Barry, Illinois... Population 1400

 It was one of those days when we thought if we head in one direction we may just miss the rain. There is a golf course in Barry and a winery so "let's go there"...

This is the road to Barry. They call it the Barry Black Top. 

I asked why and the answer didn't make sense to me so I'm just accepting that I am from California and some things out here just don't make sense to me. 

It is a nice drive through the country side.

We passed a giant field of sunflowers. Richard said we would stop to take pics on the way back. 

When we got to the golf course it started to rain!

It only rained for a few minutes then it stopped and it felt like the raindrops were just hanging in the air. It was the most humidity I have felt yet. 

Richard didn't like the course much. It was not one of our favorites.

But I took pictures anyway... of course.

This intrigued me... A brick cart path.

I think they should paint it yellow... "follow the yellow brick road :) "

This building also intrigued and amused me... 

Was it an old brick building first and then they added on a different top with siding and closed up some of the windows with other blocks? 

Was it once a barn? 

It looks like several different structures put together into one hodge-podge building.

It looks like this tree is mirroring the curves in the brick path

I love that there are benches 

but I have never seen anyone sitting on one

 This marker looks like a happy person in a field of flowers

 I love flowers of all kinds. The flowers in the Midwest are very different.

I love that this looks like a purple fluffy golf ball

And though he didn't really like the course he did get to play 

and every time he gets to play is a really good thing.

Yep... that is an apple tree! :-I

I thought this was a nice photo op ~

And look at how I got the ball in the shot : ) 

A nice scene... makes for a pretty picture 

If you look real close you can see the ball

A few feet from the flag, which is in the left third of the green.

At the last hole and the rain started to really come down

Perfect timing as we packed up 

and went to get lunch before checking out the winery.

~ 

Which was nothing special.

It didn't look like a business. There were no cars. 

There were exactly 5 grape vines.

But the sign in the window said OPEN so we went in.

I can honestly say I have tried all kinds of wines now.

They were ... 

interesting!

The only one we liked enough to bring home was 

Red Rooster 

I guess this is their mascot... lol

Well... Like I said ~ 

Not all wineries are good.

We headed back toward home and took the time to get some more country photos

 The road from Barry back home... fields of corn and soybeans.

We saw this doe at the back edge of a soybean field and we stopped. 

She posed for us :) don't ya love it?

And then Richard saw this tiny bunny in the grass on the side of the road.

He slowed way down so I could get a picture without spooking it.

It was soooo tiny

It would fit in my hand.

And this is the "Sea of Sunflowers"

 I couldn't imagine so many Sunflowers

It was incredible!

And that was our day trip to Barry.

~

Where will we go next?

Patty Hagedorn Photogaphy

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patty-Hagedorn-Photography/629150070438274?ref=hl

A Day in Carthage... Summer in Illinois

I've heard they say "A bad day golfing is still better than a good day working" or something like that. Well, I don't know I guess it depends on how well you golf and how much you like or hate your job. But I DO know this...

A drive in the country and a good time on the golf course, 

followed by a relaxing visit to a nice winery, even if it rains, makes it a great day!

(It looks like the ball is going into the trees but it actually goes over the trees and lands right where he wanted it to... on the green that you can't see)

Some golf courses are nicer than others. 

Some wineries are better than others. 

Some days it is sunny and clear. 

More often it is clear one minute then a storm comes in. 

But usually it is a good day overall. 

I have been holding onto the photos from our Golf & Winery Days because I didn't know how I wanted to share these experiences. I have decided to just share them as they happened. Not every day is a hit and not every winery is good. Hard to believe, I know. But there is always something really great that comes out of the experience.

 This is where it started...

 Carthage, Illinois... With a coupon for a game of golf at half price. 

I thought this was kind of "fun" ... not what I expected to see at a golf course.

 This is an interesting course... it crosses over the lake...

 Yes that is the ball Richard hit...

It looked like they were digging a grave...

It really did look like a hole for a grave and we don't have any idea what it was for.

 And there are people fishing on the lake...

And there are stairs up to the tee on Hole 3...

You have to cross over the road twice and the second time we crossed I saw this rose that someone had put here... ?

Of course there were other flowers...

That is one of my favorite things about golf courses.

And is that a cherry tree?

And Richard saw this totally amazing scene... I was able to get some unbelievable photos...

A wasp carrying a Cicada through the grass, stinging it repeatedly

And then, incredibly, carrying it up a tree

 This is pretty interesting... Is it a tree or a bush ?

As Richard finished up his golf game we heard live music.
It was echoing over the lake and we were hoping it was coming from the winery.
We decided to go eat lunch in town first.

I saw this out the window from where we were eating lunch and I wanted to get a photo of it so we drove around the square to get a clear shot.

 I think it is the Carthage Court House.

Then we drove back to the Lake Hill Winery
and we were pleased there was a musician playing on the back balcony.

He was really good and we totally enjoyed it.
There had been a wedding earlier.

I saw this Army Truck hiding in the trees. I can't imagine why it's there but I snuck a pic of it.

 Just hanging out with our favorite local wine.

So relaxing... after a good round of golf, listening to some really good music...

 Enjoying some local wine

The musician's family came to support him.
His parents, his wife, brother and children. This young boy was sporting his many support bracelets.

 And the little girl was carrying around her grandma's big purse.

And we were just enjoying the moment :)

It was a great Summer day in Illinois!


~


Patty Hagedorn Photography

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patty-Hagedorn-Photography/629150070438274