Ducks and a Redwing

Ducks, seen as usual in a couple, swim along the shoreline.  Another Redwing Blackbird perched on a narrow branch and just showing those wonderful colors!

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Geese Landing

The pair came down in tandem, as usual, and lit on the surface of Mallard Lake with ease and grace.  The closeup is one of my favorite bird photographs ever.

More Aviators

Redwing Blackbirds are easy to spot when perched; the bright colored stripes always make me think of them as 'sergeants' in the air corps.  Swallows are quick and can best be photographed when they are leaving the area, but that shows the distinctive twin tail shape.

Mallard Lake Birding

Just four days prior to the Helicopter flight we have been posting, I had joined a small group of birdwatchers for a nice walk through Mallard Lake in search of birds.  Either in flight or perched on branches, birds are a beautiful and challenging project.  Here a robin poses in profile and an egret soars in full flight.

Two Postcards

Two postcard views as the copter returned to base.  We skirted Mallard Lake again, with the smoke from the Controlled Burn diminished quite a lot.  And then we approached the runway -- two niner, I believe -- and I noticed the obvious movie title.  Planes use the runway, of course; above that to the south is the local Metra commuter railroad track.  Below the runway, to the north, is Irving Park Road.

Farming Heritage

While there are fewer reminders of the rural heritage of DuPage and Kane County than there would have been decades ago, our suburban countryside is still dotted with reminders.  Some are of course buildings still being used for their original intent, while others are the uncapped silo standing alone on a former farm homestead.

Twisty Streams and Roads

As we headed back to base we saw meandering streams and equally flowing roadways.  The on-ramp leads to the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway from Gary Avenue, just north of home.

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Golf Courses

Just after the turn, we flew over some golf courses, which are every bit as beautiful from the air as they are from on the ground.  Manicured, pattern mowed, shaped and in some cases filled with those pretty sand pits!

Bethlehem

We arrived above Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles, the furthest major target of the photo shoot, and circled it, my Nikon chattering away.  After the turn was complete, we headed back to base.

Bridges of Kane County

We flew west until we approached the Fox River, then headed south along Rt. 25. Here we see two of the bridges that span the Fox between Elgin and St. Charles; tomorrow we reach our goal in that beautiful suburb.

Ballfields

Ballfields, especially baseball and softball fields, look exquisite to me from above.

Heading West

Heading west toward St. Charles we see a truck driving north on Rt. 59 near South Elgin, followed by an industrial plant near Rt. 25.

Home Sweet Home

Funny how blue the house looks from above; it is cedar with opaque stain in gray when you are on the same level! Most of the landscaping is my design and work, though that was done in another century and we spend more time now enjoying it and less time working at it. Front porch and rear patio await for when the weather gets just a bit warmer!

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My helicopter photo shoot last week took me over more than one golf course. When I saw this one, the old saw originally created by Twain came to mind. Golf, an eternally frustrating game!

Precision Burn

If a person were to be near the forest preserve during the controlled burn, it would not be easy to see just how precise and controlled it is. At first glance the upper picture shows a raging fire, and from ground level that would appear to be true. From above, it is a narrow strip and clearly under control. Furthermore, the lower picture shows a green grassy area that was not to be burned. Notice how neat the edge of the burn is, almost manicured. Again, precise and controlled.

The bird walk I joined just a week ago went across both bridges seen above, which put us onto a narrow S-shaped island. It did not look anywhere near that narrow when on the island and surrounded by the taller growth that is no longer there. I will try to get over there next week to see the progress of the new growth which I am sure will be visible soon.

Controlled Burn

Just west of my home is Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, a place I often visit to walk. A week ago I saw signs of a controlled burn there and then on Saturday I joined a bird walk and we walked my the burned area. I had no idea that much of the path of our walk was on the schedule for burning this week, but soon after the helicopter left Schaumburg Regional Airport, I saw the burn in action.

Copter!

My favorite Groupon to date was a half-hour Helicopter Flight by Bachman Aero in Schaumburg. Here is am with my first aerial ride for photos along with one of the first notable locations, the excellent ballpark Alexian Field. We were off for flyovers of subdivisions, forest preserves . . . and Churches!

Even the Shades

Even the shades on the many windows of the Pabst Mansion were intricate, interesting, and clearly expensive. Interior photos were not allowed in the dark, wood-panelled home, but the visit to the symbol of the past was well worth the road trip.

Details, Details

The mansion is a magnificent relic of a bygone time, and many of the details are impressive. The decor over the entrance to the gift shop, for instance, is clearly a perfect example of the World's Fair building it had been. Other details, of course, are showing every one of nearly 120 winters in Chicago and Milwaukee.

Pabst Mansion

A spring break road trip day sent us to Milwaukee for a tour of the Pabst Mansion. Built around 1890, it is a wonder of Victorian woodwork and space. Here we see the gift shop in an annex that looks like a chapel. That portion was added to the mansion after the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. It was the upper level of the Pabst exhibit, dismantled and moved to be rebuilt here.

After the death of Capt. Pabst and his wife, the family sold the building to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, which used it as the headquarters and home of the Archbishop for 60 years. It was at that time that the annex was converted to a chapel.

Milwaukee is a pleasant one-day road trip from anywhere in the Chicago area.

SUNDAY POSTER

A Happy and Blessed Easter to all!

EASTER POSTER

POSTER for Holy Saturday

Using the Wall

There is no sideline in the arena for indoor football. Players bounce off the well-padded wall often, and this defensive back ran across the field and jumped up onto the wall in celebration of an interception. In a football game where most teams score on most possessions, a pick is a huge change of momentum.

Forget the Breakaway Jersey

If only the running back had worn a jersey that would tear off in the defender's hand! The Chicago Slaughter's head coach if former Bear DL Steve McMichael, seen here in the bench area.

Great Runs

Two great runs headed right toward my camera angle, the first grabbing major yardage across midfield and the second scoring the TD. As Jackson approached the goal, he cut across it and tried reaching the football over the plane. After two more steps, he succeeded.