Tuesday, January 22, 2013

A very quick visit.


Monday we all went to Chicago to see Emma.  Patrick Sr. had not seen her new place yet and well...he had the day off and Katie did not have volleyball so away we went.

On the road


I drove down and Patrick was able to keep watch of his phone.
At one point, around Hoffman Estates, there was a man in front of me who was driving irrationally.
Do you want to hear what he was doing?  He must have had a lap top sitting on the chair next to him because the whole time he was looking down to his right.  Swerving.  Looking up.  Looking down to the right.  I could tell he was reading.  It was driving me wild.  Finally we passed him and I could stop obsessing.  He was an accident waiting to happen.  What an idiot.


Brimfield. Pinterest come alive.  Clark. Chicago.


After lunch at Hamburger Mary's in Andersonville we walked down Clark to get a coffee for Emma and a stop in at Brimfield.

Lots of Blankets. Brimfield.

Of all days to walk around Chicago.  Burrrr.  Patrick was so cold we could not get him to leave the Starbucks.

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I think these are fish pails.  What do you think?


I was so excited to use my Nikon with the Lensbaby in Chicago.
When I picked it up to take a picture,  I realized that I forgot to put in the Card.  No card. No pictures.  Boo hoo.  Well...at least, no pictures with a good camera.

The iphones are good for moments.  But clarity and focus and backlighting.  Not good at all.
I did what I could and recorded our fun day without fancy flare and blur and bokeh.

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And in the very back of the store...an Airstream!!!


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We showed Patrick around DePaul a little bit.  Emma is going to Grad School there.  She will get her Master in counseling.

DePaul. Grad student.


Then we went to the warmest place in the city.
Warmest and freest place in the city.  Is that how you spell free est?
Or is that not a word?  Perhaps you can not be freer than free.


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That was just about it.  A nice, quick, fun visit.

Hope you had a nice day!

Stay warm!

Lots of love,
Donna















36 comments:

  1. There's no free-est. There's only most free.:)

    That place is charming! What is it? The flannel and the airstream?

    One of my darling voice students is going to DePaul in the fall. She's brilliant. What an amazing school!

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  2. Guess what? I was just looking at poems and in one poem the author wrote freest :o) Perhaps that was...artistic, poetic speak.

    It's just a store called Brimfield on Clark.

    You teach voice? Come summer we will get lessons for Katie. Okay.

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  3. Soo been there on forgetting my card. Boo...but I now have a backup spare in my purse. Some lessons are learned the hard way. :)

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    Replies
    1. It has only happened one other time. A few years ago. I hope I have learned my lesson.

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  4. Anonymous10:16 AM

    Brrrr! It was a cold day to walk around Chicago or I am sure you scurried. :-)

    How was the parking? I think Chicago is now the most expensive city to park your car.

    Debbie from Illinois

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    Replies
    1. We found free and easy and cheap parking all day. Not too many people wanted to go where we were going in that cold weather :)

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  5. Coffee - "check"
    Quiet Life - "check"

    my afternoon is complete :-) But the dog wants out. So quickly: what a fun visit! Sorry about the camera. Like I said before, one of these days we'll be in the greater Chicago area at the same time!! Now that would be fun.

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  6. Anonymous10:28 AM

    What an idiot is right. Sheesh. That stuff makes me sooooooo mad. :(. My friend's husband was working on the side of the road for IDOT and was hit and killed by a driver who most likely was not paying attention. He left behind a two year old boy and 6 month old twin boys. So senseless and tragic. :(

    Looks like such a fun visit, despite the crazy cold!!. I love your pictures whether they are taken on your Nikon or your iPhone. :-DDD

    Btw, I'm not sure how not to be anonymous on my comments here.. lol. I don't have a google account, or a wordpress, or a website. Hmmmm.... I'll have to work on this!

    Danielle Barnett

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    Replies
    1. I'm just so happy you left a comment :o)
      I'm very sorry to hear about your friend's husband. Awful

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  7. I love those fish pail lights!

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  8. Good thing you know how to rock the iphone.

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  9. I think your self-portrait in the Airstream was perfect! I love days like that where we just visit and explore cities where we want to. There are always so many gems to be found everywhere! And those "vintage" (can something be vintage if it was manufactured during my lifetime????) thermoses bring back many happy memories!

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  10. Was that the Lincoln Park Conservatory?? I would love to be in a place like that right now. 2 below zero here in Michigan today.

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  11. Donna,
    It was 72 degrees in Pacific Grove (near Monterey) this weekend, and today it will be in the high 60s here in Half Moon Bay. Yay for "summer" on the coast here in California. I will be out by the water watching my dog run and have fun in the sun.

    HMBalison

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  12. Anonymous11:01 AM

    So glad you were able to visit Emma since you were missing her so! Love the Airstream pictures -- you in the reflection and the girls standing in front of it.

