Scarecrow Trail Morton Arboretum - MyShadowProductions #145

 Trick or Treat !!

I have two little adventures that I want to share at some point.

To decide which one first, I needed a coin to flip, that took a while to find :) No, it wasn’t under the couch cushion or on the sidewalk, it was in my “DBG volunteer bag” that was neatly set aside in the closet.

The winner is a day trip to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.

It was kind of a quick decision on Monday when the forecast showed mostly sunny weather with cool temperatures.

For me, the trip involves walking 10 minutes to the Aurora METRA Train station and then a 20 minute train ride to the Lisle Station and then a 10 minute Uber ride to the Morton Arboretum.

This was my first time there after knowing about it and seeing it along the Highway in past trips around this area.

I was very lucky with the timing and the Fall Colors were on display.

Mind you, there are 1700 acres in the Arboretum and I barely scratched the surface. So, fair warning, there will be many “spur of the moment” day trips to the Arboretum in the future.

I never realized it before but the Morton Arboretum is named after its founder Joy Morton who owned the Morton Salt Co.

Click here to read about the Legacy of Joy Morton and his (that’s right) Morton Arboretum.

It was obvious early on that the Scarecrow Trail around Meadow Lake was there just for me to document and share with all of the MyShadow followers, you know who you are. Another lucky day!

The scarecrows (over 4 dozen of them) were created by local Brownie, Girl and Cub Scout troops.

I really did not know how to “pick a favorite” and vote in the Visitor Center. The variety of ideas was impressive.

As you watch (hopefully) the movie/video below, see if you can spot the scarecrow that will inspire you to “…Make S’more Memories” :)

CLICK HERE for the movie/video created from my photos.

As sometimes happens, when I review my photos a day after a visit I feel like some photos are missing, meaning to me that I didn’t quite capture the beauty that I saw, but, being a true Cubs Fan of old, I tell myself, maybe next time :)

I also rode the one hour tram ride for views throughout the Arboretum acreage. 

The driver was very informative, witty and dropped several references to sights that happen in the Winter and Spring and Summer, planting the seed (pun intended) for a return visit.

He apologized for bringing us back to the Visitor Center a few minutes late. He explained though that no matter how many times he is on schedule, when he dies he will be remembered as “The Late Jim……..” :)

Watch here for a movie/video created from more of my photos that day.

By the way, today (Tuesday) was cold, windy, cloudy, snowy, etc.

I am not nearly as aware of what I am looking at as I might want. I didn’t realize the shape of the Artwork below until I was walking away and read the sign :)

That’s all for now :)

Hello NOVEMBER !!

Island Life in Illinois? - MyShadowProductions #144

Buenos Dias Amigos !!

No significance, I just wanted to speak a little Spanish and I made tacos last night :)

Thank you everyone for the nice comments on my last Post, I appreciate your thoughts!!

First, a note to self, I am going to try not to compare Denver/Colorado and Aurora/Illinois. My goal is to let each have their own beauty, quirks, challenges, problems, weather and life.

That being said, I am settling in so far and getting a comfortable vibe from Aurora so far :)

Look at the photos below, I never imagined that was in Aurora, maybe Chicago? Florence? , hope you get the idea?

Raise your hand if you have ever thought/dreamed about living on an island. You know, Hawaii, Cozumel, Aruba, etc. I raised both my hands :)

My apartment building, North Island Apartments, is on Stolp Island in the Fox River, true story!! No Caribbean vibe, no trade winds, no cruise ships, but water (Fox River) on all sides, several bridges, a “floating” casino and the famous Paramount Theater.

The weather has been great and I have been walking about, scouting for nearby grocery stores, library, parks, bus stops, barbershops, etc.

Needless to say, I have taken many photos as things “catch my eye”.

CLICK HERE for a movie/video created from those photos.

Just when you think the blog is over, I have a Bonus movie/video;

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ (more Spanish for click here) for some “leftover” Denver (& Old Arvada) Street Art movie/video :)

Have a Great Week !!!

Moving to the “City of Lights” - MyShadowProductions #143

Well, the news is that I have moved. 

Where did I move to?

Not Paris, not Las Vegas but “Life” has landed me in Aurora, IL which is nicknamed “City of Lights”.

According to this Link there are many cities that share the phrase “(The) City of Light(s)”.

Aurora, IL’s usage comes from the fact that they were one of the first cities in the United States to have Electric Streetlights.

In preparing to leave Denver after 5 years, I have again learned things about myself and life.

This may not make sense but, as saying goodbye I have learned how welcomed I was but sometimes didn’t feel.

A very grateful shoutout to those who helped me stay sane, BJC, fellow volunteers at Denver Botanic Gardens and West High School Food Bank and friends at Happy Trudgers. Also, the workers at my three main places to contribute to Denver’s economy, Safeway Grocers, Target and Natural Grocers, the occasional treat at Milkbox Ice Creamery and the dependable RTD buses, light rail and Train to the Airport, DEN, sidewalks of Denver downtown, Capitol Hill and Uptown, trails in Golden and Boulder, rare ski day, fun golf, etc.

There are of course, things in Denver that I won’t miss and I will not give them space in this blog post.

Saying goodbyes in Denver verbally, mentally and visually is helping me realize how “guarded” I am in “Life”. Underlying and outward insecurities, generalizations, prejudices, thoughts, emotions, pride, fear, ego, etc. all play into who I am and where I am. Good? Bad? I don’t always know but it is definitely me. Another lesson to hear and “improve”.

Here is an interesting prayer from “Drop the Rock”, page 25:

“God give me the courage and strength to know who I really am, to act accordingly in my life, and to refrain from diverting my time, energy and interest into my character defects.”

In Illinois (born and raised there, mainly Springfield) I am looking forward to sun, rain, thunderstorms, humidity, hot days and nights, cold days and nights, corn fields, soybean fields, green apples, wild raspberries, Chicago, etc. and that “one week” in the summer when “”everybody” has tomatoes to give away (surely on the top of God’s list of things to tweak?:)

Of course before leaving I took a long Sanity Walk through the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Mordecai Children’s Garden.

Also, just for me I guess, there was some “Botanical Humor” along the Mount Prospect Perennial Path.

Here are a few, there are more in the movie/video :)

ClLICK HERE for a movie/video created from my photos. Amazingly there always seems to be something new there, a different color, a different view, quite an amazing place!!

Here are a few initial photos in Aurora:

Have a Great Day !!!