Orange

I pass this bike on my way to work. The owners decorate it for various holidays, and change the paint color several times a year. Today, it was orange.

T is for . . .

. . . trees

Faceless portrait

While crossing a bridge in Horicon Marsh, I leaned over the edge and snapped my reflection in the water below.

Panning

Hiking at Horicon Marsh presented opportunities for practicing the art of panning.

Sandhill Crane

Canada Goose

Osprey carrying ridiculously large fish

Earth tones

Jon's hat is the only spot of color in this earth-toned shot. We were exploring the floating boardwalk at Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Overcast

Easter morning at Horicon Marsh.

E is for . . .

Easter eggs! (Yes, that's a popcorn nest).

Not sure what it is...

...but I'm pretty sure it's broken. Spotted this behind a storage shed at a nearby state park. It wasn't connected to anything.

Added one of Jerry Jones' (Shadowhouse Creations) fine textures to beef up the interest.

"X" is for . . .

Curved

I saw this and immediately thought of Steven (Red Sky). Maybe the track faces west??

Tractor

Today, you can insert your own witty caption about this tractor.

Matched pair

Depth of Field

If it seems as though I'm posting a lot of bird photos lately, it's because Jon was on spring break, and I tagged along on some of his day trips as he stalked birds all over northern Illinois.

This image of a ring-billed gull seemed perfect for the theme of depth of field. He posed for me near a pond at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Retro

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago IL

Multiples

On a recent visit to a nearby nature preserve, we saw not only leaping deer and singing swallows, we saw pelicans. Lots of pelicans. Flying, floating multiple pelicans.

Tri-color

This tree swallow sports his tri-colored feathers of teal, deep brown, and cream.

Letters in architecture

(It's a bike rack)

Lights, camera, action!

Jon and I went to a nearby nature preserve to enjoy a warm spring Sunday morning. Rounding a corner, we flushed some deer, and I was lucky enough to snag this action shot.

Thai Tea Freeze

Jon ordered this tasty drink at a local Thai restaurant.

Took this on my cell phone. It takes pretty good pictures, for a phone!

Pavilion at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago Illinois

Yesterday's post was a close-up of the structure of this graceful pavilion.  I stood beneath it and enjoyed the city skyline and the patterns of light on the floor.

Abstract

Tomorrow, you'll find out what this is. For today, just enjoy it.

Airborne

Not a great picture of this Junco, but I like how I caught him just as he became airborne. If I could have convinced him to just hang there for a few moments, I could have used my manual focus to really hone in on him. Oh well.

PS: He looks like a character from Angry Birds. :-D

Bath time!

This ruddy duck preens before heading out to look for a date. The bright blue beak is part of his breeding plumage. Look out, gals!

On a farm

Loved this fence.

Barn

Caught this barn in the countryside outside of Galena, IL. Added a texture set to Linear Burn.

Caution: Road ends in . . .

. . . water

Keep driving, end up in the Mighty Miss...

Healthy, wealthy and wise

The Belvedere Mansion, in Galena, Illinois, epitomizes wealth.

Charming, but a little quirky

Downtown Galena is very quaint. Known for its artist galleries, antiques stores and restaurants, I didn't expect to look up, and see this in a third-floor window...

Don't feel blue...it's a great day!

Before visiting Galena, we took a drive down the Great River Road Highway (IL Route 84), and crossed this cool, blue bridge into Iowa. There wasn't much on the other side, so we turned around and came back.

Pick a color, any color

On a day trip to nearby Galena, I spotted this window full of rainbow hair. Seems an appropriate post for April Fool's Day... ;-)