Above / In mid-December 2016, dozens of youngsters enjoyed the great outdoors during an afternoon of sledding at May Watts Park, followed by teaming up to roll a small snowball into a huge snowball nearly 5 feet in diameter and steering it to the snow fence at the base of the sled hill.
Above / In this electronic world of counting friends, the playground at May Watts Elementary School displays memorable words from Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) about being a friend. And we’re reminded of Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” that suggests for all individuals to trust their own instincts and follow their ideas from one day to the next with freedom to choose.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds…” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Something as simple as following all the days of a single snowball can be joyful and enlightening. Experience a particular day with lessons learned and shared about a “mission accomplished” with a familiar tune. Think about it.
UPDATE Jan. 23, 2017 / 8AM…The snowball is gone, but not forgotten!
Above / Note the bright green round spot where the humongous snowball stood for more than a month, slowly melting and evaporating day by day. Just think. Just two more months until spring begins again.
UPDATE Jan. 22, 2017 / After two more days of warm weather, the future of the once 5-foot snowman remains questionable in May Watts Park. According the the forecast, the highs will be above freezing every day until Fri., Jan. 27. And for now, you can count on soggy ground all around.
Above / Saturday was a gorgeous sunny day, followed by another warm Sunday.
UPDATE Jan. 20, 2017 / Temperatures didn’t dip today, so the size of the snowball continued to diminish.
Above / With temperatures hovering in the mid-40s, who knows when this little mound of snow will be gone. Still, we resolved to track it to its end.
UPDATE Jan. 18, 2017 / Another day of temperatures in the mid-30s resulted in a still smaller snowball. With that observation, PN will give every player of the Naper 2017 Trivia game an additional 500,000 bonus points for guessing when the snowball will disappear from the landscape at May Watts Park. The Naper 2017 Trivia game is available to play online until Jan. 25, 2017. Send guesses to Stephanie@positivelynaperville.com with “Snowball” in the subject line or add a “Snowball” comment to any post today on PN’s FB page.
Above / Going…going…When will it be gone?
UPDATE Jan. 18, 2017 / Under misty and cloudy skies on Jan. 17 with a high temperature of 34 degrees, the future of the snowball in May Watts Park is evaporating. We’ll continue to monitor the shrinking snowball that we began watching when it was first built more than 30 days ago.
Freeze, freeze, freeze is gone; snowball melts away.
Watery, watery, watery, watery. Ground is soaked today.
Above / Jan. 17, 2017…Hot off the trail in May Watts Park.
UPDATE Jan. 8, 2017 / Despite frigid temperatures hovering in the teens for a week and a thermometer reading of 6.8 degrees Sunday morning, the snowball at May Watts Park is shrinking in the sunshine.
Above / Jan. 8, 2017…Ground snow is melted all around the snow ball near May Watts Sled Hill.
Sixteen silly rounds of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ to wrap up 2016 & begin the New Year
Sing along now…
Roll, roll, roll a ball, swiftly in the snow.
Joyfully, joyfully, joyfully, joyfully. Watch the snowball grow.
Above / By Dec. 30, 2016, the “solid-as-a-rock” snowball that had been 5 feet in diameter had melted to 4 feet high in May Watts Park.
Watch, watch, watch the ball, melting into spring.
Certainly, certainly, certainly, certainly. Warm weather it will bring.
Downtown Naperville / Winter 2017
Shop, shop, shop in town, aimed at local and small.
Knowingly, knowingly, knowingly, knowingly. Support is good for all.
Above / The Main Street Bridge at Chicago Avenue is one of the gateways to a unique shopping and dining experience in downtown Naperville.
Smile, smile, smile today, walking down Main Street.
Cheerfully, cheerfully, cheerfully, cheerfully. Greet everyone you meet.
Cast, cast, cast a vote, knowing when you select,
Thoughtfully, thoughtfully, thoughtfully, thoughtfully. We get what we elect.
Vote, vote, vote for reps on every taxing body.
Mindfully, mindfully, mindfully, mindfully. Spendthrifts can be naughty.
Serve, serve, serve this town among its volunteers.
Artfully, artfully, artfully, artfully. Raise hands for auctioneers.
Above / A new work of art now hanging in the Hotel Indigo along the Riverwalk depicts the world’s most recognized Crime Stopper co-created by artists Dick Locher and Marianne Lisson Kuhn.
Look, look, look outside, prevent our city’s crime.
Prudently, prudently, prudently, prudently. Dick Tracy’s in his prime.
View, view, view the ball, dropping in Times Square.
Wistfully, wistfully, wistfully, wistfully. Wishing you were there.
Thank, thank, thank all folks, working beyond late.
Graciously, graciously, graciously, graciously. So you can celebrate.
Vow, vow, vow to search print and online news.
Balancing, balancing, balancing, balancing. The media you choose.
Wait, wait, wait for PN to go to press.
Truthfully, truthfully, truthfully, truthfully. We’ve taken time to rest.
End, end, end the year with cups of kindness yet.
Patiently, patiently, patiently, patiently. Remember ne’er forget.
Memories of the Cubs’ Championship Season in 2016
Above / During a trip to Washington, D.C., in September 2016, the official W flag found a place to stage a PN photo near the State Department by John Dreyfuss’ sculpture, Full Count, a striking contrast among the historical figures and memorials in the nation’s Capitol.
Go, go, go, with Cubs, focused on the game.
Winningly, winningly, winningly, winningly. “W” will never be the same.
Take, take, take to heart, these rounds are sure to cease.
Finally, finally, finally, finally. If all will strive for peace.
Above / Kayakers on the DuPage River on Labor Day weekend in downtown Naperville remind us what a difference four months make in the heart of the Midwest.
Row, row, row your craft, gently down the river.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. 2016 is but a quiver.
(December 31, 2016, for the record / 32 degrees and cloudy. With wind and humidity, feels like 23 degrees.)
Here’s to a happy, healthful & prosperous New Year!
And consider that old familiar round you likely learned in grade school to be a metaphor for life…
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream.
