Friday, May 1, 2009

The Wiindy City, Chicago and Sevres Urns With Pink Cherubs, Pink Oleanders and Let's Visit

This is Sue! I will tell you more about her later.
It's Saturday and as I promised when I first started blogging that I will take you sightseeing every Saturday and I have kept my promise, haven't I? But before I do that, let's join Beverly for Pink Saturday first. Please visit her at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/
and then let's visit everyone else on her list of participants.
I would like to take you once again in our garden. We came home from Chicago late Wednesday night and looked out the kitchen breakfast nook window and this is what we saw. The oleander is blooming with bright pink flowers.
Here you will see a little fountain on the wall. I planted little climbing plants that attaches itself to the brick and it is just starting to climb but wouldn't you know it, it has to go soon because we are building a pool. Looks like this oleander is going too. Do you know if we can dig it out to transplant it? Will it survive?
It sure has pretty flowers and I hate to see it go. I hope we can save it.
Now, let's go inside the house and find something pink. Oh, I found 4 Sevres lidded urns. They have pink cherubs wearing pink scarves and there are also pink flowers so they should qualify, I think.
I placed 2 urns on both sides of the fireplace mantel in the family room.
And there you see all 4 of them. Somehow, John is obssessed with sevres pieces. We laugh about it but everytime we tour antebellum houses and he sees similar urns, he always gets the urge to turn them over to check who the maker is. One time, the tour guide asked him what he is doing. LOL!
Thanks, Beverly for adding me to your list of participants and for hosting another fun weekend event.

Now, let's go visit a beautiful windy city! Do you know that Chicago is one of the final 4 being considered to host the 2016 Summer Olympics? It is the only American city that made it on the short list. DH wants me to reserve a hotel room already. I wonder if they take reservations this far in advance. Before I go on, please visit Chandy of http://whatnowtablescapes.blogspot.com/. She is also taking us on a tour. Isn't that fun? 2 tours in one day! Hopefully, someday, we will have more tour guides to take us to other places. Thanks Chandy, for joining me again today.
Chicago is totally different from where we live in the south. You will notice the tall buildings right away. I think the tallest building in our hometown is only 5 stories high so you can just imagine how much I am enjoying the change.
Look at the pretty colorful tulips.

My sister met me and we went to the Water Tower. The Water Tower is famous for being the only public building that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It is 154 ft. tall and inside, it has a standpipe, 138 ft high, to hold water. It is the 2nd oldest water tower in the world. We shopped at the mall. I couldn't believe that we walked and shopped from 10 AM to 8 PM and this is after getting up at 1 AM to drive to the airport so I really did not get any sleep the night before. I was so tired and my legs were so stiff that I couldnt walk after I got back to the hotel
And you know, my sister who is 71 years old did not even get tired at all.
I love to see old buildings in the midst of tall modern ones. This is an Episcopal Church.

This was the view from our hotel room.
That distant building on the lake is the Planetarium.The Soldier Field.
We went to Chicago for Dh's medical convention meeting. It was at the McCormick Place and this is inside the convention center. Of course, I only mostly shopped around the city but every now and then, I would meet John at the exhibit show. I like to collect freebies, stuff that vendors give away. John is shy about collecting but you know, I think of it as giving the exhibitors a favor cause they wouldn't want to haul those back into their luggage, right?
I thought this is interesting. It's a robot they now use in some hospitals to perform the surgery.
A lot of urologists were very interested in how it works. They are watching a live surgery being performed by a robot in a hospital.
Navy Pier. My sister and her hubby picked us up one evening to take us there for dinner. Too bad it was cold and raining so we could not walk outside.
Even McDonalds inside the Pier looks elegant.
We went to the Field Museum one evening for dinner. It was pretty interesting to eat with the elephants and Sue, the largest, most complete and well preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered.

And Sue is the real thing! We were welcomed by African tribal dancers and musicians.
Do you see Sue at the very far end in the center?
And here's John trying to compete in climbing. LOL!
This is Chicago but it was from another trip when we took my mom with us. Isn't that a spectacular view from the hotel room?
And this was from our trip last Christmas. We took AJ and my grand niece Bhrielle with us. We were so high up and the window was all the way to the floor so I told the kids that if they want to go look out the window they have to lay on the floor. I was getting nervous about them breaking the window glass and them falling.
The hotel had a gigantic gingerbread house display in the lobby,

I took this picture because I thought the clouds look really weird.
I hope you enjoyed our trip to Chicago. See you again next Saturday for another sightseeing trip! Thanks for coming!

28 comments:

Kat said...

Oh thanks for the trip Christine. I just love Chicago, but haven't been in probably 30 years. Water Tower Place is an amazing place to shop, and the Field Museum is fabulous! Thanks for the fun memories. Kathy (btw, we are about 3 hours South of Dallas, 40 minutes North of Austin. Email me when your trip gets finalized and I'll see if I can find an excuse to come to Dallas lol. K)

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What great memories of Chicago. I have been there many times and I am always fascianted. I have been to many conventions in Mc Cormick Place. I was a buyer for years and went there every year for the Hardware and Home Center show. It's a huge place, but fun to go to.
As far as the Oleander is concerned, they grow like a weed here and you can cut it way back and dig it up and transplant it. You can also cut off a cutting and then stick it in water and it will sprout. You should be able to move it.

Thanks for the great tour and your pinks are gorgeous. You know I always enjoy them. Hugs, Marty

imjacobsmom said...

