Winter 2022 At the Japan House

Even though spring is less than a week away, I have photos taken during winter that I’d like to share. This year’s winter started slow then decided to sock it to us in the form of a huge winter storm in February and another ice - snow storm two weeks later.

 

 
Honestly, I really like snow - the white brightens the dull landscape and when sun gets mixed in, there’s so much brilliance to enjoy. During the mid February storm, we received almost a foot of snow over 2 days. I opted to work from home and took some time to shoot snow selfies as the snow was falling. This was shot in my backyard with the iPhone 13 Plus in selfie portrait mode. I really like the results.

 

 

 

 
After two days of active snowfall, the sun came out so I invited two friends to visit the Japan House. We visit here often, mainly in the Spring and Fall. I had been waiting for a snowfall to complete my "seasons at the Japan House" Photo series.

 

 

 

 

 
Two weeks later and a snowy Sunday morning found us back. Friend My, texted me unexpectedly in the morning and after a pause, I kicked the lazy Sunday morning inertia to the curb and headed out. What an enchanting morning - snow fell lightly at first then suddenly we were blanketed by soft fluffy flakes. We were so happy to have gone out on this photo walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Finally, here's another snow selfie with my photo partner in crime, My.

 

 
Winter may be gone but not forgotten!

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The Boulder Flatirons - Chautauqua Hiking

I almost labeled this for Fence Friday, but the snow capped mountains command this scene - at least they do for me.

 

 
I took the opportunity to travel to Colorado with a local running friend whose daughter lives in Boulder. While the temperatures only hovered in the single digits (Fahrenheit!), the sun reflecting off the powery snow kept us warm while hiking the trails. My friend appologized for the non-ideal conditions, but I would rather hike in the beauty of a snowy forest than a more typical green one. Another upside - not many hikers on the trail, perfect in this time of social distancing; I find solitude adds to the magic of the crystalline snow globe. We accessed the trails from Chautauqua Park, hiking the Chautauqua and Flat Irons trails, crossing back along the Bluebird Mesa Trail as seen on this trail map.

 

 
Maybe I'll get to experience these trails again during the warmer months. Even so, I'm glad we got out despite the bitter cold.

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February 2021 Free Calendar Download - Snowy Trail

 
Winter is in full swing in Central Illinois - the beginning of February greated us with a winter storm and fresh snow. So I find it appropriate that this month's calendar download features a similar snowfall from last year. I personally like fresh snow and enjoy taking in the beautiful forest trail. The fresh snow buffers ambient noises, allowing a peaceful experience.

 

 
To download February's calendar, click on this link from Box.com
Link --> February Calendar 2021 - Snowy Trail

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MIchelle S, Class of 2021 - Fall and Winter Looks

We thought the Class of 2020 bore the brunt of the global COVID pandemic. Certainly after months of remote work and learning, mask wearing and other precautions, life would resume "back to normal". We, however, failed to recognize how long the virus would continue its impact and who knows what "normal" will look like going forward.

 
Michelle, Class of 2021, is making the best of the situation. An avid runner, she ran cross country on her team's modified fall season and was named to the All-Area Team. Michelle displays a casual and sporty calm in her demeanor and she is most comfortable when down to earth scenarios. Her family hails from a farm in Indiana so the rural, prairie setting was perfect for our fall session. Photos taken at Allerton Park in Monticello. 

 

 

I'm good friends with Michelle's mom, and she mentioned how much fun it would be to have photos taken during a fresh snowfall. We received a decent amount of snow last weekend, so we headed to a friend's backyard and held photo shoot number two.

 

 

It wasn't actively snowing, but with some help from friends, we made it lightly snow. 

 

 

Behind the scenes, trying to make it snow - another friend with a long cleaning brush, knocking down snow from the tree tops. Michelle's mom took this photo.

 

 

Good luck to Michelle on the remaining school year - perhaps with the availability of the Covid vaccine they will be able re-start the regular High school events in the spring.

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January 2021 Free Calendar Download - Snowy Pine Cones

It's a New Year, so I'm back with January's photo calendar. Hopefully I will keep these posts coming for 2021. We start 2021's calendar with snowy pine cones.

