Welcome to my Home page.This site shows pictures updated in January, 2009. , I want to share with you appreciating the beauty of Nature here in the north suburbs of Chicago named Wilmette. I took these pictures at sunrise or very early morning in frigid temperature.
Lake Michigan,Sunrise at freezing temperature of 20 below F (-25 C): X'Mas Day 2008, Gilson Park, Wilmette, Illinois.
This year, the Arctic weather blew minus 10 degrees in Fahrenheit and due to strong wind, the wind chill was reported to be minus 30 degrees in Fahrenheit. The right picture below shows a rare scene, which is sometimes called the "Steam Devils". This phenomenon occurs not only at extreme cold atmospheric temperature but also under specific conditions. The fog-like steam is actually minute ice crystals produced by arctic cold. The atmospheric condition when I took this picture was; Clear, Temp/Wind chill , -12/-24 F, Humidity 58%, Dew point -2 F, Wind SW 5 mph, according to Weather.com. I have seen this happens only twice in the past during my over 20 years living here.
Highlight of Jan. - Dec., 2008
[Japan Alps, Oct. 2008]
Japan Alps with Shinya Izumi, my friend at College, 40 some years ago. We had a memorable treck from Kamikouchi to Tokugo-Pass and Dakesawa.
Mt. Hodaka from Kamikouchi. (Left) Dawn, (Right) Evening
[Colorado Rockies, Sep. 2008]
Mt. Evans, Colorado: Sep. 2008
My wife and I climbed to the summit of Mt. Evans, Colorado from a variation root. We took Chibi, one year old York-tese. On the ridge, we carried her put in a kangaroo bag; but she climbed amazingly well. On our way down from the summit to Summit Lake, we met a herd of Mountain Goats.
Chibi also climbed Shrine Mountains. She walked herself almost all the way. Above image was taken when Chibi stepped on the altitude mark of Shrine Mountain, 3,963 m. Chibi showed great interest in Rockie Mountain's 'Least Chipmunk'. We enjoyed watching them looking at each other for many minutes.
[Life with Chibi]
Chibi is growing up, becoming our indispensable family member. Below are her pictures during the first year of her life.
Chibi loves snow. Even sub-zero weather, she wants to go out and climbs snow mountains we make in our backyard.
Chibi re-met her sister Louie in our daughters home at Thanksgiving. Our daughter's two Laborador, Terra and Faye, took care of their little sisters (left image). Chibi and Louie love each other and play all the time. Sometimes they have a private talk (center image).
Chibi got a new friend, Captain, a male Cocker-poo. Captain is our neighbor Susan's lovely puppy. They play together in our backyard almost every day, even under freezing temperature (right image).
Life is fun!
Link to My Fun Life: Reflection (Before 2008)
My Home Page at Work: How Does a Cell Crawl?
©Yoshio Fukui (Last updated: June 21, 2009)