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It's a whole lot of flat land around here.

A few bluffs and the occasional hill can be found, where the Sangamon river or some other of nature's toolbox pushed the earth up to the sky.

That's one reason why I find rocks so wonderful.

As a lad, we used to explore the limestone hill that was across the creek on our place. We'd play pirates, cave explorers, and rock hunters, as we would dig into the side of the hill into the rock. We'd play king of the hill, explore for arrow-heads or other artifacts, and have a ton of fun.

So, rocks are something I enjoy.

This pile of limestone (at least I think it's limestone) is part of a series of piles that are part of the wetland restoration area in Southwind Park. It was the first thing I went to when I got out of my car that day.

The sky was a great counterpoint to the rock edges and faces. Nice blue and soft, feathery clouds.

Anyone want to go digging for hidden gems?

Out for a walk on one of our local trails, I was passed by many runners and a few folks on bikes.

It was a beautiful day for being outside. The sky was clear of clouds, showing it's full blue mantle. The temperature had risen to a comfortable 40F and the winds, while gusty and brisk, were moderated by the trees on the trail.

I took off in the mid afternoon. It was my first time on this trail even though it's been there for decades. I ease into new things.

After this runner passed me, I thought, what a perfect opportunity for a picture. A couple quick shutter presses later and here you are.

I was lucky.

I caught her in mid-stride. Both feet in the air, a nicely defined shadow underneath. That the trail was curving just ahead is a nice bonus.

No swimming, and no walking on the ice of this pond either.

It was a frosty morning for a walk in Lincoln Park in Springfield, Illinois. All surfaces that hadn't yet been touched by the sun's warmth were sparkling with frost. As I walked around the perimeter of the park, I had to move from the roadway path to the grass on occasion. The black-ice effect was making my footing unsure on those frost-laden spots. No problem on the grass, I made it around in a vertical fashion, with no sudden prone splats.

The small pond or lagoon here, had a very rough surface. From fallen leaves, or stones and sticks thrown, by local children trying to crack the icy crust no doubt, the ice was dimpled and spotted. The sun caught all the small rough spots and had them glistening in reflected light.

Here, I framed the scene to include part of the no swimming sign. I wanted to get the sparkle of the sun, the long shadows of early morning light and that rough ice surface.

Gives me the chills just looking at it.

Once more the sun sets, giving us hope for another sunrise.

I stayed through the sunset, into what I thought was the last of the light show, but on by those long rays of light that peak from beneath the horizon and light up the sky after sunset. I left, and later looked once more at the horizon only to see an even more spectacular show of deep reds in the wispy clouds hanging like banners above the sky.

I hope to increase my sunset count, hoping for another chance for a sunset spectacle.

There's always hope for tomorrow.

Even in mid-winter, this is a beautiful spot for reflection.

This is the Lincoln Council Ring, part of the Lincoln Memorial Garden which is preserved on Lake Springfield in Abraham Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Illinois.

It happens to also be the place where our son Chris exchanged wedding vows with is beloved Jennie. That was five years ago this coming May, when the trees were in full and resplendent green leaf. You can imagine the ring filled with family and friends, sitting on the stone wall, or in chairs, or standing around the circle. With the lake for a backdrop, it was a fine looking venue.

Many other weddings have taken place here, likely other gatherings of folk, drawn to the beauty and history of the place. There's likely to be many memories embedded in the stones, acting as silent witnesses for those gathered.

The temperature was at freezing, but the wind was nearly still. It made for good walking weather, along the paths in the garden.

As I made my way to my car, the first flakes of a light dusting of snow that eventually turned to sleet, then rain, started falling. I'm glad it held off while I was enjoying my winter traipse down memory lane.