 

To download January's calendar, click on this link from Box.com
Link --> January 2021 Pine Cones

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Sticking Around

Another week, another snowfall! This time, instead of melting away quickly, the snow stuck around for four days, and more impressively, adorned the tree branches for three full days. That is an anomaly for this area - normally we receive a snowfall, the wind picks up and the snow is blown off every branch and horizontal surface. This time, the snow started off wet, stuck to everything and then the temperatures fell precipitously to the single digits, flash-freezing the snow to everything.

The icy snow - Defying gravity on day one (Thursday)


From the pine trees in the back yard:




Friday morning greeted us with brilliant sunshine but sub-zero temperatures without the windchill. I took this from the kitchen, looking at those same pines.


Saturday morning I headed to the forest preserve with friends, hopeful for a winter wonderland. I wasn't disappointed.



We hiked through the powdery snow, caught some wildlife and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings.




It's all so fleeting - on Sunday, warmer air coupled with the sun melted the snow off the trees. Today the rain is washing away the remnants. My philosophy - get out and enjoy it while you still can.

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Unexpected Snow

Past performance drives future expectations and this year's mild winter has lulled us into forgetting that snow normally falls in February. Too often, the media plays up snow's impending arrival with panicked fervor, creating undue hype. Why must every inch of snow require a winter storm warning? It's only snow and not much snow. So when big flakes started falling Friday evening, unannounced, it was met with delight that often accompanies a surprise.
That sense of delight spilled over into Saturday morning, when awaking to the white and bright landscape. Fluffy, flocked branches flanked the roads.


I had to be in town to set up Saturday's scheduled club run and since I'm not running, I walked while the runners ran. I headed to the trails that follow the water ways, nestled away from the main streets. Here, pristine paths begged to be explored.





The only disappointment of the weekend - thick cloud cover precluded the viewing of the full Snow moon Saturday night. Had clear skies prevailed, I planned to venture to the forest preserve for a night hike lit by moonlight. Hopefully next month...

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Golden and Frosty December

December blessed us with many sunny days, lifting our spirits as we enter the shortest days of the season.

Since I am presently unable to run, I've been hiking out at the forest preserve instead, and bringing my camera along.


I was lucky this morning as a light sheen of frost tipped the prairie grasses.





All this "slowing down" allowed me to discover new single track trails carved off the beaten path. I learned that local outdoor enthusiasts, keen on maintaining the health of the forest, worked to clear the area of invasive trees and shrub and in the process, created these new trails and built rustic bridges across the waterway that meanders through the property.



I'm finding lovely woodland elements to fill my camera's frame.


And getting my fill of the outdoors, complete with some of that white fluffy stuff.


So long to December, the Year 2019 and the Decade 2010's! I await the new year and decade with continued optimism and thankfulness.

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Winter Snow 2019

After a very mild December (2018), January decided Winter really needed to show up.

Last week, storm 'Gia' marched from the south and dumped 8" of powdery snow overnight and we woke to a white wonderland on Saturday morning.
We are accustomed to storms accompanied by wind, but this storm was unusually calm, resulting in trees flocked with ice crystals and the quiet that snow leaves in its wake.



Taken Saturday morning during a trail run. I convinced three running friends to join me in breaking through the fresh snow. Wow, it was hard work, but so lovely to experience.

Two days later, freezing fog hit the area, along with single digit (Fahrenheit) temperatures. I've counted two other freezing fog events this winter (the other two were in December), a record for a winter's season. Like the last event, I decided to take a detour on my commute to work and stopped at a Rest Area. The difference from the last event - an abundance of snow on the ground.





You go that right - this is Rest Area on an Interstate Highway. I had to time my photos with the truckers pulling out of the parking lot.



Nature always finds a way to shine, even on the Interstate.

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Running, Lately

This is for my family and friends on the East Coast who have been hammered with snow this past week.

We got a surprising amount of snow almost a week ago. Surprising because the two days leading up to the snow were quite warm and sunny.

I'm running in short sleeves! I'm wearing tights but could have gone with shorts that day.

Then the snow came last Wednesday, in big flakes that stick to everything and make the trails particularly beautiful:

I braved the icy highways to get to this particular forest preserve, but I knew the running experience would be worth the drive. I hadn't had an honest to goodness run in snow all season long. The snow wasn't easy to run through, but the scenery was fantastic, just like a snow globe.


The trail winds around these waterways that are normally hidden from view. The snow reveals all that you don't notice.

I hit the same trail on Thursday night, the snow illuminated by the silvery glow of the full moon. There's a local group that does these Full Moon Runs - I rarely participate, but each time I have gone, it's because there's snow on the ground.

