Category: Travel

Cross Country Skiing-25 Years Later

I'm not sure why, but ever since we moved to Chicago, my cross country skis have been in storage in the basement.  Many years, there just wasn't enough snow to ski, and then when there was snow, I'd come up with reasons why the conditions were never quite right.  Mostly, it was that I grew … Continue reading Cross Country Skiing-25 Years Later

Air Plant Terrarium

As I mentioned in a previous post (Blog-Themed Christmas), in addition to my gardening and bird feeding Christmas gifts, I also received a cute little Tillandsia air plant terrarium from my daughter. She went Christmas shopping for me at a very unique garden and gift shop, Alaplash in the North Center area of Chicago. Thank … Continue reading Air Plant Terrarium

Winter Visit to the Morton Arboretum

The other day, before the polar vortex descended into the Chicago area, Steve and I went out for a walk and lunch at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL.  The Arboretum is a real local treasure where we can always find something interesting every time we visit.  Today we walked around one of the very … Continue reading Winter Visit to the Morton Arboretum

Fresh Bread on a Saturday Morning

Over the summer at the Farmer's Market there was a booth, Katic Breads, that sold the best bread you could imagine.  Everything was delivered warm, fresh and perfect. It also didn't hurt that the women running the stand were so cheerful week in and week out.   As the market wound down for the winter, customers … Continue reading Fresh Bread on a Saturday Morning

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of those places you go to that makes you realize how beautiful and naturally diverse our country is.  On the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan are stunning, glacially formed bluffs that overlook Lake Michigan.  The shoreline is a hilly, varied landscape where you can find rivers, clear lakes, … Continue reading Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Family Trip to Glen Arbor, MI/Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

This past summer we took a trip up to the Glen Arbor/Sleeping Bear Dunes area of Michigan with our 2 teenage boys.  I'm always amazed with the beautiful and interesting places we have visited all over the US.  Conveniently for us, this one is practically in our backyard.  Sleeping Bear Dunes NL was even voted "America's … Continue reading Family Trip to Glen Arbor, MI/Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Brrr, it’s Cold

As expected, we sunk down below freezing Tuesday night. Glad I got the last of the vegetables harvested. Surprisingly, many of the garden plants actually looked pretty good in the morning, but we'll see after 2 days of below freezing temperatures overnight. I ended up leaving the single perfect rosebud on the plant. In the … Continue reading Brrr, it’s Cold

Visiting a Glass Pumpkin Patch

This week we visited the third annual Glass Pumpkin Patch at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. There are lots of artists, each with their own signature style.  Shannon Jane Morgan, who we had the chance to speak with at the First Pumpkin Patch, comes all the way from California to headline the event and … Continue reading Visiting a Glass Pumpkin Patch

Travel Tips: Kiawah Island Dining

In a previous post, I talked about all the wonderful things to do on Kiawah Island.  This time, I'll talk about the dining options on the island and nearby.  While Kiawah does not have as many food options as other popular islands such as Hilton Head, it has a unique array of restaurants and cafes that … Continue reading Travel Tips: Kiawah Island Dining