The Perfect Day at Sugar Grove Nature Center.....Warning long post with lots of Pics!

I've been so busy with my part-time job at Strata and my full-time job as a single mother...........wait I've still got a wedding ring around here somewhere, I've just misplaced my husband! Anyway, I haven't taken the time to write in a while and I didn't want to miss the chance to write about this wonderful day. On October 18th, we went to the Fall Festival at the Sugar Grove Nature Center. (title has a link) It was the perfect weather, the perfect amount of people, the perfect amount of those nasty, no see-um (minute pirate) bugs, and one of my favorite places in the world. I feel so at home there. We did miss you Joe.

The day started well, I got the kids in the van and off we went. There were no major melt-downs on the ride there, which meant I could enjoy the beautiful fields that were being harvested. I think most of you have been to or live in Central Illinois. Some people can't see the beauty here, but it is so amazing to see the black fields in the spring and watch as the corn and beans seem to shoot up over night. The fields go on and on with farm houses and silos dotting the landscape. The potential in those fields to feed a nation is remarkable. (Or if you are a realist, to feed several hundred thousand beef cattle, but who doesn't like a good burger now and then) My point being, I find the whole growing season awe inspiring and the culmination in the fall with the combines in the fields and the crisp autumn air is comforting and exciting all at the same time.

We took the tractor pulled tram through the tall prairie grass to the Nature Center. The kids loved it. When we got there Grandma Sybil and Grandpa Dick were waiting, listening to Celtic music. It was a great band that created a wonderful backdrop to the day.




Catherine and Jacob enjoyed the bubble table while Aaron exchanged verbal jabs with his Grandpa. Jacob went from blowing bubbles to popping them. He found the bubble wands useful weapons. With the help of the two extra adults, I was able to check out the Observatory. They even had cool binoculars that let you look at the Sun.

There were vendors, woodcarvers, blacksmiths, reenactment tents, and not a single bug. I have to wonder if the Nature Center didn't get a little chemical on us and spray the whole place the day before.

The weather was great. One of the best experiences was sitting on a rocking chair with Cora and watching people go by. There were a lot of dads and my favorite was a cool 25 year oldish guy with the buff body and nice sunglasses. On his shoulders, a little girl dressed in a black shirt and black and orange striped leggings. Hanging out of the back pocket of his jeans, a pink bunny.

After listening to music an eating our picnic lunches, we went to the imagination grove. Jacob crossed the creek on his own.


He was very proud.

Cora was an angel the whole day! Here she is with Grandpa.


















The tree was a favorite with all the kids.
















Aaron was a little more confident than Catherine. This is his favorite place to be when we are at the nature center.


After some pumpkin bowling and crazy carnival food, we each got a beautiful top that a man was making on a lathe in one of the demonstration areas. We have had lots of fun playing with them and they remind us of the day.

It was then time to say good bye to Funks Grove.............

On the way home we saw 8 hot air balloons! One landed about 100 yards from the highway. These pictures were taken on the fly, but they helped us remember our day! It was such a fun day.