Last Day Trip of Summer ~ Part 2

We never know what we will find.

We drive along the country roads looking for a sign with an arrow directing us to something new

Just a little sign that says "Spirit Knob Winery" on this gravel road E. 640th PL...

And then this...

This looks very promising... Like a real vineyard and maybe a beautiful building and possibly an amazing view...

 Wow! This is BEAUTIFUL!

The balcony that overlooks the valley... Don't you just want to sit here?

 What a serene setting... A perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine and just relax surrounded by beauty.

 What a fabulous bird feeder...

A great view of the farmland down in the valley

Love the windows ... Love the whole thing!

 Sitting under this is refreshing...

Ahhhhhh... what a pleasant surprise!

Hate to leave but have to get going... 

For my fellow Owl Lovers... this cutie is made of tree bark.

Wagons filled with pumpkins means Fall is here ... 

It is a true vineyard and these grapevines are gorgeous!

A swimmin' hole and a vineyard... Well... this is the Midwest y'all ;o) 

I did not realize until I was putting together the photos for the blog that I got this guy in the shot... (see the head under the ladder)

I'm not even quite sure what it is but he popped his head up out of the water at just the perfect time for me to get the picture.

Richard saw these grape-eating "leaves" and then one of them flashed a bright orange wing and he realized it was a butterfly... he told me to get pictures so I looked through the lens and focused on what looked like a brown leaf...

I couldn't tell at first that it was a butterfly but I took the photos and then I noticed that there were actually 2 of them...

I had no idea butterflies ate grapes!

They looked just like brown leaves and blended in so perfectly until they opened their wings...

What a special treat for me! 

What a great day and a perfect way to end the Summer.

I hope you enjoyed this Day Trip.

I share to bring joy and appreciation of nature and all things.

~

I can't believe an entire year has gone by.

Fall Festivals and the Holidays are already here.

~

Patty Hagedorn Photography

Our Last Day Trip of Summer ~ Part 1

Western Illinois University

View from the Harry Mussatto Golf Course, Macomb, IL

I was not ready for Summer to be over but with the cool weather and cold nights the trees started to change in the first week of September.

For our last Day Trip of Summer we went to a golf course in Macomb, then had lunch in the "Square", then took a drive to the Spirit Knob Winery in Ursa. I love the photos I got and I hope you enjoy them too. I decided to break it up into 2 parts because there are so many.

 This is a beautiful and interesting course.

This hole is different from anything else I had seen with the step-down levels from the tees to the hole. It's just so pretty too.

I love when this happens... I loved the way these white branches looked so whispy in the breeze but I didn't realize I was getting a picture of a little grasshopper too.

It is a pleasant reminder of the hundreds of tiny grasshoppers that were flying around us and often landing on us all day.

I just liked this.

The LaMoine River that runs along the edge of the course.

This is another really pretty hole with the fountain and the trees.

From here I could really see the Fall colors starting.

Whether I am ready or not... Fall is here.

The golfer ~

A ring of flowers on the tree..

I have never seen that before.

I always seem to get a bee or a wasp or some kind of bug in the photo :) 

Flag on the Field! Too many players on the Course ...

 Obviously they are not the least bit threatened by us...

 To me it is a peaceful scene ~

Yes sweetheart ~ I am talking to you...

Thank you for the pose :o)

On to the rest of the back 9 ~ Oak Trees and fields of wild flowers...

I think this would make a perfect picnic spot... a little wine, crackers with cheese and salami...

I wonder what this looks like from above?... crop circles ?

Back to the course... what an interesting little lake.

Nice shot! The ball is just outside the green to the left of the flag.

In case you're wondering, I do pay close attention to the game. I watch every shot, taking pictures and sometimes video so he can see what he is doing right or wrong... I even keep score! 

I can multitask like that :o)

 I have a sweet spot in my heart for Wheeping Willow Trees. When I was a little girl growing up in Simi Valley, California, there were Wheeping Willows behind the elementary school in the neighborhood. This was in the late '60s-early 70's when kids played outside so my friends and I would ride bikes on the hills, sit under the Willow trees, and that is where a certain little boy threw a rock at me from across the field ;-)

It's the last hole on the course...

Richard stopped the cart so I could take a couple more photos of this scene...

I know I am more appreciative than most of things like this... I love it!

 But seriously... Isn't this just beautiful?

This is the last view of the course.
Now for lunch at the "Square"
I was not familiar with the term "Square" because they don't exist in California.
In the Midwest the small old towns have a central area with a City Hall or Court House in the center and shops are built around it, literally in a square :o)

This is the center of the Square in Macomb. We couldn't stop because, as you can see, there were cones everywhere. Apparently, there was a Festival starting in a couple of hours so they were blocking the parking areas off to get ready.
Since we couldn't stop for me to take photos I had to snap this through the windshield...

A very old theater... the "Illinois Forum"

We were able to park to eat and I took this photo of the clock tower...

And I was able to get the flag in the shot.

There was an old book store next to the restaurant... yay!
I adore book stores and what a treat to find this old store FULL, and I do mean FULL OF BOOKS.
It was awesome. We went in and picked out an old book for $3.25.
Then we headed to Ursa and the Spirit Knob Winery.
I hope you will read Part 2 because it is a beautiful place and I love the photos we have from our afternoon.
~
Patty Hagedorn Photography

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