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December sea smoke on Lake Michigan at -8°F

I’m not sure whether I’ve seen sea smoke in December before, but it is close to January. With bonus of Jack Frost on the window.

Accuweather

Sea smoke is essentially just fog above water, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel. The occurrence of sea smoke is similar to the steam that appears over a boiling pot of water or a hot bath.

“It happens when the air mass is so cold it makes the water steam like a pot on a stove would,” Samuhel said. Sea smoke is also sometimes referred to as arctic sea smoke, frost smoke, steam fog or sea fog.

In order for sea smoke to occur, the air has to be very cold and the water has to be comparatively warm. As a light wind of cold air sweeps in, it cools the warm air immediately above the water, which makes the air dip below the dew point. The air is only able to hold so much moisture before it condenses into fog, or sea smoke.

Sea smoke on Lake Michigan at -8ºF
December 23, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Blog, Photography, Weather Tagged Chicago, Hyde Park, Lake Michigan, photo, Promontory Point, sea smoke, video, weather Reply

Winter Wonderland at Messenger Woods Nature Preserve

words and images Posted on December 10, 2022 by dlschirfMarch 20, 2023
December 4, 2022

While it didn’t snow, this Forest Preserve District of Will County event had a lot to recommend it:

  • Campfires with fixings for smores, plus hot chocolate and doughnuts
  • Bubble machine and music
  • A dancing Bumble
  • Games, including giant Jenga
  • Crafts
  • Tchotchkes
  • Crafts
  • Photo “booth” with the Bumble
  • Enthusiastic Forest Preserve employees and volunteers

And probably more I’m not thinking of. Afterwards, J. and I went to La Crepe Bistro in Homer Glen, then stopped near Swallow Cliff Woods, where the structure befuddled me. I suppose it’s a blind of some kind.

Winter Wonderland at Messenger Woods
Winter Wonderland at Messenger Woods
8 photos
Humble Bumble
Basket toss game
Winter Wonderland "snowman"
Snowman heads
La Crepe Bistro
La Crepe Bistro
?
?
Posted in Adventure, Blog | Tagged Forest Preserve District of Will County, forest preserves, Forest Preserves of Cook County, photo, Will County | Leave a reply

The world’s smallest parcel of land one inch square owned by . . .

The “owned by” includes Dwight Eisenhower (bottom of left-hand column). In a quick search, I didn’t find any background on this plaque in Chesterton, Indiana, which itself is more than one inch square — and worse for the wear.

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Ground plaque in Chesterton, Indiana
October 29, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Adventure, Blog, Oddities Tagged Indiana, photo Reply

Human+Nature: Daniel Popper sculptures at Morton Arboretum

Update: As of October 30, 2022, I’d seen all of the Human+Nature sculptures by Daniel Popper at Morton Arboretum.

Human+Nature
Human+Nature
15 photos
UMI
UMI
Sentient
Heartwood
Ephemera
Ephemera
Gingko
Basilica
Hallow
Hallow
Hallow
Hallow
Heartwood
Mycelia
Mycelia
October 28, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Adventure, Blog, Photography Tagged art, photo Reply

Autumn color at Promontory Point

October 8, 2022

Autumn Saturday afternoon promenade around Promontory Point. But first the view on Friday that drew me outdoors on Saturday despite the persnickety and painful nerve.

Untitled

The leaves were colorful in person under a beautiful autumn sun. This year the color snuck up on me, and I don’t know how long it will last.

IMG_4560
IMG_4598
IMG_4621
October 8, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Blog, Photography Tagged autumn, Chicago, Hyde Park, photo, Promontory Point Reply

International Space Station (ISS) flyover

words and images Posted on September 17, 2022 by dlschirfSeptember 17, 2022

I subscribe to SpotTheStation, which tells you when you may be able to spot the International Space Station (ISS). Most of the time it’s at too low an angle (behind buildings or trees) or too late/early (or also too cloudy). Today, however:

Time: Sat Sep 17 7:44 PM, Visible: 7 min, Max Height: 89°, Appears: 10° above SW, Disappears: 10° above NE

Almost straight overhead and before my bedtime!

I walked to the park across 55th and got a great look at it until it disappeared 10º above NE. Even in all the light pollution. It took about six minutes from the time I spotted it until it disappeared. Here it is toward the end.

My dad would have loved this. We watched for the burn-up of Skylab together but conditions weren’t right. Still a great moment. And on the way home from family’s house in Eden, we saw a meteorite, which we were both thrilled over. Two of my fondest dad memories.

