A Quick Trip ~

We're home from our whirlwind trip to Chicago, about a 600 mile round trip.  We left Tuesday morning and got home late this afternoon.  It's an annual affair taking my grandson Jake to visit his cousins Sophia and Alexis.

Some random pictures in no particular order.

We took a trip to the lakefront north of town to pick up Alexis from Lacrosse camp.  Here's "Joliet" Jake (think Blues Brothers) in front of the Chicago flag.  That hat cracked me up. 

This picture was taken about 3 miles north of the city.

Being the redhead that he is, Jake does not tan so that is him looking all pale and white :)

My niece drove us to the area called the north loop (I think) to see her hubby's office and have lunch.  Sophia, DSO and I decided to take the El (elevated train) back to my niece's.  On the walk to the station, we wandered in to Union Station Railroad Station which opened in 1925.  What a gorgeous edifice.  They sure don't build them like this any longer.  This American flag greeted us as we entered.

 We walked past Willis Tower (aka the Big Willy).

DSO waiting . . . 

. . . and here it is.  A great way to catch glimpses of the city.

Cousins.  Age wise, Jake is between the two girls.

Saturday I have an applique class with Rebekah L. Smith.  Just what I need . . .  another project and this is a big one (at least for me).

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

Big Willie ~

 

The highlight of our quick trip to Chicago was a trip to Willis Tower (fka the Sears Tower), which my niece affectionately calls the Big Willie.  For as many times as I have been to the Windy City, it was a first for me.  The skydeck is on the 103rd floor of the tower, 1,353 feet (412.4 m) high and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago.  We (DSO, grandson and one of my great nieces) braved "The Ledge", a retractable glass balcony which extends approximately 4 feet (1.2 m) from the facade of the 103rd floor, overlooking South Wacker Drive. The all-glass box allows visitors to look through the glass floor to the street 1,353 feet (412 m) below.  I was told I screamed like a girl when I first walked out on it, but I don't believe it :)

Jake is now officially taller than I am!

See those 4 "boxes" near the top?  Those are the clear ledges.  Now you know why I screamed like a girl?

 

We also took a water taxi to Chinatown for lunch, another first for me.  All in all, a great time was had in Chicago.

Jake . . .

. . . great niece Sophia, niece Elise and great niece Alexis look less than thrilled on the water taxi.

My niece lives in the Lincoln Square area of Chicago.  These signs in the window of the "downtown" area cracked me up.  I hope you can enlarge them enough to read.

I finished the binding on my Cedar Lakes camp rug ~ finally.  The pattern is by Red Barn Rugs and the finished size is 16 1/4" x 48 1/2".

I also finished the punching on this pattern by the Old Tattered Flag while driving home from Chicago.  I didn't plan too well because I had three hours where I had nothing to work on.  I'm not sure how I will finish it.  I'm thinking about giving it a walnut crystal dye bath.

My Fitbit is giving me fits.  It has worked flawlessly for almost a year and suddenly it's gone haywire and only works sporadically and keeps giving me messages that the update is complete.  In 11 months, I have never gotten that message.  Has anyone had any issues with theirs?  I looked on the internet and couldn't find any answers.  I guess I will have to look again.  This thing motivates me so I will replace if necessary.  ***UPDATE***  I called Fitbit customer service and Christian was a great help.  Hopefully all he had me do has reset the tracker and I should have no more problems.  WOO HOO!  I really did not want to buy a new one.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs :) 
Lauren

The Windy City ~

Remember how I was procrastinating packing for the Chicago trip?  Well, about 10:00 pm decided it really was time to pack, not that packing for two days is a big deal.  I can count on a couple fingers the number of times my electricity has gone out in the 17 years I've lived here.  Yup, you guessed it.  Didn't want to pack by flashlight but decide to straighten up the hooking room . . . lol. 

It was just a quick trip to visit family in Chicago so grandson Jake could spend some time with his cousins.  Here are a few of the highlights.

The Chicago Cultural Center, a former library.  Just breathtaking.

What would a trip to Chicago be without a trip to Cloud Gate at Millennium Park, aka the Bean?

I love the reflection of the city on the Bean.

This is too funny.  Nephew-in-law Michael and DSO Fritz looked like twins.

Buckeye Buckingham Fountain (not sure how I came up with Buckeye ~ perhaps because I live in the buckeye state?) , in the center of Grant Park, was dedicated in 1927.  It is one of the largest fountains in the world.  If it looks familiar, it may be because it was featured in the title sequence of Married with Children.

Jake with his (2nd?) cousins Alexis and Sophia.  He does love his cousins :)

The flowers throughout the city are just gorgeous.  This is the only picture I thought to take.  (Sorry, if I enlarge it is blurry.)

There was so much more I wanted to do, but we only had one full day there.  Hopefully next time.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Pug hugs :)
Lauren

That's ME You Hear Screaming!!!

 

I am having email problems.  I spent over an hour and a half on the phone last night with my ISP and the problem wasn't fixed.  I was told it would take one to two days for them to fix and get back with me.  Shortly thereafter, it was working.  Yippee.  I was able to log on from work today.  Double yippee.  It is down again.  (Insert bad words here.)

 

Chicago was great fun.  Jake was so excited to visit his cousins Alexis, 8 and Sophia who is almost 11.  They are my grand nieces.  Isn't this the coolest street sign?  The area of Chicago they live in is called Ravenswood Gardens (aka Lincoln Square). 

 

 

Every time I visit there, I am amazed at how different it is than living in Podunk, Ohio.  Their neighborhood is so busy with foot traffic and people on bicycles.  Every one seems to know everyone else.  

 

The first day the kids decided to have a lemonade stand to capitalize on the neighbor's garage sale.  Their mom posted it on the neighborhood Facebook page and so many neighbors came.  It was a very successful sale and they sold out of lemonade.

 

 

Friday evening we walked a couple blocks to a small park where a band was playing.  The cousins had fun on the playground and climbing trees.

 

Kissin' cousins



Niece Elise, hubby Michael, older daughter Sophia and DSO Fritz

 

Saturday we took a ride on the El.  

 

 

Our destination.

 

 

Time was spent playing in the fountain.



 

Then it was time for the Bean.  I LOVE the Bean. 

  

A selfie in the Bean.

Cooling our tootsies in icy cold water before heading back to the house for grilled salmon.

 

Saying goodbye . . . until next time :)

My niece sent me some more pictures, but guess what?  They are in an email I can't retrieve.  (Bad words, bad words, bad words.)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren