McHenry County Blog

As we drove into Lake in the Hills to return a friend of my son after a visit to Key Lime Cove water park in Gurnee, I saw a bird perched in a tree.

It was beginning to snow, as the storm worked its way south.

The bird was a very confused robin.

Think of how confused it will be when the blizzard in Lakewood moves in.

Labels: Bird, Confusion, Lake In the Hills, Lakewood, Message of the Day, Robin, Snow

If you ever wondered how ridiculous some newspaper stories are, please take a look at the headline of this Associated Press story by Seth Borenstein. It ran on page two of Elgin's Courier News on Thursday.

If you ever wondered how ridiculous some newspaper stories are, please take a look at the headline of this Associated Press story by Seth Borenstein. It ran on page two of Elgin's Courier News on Thursday.

"Blame global warming," the story says.

I wonder what we blame for today's snow.

You've heard of the folks who live inside Washington's Beltway, of course.

There are apparently reporters who can't read weather forecasts.

Ours for Good Friday was S-N-O-W.

There are no flowers, except for artificial ones and the ones for sale at exorbitant prices grown in other climes, and the one in today's "Message of the Day."

The cherry trees are blooming in Washington earlier than usual.

Where's the “rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey would put it?

As I write this on Thursday, the forecast for McHenry County says, “Total snowfall accumulation of up to 8 inches is expected...”

I heard that forecast yesterday before this D.C. story was sent out.

I have added the pictures from our dining room at noon Friday. The letters have been there since we began hoping spring might arrive.

The dark mark in the upper right hand corner of the top image, by the way, is Keely Cat's tail. He's a curious cat.

And, yes, those are snowflakes in the next picture. They showed up when I used the flash.

Labels: Global Warming, Snow, Spring

I am so ready for some sunsets on Crystal Lake this one on September 9, 2006.

You don't have to be in a fishing boat to enjoy it.

You can even park your car at the Main Beach and walk around the lake until you get to Lake Shore Drive. Walk down the mile to the end of the street. There are numerous places you can see the lake and sunsets like this.

Pick a perfect...or even a not-so-perfect day...and enjoy the splendor of God's creation.

Of course, I could have used this St. Patrick's Day picture of snow against the wall of Auto Zone in front of Joesph's Market as the "Message of the Day."

Click on the picture of the snow. You'll see it was really coming down.

Labels: Auto Zone, Crystal Lake, Fishing, Joseph's Market, Message of the Day, Snow, Sunset

There was a BIG snowball under this evergreen tree.

It could have been used to be the base of a snowman.

My son and a neighborhood friend rolled it down the little hill we live on.

It has sat there for about a month.

This morning it was almost gone.

This part of our yard along Lake Avenue gets more sun than any other part.

It's where my yellow flowers my color blind eyes can appreciate come up in the spring.

If I get the leaves up in time.As usual, you can enlarge any of the photographs by clicking on them.

And, send me a picture of your yard's your first flower and I'll post it as a "Message of the Day."

Labels: Snow, Snowball, Snowman, Yellow

As in a “dusting of snow.”

Yesterday morning, I looked out onto the driveway and there was m-o-r-e snow.

I am sure pretty much everyone, but my son, is ready for winter to be over.

For spring to arrive.

Besides being on the ground, it was lightly covering our roof.

Naturally, these south-facing shingles were snow-free as soon as the sun hit them.

Labels: Dormer, Dusting, Elgin Roofing, Message of the Day, Snow

No, I haven't been converted to support expanded gambling.

It snowed yet again Wednesday night. It had started before the McHenry County Republican Central Committee meeting was over.

Thursday morning I got up and decided not to shovel our too long driveway.

It's March, for Pete's sake!

It was not a warm day.

But the snow started to evaporate.

Or melt.

Whatever.

It went away all by itself.

Probably the angle of the sun.

After all, it's almost the Ides of March.

Equal daylight and darkness.

