First Snow!

My in laws got their first snow if the season up in Illinois and it always makes me a little wistful... Isn't their yard so lovely! Not much beats hanging out there with a warm beverage, a fire, and that view!

At least I'm only wistful for the first snow and Christmas Day snow because it's always pretty warm down here in the Sunshine State.

Kisses,

K

(Photo courtesy of my sweet Mother in Law.)

 

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Scenes From Chicago

Chicago is one of my favorite cities. I loved living there* and I love to visit! The Second City by the lake** is always actually quite first rate: great people, great food, great art, great architecture, colorful, and great personality! What's not to love?

So to help you understand why Chicago is "my kind of town," I though I'd reminisce by sharing the pics from my last walk down Michigan Ave. this trip with you. (And yes, all this awesome is really on a walk-able length of just one street.)

So here's my walk downtown back to the hotel from over by Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue, but the pics are in reverse.

 

The Elevated tracks' color coding system adds some spiffy to the stairway.

Streetlights aglow.

The home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who are superb! (Although I do miss the old conductor Daniel Barenboim.)

The awesome park next to the Art Institute.

One of my favorite city icons, one of the lions outside the Art Institute.

The pointy topped building in the top right of the photo is actually the very architectually appointed Chicago Athletic Club. Pretty posh, no?

The ever fabulous Art Institute of Chicago. Go! It's pretty incredible!

The Husband looking fierce with one of the lions.

Another great wing of the Art Institue with another great sculpture garden to match.

More awesomeness.

This is a fantastic interactive sculpture set consisting of cascading towers of water, light up and video glass block, and the faces of Chicagoans. If you're ever in Millenium Park be sure to check it out, it's super fun!

The Cultural Center used to be the city's main public library (Don't worry there's a massive and beautiful one to replace it.) so it has wonderful literary quotes tucked away amongst all it's fab architecture. It also has a stunning and quite large Tiffany glass dome inside. It's a quick, easy, and so worth it Chicago must see!

The Cloud Gate sculpture tucked away up in the middle of this photo is in Millenium Park and more commonly known as "the Bean" among locals and tourists alike. It's a gorgeous bean shaped metal sculpture polished to a high mirror shine that reflects its surroundings. I'm rather found of it. :)

The Frank Gehry band shell in Mikkenium Park is the place to be in the warmer months. The city puts on tons of free shows and concerts featuring all the fab performing arts that the city fosters.

Trump tower and the Wrigley Building.

A lovely Milton quote on the Tribune Tower where a lot of city's broadcasting used to be done.

 

The Tribune Tower entrance.

Busy city streets.

 

The Hancock Tower.

 

I love shopping downtown, including at Water Tower Place.

 

The Husband and the Water Tower.

 

The iconic Water Tower that survived the great fire of Chicago.

Hope you enjoyed our quick jaunt through the city together! Keep in mind that all these photos were taken while walking and talking and never stopping. (Except at crosswalks when we truly had to stop of course. Jay walkers annonymous here I come.)

All in all it took us about 15 to 20 minutes to walk the 1 to 2 miles between Water Tower Place and the Palmer House Hilton, our hotel. When in the city... speed walk like you still live there!

Kisses,

K

 

(Photos by Krista Carson.)

*except for the c c cold freezing winters... Brrr...

** Weird weather in Chi-town? That's easy, it's just lake effect ;)

 

 

 

 

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Stade's Farm

My Mom in law wanted to get some corn stalks to decorate the house with for the fallidays* so we stopped by Stade's farm on our way home from Wisconsin. It was super cute and I may have had way too much fun... City folk...

Come out to farm where the barn is so red,

The sky is so blue and the corn grows higher than your head.

The grain towers so tall they scrape against the sky,

Call out to local folk who know when to stop by.

It's harvest time here,

And the bounty's begun.

So fresh and so good,

enough for everyone.

There are pumpkins to share,

Of nearly every size,

Just begging to be made into butters and pies.

Come stand in the corn stalks,

Smell the fresh air.

Feel the sunshine that greets you,

The crisp in the air.

Then off you will go,

Quick as wink.

Back to your homes where you'll rinse in your sink,

All of fall's bounty and harvest to share,

With all of your loved ones who couldn't be there,

There at the farm,

Where the corn grows so tall,

You're sure you could never,

Never, eat it all.

And the barns are so red,

The skies are so blue,

And the farmer's are waiting,

To share it with you.

 

Kisses,

K

(All photos by Krista Carson, unless I'm in it then it's by a loved one. Cheesy poem courtesy of my genius ;) brain.)

*fallidays: a word I created to describe one of my favorite times of year, the fall (duh). It's when family, friends, and food all come together in a glorious mishmash to relax and enjoy the good life.

Sentence: Bikini weather makes me so hangry, I can't wait for the fallidays!

 

 

 

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