A Day at Lake Shabbona
Not too too far from our house is beautiful Lake Shabbona,
named after Chief Shabaney of the Potawatomi Nation.
The lake is situated in the middle of Lake Shabbona State Park and is home to a variety of fish,
including muskie, blue gill, bass, catfish, and more.
When I was just a wee girl, my grandparents would take me and my bamboo fishin’ pole here to catch blue gill. I wasn’t that into fishing, but I enjoyed trips here nevertheless.
Lake Shabbona is strictly a fishing lake … so no water skiers or jet skis.
The maximum speed limit is 10 mph.
If you’re looking for peace and tranquility, this is the place to be!
So much ethereal beauty here. Not overdone or in your face.
Just gentle beauty that calms your soul.
I haven’t been back to this lake since my grandparents brought me here.
I can’t imagine why. I don’t remember its quiet beauty.
I guess maybe you just don’t notice those things when you’re a kid.
Lake Shabbona has plenty of geese, which I think are beautiful.
This gaggle ended up swimming right up to us in a line,
and then climbed onto land flapping their wings as they strutted by.
All while that was happening, this little frog stayed perfectly still in the algae-covered water.
Lake Shabbona has little cabins if you want to spend the night.
Hubby and I decided we’d come back soon for an overnight visit.
We also decided to return a few days later with the grandkids,
to keep the tradition that my grandparents started with me.
The only thing missing was the bamboo fishing poles!
This looks like so much fun, what a beautiful lake! Your grandkids are so cute! Your granddaughter looks so much like you!
Sally @cottagefix
This looks like such a relaxing place with happy memories. Your photographs are amazing! Hope you have fun with the littles. – Coco
Never heard of that lake.We don’t like fishing,but it looks like it’s a great place to relax and take in nature.Beautiful photos Jennifer,love the photo of your Grandchildren.Just think of the memories they will have of the summer you took them to that special lake 🙂
Beautiful pictures. Love the frog and the grand kids!
Jennifer,
What a beautiful place. How sweet you are carrying on the tradition of taking your grandchildren. Too sweet.
Your photos are gorgeous to take in.
Kris
Lake Shabbona is practically in my back yard! We used to spend a lot of time there hiking, fishing and canoeing. It really is a piece of paradise hidden way back in the woods! Great tradition to pass on to your grandkids!
Did they tell you it is a man made lake? There is a road that runs though it. You can see it going though the trees at the north end. If you have a depth finder on your boat you can see were it drops off. Great place to hover and catch fish. My vivid imagination pictures a house could be down there lol.
There are numerous houses in the bottom of the lake and my brother-in-law owned one of them before there were all bought and then the area flooded. Beautiful lake and campground and I live only 5 miles away!
what a lovely way to make happy memories. Hugs P.S. I hope you will share this post sat my blog hop (link up today through Sat)
What a beautiful lake, thank you for the tour. The kids look so happy and that frog looks like it is not so little.
What a beautiful place. I love the frog pic 🙂
So nobody can even swim or wade in water? I’m a water person, if I’m by water I want to go in it. lol.
Beautiful place and gorgeous photos. Wonderful memories for your grand kids like you have, important ones to pass on. Do they like being in the boat? Glad you had life jackets on them, you and hubs too?
I can remember wearing life jacket like that when I was kid, we went to Canada few times, cabin had raft, I learned to swim there. We even had our own pier. We lived in Cleveland, OH then, long long time ago. We left Cleveland in 1950 to move to Tucson for my brothers health, he had asthma really bad. Must have been really hard for my Mom to leave all her family, she was one of 7. My parents used to spend lots of time with her family, all of us. I have many photos of get to-gethers. My parents were really big on taking photos. My Mom put together albums one year for brother and I. Mine have gone all over country with me. I love to look at albums to revisit the times, see if I can remember where and when.
You’re giving your grand kids important memories like you have. One nice thing about staying in same place all your life.
It seems funny now, brother and I had b/d’s this month, 4 days apart but 5 yrs. apart age wise. he’s 79 and I’m 74 now. Where do the years go but memories live on.
Happy summer days