A Graduation trip to Chicago!

I've been missing from bogland for a while-sorry about that.

Several months ago my oldest son, Steve, told me he would have finished his

Master's degree in Data Science and would walk.

He lives in San Diego, CA.

His Master's Degree is from Elmhurst College.

In Elmhurst, IL.

Ah, the wonders of the internet!

I suggested that the rest of the family make the trip up

to Elmhurst, IL to watch.

At first we had planned to surprise him but the cat got out of the bag.

He got to anticipate seeing all of us instead!

WARNING!

Lots of photos ahead!

Steve!

Nora, his daughter, trying out all the "stuff"
A Future Graduate.

Steve, his wife Candice and Nora

The silly Siblings!

This one is better, although Beth still has on her shades!
Left to Right-Beth, Rob, Scott and Steve in the middle!

That added their Mom to this one!

A very proud day for this Mom!

Steve's requested this photo under the college sign.

Beth, Lucas the boys and I flew up Tuesday evening (it really works well to have one adult for each boy) and on Wednesday we went to the Brookfield Zoo.  Spent the day looking at animals and seeing a dolphin show.  Every one had a different favorite animal-mine was the brown bears.

Rob and Tanya arrived that day as well as did Steve, Candice and Nora.

Thursday, we headed into Chicago and the Field Museum of Natural History.

We rode the Amtrak train into Chicago, walked to the "L", rode the "L", then walked some more.

And all along we were figuring out how everything rapid transit worked.

The Field is an amazing museum.

I had been there before so I had an inkling what we were in for!

I enjoyed the First Nation clothing on display and the exhibit on Mass Extinctions.

Brayden really liked the Chinese Terra Cotta Warriors.

After the museum closed we went to find the famous Chicago Pizza.

Much more filling that anyone could expect!  I carried off three pizza boxes of leftovers! (Which we never did eat!)

It's amazing how shocked hostesses are when you tell them you need seating for 11 (0r 12 after Scott arrived.)

Revived by food some of us wanted to go up in the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) to overlook the metro from way up high.

I stayed on the ground thank you very much.

After that we went back to Elmhurst, some by train, some by auto.

Rob said his step counter said he'd taken 20,000 steps that day!  I have short legs so I likely took twice that many-and we don't want to think about how many the boys took!

I was tired on Friday.

I stayed away from downtown!

Instead I met up with Steve, Candice and Nora.

While Steve bought new eyeglasses -his broke- Candice, Nora and I went and had our nails done. 

All 20 of them.

I chose RED polish-that's never happened before.

Scott got in late that night.

Bri and Ryan had to stay home as Ryan had brought home a case of pneumonia!  (Poor baby)

Sunday, Steve, Candice, Nora, Scott and I went to the Art Institute.

I had heard of the Thorne miniature rooms there-always said if I ever made it to Chicago I'd for sure see them!

Also did the Impressionist exhibit and saw the Chagal window.

After lunch I hoofed it over to the Navy pier to meet up with Beth and Family.

Scott, Rob and Tanya had already left for home.

After a nice rest at the end to watch the boats we had a short meet up with Steve's group, 

then a water taxi ride back to where the car was parked (sort of)

Then it was off the the airport to come home.

My head finally hit my pillow about 1 am.

I could never live in Chicago.

I'm too much in love with the wide open spaces!

Dismal! I'll Apologize in advance!

It has rained and rained here.

Then on Saturday it didn't rain but it was only in the low 50s (F) and windy

at the soccer fields.

We were all bundled up in winter coats and layers of clothes and blankets.

Miserable.

Sunday was dry until after Kolby's baseball game.

It has rained for most of the past two days.

It's dismal.

I know it's better than a drought, but. . .

I'm getting very depressed by all the wet.

Tomorrow is to be dry but Thursday more rain.

The grass will need at least two days before I can mow. 

It isn't going to happen.

I will need a hay baler!

Or perhaps an ark.

If it keeps up I will surely lose the two pin oaks that had

Oak Leaf Blister Fungus last year.

They are nearly dead now.
I haven't sewn anything for at least the past two weeks.

I need a mountain fix.

Crazy Week!

It seems like I've been gone everyday this week! 

Volunteer work, shopping, more shopping,

 Pick Ceili up and take Ceili to the shop, pick Ceili up from the shop 24 hours later-fixed! 

 Then take her back to the caves for storage, sigh.

 In there as well was weeding gardens.

Mowing part of the yard

before today's forecast storms.

Most nights too tired to do more than be a slug.

Tonight, in spite of a full day,

I'm going down to the studio.

Drag out the greens,

Press them and cut strips.

Then I'm going to work on Kolby's quilt.

Mowing and other things.

It has rained and rained here!  Thunder and lightening have been good friends directly over my house several times-things shook, Quinn barked, I rolled over and went back to sleep.  Most of the storms have been at night.  All of the streams, creeks and rivers are quite full and all of the lawns are quite wet.   You know what, the grass still grows-wait the grass grows better-and still needs to be mowed.  Looking at the height of my grass and thinking let this go another day and you won't be able to keep the mower running and will need a hay baler.  Then looking at the weather forecast-thunderstorms again tomorrow.  I left the grass to dry as long as I could but after dinner I had to mow!  It was thick, it was tall and it was wet! It is done, at least until Friday when I'll mow again unless it's raining.  I'm really not complaining too much, when we moved into this house the grass was almost nonexistent, there were no plantings, no gardens, no walls, etc so having a green lawn (even if there are more weeds than bluegrass) is the sign of a job well done!  I'll try not to break my arm patting myself on the back!

Quinn went back to camp today. I am letting her get used to it for her little vacation in two weeks while I go to Chicago.  I had volunteer work at the museum, Eighth graders again.  I talked about the library/archives and had them transcribe a diary page.  They were ok, shoot they were eighth graders!  The year I consider the worst year of my school life and the worst year my children faced.  Caught between childhood and being a full teenager, full of hormones and angst.  I also believe that people who choose to teach that grade are saints!

After lunch I went shopping-no Quinn to leave at home-bought some tennis shoes at last!  Then I went dress shopping-they were all fugly.  Didn't see a single one I'd even try on.  As I need a dress for Steve's graduation ceremony I've decided to shorten the black dress I made for Scott and Bri's wedding, add a short-sleeved white sweater and white shoes to complete the outfit.  Hopefully that will work, I refuse to wear the orange dress again!

Bad Blogger!

I have been a bad blogger this past week!

  I have no excuse.  

Well for Saturday night and Sunday I  was camping and internet was not around but I could have linked up using my iPhone so even that is not an excuse!

No sewing was done to speak of either.  What on earth did I do?  I have no idea.

I'll try to do better this week.

Design Wall Monday-At Last

My design wall has been empty for weeks!

I was uncomfortable with the arrangement in the studio.

I had moved things around and it just wasn't working for me,

so I finally got my act together and moved things yet again!

It helped.

I'm at the point of quilting the rag blocks.

The ones on the wall are finished.

I have 14 more to go!

For this one, sigh.

Then I can sew them together, clip the edges and

Move this one to Kolby's house!

Then it will be on to Brayden's.

His will be like this except where the solid red is he will have

solid black, his choice.

All parents and grandchildren should be aware that I don't plan to do these again!

I don't like the fact that the flannel slips and slides!

I'll be happy to make quilts for you just not these.