared the app and video with my students before we left for spring break encouraging them to be curious and full of wonder completely oblivious to the scheduled launch of Artemis II the following week.
My mom encouraged me to be curious as a child, and often in our conversations through adulthood. Sheβd love that I was reminded of her through seeing a spinus tristis.
Itβs Wednesday and I have a full plate today. So, Iβd better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days COUNT, one day at a time, seeing yellow is better than seeing βred.β
I finally turned the snow app off. Hopefully, we’ve seen the last of this year’s snow.
It’s officially spring, though we’re almost two weeks in or a month depending on which measure you use – Β astronomical or meteorological. Either way you look it is spring with Easter Sunday this weekend.
Monday morning’s sunrise. The sun is rising. Key Colony Beach, Florida Monday, March 30, 2026 9:07 AM EDT
I am certain It won’t snow where we are. It’s spring break and my wife and I are in the Florida Keys for a week. We are staying where we’ve spent every spring break since 2016, with the lone exception of 2020 when we were locked in at the lake.
Our rental offers a front row seat for sunrises. Every morning, I wake early so I don’t miss one. This morning, I set off to watch the sunrise from the eastern approach to the Bahia Honda Bridge. I miscalculated, the old bridge obscured the view of the sun breaking the horizon, but I waited patiently and was rewarded with the image below.
the sun has risen over the Bahia Honda Bridge West Summerland Key, April 1, 2026 7:36 AM EDT
Last night when we returned from dinner, we gazed at the moon which had risen over the Atlantic. Over dinner we talked about today’s scheduled moon launch when NASA will launch Artemis II for the first manned spaceflight to the moon since December 1972. And, of course we shared our childhood Β memories of launches and splash downs.
Tuesday, the moon is rising. Key Colony Beach, Florida Tuesday, March 31, 2026 8:30 AM EDT
another perspective of the moon over the Atlantic, Key Colony Beach, March 31, 2026 8:33 PM EDT
I wondered if people will be watching the launch like we were some fifty years ago.
It is Wednesday morning and April Fools. I’ve been fooled more than once, and I’ve done my share of Β foolin’ but not today. Today is going to be an amazing day, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, under the sun, the moon, and the stars.
How is the sun or the moon lighting your path today?
November has been a beast, October started it. Maybe itβs the leaves falling, or first quarter ending and second quarter starting. Either way, I feel as though Iβve been chasing my tail all month long.
Last weekend, I took a quick trip to the lake house β up Saturday afternoon and back Monday afternoon. It was a trip to replace the Nest thermostat which Google stopped supporting in late October. I figured (correctly) it would still work, but we wouldnβt have a way to check or change the temperature settings. O offered her Nest thermostat from her college house, and I took off when my Saturday shift at Loaves finished. I packed the car leftovers from the fridge for dinner when I arrived and both dogs.
It was a good thing I drove up. When I arrived, the thermostat was set to OFF and the inside and outside temperatures were the almost identical! 44F (11C) yikes. It was cold. I turned on the heat and within a couple of hours the cottage was a comfortable 65F (18C).
I am thankful I had the flexibility to take off for a quick trip to the lake.
I remember the weekend when I installed it in 2013. It is funny how the mind works. I re-read the post and like almost every post I reread, I found a typo or two. I also discovered Iβve become a better writer, and I realize that WordPress has developed incredible storytelling tools, even when I still must edit after I press publish.
I am thankful I continue to learn and grow, and I am thankful for WordPress. It was a good choice fifteen and half years ago and it is still today.
Sunday morning, I had a list of chores and a hope. I decided to tackle the thermostat switch, but I discovered that Oβs thermostat wasnβt a good match and I needed a replacement. I checked Home Depot and discovered I could get one on Wednesday, so I checked where I bought the original Nest β Lowes and they had three in stock.
So, the dogs and I took off for the Lowes in Gaylord and a new thermostat. Hopefully this thermostat will last another dozen (or more) years.
Two hours, total. Up, back, and then a quick install and now we can monitor the climate in our lake house remotely.
On our way back to the lake, I saw the above sign; boy, do I love the wisdom. Gratitude and thankfulness, indeed it is a lifestyle, yet like many of the values and ideals in America it has a day set aside for it β Thanksgiving.
This year my school district switched the timing of parent conferences to October, instead of November and set aside the ENTIRE week of Thanksgiving as a break for teachers and administrators. This year we had nine days instead of six.
I am thankful for the three extra days; it makes a difference in where I am on the ninth morning.
After the installing thermostat I had another errand and few chores before cooking dinner and settling down for the night.
It was a beautiful day to be working outside; and my canine companions enjoyed the time to play, and I enjoyed the sunset and moonset. Monday morning, while practicing gratitude with Five Minute Journal app, I caught the most beautiful morning sunrise. I was at the right place at the right time for all three photos.
Sunday evenings’s sunset, 5:08 PM EST
Sunday evening’s moonset, 6:57 PM EST
Monday morning’s sunrise paints the early morning sky, 7:41 AM EST
I am thankful I was able to see the sky and enjoy the beauty of nature.
It is the ninth and last day of Thanksgiving break, and yesterday we received a good amount of snow, had it fallen during the school week it might have been a snow day, but it fell Saturday. The yard is beautiful and I am thankful I was able to get the yard mowed, as many leaves as I could gather, and finish almost all our Christmas lights up Friday.
There was one thing I couldnβt squeeze into Friday, and it was refilling the bird feeders. Saturday morning as the first snowflakes fell, I filled the feeders. A couple of hours later, I saw a bird I have never seen at the feeder. I snapped a photo and asked Merlin to identify it, and it came back β Dark-eyed Junco.
There were several Dark-eyed Juncos enjoying the opportunity to take part in a Thanksgiving feast of their own. The bird feeders continue to spark my curiosity and learning. There is always something at the feeders to see and wonder.
I am thankful for the family of bloggers who encourage my curiosity and challenge me.
It has been an amazing break, and I have done the things I needed to recharge and finish 2025 strong. When I started writing t was Saturday and I was by a warm hearth, and it was snowing. It is still snowing and the fireplace has gone cold, for the moment. Today is going to be an amazing day, it could be a million and six times better than yesterday. But I will ever know unless I jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days COUNT, one day at a time, practicing Thanksgiving as a lifestyle, not a day.
Whatβs on your gratitude list?
The video above was created in October during our visit over the Columbus Day\Indigenous People’s break
