Fall Colors



Leaves are changing in northern Illinois. Unusually warm weather and unobstructed sunshine made for some great fall color.

Waves and Clouds



Two days of high wind gusts churned up Lake Michigan, creating waves exceeding 20 feet near the Indiana shore. Shoreline erosion was evident at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The entrance to Central Beach was no longer a hill, but a 6 foot drop to the beach.

Fall Colors Begin



It seems too early for autumn, but the trees never lie.

Fall Rainbow



Following several days of light rain, the sun finally appeared in the late afternoon sky creating a striking rainbow behind the colorful, fall trees.

Annual Scarecrow Festival



The annual Wanatah, Indiana Scarecrow Festival marks the beginning of Fall each September with a parade, craft vendors, rides, food and fun.

Directly across the street from the festival, this house always decorates for the event.

Native American Dance Demonstration



During the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Duneland Heriage Days, the Bailey Homestead offered a glimpse into the past including dances by Native American Tribes.
Spectators were also encouraged to participate in the dance.

Trois Canards



Durning the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Heritage Days, visitors were given a glimpse into the past. At the Bailey Homestead, visitors listen to some traditional French music performed by the trio Trois Canards. The instrument on the left is a Herdy Gerdy.

Trois Canards translated to English means: three ducks.

WWII Era Baseball



When most of the men in America were fighting WWII, the baseball games were sometimes played by women. This reenactment was part of WWII Days in Lockport, IL

Shooting at the Allied Plane



A German soldier fires at a low flying Allied plane during a WWII reneactment. The spent casings can be seen as they are discharged from the weapon.

WWII reenactment
Dellwood Park
Lockport, Illinois

On The Shoulders



A German soldier uses his shoulders to support a machine gun during a WWII reenactment.
Lockport, IL

Firing at the Allies



The Allies approach and two German machine gunners fire.
WWII reenactment
Dellwood Park
Lockport, IL

Watching the Allied Plane Overhead



The Lockport, Illinois WWII Days took place on September 10th and 11th. It was a nice opportunity to see some of the weapons and tools used by both the Allies and the Axis forces.

During Sunday's battle, this German soldier watched as an Allied L-4 Liaison aircraft circled the front lines gathering information on the German positions.

Tribute to 911



World War II Days in Lockport's Dellwood Park held a tribute to the 911 victims.
Immediately following the battle, the WWII reenactment participants -dressed in period uniforms- honored those lost on September 11, 2001.

Photo selected for Magazine Cover



Northern Indiana Lakes Magazine is the latest publication to use a photo of mine in one of their publications.

This barn is located in LaPorte County, Indiana and is one of the few I've encountered with a bale of hay hanging from the loft.

Round Leaf Sundew



A tiny carnivorous plant that thrives in Pinhook Bog, Indiana's only true peat bog. The plant is about the size of a quarter, and attracts insects. When an insect lands on a leaf, the leaf curls toward the center of the plant trapping the insect. It can then be digested.

The bog was formed about 15,000 years ago, right after the ice age, and is home to many unusual plant species. It's closed to the general public most of the year, but open a few hours here and there during open house events.

Argiope Spider



Found this lady living among the black eyed susan flowers in the garden. Also called a garden spider or corn spider, this one was over 2 inches long from leg tip to leg tip.

Redhead



This dragonfly simply sat on a branch and let me get within inches of him. At one time, he actually landed on my finger when I extended it.
Cowles Bog
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

A Walk on a Wavy Day



Waves over six feet pound the shore of Michigan City's Mt. Baldy shoreline. These fierce waves create rip currents along the shore, making wading and swimming very dangerous and often deadly.

Jumping the Waves



Chris and Dan enjoy the waves on a windy summer day along Lake Michigan- careful to stay in shallow water so they were not dragged out by the rip current.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Surf's Up



High winds kicked up Lake Michigan creating the perfect waves for surfing. Rip current warnings were in effect, and the beaches were closed to swimmers, but that didn't stop this surfer from enjoying the waves.

I watched as he floated around waiting for the right wave, he actually was floating out farther and farther due to the rip current. Many people were rescued up and down the lake as they were pulled out by the water.
Central Beach
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore