Monday, August 9, 2010

"I'm Back and I am Tired!"

Well here I am again and I must say that I am so worn out. Contentedly though. My husband, unwillingly went back over the road this morning and Katie is at a friends house after another week at camp. School starts on Friday and I know that she is looking forward to that, she loves high school.

Most of our vacation week was spent in the house. We had extremely high heat indexes all week with Tuesday being the highest at 123. So as you can imagine, not many ventured outside including us! But it was nice to just relax.
Friday was the day we knew we would get a break from the heat. The high was 87 which felt quite nice after the awful heat wave! So we took a day trip. We headed further south in Illinois. We didn't have much of a plan, just follow the roads and see where we end up.


O.K. we're on our way!
We stopped at several places on our day trip but for today I am going to show you just one. Too many photos to post in one day!

We came across this very unusual park called "Boo Park". We just had to stop to check out this really beautiful  Medieval Style park.



I don't know if you can see the serpent without enlarging this or not.



There were statues of dragons and wizards everywhere. It was really amazing, even for us big kids!


This was the main play area in which my husband just had to go inside of. He is a lover of Medieval times. He said that there was a trap door inside where you could hide and walk around the inside of the walls. You could also jump out from random secret doors to scare people!
I took this photo from inside but I couldn't climb the stairs as they were too high for my knees to handle. But I did get to hear something funny from one of the little boys that was playing inside. He said "What is that lady doing in here?"! That did make me laugh.


This will give you an idea of the size of some of these amazing statues!
This big fellow was getting petted by me, he seemed to like it!


Here is a photo of just one of many beautiful park benches!


One of the giant protectors of "Boo Park"!


There was a lot of detail. You have to look closely. See the Gargoyles?


And of coarse there had to be some wizards.


I guess I should have taken a side view of this fellow!


Half of the large Iron Gates that close the park at night.


 This is what caught my eye as we were driving by. So Jake turned the car around and parked so that we could poke around!


This was where Jake was reading the history of the park. It was built by a young man's family, in memory of their son's untimely death.


 This was the waterfall, which unfortunately for us, wasn't turned on that day!


Notice the rabbit ears my husband is giving this wizard !
He only did it because he'd like to be a wizard himself!


Even though this day was supposed to be just for Jake and I, I couldn't help but wish that we had Sarah and Jack with us. They would have loved this park in Carbondale, Illinois.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.

More later on other adventures!

28 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

How is that AC-style little garden working out? Hope I didn't steer you wrong.

Diana said...

Oh AC it worked out just fine! As a matter of fact we are planning on using it again next spring! Yes we are already planning next years gardening, isn't that crazy?
Love Di ♥

Anvilcloud said...

Enthusiastic. Not crazy.

Garnetrose said...

I DID LOVE THE TOUR!!!! GREAT PICS AND I AM GLAD YOU HAD A GREAT TIME.

Arlee Bird said...

Boo Park looks like a fascinating place. Thanks for sharing pictures of a place I've never heard of although I have been in Carbondale a few times. Hope that temperature goes down and stays at a comfortable level. That heat was distressing to hear about.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Diana said...

Hi Garnet,
It turned out to be a very fun day!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Arlee,
This park looked fairly new. I didn't read when it was built. My oldest daughter went to college down there about ten years ago and she doesn't remember it either.
The temps are back up again but it won't be for too long!
Love Di ♥

Linda said...

What a fantastic park...a real kid's haven!

So glad you were able to get out and enjoy yourselves without the terrible heat! Good times!

Wanda..... said...

That was a fun park Diane, but truly sad for why it was built. I think my favorites were the wizards and the fountain.

We had very nice weekend weather with a slight breeze, but it's working up to a humid period again. Went to Meijer's and Costco early this morning, by the time I got home at 12:30...it felt good to be inside!

School doesn't start here for another week or two, the summer is disappearing fast!

You and Jake look good together, Di! Liked your day trip!
♥...Wanda

Diana said...

Hi Linda, we were really blessed with a beautiful day! I was so grateful for that. We went to see a few more sights. I'll post later!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Wanda,
The heat is on again here and I must say that I am getting tired of it! Our Friday and Saturday was perfect. The rest of the week was horrible! Love Di ♥

Amity said...

Hi Diana,

The pics you shared are sure almost more than a treat to me!

