Coming Home

 

After a month away from Texas, Hubby and I flew home on Thursday. I have become very weary of flying, and it tires me out more all the time.  I pass the time reading, sleeping, or observing the clouds out the window.  They are always so much more beautiful than a photo can capture, but I still make the attempt.

We spent our time first in Boise, at our someday retirement home.  We worked in the yard, well Hubby did that more than I did. I spent a lot of time sitting on the deck watching and listening to the waterfall and fountain. At several different times, I saw three hummingbirds hovering around the Honeysuckle vines that are right next to the pond. There were lots of dragonflies as well. I don't sit outside much in Texas in the summer, so I am really very aware of the opportunities to do it when we are in Idaho.
We spent time with relatives and kept very busy with attending the events at the assisted living facility where my Mom and Dad now live.  We flew to Chicago for a week on business and had a great time there, staying a couple of extra days in downtown Chicago and doing a bit of sight seeing.  Then back to Boise for another week, and then home on the 6th.  I celebrated my 70th birthday on the 31st of August, and my cousin had a nice big family dinner in my honor.  YIKES...it is difficult to say I am 70 as that sounds so old, and I don't feel that old.

All in all, we had a great time.  However, the heat we left Texas to escape to cool weather for, seemed to follow us.  Boise was having a heat wave, the temps for the entire month of August were only below 90 on 4 days! They were also experiencing the summer fires that have plagued the entire Western States for a number of years now.  It was so smoky when we first arrived that the foothills were not even visible.  It came and went, with fires throughout the region.  A lot of acreage lost and some homes as well.  It is sad to see the forests disappear and the threat to wild life and people as well.  When in Chicago it was a bit cooler, but still hotter than normal.  We did leave there just as they were beginning to creep up into the 90's. 

While leaving Boise on Thursday, we did get to witness something really special.  When we got to the airport, we saw a news crew downstairs and didn't think much of it.  But when we got checked in and arrived at our gate, there was a lot of excitement taking place.  A Southwest flight had just landed at the next gate, bringing home some WWII veterans that had been flown to Washington D.C. earlier in the week.  This is part of a program that has been going on for a few years across the country.  Honor Flight

Anyhow, as they came off the plane, they gathered in front of  our gate, waiting for everyone to deplane.   Most of these veterans were in wheelchairs, but some of them were walking. Everyone in the terminal stood and applauded.  I turned and was speaking to the lady next to me, she had tears in her eyes, as did I.  When I turned back to where my husband had been standing, I saw that he was not there.  He had walked over to them and was going down the line, shaking each of their hands.  Then a very young soldier in uniform was walking the line as well.  Everyone in the gate area was standing and applauding as the group left the area. This was such a touching event, and I am so glad we were there at just the right time to witness it.  When I finally got my wits about me, it was all over and I was able to only get a couple of photos of the way Southwest had decorated around Gate 15.

Long Ago and Far Away

Yes, it's been ages since I dropped by to let anyone know what's going on around these parts.  Mostly, I've been busy and too stressed to write about stuff.  Most of May was spent on another road trip to Idaho, a couple of weeks there, then back home to prepare for the home construction here.  All of June was spent with the house entirely torn up, with holes dug around and under, and yes even inside the house. Then July was spent cleaning up, unpacking the things we had to pack up to get out of the way for the foundation repair. Things are back to normal, house-wise, still a few needed repairs.  We are taking our time with that.

As usual, I am slogging through the hot, muggy, Texas summer. Another trip on the horizon though.  Back to Idaho, with a side trip to Portland for a mini-family reunion with Hubs people. Then to Chicago for a week, then back home. Anywhere we go, it will be cooler weather than here, thankfully.

I had tons of road trip photos from the May trip, but never got around to posting them. Most of them were shot from the cab of the Penske truck with the cell phone I had to buy the day before we left, because mine broke.  So, although some of them were interesting, none of them were spectacular!  We spent a night in Amarillo on the way, just so we could go see the much famed Cadillac Ranch. Out in the middle of a field.  At least we can say we saw it.  LOL

We stopped at several other roadside attractions along the way.  We actually took an extra day on this trip, just for that reason.  We stopped to see a place I had never been to in all my years of growing up in Idaho. The town of Twin Falls, with the lovely Shoshone Falls Park.   Very beautiful, even though we were told the water was at it's very lowest in years because they had not had enough snow or rain last winter.  Most times the water spray reaches the observation deck, which is in the bottom left corner of the photo, right under the rainbow.