International Space Station flyover
Posted in Blog, Ephemera, Reminiscence | Tagged Chicago, family, Hyde Park, photo, weather | Leave a reply

Rustic mailbox in Chesterton, Indiana

Untitled

I’ve been to Dog Days Ice Cream Parlor in Chesterton, Indiana, many times, but I hadn’t noticed this until a couple of weeks ago. My first thought was mailbox — where would they get mail? — but I was thrown off by the lack of markings. That is, the Cutler mailing system has many markings, including “U.S. Mail,” so I thought it must be a requirement for a mailbox. The medieval subject with the lions threw me off too. I can’t tell what the design means or what the near stick figures next to the lions signify.

I did a reverse photo lookup via Google and found out not only is it a mailbox, it’s more expensive than I would have expected, even on eBay. And somehow it’s “rustic” — guessing that refers to the finish since I have a “rustic” candle holder of similar finish. However it’s described, this seems to be a common mailbox. Now I wonder if I will notice it everywhere.

August 27, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Blog, Ephemera Tagged Indiana, mail chute, photo Reply

“Walk with a Future Doc” at Promontory Point

July 23, 2022

Chicago Parks Foundation is sponsoring “Walk with a Future Doc” at a couple of parks, including Promontory Point. The inaugural walk had three future doctors (in the middle). The sky threatened rain, and when it began to thunder it was time to hightail it home. We got probably a half mile in and information about sleep health as well as a great photo. I missed the next one (every two weeks) as I’m forgetful and it was too hot for me, but maybe later this month I’ll try it again.

IMG_2575
“Walk with a Future Doc” (or three) at Promontory Point
August 10, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Blog, Weather Tagged Chicago Park District, health, Hyde Park, photo, Promontory Point, weather Reply

Blood orange full moon

The best I could do with the limited time I could stand standing at the window. Yes, it was that orange.

DSC_8073
July 13, 2022 by dlschirf Posted in Blog, Photography Tagged Hyde Park, moon, photo Reply

Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve, Calumet Fisheries, train, and Chicago Skyway

words and images Posted on July 9, 2022 by dlschirfJuly 9, 2022
July 3, 2022

Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve

Sunday I had the brilliant idea of going to Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve. This is the only place in the city of Chicago with remnant prickly pear cactus. I wouldn’t disturb it; I just wanted to see the flower if possible.

Later, the idea didn’t seem so brilliant when I realized I couldn’t find a trail. Some nature preserves don’t have trails (the better to preserve), but people had mentioned walking around. They must be better spotters than I. At least we saw a great egret across Powderhorn Lake. And an amazing amount of trash around it (egret and trash not pictured).

DSC_7801
DSC_7802
Impenetrable but lovely

Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve

There was no Plan B but we stopped at the Beaubien Woods boat launch. At some points you could feel like you’re in the country near a hill, but you’re in a former industrial area adjacent to I-94 and a large landfill. Allow me the solace of my imagination.

Beaubien Woods
I-94 lies beyond
DSC_7818
Calumet River at Beaubien Woods
DSC_7822
Landfill across from Beaubien Woods

Calumet Fisheries, Chicago Skyway, train, and boats

Since we were in the area, I suggested J visit Calumet Fisheries, a Chicago institution he’d never been to. I can’t eat fish, but he likes it. He was excited to see smelt on the side of the building. He got some. Meanwhile, I took photos and videos from the same bridge that Jake and Elwood jumped in The Blues Brothers (which I don’t remember that well anymore). The Chicago Skyway is in the background, and the closer bridge is the one my Amtrak trains use. It was great to see the bridges from this angle, and even better when a freight train came along. A pair of boats on the Calumet River completed the picture.

Calumet Fisheries
A Chicago institution with the bridge the Blues Brothers jumped
Calumet Fisheries
Calumet Fisheries
Calumet River at 95th Street in Chicago
Chicago Skyway and train bridge over Calumet River
Calumet River at 95th Street in Chicago
Cheeky tourist
Freight train crossing the same bridge I passed over last week on the Amtrak Wolverine
Now boats passing under the bridge — no planes, but later a helicopter made a brief appearance

Finally, we picked up sandwiches at Potbelly’s and dined at the University of Chicago campus, which was aglow in the setting sun.

IMG_9183
Back in Hyde Park
Posted in Adventure, Blog | Tagged Chicago, Forest Preserves of Cook County, nature, photo, train, video | Leave a reply

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