Nice bonding time with your hubby...:)

I am looking forward too to bond with my hubs in a couple of weeks from now and hopefully share some beautiful photos too like you did!

Thanks for sharing Di!

Love,

Amity

Gail said...

HI DIANA

oh what a wonderful day trip for you and Jake. I so enjoyed every picture and my tagging along albeit in blogland. It was wonderful. So glad you two had a good week together. I can't wait 'til the ned of AUghus to have Skipp home for a week for our birthdays/anniversary on the 29th. "YAY I am still really struggling with the painful challenges of this MS setback - the icy hot pins-needles-numbness are awful. Not much they can do toease it - my knee is about 50% better but the rest, not so much. I am still waiting for the PT person to come and get started. Oh enough about me. You are such fun - and by the wy, how is Mr Toad?

Love you
Gail
peace and hope.....

Lynilu said...

It is good to see you back. I'm glad you had such a good time with Jake home, and what a good trip! :)

Diana said...

Hi Amity,
I understand how much you are missing your husband. I know how happy you'll be when he comes home. I hope you two will have lots of good times together!
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Oh Gail I so hope that week that Skip is off that you have beautiful weather and maybe with pt between now and then, you'll be feeling better. I do understand how much you must be looking forward to it.
Mr. Toad left me.....
Love Di ♥

Diana said...

Hi Lyn,
It's nice to be back. I really didn't miss the computer much. But I did miss all of my friends!
Love Di ♥

Vicki said...

It looks like you had a fun trip. That park looks like the kind of place I would love and John would endure but not enjoy. I particularly liked the sleepy dragon you were leaning against.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Can't wait for the rest of the trip.
Have you seen Mr. Toad lately? I imagine he is trying to stay cool in that terrible heat. I know all of our little critters are staying out of the sun. Even the birds are quite scare during the day, except for the crows.
Well, I've rattled on enough and it's late, so I'll say bye for now.
I missed you and glad you're back even if it does mean your vacation is over. :(

Rebecca said...

I see why they call it "BOO"! What an interesting discovery. Sounds like you had a sweet week with your hubby. It IS time for school to begin, isn't it? Are K's supplies & wardrobe all purchased and ready to go?

Your heat index is TERRIBLE! We're having a heat wave (and humidity) all week this week. It's been quite the summer.

Best to stay inside and read :)
I have Red Hats at noon. Wish I didn't have to go out at all!

Rebecca said...

What is AC gardening?

Lois Evensen said...

Oh, what a neat place! My grand kids would love this place. They are all into this great stuff.

Hugs,
Lois

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

Thank you for sharing your trip with us Di, it looks like a fun place to visit. Glad that you had a bit of a relief with the heat.

Unknown said...

Di, that just seems like the perfect outing and so much fun to act like a kid at times isn't it! I can't believe your hubby was willing to drive when he DRIVES all the time! That is true love girlfriend! TRUE LOVE!

Bernie said...

What a fun day you and Jake had, I loved the tour.
The time has gone by quickly.
I need a new computer and my e-mail server has been down all day. Only able to get on here off and on my friend, it I don't get to Wanda's please tell her I will e-mail as soon as everything is working.....the storm last night was amazing....love you....:-)Hugs

Amanda said...

The picture of you and your husband is darling!!! I can't believe it was 123 degrees!! That is absolutely insane. The park looked amazing, that sleeping dragon was scary looking, you were brave to stand near it! =)

Have a beautiful day
~Amanda

Ginnie said...

That "Boo" park is amazing. Was there an admission price or could you just wander in? I'll bet kids (and big ones like your husband)
have a ball there.

Dee said...

My grands would love this park...I think you were not far from Norris City. The photo of you and your hubby is nice...you look very happy together. I dare not complain about our heat and humidity here in Michigan after the temps you Southern states have been experiencing.Hot..Hot...Hot.

Maria said...

Hi Diana!
Oh what a trip! They really went all out making it a special place to wander and learn...
Love the giant size creatures and all the wood... {I love the smell of real wood}

Wow, Diana, Katie starts school early... hopefully the heat settles down... 123 is very hot! I thought that 90 was bad! wow...

Wishing you cool breezes, Diana!
Thank you for all your wonderful visits and comments~
*You're such a sweet friend*
~Maria