Changed Color But Not Yet Fallen

Far too often busyness has kept me from enjoying the fall season. It's busyness, I suppose, and the reality that in the midwest the period between 90 degree weather and snow flakes is so fleeting. If you were to take only a long nap you'd miss it! Too many times flakes have covered the ground before I've been able to fully appreciate the crispness of fall and the changing color of the leaves.

Stephanie and I were determined not to let this fall season slip by. We decided it was important enough even to skip our Sunday church service to take a fall roadtrip to Galena, IL - a quaint, historic town which lies on the boarder between Iowa and Illinois. Legend has it glaciers never formed over the area hence, the rolling hills and valleys which break the miles of flat plain.

Yesterday was a most ideal fall day. Few clouds in the sky. Crisp but not chilly. Sunny. Leaves had changed color but not yet fallen to the ground.

Galena sits up on a hill. Coble stones still line the streets and the people have preserved the homes of Ulysees S. Grant and Ronald Reagan. The first bank still stands and a river runs right in front of the town.



We also made a stop in Elizabeth, another small town just outside of Galena which prides itself on the Apple River Fort. The fort, which has only two huts and measures 50 feet by 70 feet, was home to 50-70 adults (nevermind their children) for several weeks in 1832 at the start of the American-Indian War. The fort was built in defense of the Indian group led by the famed chief Black Hawk - an immensely resourceful and civilized group justifiably enraged about loosing their home to Anglos bent on conquering and colonizing land further and further West.

Illinois state grant money has allowed for the fort to be recreated to its actual measurement. Stephanie and I visited on the last day of live history, a time when a cast of characters describes and lives out the fort's activity.





And finally, we were blessed with a picturesque drive home.