Chicago area, Illinois – 8/21/2016 to 8/26/2016

August 21-26, 2016

We got checked into our resort in Sheridan, Illinois and slept in on Sunday. I couldn’t stand it and had to get over to my niece’s home to see if they needed help moving. We got over to their beautiful HUGE new home at around 11:30 AM, Sunday. Tiffany (my niece) had just gotten home a couple hours before so she was totally exhausted.

Tiff's new house.
Tiff’s new house.

We did a quick hug and left and went for a drive.

We had been told a couple of times (by Tiffany and also by the girl at the front desk of the Holiday Inn Resort) about Starved Rock State Park. We decided to head that way and went into the park but it was so crowded (the weather was pretty nice) and it was right before the school year started.

Starved Rock state park looks very lovely.
Starved Rock State Park looks very lovely.
Water formed limestone walls look interesting.
Water formed limestone walls look interesting.

We decided to come back another day. We went up the road a bit to Matthiessen State Park, same thing.  Will do it another day.

On Monday and Tuesday, my friend Pepper came to visit.

Edie greeting Pepper.
Edie greeting Pepper.
Pepper.
Pepper.

I’ve known Pepper for about 40 years. We met when we both worked for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department. She’s such a sweet lady. She’s having mobility issues so we didn’t want to do anything that required a lot of walking. We did drive into Chicago on Tuesday. We wanted her to see the Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park, Illinois. As luck (or unluck) would have it, they were re-doing the sewer mains and the streets were closed off around all the Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park. We then decided just to drive into Chicago and check it out. We drove by the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, the beautiful Buckingham fountain (flowing this time), the “bean,” and many other fun things to see in the downtown area. Lots of people and the weather was nice.

A Frank Loyd Wright house, several blocks from his offices in Oak Park.
A Frank Lloyd Wright house, several blocks from his office in Oak Park.
Skyline.
Skyline.
In Millennium Park.
In Millennium Park.
A technology breakthrough in skyscraper designs. The architect used loose cigarettes to explain his design idea to achieve new strength and heights.
A technology breakthrough in skyscraper designs. The architect used loose cigarettes to explain his design idea to achieve new strength and heights.
Buckingham Fountain.
Buckingham Fountain.
Classic architecture, the library.
Classic architecture, the library.

The rest of the week was spent helping Tiffany and her family move from one huge house to another huge house. I’m convinced they’re hoarders (Michael was convinced I was for a time). I’m so glad we don’t need or want to collect “stuff” anymore. I think Tiff and her family have enough stuff for many, many years. Anyway, their new home is lovely (as was their old one). The kids seem happy in their schools and seem to be doing well.

The weather has been so weird. Lots and lots of thunder and lightening storms (some very scary close), beautiful weather, grey weather, hot weather, chilly weather. Just weird. So different than in California and so humid. Michael and I feel like we’re melting.

That has been our week. Hope yours was great!