Remember that old campaign from the makers of the Klondike Bar? “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” They showed candid interviews with people on the street who would act like chimps, on camera, in return for an ice cream bar.

Well, Karen and I had a hankerin’ for ice cream after Sunday’s evening church service and on the way into the neighborhood Jewel, Karen noticed one of those shopping carts with the plastic kiddy car attached. I don’t remember how it came about (you probably see where this is going), but we ended up betting the evening’s ice cream on whether or not Karen could fit into that little red car. She insisted that she could and I contended against it. “That’s ridiculous,” I exclaimed. “Not possible!”

Here’s the result, for the record.

Oh yeah. I’d say it was worth it.

I was heading back from a lunchtime jaunt to a forest preserve and saw this guy making his way across the road

This particular road is in the middle of a large industrial complex. I’ll admit, my primary motivation for stopping was for the photo opp, but I figured he wouldn’t complain about not being run over by an 18-wheeler. I snapped another shot of him in the road, while there wasn’t any traffic coming, and then moved him over to the walking path right next to the road.

Then I noticed two pieces of bread lying in the grass next to the path. Turtle sandwich anyone?

Don’t worry. No turtles were harmed in the making of this photo, unless turtles have egos.

Crabtree Nature Center. Barrington, IL

This guy insisted on being fidgety and uncooperative. Didn’t he realize I was trying to admire him?

Crabtree Nature Center. Barrington, IL

Crabtree Nature Center. Barrington, IL

It was a cool day with temps in the low 60’s and an abundance of gray cloud cover. Humidity was high but a nice breeze made sure we stayed very comfortable. We walked around for about two and a half hours and headed out just as it was starting to rain.

I stepped out of the house this afternoon to go run an errand and this is what I saw on my car:

Is it possible that a large flock of large birds, who were all flying over the same location at the same time, could have excreted this amount of matter, all at the same time? What are the odds? In the four and a half years we’ve lived in this house, we’ve never encountered anything like this, with either of our cars. I mean, come on! Is it possible that I’ve offended them in some way?

Fortunately, some of them missed. Here’s the driveway next to where I was parked.

I guess I should just be glad I wasn’t out there when it happened.

Crabtree Nature Center. Barrington, IL.

Crabtree Nature Center. Barrington, IL.

A Northern Flicker preparing a nest in my backyard.