Fall is is the Air...

While it's been a relatively warm September, so far, trees are beginning to to usher in the forthcoming season.  Here are some photos taken at beautiful Big Falls County Park:

Even though it's arguably beautiful, I don't relish the anticipated colder weather.  Perhaps we will have an extended, glorious Indian Summer instead! --LKR

Big Falls

I was in great need of seeing the top of Big Falls on this beautiful day! We were relatively close by, so took a quick trip on over.

William had just done a solo for cello, and was all dressed up!

This steep path leads to right below the falls.

I love the ice on top of the rocks!

This is the top of the falls. I would have loved to have seen this with more ice and less sloshy snow, but I'm not complaining!

Cool, huh?! While we were here, a large chunk of slush slid down into the river. It was a quieter noise than the last time we were here and heard ice heaving, falling into the icy river below.

Next year, I'd like to spend more time here out in the winter! It's truly beautiful here year round! --LKR

Valentine Outing

Valentine greetings to you all! To celebrate this beautiful--but frigid--day, Hubby and I went to visit the south side of Big Falls County Park in the snow and ice.

It was a beautiful--but sometimes slippery--walk through the woods to get to the Eau Claire River.

My jaw dropped to see how the snow had melted in this part of the park. If the weather were not a factor, one would think this was a mid March day, here in western Wisconsin!!!

Yup, this river is full of shards of ice! Way cool! Hard to believe, but in all my years of existence, this was my first real up-close and personal look at a river in winter! Ponds? Yes. The Jersey shore? Of course. But never a river, and growing up, we were surrounded by the Passaic River and one of it's branches!!!

Cool, huh?! There were several formations like this close to the shore line.

Look at all the layers on this large piece of ice!!!

This kind of reminds me of the scene in the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeve where he finds out who he is and where he came from.

This looks too much like spring, doesn't it?!

Shortly before we left, we heard a horrendous cracking, heaving, and crashing noise. We supposed it must have been a huge chunk of thick ice that broke free on the upper, more spectacular part of the falls at the north of the park. --LKR

Big Falls County Park

We don't have to drive eight hours, any more, to see beautiful waterfalls. Big Falls may not boast dramatic or majestic cascading falls like those found in Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL, but these are beautiful in their own right. And, they are close to home--a huge plus!!!

This 135 acre county park is located in the town of Seymour and borders Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek. It is largely populated by fun-loving college students, but families who know of it's beauty also come to relax along the Eau Claire River's banks, as well as to wade in it's waters.

This is at the top of the largest of the falls.

The huge granite rocks found in this park are very picturesque!

The soothing sounds of melodious music provided by nature... .

There are sandy shores on which to sunbathe.

Bald Eagles reside along the banks of the Eau Claire River and are frequently seen soaring above.

This is a quieter part of the river where people wade in to cross to the other side. If you walk along the sandbar, you won't even get your waist wet!

I didn't even see this dainty damselfly until I viewed it on the computer's screen!

More images to view:

We can't wait to go back! --LKR