So, it looks like I won my bet.

That doesn't mean the snow is over for the year.

When I ran for McHenry County Treasurer in 1966, I remember walking in melting snow on May 5th in Marengo.

The primary election that year was June 13th.

How much more compassionate for candidates...especially challengers.

Anyone notice that not of incumbents lost primary elections with a February 5th primary election date?

Candidates still can't get the rebar that held up their 4 by 8 signs out of the ground, although the yard signs can be pulled up. I got one on Manor Road Thursday night.

Do you think it will be warm enough to inspire me to take down the Christmas wreath we bought from the McHenry Marlins by Easter?

Labels: Bet, Driveway, Gamble, Message of the Day, Snow, Winning Bet

The Christmas wreath is still hanging from our bay window.

I figure when I get to it without getting snow in my shoes, then it's time to take it down.

So, it's pretty much “Last Call” for this holiday decoration.

My wife is asking when I am going to take it down.

Labels: Last Call, Message of the Day, Snow, Wreath. Christmas Wreath

The words “heavy laden” come from an old hymn.

Last night as I was struggling to clear a path for my wife’s Honda, I looked at the blue spruce.

Its limbs were hanging down.

“Heavy laden,” I thought.

I’m not ready to venture out of our warm home, but here’s a shot I got from a bedroom.

I noticed that it wasn’t just the blue spruce that was looking a bit overwhelmed.

That other evergreen—the one to the left of the picture--was, too.

Labels: Heavy Laden, Message of the Day, Snow

Snow.

Enough already.

How many times must I shovel the driveway?

I can’t even see the thermometer to find out the temperature.

No school in Crystal Lake toady.

County government closed its doors.

My son and his friend are happy.

They got wet playing in the snow this morning.

But, I remember manning the Treasurer’s Office in the old courthouse during the 1967 snow storm.

That day, it was quite hazardous driving up Route 14 to the Woodstock Square.

It was one-lane around the curve that is now before McHenry County College.

I was thinking, “What happens if a car comes the other way”

Labels: Magnolia, Message of the Day, Snow, Thermometer

We are blessed to live in an oak-hickory forest.

Driving to and from town, there are oak trees encroaching onto Lake Avenue in Lakewood.

Com Ed makes sure that most of the oak limbs from the north side get cut off.

So, for beauty, one has to look on the south side of the street.

With the blizzard like snow storms over Christmas vacation, this is how some trees looked at Gate 8.

Simply beautify.

Labels: Lake Avenue, Lakewood, Oak, Snow

When we got out of the swim meet at McHenry West High School at about 5, I knew I was in trouble.

The snow was really coming down.

I held up traffic on the McHenry Blacktop, going 30 miles per hour or less on the way back to Crystal Lake.

I shoveled three times.

Each effort made the future snow fort bigger.

Each time out got me a bit farther down the driveway.

You can see ridge of snow in the driveway beyond the lantern.

That’s as far as I got.

And, it’s still snowing after 11 PM, although the Tribune weather map shows the clouds no longer over McHenry County.

I’m aching.

I’ve ready for a soothing hot bath.

And some more of Michael Crichton's gene manipulation novel, "Next."

Labels: Lakewood, Snow, Snow fort

From freezing rain last Saturday night to lots of snow yesterday.

You can see what both look like on this evergreen in front of our home.

At least the snow will cover up the leaves that I didn’t get raked in the “warm” spell on Sunday afternoon. The ones I managed to pick up weren’t quite frozen in the garbage cans where I stuffed them, but I had to pry them out by hand after the garbage man couldn’t get them out during his first pass by out house today.

The lake wasn’t quite frozen this morning.

I saw a sea gull land in an unfrozen spot.

You enlarge the photo of the Crystal Lake taken from Gate 7 Beach in Lakewood.

Labels: Crystal Lake, Freezing Rain, Gate 7, Gull, Lakewood, Sea Gull, Snow