What else people did Friday
The day after Thanksgiving isn't just about early-morning store stakeouts for deep discounts on big-screens and handbags.
Some Fox Valley residents used their holiday time for more natural, or seasonal, pursuits.
Here are some examples.
Giving by selling
The day after Thanksgiving, Jim Connelly could be found in West Dundee's Grafelman Park, slowly pacing back and forth in the noontime chill.
Unlike many other locals on this so-called Black Friday, it was selling -- not shopping -- that was at the top of Connelly's agenda.
Just after noon, there were a few more hours on his shift peddling Christmas trees for the Dundee Township Lion's Club, which runs the annual tree sale in the village.
Connelly and his partner, Bruce Tietgen, had sold three trees since they opened up shop at 10 a.m. And before they knocked off for the day, they hoped to move a few more.
"I'm surprised it's not busier today," said Connelly, 74. "Maybe by tomorrow because people will be finished shopping by then."
As the two sipped on mugs of hot coffee, the pair didn't worry about not selling the trees on display. The village's tree sale has a loyal following, they agreed, noting how last year all the trees were gone two weeks before Christmas.
"They're aware of it. It just takes a while," Connelly said.
Friday's customers seemed to include families gearing up for Christmas but wanting to avoid making a trip to a chaotic shopping mall or retail strip, Tietgen said.
"I'm also amazed at how quickly they pick out the trees," Tietgen, 68, said. "If my wife were here, it'd take hours."
The sliding Snyders
The Snyder siblings opted for the rink over retail Friday.
Angela, 10, Paul, 15, and Natalie, 17, said they're regulars at the Elgin skating rink.
"We prefer this over shopping any day," Paul said.
The siblings even spent part of Thanksgiving Day at the rink playing hockey.
The three zip along the ice, but none of them has taken a skating lessons.
"We just learned by falling down," Natalie said.
Angela added, "We come here as much as we can. I just love skating."
Through the woods
Among the 30 hikers on the Kane County Forest Preserve District's annual post-Thanksgiving hike, Kaeden Van was perhaps the most enthusiastic.
Showing no signs of turkey-induced sluggishness, the 3-year-old boy was the first to point out the difference between red oak tree leaves and white oak tree leaves.
"They have different points!" he shouted in response to naturalist Valerie Blaine's question.
Leaves from the white oak, Illinois' state tree, are more rounded at the tips than those of a red oak, Blaine told the group hiking through the Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in unincorporated St. Charles Township. Young Kaeden came with his family, which included grandparents Don and Pat Riemer of Schaumburg.
The 90-minute hike has been a forest preserve tradition for about 15 years.
"It's been very popular as people are looking to alternatives (to shopping)," said naturalist Ben Katzen. "Another big thing is to work off the Thanksgiving turkey."
Carving up a storm
In early afternoon in St. Charles, a small crowd gathered in the courtyard of the Filling Station to watch artist Joseph Gagnepain IV turn a block of ice into a sculpture of a fox.
Wearing a green felt stocking cap that made him look like an elf (which offset his safety glasses), Gagnepain wielded a 14-inch chain saw, putting it down occasionally to chip away with smaller chisels and tools.
"It looks like fun, but it looks like it would be very hard," said Annie Elliott of Cincinnatti. Elliott's mom and dad brought her, her sister and brother to see the work. They are in town visiting Tom Elliott's parents.
"I thought it would be fun to bring the kids," said Amy Elliott, Tom's wife.
Gagnepain will make another ice sculpture from noon to 2 p.m. today in front of the Municipal Center, 2 E. Main St.
In January he will be part of a three-man team, The Starvin' Carvists, competing in a snow-carving sculpture contest in Italy.