Sharing the world through my lens.
Rumors are circulating that NASA is working to get a SR-71 Blackbird flight-worthy again. They had the last flying SR-71 that was retired in 1999 on display and have pulled it into a hangar “for maintenance”. NASA has been in contact with retired crew and crew engineers to see if they are interested in coming back. But thus far the project seems to be veiled in secrecy.
There are several Blackbirds in Museums across the US. Perhaps we will one in the air again.
After a dry spring and early summer then a wet August, fall quietly arrived.
One of the best parts of living in Illinois is having a front-row seat to the change of seasons. Each is distinct in character and feel.
Growing up in the farm you are always thinking about the seasons, planting, growing, harvest and preparing for the next season.
I took this for granted and assumed everyone experienced the same as I did. Of course that isn’t the case and the older I get the more I appreciate all the opportunities I had that many others didn’t.
During my time at Kodiak Island, it was generally rainy outside, with long periods of overcast and just sprinkles. It was amazing to watch the bears come down out of the mountains into the grass flats, where nothing seemed to phase them at all. These two bears played around and followed each other for quite a while before splitting up and going on their own way.
I spent a week on Kodiak Island watching and photographing the Kodiak brown bears. As winter approaches they were fattening themselves up on both grasses and the salmon which numbered in the thousands in the Uganik River. On one day we saw 19 bears, most were mother bears with their cubs. Generally they paid no attention to us, as we kept a safe distance to not bother them.
I visited the 2026 Terre Haute airshow the weekend of August 22. It was an amazing airshow that featured many vintage war birds and the United States, Air Force Thunderbirds. It was a sold out show and it was tremendous.
The summer is flying by and the flowers are in full bloom in the our flower gardens. This means the local insects are also extremely busy with pollination.
I attended the 2026 Airventure in Oshkosh, WI and saw some amazing aircraft. I love the warbirds and appreciate deeply all the work that is done to keep them flying. B-17s used to be common in airshows but are becoming increasingly rare as the number still flying is a small number.
This example is Sentimental Journey is a B-17G and is based in Mesa, AZ. You can learn more about this plane at https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft/1
Union Pacific Railroad is once again rolling the Big Boy locomotive across the United States for a summer tour. Big Boy is a restored steam powered locomotive that is a fan favorite. I was able to see it roll through Lexington, Illinois on July 17, 2026.
The storms were intense today, April 27, in the Midwest. Tornado warnings were issued for our area and there was some local trees that were downed.
This is from the highest point in Champaign County, Illinois. I often come to this spot because you can see for 20 miles or more. On this particular day it was near sunset and the clouds from a storm front were quickly rolling in.