By Sunday morning, all the snow had melted away, like it had never happened. I'm glad to have gotten out in it while it was still around.

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Along My Run | 14 | March Randomness

Five Things that happened along my run in March.

1. I ran in snow. While snow is not abnormal for March, we received over 10" on March 1. Of course, I ran in it and determined that running in 10" on un-plowed streets was really exhausting. That morning I elicited comments from neighbors ranging from "That's hard work" to "You go!" to "You are absolutely crazy".

2. I ran in the dark again. And in fog. With the time change to DST, the mornings are dark again. I normally don't run in the fog when it is dark out, but that day, I had friends running with me, so we all braved it together.

3. I ran two 20-milers. Yes, it's part of marathon training, but these runs were particularly hard - I was nursing a foot injury during the first one. After the second 20 miler, I came down with a huge cold, which tells me my immune system was already weak and running set it over the edge.

4. I ran in shorts and a tank top for the first time this year. Being in Florida made this possible.

5. I ran to the Southern Most point in the US while visiting Key West. Just to say I did it.


1. slowly drifting, 2. Into the White Abyss, 3. Last Week of Morning Daylight. Need to enjoy it while we can , 4. Bundled Up This Morning. Waiting for Spring, 5. This Route Again, 6. Spring Thaw, 7. 20 Milers Through the Woods and Along the Prairie, 8. The Last Quarter Mile is The Hardest But Worth It In The End, 9. Ventured out of the neighborhood and caught this , 10. Sunrise in Key West, 11. Way Down South, 12. Another Great Start

Because of my foot injury (extensor tendonitis) and late March sickness, I'm feeling a bit behind in my marathon training. With the race less than 3 weeks away, there's really no time to do much more other than try to get my lungs back to normal (my asthma flared back up when I got sick), build back some of my cardio fitness and hope for the best.

March's Running Stats:
Total Miles: 113 (out of planned 144 - ouch!)
Average Pace: 9:24 Minute / Mile

This Month's Running Quotes:
We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.
– Jesse Owens

Runners understand this, this deep desire to cultivate resilience. It transcends the repetition of our gait and gives meaning to the stride of life.
– Kristin Armstrong

I will finish this mile. I will do something I never thought I'd be able to do. So I do.
– Jennifer Fliss

And this - so true -
That's the thing about running: Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.
– Kara Goucher

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Along My Run | 13 - Cold, Snowy February

Even though I really enjoy running in the snow, I've officially had enough after last month. I thought the 2014 winter season was pretty challenging from a running standpoint, and 2015 has come very close to at least matching it, cold for cold, snow for snow. Since this winter started off mild and snowless, I was lulled into a false sense that an early Spring was eminent.

At the end of January, I thought, if we received some snow, that would be nice - it would be fun to get some more snow runs in.

It snowed on February 1, and as I ran in the falling snow, it was bliss.
Then the relentless, bone chilling winds came one Saturday, during an 18 miler and I thought I was going to die.
The last two weeks of the month were a challenge - I ran in four snowstorms, negative windchills and had to re-route most of my running routes as my normally traveled sidewalks are ice / snow covered.

I think I'm ready for spring.


1. Today's Run Brought to You By the Letter S. Sunday snow, and yes, it was lovely out there., 2. On the Backside of the First Eight Miles , 3. A New Perspective, 4. Rain off the Roof, 5. Their Idea of Hanging Out on The Sandy Beach?, 6. Unexpected Snow And It Was Hill Day, 7. Frosted Selfie , 8. Our Group Run Was Officially Cancelled but We Ran it Anyways. 5" of snow on the ground when we started and big, soft flakes fell throughout our 13 miler. It was amazing., 9. Making Our Way Down Peabody, 10. Unspoiled Stillness, 11. The Post run running group Selfie - Couldn't have gotten through today's 13.1 miles without them!!, 12. Over the River, 13. Pretty Much Done With The Snow. Spring can come any time now!, 14. More Snow Fell Last Night so I Ran in It, 15. Ended Up Going Back to Get the Shot Of The Path We Ran This Morning

And here we are, over a week into March and there's plenty of the white stuff on the ground. A big warm up is expected later this week, with temperatures into the 50s and hopefully it will stay that way.