Hi Christine! I'm not that far from Chicago, but I have never been there. There is talk of putting in a high speed train from Chicago to the Twin Cities and I think that would be pretty neat. You are enticing me into going. Maybe I can talk my niece into going with us this summer. I just went to the Dental Convention and got all kinds of samples of floss and toothbrushes and fluoride and whiteners.....I thought that was a good idea having the kids lay on the floor - I am that way too. I try not to get up too high in hotels - I always think about how high the fireman's ladder can go and I don't want to go any higher than that! ~ Robyn

Chandy said...

I love all the pictures Christine! Do you know that Chicago maybe one of the states my dh might be stationed in as a Southwest Airlines mechanic? Midway to be exact. So I don't know about that but your pictures show how beautiful each place can be.

Mine will be ready soon!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Christine, this was a great tour of Chicago. That view from your hotel room was fabulous! And those gingerbread houses are amazing! (Do you think this christmas, I should add a Gingerbread village to my decor? LOL! No place to put it). Since John likes collecting, it's a good thing he has great taste! I know you'll enjoy your pool (and so will AJ when she comes to visit!) laurie

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Christine,
Great tour again. I promise to add on soon, I just have to get something prepared. I've been to Chicago many times, but it's been quite awhile, and we're only about 5 hours away. Hubby and I go to the twin cities a lot because we're only 2 hours from there. Your pics are very nice and I almost got dizzy myself seeing your grandkiddies looking out that high window. LOL, hope you have a wonderful weekend, Cindy

Nancy said...

What a wonderful trip! Loved your pictures. Somehow I think Chicago will get picked for the Olympics. LOL! Happy PS!

Justine said...

Ooh, I love oleander!!!!!! Just be careful because it's highly poisonous!

Chicago looks beautiful. I've never been, but hubby has and says it's great.

Your sister does NOT look like she's 71 years old! Holy cow!

Justine :o )

SmilingSally said...

I went to Chicago once and loved it. Thanks for sharing. Happy Pink Saturday. Check out my book giveaways!

Sue said...

Hi Xinex,
What beautiful pink Oleander blooms, they kind of remind me of the knock out rose bloom.
The urns are beautiful too, I can see why your husband enjoys urns.
The tour of Chicago was great, what a beautiful city, I can see how beautiful it must be at Christmas!. One thing I love about blogging is I get to sit at home and visit all of these beautiful places. Thank you for sharing. Blessings,
Sue

Joyce said...

What a fun trip and I did not even have to leave my chair to enjoy it:) Thanks for sharing and the girls are adorable.
Joyce

Deb said...

Christine,

Love all your pink! thanks for the trip to Chicago...I bet you had fun...thank you for following my blog....I love new followers...have a great weekend

Anonymous said...

did you go see Oprah?just kidding.you had no time.you all stayed totally busy.my goodness.
i want some of your sisters stamina dear.ask her if she'll give me a pint ot two,ok?
at least i get to travel thru you .i had a blast...ann

KBeau said...

If you can't save the oleander, you'll just have to buy a new one because it's so pretty.

I can't begin to imagine such an elegant McDonald's.

♥Mimi♥ said...

Wonderful post for this l♥vely Pink Saturday. This is one morning of the week that I sit back, stroll from blog to blog and indulge myself surrounded by my favorite color.

I wish you a blessed weekend filled with sunshine and surrounded by those you l♥ve.

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

I do all my traveling via "You". And just stay home and pull weeds...You live the good life C/x. I enjoyed the peak into your garden too.

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Thanks for the trip this morning! It's dark and rainy here so it was good to visit someplace else! I've never been to Chicago but really want to go someday! God Bless you today! Lauralu :)

lagirl said...

Loved the tour of Chicago, I've only been there once and it brought back fond memories...And, your Oleanders are beautiful!!

I signed up as a Follower so I'll be back for another tour. Hope you'll stop by my blog sometime and say "Hi"!

http://lagirlsweetea.blogspot.com/

Glennis said...

What a great city Chicago is! We went last winter, between Christmas and New Years, and it was a winter wonderland!

Looks like you had a wonderful time! But its nice to be back home with the oleanders! Happy Pink Saturday.

Four Paws and Co said...

Your yard is beautiful & love the urns. Loved the shop till you dropped story. Did you find many treasures? You tell the best travel stories! I feel like I was there with you.


Happy PINK Saturday! ♥ Diane

Unknown said...

Those urns are gorgeous, what a find.
Thanks for the trip, I've always wanted to go to Chicago!

Tara said...

Love the urns and the tour of Chicago was fantastic, you saw everything! Thanks for sharing it with us. Happy Pink Saturday!

susan said...

Christine--I enlarged the picture of the urns and they are gorgeous. I can imagine that the tour guides are not too happy when your husband starts touching things--they are little funny about that kind of thing :) Great tour too.

Blondie's Journal said...

Christine,,
I just love your pictures of Chicago. A much as I am here, it is odd to keep taking pictures of the same thing...does that make sense?? But we are a beautiful city with so much to see and do... remember~if we get chosen to host the Olympics, you & John are welocome to stay with us! :-)

Beautiful tour! Sweet home, Chicago!!

xoxo
Jane

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

I love the sightseeing posts! Yowza......I've never been to Chicago, so I really enjoyed it....My hubbs has been quite a few times on business.....I always ask him if he saw Oprah! :-)

Blessings!
Spencer

suesueb said...

it was so much fun seeing chicago through your eyes! the only place i went was the navy pier and that trip ended up terrible!! happy pink saturday and week to you and yours!!

Nicole ~ said...

Thanks for another wonderful trip. I enjoyed seeing all of the sights the windy city has to offer. I cannot blame you for making the girls lay down to look out of that window, my goodness it make me nervous just looking at the picture. Nicole

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Running late this week visiting blogs....Hope you had a Happy Pink Saturday ~ Susan

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