Theater

Celtic Women at the Auditorium Theater.

 

My favorite theater in Chicago is the Auditorium. It is by far the most beautiful and acoustically perfect theater I have ever been in.

 

 

It was almost torn down in the mid 60s, but fortunately saved and restored instead.

 

These photos lack quality but inside the theater you're not even supposed to take photos.

 

 

The show was delightful and magical.

 

I love the Opera Box seats, feels old fashioned.

 

The murals and art glass are incredible.

 

I've seen a lot of shows in this venue, from Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot in the 70's, many Jazz performances, Ballet and Les Miserables to Allison Krause this year and the Nutcracker Suite.

It's never disappointing.

 

I have a link right here if you're at all interested in the history of the magnificent theater.

 

 

 

 

 



A night out

This my dear friends is a seaweed salad.

And this... Lobster spring rolls with Mango sauce.

The cost of this little feast with some sushi and a few drinks 

was obscene.

But, I had a very nice night out with my sisters and a dear friend 

at a downtown Chicago eatery.

Next time I choose the restaurant!

Tree Dweller

Watch out little guy!

Round Lake

I had some shopping to do that required me to go north instead of my usual preference, south. 

To the north of me are a large number of small and overpopulated lakes.

Lots of ratty old cottages and not much lake shore open to the public. So I decided to mosey on in to a spot where I know there is a little park. Gotta be careful where you walk here, Very large goose population.

Most of the boats are dry docked so the lakes are pretty this time of year. 

I pull out my point and shoot and the battery is dead! Arrrrrgg.

So... I resorted to my trusty IPhone to take a few shots. 

 Mostly just fisherman out on the lake now.

Temps in the high 60's a bit too cold for boating.

Now, most of us know a phone is not the best camera especially in zoom mode but I was pleasantly surprised that the somewhat blurry picture below turned out to look like a watercolor.
This is raw right out of the camera... Happy Dance!!!

Have a Great Day!

Puddles

I love this! Don't ask why, I just do.

I hesitated posting this 

because you're all gonna think I'm nuts

Sooo.... now you know.

This is not a deck with water on it to me.

It is like making pictures in clouds. 

I found a submarine,

the state of Texas and a lot of other stuff.

I especially like the four little bubbles 

on the fourth board down to the right.

Okay... Certifiable... Maybe

Click that picture, make it larger, what can you find?

Hilton Head

My best friend has a time share in Hilton Head. As a matter of fact several friends have time shares in Hilton Head. It was a 90's thing. They all want to sell them now.

Anyway, since I have nothing exciting that is current 

I thought I'd post some nice winter pictures of South Carolina.

This is the beach near Edisto Island

This is closer to Beaufort, a totally cool town on the coast

and much more fun than HH.

It's where they made the move "The Big Chill"

They keep the shrimp boats in the shallows in the winter. 

Love that Spanish Moss

This is my friend shelling on the beach at Hilton Head

I like the Atlantic coast in the winter but

I won't go near this place in the summer.

It is so humid it makes me sick. 

My "Pie"

Abby is my little shelter cat, I also call her Pie. 

I've had her for 5 years now and it took two of those years to get her healthy.

Then this year in March I thought I might lose her when she was slow in recovering from a surgery to remove a polyp in her little head. 

She is much better now. 

I just love her so much!

She is not always a sweet kitty,

she can be demanding and independent. 

Her sweet side comes out now and then and today was one of those now and then's.

She cuddled on my lap and helped me read.

Followed me around the house and purred and talked to me all day. 

So, I just had to dedicate today's post to my special little friend!

Sunset

A few days ago it was very overcast as the sun was setting

The clouds started to break up in the west.

Three trees that just turned brown from the drought got a wash of color.

PS I am having a hard time posting to blogger.

Nothing is working right

Anyone having the same problem?

More Beach Pictures

I often find that if I look at pictures

 

The same day they were taken

 

 

I am usually very disappointed with the results

 

 

I think the reason is

 

 

That the smells and sounds and whole 360 thing is not there

 

 

and it is all still very fresh in my mind

 

 

So the picture does not satisfy me.

That's what I think.

 

 

 

 

 

A Kindred Spirit

Look what I ran into!!

 

 

Slow Down you move too fast,

Ya got to make the morning last,

 

Just kickin' down the cobble stones,

 

Lookin' for fun and feelin' Groovy

 

The Beach

I drove to the beach Sunday afternoon.

It was pretty windy but very nice.

 

Definately not a day for swimming.

Though the water is still quite warm.

 

If you look real hard you can see the Chicago skyline in the distance in the picture below.

You have to enlarge the picture.

 

These guys were having a ball!

 

Looks like fun.

 

 

It was very windy and they were going very fast.

 

Sometimes I take Lake Michigan for granted.

I've lived here all my life and don't visit enough.

I can get to this beach in about 20 min.

Its a beautiful sand duney park.

I have tons more pictures for a later post.

 

 



Chicago Botanical Garden

The Chicago Botanical Garden is actually in the northern burb of Highland Park.

Not too far from me, I should visit more often with a real camera.

 

 

The gardens are magnificent and I will have some shots of that part later,

but for now, within the park is a model train exhibit that I just love!

 

These are taken with my trusty point and shoot in my usual style.

On the fly, body moving, camera shaking.

Still worth it.

 

 

The exhibit is made up in sections, to represent towns

 

 

Ballparks

 

 

Cities

 



 

National Parks

 

 

 

Trestles and bridges.

 

 

Any little boys dream.

Or little girls for that matter!

 

 

BTW... All the plants are alive. I can imagine the attention it takes to keep them in scale.

 

 

Lunch

Yummm!

 

I found this salad dressing at the Farmers Market

Yes it is pink, not very photogenic once on the greens,

but it is very tasty.

 

Moon Flower

I don't know the real name for this, the person who gave me the seed called it a

Moonflower

It closes in the sun and opens late in the day

 

 

I just love this plant, it has crazy seeds and beautiful flowers

It's fun to grow.

I'm told it is poisonous but I have no desire to eat the thing so I'll be okay.



Finding Nemo

For those of you who have seen Finding Nemo, remember the seagulls that always said

"Mine, Mine, Mine"

 

Abby doesn't even have to say it. It's a given.

 

 

Here she is claiming the freshly laundered pillow and case that

used to be Mine Mine Mine.

 

 

 

Isaac

 

It's hard to believe but the remnants of a hurricane are in my backyard today.

Just a few miles south of the Wisconsin border!

 

About 7 AM the first shadowy clouds covered the sun.

It was a little more eerie than this picture shows.

Maybe is was the smell and feel of it, not sure.

 

 

A few hours later you can see the very very northerly edge of what is left of this devistating storm.

The bulk of it is way to the south.

Interesting though, the very edge of a storm is what creates those dynamic clouds and that has been happening here all summer.

I never stop being amazed by nature.

 

 

Shortly after this was taken there was a serious downpour.

The rain cam down from east to west.

No lightning, no thunder, just a solid sheet of rain.

I love weather!