Update

My great-aunt Nellie passed away this week. She was a wonderful woman, the last in her generation of my family, and I can think of no better way to honor her memory than to link to the photo I took of her last spring. Rest in peace, Nellie.

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I apologize for the lack of posts and photos; I'm settling into a new office and routine at work, and the constant snow this winter has sapped all my creative energy. But I have some trips planned to New York and New Orleans in the coming weeks and months, and spring WILL be on its way soon! So I'm sure this blog will be hopping again soon.

My goodness, I even forgot the What We Eat photo this week. Heh, well, I'll work on that tonight. It's not been a good home-cooking week at all for us, as you will see.

Wacker and Wabash

Can you spot the one major difference between these two shots?


Also available in large.



Also available in large.

Cezanne

Taken at the Chicago Art Institute, January 2008.

What We Eat: Week 7 February 2008

This is going to be a week of eating out and/or heating up soup; my husband has training sessions and I'm moving offices. But I've got Hostess coffee cakes, so all is right with the world. And we'll be having bison steaks tomorrow. Yum!

Gilligan and Skipper, Roman-style

Taken at the Chicago Art Institute, January 2008.

Clouds

Part of a Georgia O'Keefe mural at the Chicago Art Institute.

Inner Workings

I am continually fascinated by the inner workings of a tropical greenhouse. So much is going on just behind all those palm trees and leaves.

What We Eat: Week 6 February 2008

We're still on a cheese kick. Plus pasta and more soup. It's cold out there!

Glamour Do and Don't

I cannot tell you how perfect this little girl's outfit was. From the cute pink knitted cap to the fringed cowboy skirt to the blue-and-white striped stockings, there wasn't a piece of this outfit that wasn't adorable. Her parents told me she picked it all herself. If only I had that much fashion sense at five!




Hands down, the ugliest bridesmaid dress color I have ever seen. Most of the bridesmaids (and there were many of them) were blonde and pale, which made it worse. Poor sallow things!

February 6th storm

My dad said he wanted to see how bad it was out here, so here you go! I didn't venture out past my street because it was getting dark and I didn't want to get the camera wet. But it's enough for now.


This is my street. Can you see the street part? Me either.


Pull up a chair and enjoy the sleet!


Already building up on the shovel again!

Chihuly in the Koi Pond

A couple of years ago, Garfield Park Conservatory had a huge Chihuly exhibit, which is a collection of blown glass pieces created by the artist Dale Chihuly. They recently installed just a few pieces in the koi pond this winter.





The koi seemed to enjoy it a lot; they were swimming all around them!

Looking up

The perspective when I look up at Garfield Park Conversatory is always fascinating to me.

Patterns

All from the conservatory trip last week. There's more to see than just flowers and greenery!


Vines and Pipes



I love the wide pattern of this.



Looked like battered sails on a pirate ship to me.

What We Eat: Week 5 February 2008

The Super Bowl version; we'll be having flank steak and pepper sandwiches, cucumbers in white wine vinegar and Greek seasoning, and lots and lots of bread and cheese. My friend Kris and I made a trip to Mars Cheese Castle yesterday, where I picked up:

-cheddar cheese bread
-smoked string cheese
-pepperjack string cheese
-horseradish cheddar cheese
-creamy imported gorgonzola cheese

We love cheese. :)

Garfield Park Conservatory

Note to my dad, the weather junkie: we have at least five inches of snow on the ground, and the storm hasn't completely passed us yet. It's hard to tell how much is out there because the wind has blown it all over. But at least my car will be easier to clean this morning!

To avoid thinking about that, here are some more photos of greenhouses, this time at Garfield Park Conservatory, located in the middle of the west side of Chicago.

The main entrance:



The great hall:



Next week: details, and more flowers!