 

Nothing much else to show, except...look at this beautiful plant growing in one of my neighbors yards. It is Agave, also known as century plant. This is the first year it has bloomed.   It is done now, and the base is dying out and the stalk is leaning towards their doorway, getting ready to fall.

Sunday morning clouds on the drive out of my neighborhood.

 I have not done a bit of artwork this summer, which is making me kind of cranky.  I have started sewing again, just a few small things, and making some plans for some needlework.  But no journaling, painting, etc.  Have most of my supplies still packed up.  I usually go through this drought of inspiration in the long hot summers here anyhow. Hopefully I'll snap out of it soon and get busy with something.

 

A few more Chicago memories

It was fun to stay downtown, we walked almost everywhere. I get a kick out of when people say "it's within walking distance"...you know that varies, depending on who is doing the walking, right? Well, still, we walked almost everywhere.
Hotel we stayed in

I always notice the light fixtures, this one had giant steel brushlike bristles, was very interesting.

The view out the only window in our room. I like the graphic design of all the lines.

One tiny window. Very nice room though. #1210


These are all just from strolling about.

Six Days in Chicago

I wanted to stay in Chicago till the snows came. It was beautiful this time of year. The high temp the entire week was in the mid 80's. Weather Heaven for me. We worked most days, but had a bit of time for just exploring as well.

I've had a hard time deciding which photos I wanted to share, without boring you to death, so I chose just a few and put the rest on Flickr. You can choose to go see them or not. A lot of them I didn't even crop or edit. Here's my Flickr link.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8031244@N03/
All my links seemed to have slipped to the bottom of my posts, and I don't know how to fix it. I need to call on my pal Janet to help me. But right now we are preparing for yet another trip out west for another family emergency, so I will have to let that wait till I get back.

Well, sorry for the sidetrack. Here a are a few photos. This was a trip where everything was perfect, and we haven't had one of those in awhile.
Day 1 Landing, driving to St.Charles and the Pheasant Run resort.



The view from our 12th floor room in "The Tower"


After lunch we explored the resort, then at 5 went to the golf course, of course...


Hubby


ME driving the cart, enjoying the cool breeze blowing through my hair. This is something you would never find me doing in the Texas heat!



Day 2 Shedd Aquarium where part of Pondemonium was held. We watched the pond building for awhile, but had tickets to go into the Aquarium as soon as it opened. I wanted to stay there all day! But we had to go to some meetings over at Navy Pier, so we took a Taxi over there and were there most of the afternoon.
Just a few highlights. I loved the Jellyfish..more photos of those later.

One of the designs in the revolving front door.








We rode the water taxi back to Shedd Aquarium for the evenings events. Bar-B-Que, music, and speeches from the CEO, etc. On the back deck of the Aquarium looking out over the lake. Temps were in the 60's.
Me and Hub on the boat..

Navy Pier from the water taxi

The city from the deck of the Aquarium


Day 3, I had to work, so I stayed in the hotel and processed orders. Hub went to the Aquascapes headquarters for meetings most of the day. That evening we went to another B-B-Q and a tour of a huge landscape nursery. Lots of beautiful plants and ponds. I forgot to bring an extra memory card for my camera, so got only a handful of photos.

Day 4, Hub went to more meetings, I stayed in the hotel and did computer work all morning. Then after lunch, I went to a Scrapbook Expo that was going on there at the resort. HaHa. I only stayed a few hours, did a couple of make and takes, bought one pack of cool paper and left. Hub came back to the hotel and we went to yet another B-B-Que and a tour of the Aquascapes facility.

Day 5, a few more meetings in the morning, and then we were on our own. Thankfully, for me at least, no more B-B-Q. LOL We checked out of the resort and drove to downtown Chicago.
Next chapter, a day in the city.....

Flight Delayed

It never fails! I hate winter travel of any kind, because it is "fraught with peril". Hubby is stuck in Chicago again. Every single time he or I fly to that part of the country(why does it always have to happen in WINTER). No one ever needs him to come there in the Summer!. I'm not sure it's weather issues in Chicago, or someplace else, but he made it from Ft. Wayne Indiana to O'Hare, and thought he would get out on time. But just e-mailed me about some kind of delay. He should still get home today, but it is just another part of the saga of winter travel.

Look what he found in the airport.