Splendid Late Autumn Foliage...

captured, likely, on November 10; that's Hubsy and my niece, Flower Girl's joint birthday.

Is it Just me??

or do all American ladies, the day after Thanksgiving, say: "Thank goodness, it's over!"

Let Me Update You....

From Halloween: The Twins Molly and Micah: Molly decided to be an active shark for Halloween. Micah is the ashtonaut. Our Flower Girl is the Bride of Frankenstein. Popeye and Spider-lady appeared at my office.

Thanksgiving Baby and His Family..

My Garden-Loving next-door neighbor and her Hubsy plan to celebrate the holiday with a new Grandson! You've seen the little girls before: World's Most Serious and her big sister Alice. Here's what it looked like when the girls met their two day-old baby brother. Blessings Abound! PS: the photos are not mine; borrowed immediately from the Proud Grandparents!

Interesting Stops Along the Route....

I'm on my way back to work, after an early morning errand. I headed east on Lake, where I noticed the authentic, old time store front. Further on, after I turned south on Wells St., I reacquainted myself with this old, 1870's relic. Must have been built just after the Chicago Fire in 1871. Happily, it appears that the building was renovated and restored. A few years ago it was a wreck! I like that the renovation went so nicely in the lobby. There are few of those old "pre-skyscraper" buildings left; I'm obsessed with them. I wish I could get inside the lobby, but mainly the buildings are locked to outsiders.

There is a Certain Gritty "romance" for Someone with a Camera....

underneath Chicago's Elevated Loops system. The angles and the variety of light conditions are fascinating. True, it's noisy and grimy;I wouldn't want to live or work too near it.

While We are in Downtown Chicago...

we can tour The Loop, near to and beneath the actual structure of elevated rail tracks that define the city's downtown area. In these scenes, we are headed east on Lake toward the NW corner of the Loop.

Williss (formerly Sears) Tower in the news....

views you normally don't see. The first from a block north on the east side. The second taken from the east at State Street, a bit south.

Glowing Sunset...

I took the photos a few weeks ago. I love the cloud formation.

Is This What he Meant?

"If you like your Doctor, you can keep your Doctor. Period."

The old-time downtown section on Rochelle: the remnants of the business district of the first half of the 20th century. Most of the economic activity of the town has moved a mile or so north, along a highway. There is a classic old hardware store, a nice cafe and a lot of "dive" bars left in the old section.

Hubsy's Choice: Train Spotting in Rochelle, IL...

To take our minds of the loss of the cat on October 19, we got in the car and drove the 70 miles to the central Illinois town of Rochelle. Not only do major Interstate Highways intersect here, but two double-tracks cross near the center of the town. So many train-spotters come to watch and photograph the big freight trains that the town created a park with a picnic area and information center. It was a lovely cool fall day, great to change the scene---and I will take photos of almost anything.