My monthly running stats:
Total Miles - 116
Average Pace - 9:30 minute / mile

Marathon updates: I entered the lottery for the NYC marathon, but my entry wasn't selected. There was an 18% acceptance rate through the general lottery, so I'm not too surprised. This means I will enter the Chicago Marathon Lottery which opens on March 10. I am currently training for the Illinois Marathon, a mere 8 weeks away! That weekend will be fun - my daughter signed up for the event's 5K and my husband signed up for the half marathon (his first!).

This month's running quotes:
It's about staying fit and pushing yourself to achieve and surpass goals, sure; but it's also about personal and spiritual growth, creativity, mental clarity, and emotional stability. I find these things in running.
– Jamie Quatro

At first, I liked running because it got me into a routine and gave me a chance to think. Eventually, I realized this is my therapy, my time to make sense out of life.
– Alan Peterson

Simply by not quitting, you'll succeed.
– Stephanie Rothstein Bruce

It's important to know that, at the end of the day, it's not the medals you remember. What you remember is the process - what you learn about yourself by challenging yourself, the experiences you share with other people, the honesty the training demands - those are things nobody can take away from you whether you finish twelfth or you're an Olympic champion.
– Silken Laumann

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February 2015 Desktop Calendar - Free Download

I'm writing this as the snow falls outside my window, a great way to end the weekend. We don't have to leave the house, the neighbors are outside building snowmen and shoveling their driveways, giving us that rare opportunity for some winter interaction. Earlier, I thoroughly enjoyed a run through the neighborhood trails and parks, all covered in white.

So, it seems appropriate that this month's free calendar download features a snow scene.


I took the photo last year, amidst one of the coldest and snowiest winters I've experienced in our 12 years living here. While I don't wish for a repeat of all that snow, I am happy we are getting some of the white stuff today.

To Download this month's free desktop calendar, click on this link at Box.com:
Free February 2015 Calendar

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First Snowfall

After a mild and green December, winter decided to wake up, giving us our first winter storm complete with bone chilling temperatures and sub zero windchills.

This highly anticipated storm ridge was reminiscent of last year's January blizzard, although not as extreme. The snow started swirling Monday evening, giving the kids plenty of hope that winter break would be extended by another day. But the forecasters correctly predicted the precipitation would stop by 3am, plenty of time for the anxiously awaiting snow plows to clear the road in time for the morning rush to school.

I, too, was looking forward to this significant snowfall - I would finally experience my first snowy run of the season! I often receive the stink-eye "you are crazy" look when I tell people about my love of running in the snow.

So, what's so great about running in the snow?

• It's peaceful- during a gentle snowfall, the snow in the air muffles harsh sounds - white confetti sprinkles stick to the trees, your hair and face. A pure Winter wonderland.
• Snow underfoot is soft and cushiony. In fresh snow, you forge your own trail across that unadulterated, pristine canvas of white.
• Snow is a challenge to run in - the nature of its unevenness forces you to slow down and be more deliberate around your footing. Those hips get a workout. The slippery spots rev up those balancing mechanisms.
• You build confidence - there was a time (not too long ago), when I wouldn't consider running out in the snow. I feared slipping and falling, I didn't want to get my feet wet or cold and mostly, I feared it would just be too hard. Like most activities, with practice you overcome those apprehensions. I realized I had to slow down, I had to wear the proper gear and concentrate on my footing. In time, it got easier and then enjoyable.
• Snow brightens the brown winter landscape, reflecting the sun's rays, offsetting the short days. Sunny snow days are so bright, you almost forget about winter.

And, unrelated to running in the snow, sometimes you get treated to a post storm, pink sunrise.

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In the Snow Globe

It feels like we're in a perpetual snow globe - yesterday, the precipitation that fell from the sky included huge snow flakes, granular hail, freezing rain and some actual rain. There was lightening and thunder, too.

While I am admittedly tired of the snow, slush, and all the cold we've endured this winter, I couldn't help but marvel at the pretty, soft flakes falling from the sky as I drove around town. I decided to stop and go for an impromptu photo walk along one of the numerous trails that weave alongside the local slough.



I run with a group on Sunday mornings, and we often take this trail. It winds along the water's edge, away from the road traffic and keeps us sheltered from the wind - I often want to stop and capture it, but that would interrupt the flow of the run. Today was a perfect time to capture its essence.







Shared with Tuesdays Around the World. Hoping this is the last snow of the season, but I'm not holding my breath!

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