Thoreau-esque

Mellow warmth

This fall will be my first "real" autumn in this country and I can feel the intense anticipation building within me....... And I swear on my way to work today, I spotted some leaves that have already turned red (not yellow, not orange, but a deep shade of red). I would have thought it's too early but then what do I know about fall, having lived in Florida for the last three ones!!!! :)

Anyways, when I stepped out a coupla days ago to shoot in that "golden hour" when the fading sun bathes the entire landscape in a light so lusciously honeyed, I knew I'd be happy with whatever magic my camera makes. Honestly, I love that cognac glow in the first one and the warmth of the others makes me want to raise a toast "To Light! To Life!" :)

Illinois Rocks ;DD

As I keep insisting, Illinois is not as flat as most people will like to believe. Well, now I have evidence to go with my claims : the canyons (:D) we encountered while hiking at Matthiessen State Park, last weekend. I know they are not a patch on the grand idea of canyons one may have, nothing grandiose about these formations but I think they are beautiful and do bear in mind, they are right in the midst of corn country. What's more, now I can truly claim that "Illinois rocks" ;DD

PS: The light at Lower Dells, by the time we reached them was nothing to be glad about.....and it shows in the pics and no, I am not doing manual on my camera yet .....So critics, cut me some slack there! :)

From my "corn-y" corner of the world :DDD

My pastoral romance with Mid-west continues.
Aren't you tempted to sing along with me........ :)
"There's a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant's eye,
An' it looks like it's climbin' clear up to the sky."

Having a field day! :)

I remember how I used to complain about the lack of wildflowers in the landscaped South-western part of Florida we used to live at ........and now that we have moved to Mid-west, I can't get enough of them!!!! Meadows, hills (I swear, Illinois is not as flat as people like to believe), road embankments….............wildflowers are everywhere. I wait for weekends when I can head out with my camera to tiptoe through nodding daisies, vivid blue chicory blossoms, queen anne's lace and countless others I am still to establish the names of! See if you can help me with the name of the pink one below! :)

Bon Appetit!

A li'l more than a month back, sometime around this time, on my birthday, I was busy having a good time at the annual summer festival in Milwaukee. A childhood friend whom I love dearly and a husband whom I can't do without ensured that the b'day was a fun-n-love filled day. Next day we made a dash to yet another food festival, this time in downtown Chicago. Today, I felt like making a quick collage of some of the images from the Taste of Chicago event. Looks like everyone brought a hearty appetite, don't you think so!!! :) I had as great time partaking in this gastronomic orgy from behind the lens as I had with every bite :)