    When we went to freshmen orientation before Jamey went to DePaul, I was so envious that he was going to be living and learning in Lincoln Park. That was in the summer, though. I may not have felt that way yesterday. :)

    Mary Z

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  13. I love it when you go to Chicago! My daughter has been accepted to DePaul and Loyola Chicago; I hope she goes to either one! It is fun to explore the area through you.

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  14. I love Emma's purse!!

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    Replies
    1. She just bought it for 5.00$. Bargain shopper. I think Gap,

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  15. One of my nieces is a freshman right now at DePaul! She loves it, but I haven't been to visit yet. I wasn't too happy being out some yesterday, but you were out a lot more than me! Glad you had fun despite the cold and missing camera card! --Missy (Missyisms)

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  16. Your day sounds like so much fun. I am excited for Emma to get her graduate degree. I can tell she is a very smart girl who loves books and knowledge.

    Sometimes when I have big shoot coming I dream beforehand that I leave my card at home. I dream I take pictures of the whole day and then I discover there is no card.

    I thought the first lady's red ball gown was beautiful. I came to get your scoop since you are my authority on beautiful ball gowns! I would like you buy you a beautiful ball gown one day. The most beautiful ball gown I could find.

    Happy Tuesday. I had to pick Kaish up early from school. He told me this morning he was sick. I had a couple of big cases coming to court this morning, so I told him he would be fine. Sure enough, as soon as I got to Philly, I got a call from the nurse. Poor munchkin.

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  17. Anonymous12:03 PM

    That store looks wonderful! I have only heard of the big Brimfield outdoors antique show that takes place in Massachusetts. The shot of all the blankets and quilts in cubbies made me drool. How I love cozy! Glad you and your family had such a fun day.
    Debbie Z.

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  18. Hamburger Mary's is the BEST!!!!!! We love that place.
    I think all DePaul students take pics outside the Student Center!!!
    Troy likes Glascotts bar. I LOVE LINKY PARK ZOO!!!!!
    Have you gone to RJ GRUNTS for a burger just outside the zoo?
    MMMMM, Lettuce Entertain you places never fail us.
    Are Zach and Emma going to meet???

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    Replies
    1. They do need to meet. Emma is there on Wednesday nights? Is Zach around then?

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    2. WHy yes he is!!!! Let me talk to him and you talk to Emma!!! fun fun

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  19. Anonymous12:47 PM

    I am glad you got to see your Emma!
    I have never been to Chicago. I really, really want to go. Someday that will happen!

    Sarah P. from Iowa

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  20. Oh my stars - it is cold here too. Low 20's but at least the sun is shining. Love your quick trip.

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  21. "Perhaps you can not be freer than free."

    Perfect!

    Oh, I have such Chicago envy. Someday...on my wild Wisconsin tour...I will land in Chicago and see the Windy City!

    I hope Emma's grad school experience is a great one!

    And it is a really good thing I don't live anywhere near that store. Oh, I could go broke there!

    Love,
    Di

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    Replies
    1. I have been there three times. Never bought a thing. It's the coolest and freest store!

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    2. I am going to try and work freest into my conversations in the future :-)

      I too would go a little crazy in a store like that ...

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  22. Anonymous3:55 PM

    Oh, the places you go!!! Those photos are outstanding and I am so grateful you had the phone and that you got to visit Emma. We had a couple visit our church on Sunday and as we were all standing around after church talking I asked where they were from....and they said "Chicago!" They were visiting here for the warm weather. It was 75 on Sunday. I told them about Emma and JustEmbrace and that she is now a graduate student at DePaul. They were so impressed. "DePaul is an excellent University!" the husband said. Small world...and I am so thankful we all stopped to visit after church. Those lights could maybe be the insides of minnow buckets used around here to hold bait for fishing. Really cool looking! You show us the best items...and do it artistically, too. Love and prayers, jep

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  23. With this cold weather and the thought of the windy city, well, all I can say is brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Truth is I rarely travel that way this time of the year because I'm a total cold weather wimp AND I don't care much for driving on snowy icy roads either.

    BUT glad that you traveled for me so I could see some of the sights :-)

    Blessings,
    Tammy ~@~

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  24. Even where I live (east south of france) it begins to be very cold ! I love your pictures, Donna. As always.

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  25. Hi, Donna--

    I'm your newest follower and just wanted to say hello. I found your blog tonight via asmplelife.blogspot.com's (Cheryl)'s links, and I'm loving it. I'll be back soon to take my time looking thorugh your archived posts. :)

    Happy to meet you,

    Val

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  26. Hi Val! Thank you for stoppig by and leaving a comment. It is so nice to meet you! Cheryl is a lovely person and a wonderful photographer. We are a bit related. She is my nephew's wife's sister :o)
    All very cool people! I look forward to your comments!

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  27. Oh, that's a neat conenction with her. :)

    I'll be back on a day off when I can take my time looking around here.

    Best Wishes,

    Val

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