Happy New Year!

The sky out my back door today.
 
I wish all of you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Christmas in Chicago

 
Some of the crowd in Chicago for Christmas...some are from California, Conneticut, Cinnicinati, and Chicago.

Christmas in Singapore

 
This is part of the family in Singapore for Christmas. Motherinlaw, Shannon, Greg, Laurence, Lin. A good time!

A Jazz bar

 
This is a jazz bar in downtown Chicago at State and Cermak...called Reggie's. It is in what we call a "changing neighborhood".....and was actually very nice once we made it inside....

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas from my blog to yours......

ABC Wednesday "w" is for wedding...

It is ABC Wednesday and I am doing a wedding dress. Her dress was made from her mother and grandmother's wedding dress by her new sisterinlaw who is a designer in Montreal(where we were for the wedding).....Congratulations Laura and Alexis!We really enjoyed your special day!
Check out more ABC Wednesday here at Mrs. Nesbitt's blog.

 

 

I went downtown Chicago the other night-after one snow storm and before the next!- to hear Bin play his tuba for his senior recital. Not sure what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice a tuba can be. This photo is the one part where he played with an ensemble. I wish I could capture the music but that would require a different type of camera!
(Bin is the one on the end with the TUBA (lol) and he is a friend of my Korean foreign exchange daughter, SeaKyung. Interestingly, his parents in Beijing have had my son, Greg, over for dinner and I have had Bin for the American holidays...it is a small world isn't it?)

A Christmas Carol

 
I was downtown last night for a tuba concert and at the Metra they were having different Catholic Schools sing carols. It was a very busy place and I had a hard time getting close enough to get a good picture. They sure sounded sweet and I have no idea which school this was.

'tis the season

 
When my Russian visitors were here, they were fascinated by all things Christmas. We watched quite a few Christmas movies but what one of them found unbelievable were all the decorations that one can use. This was one of her favorite shots of the little Victorian house that sells such things.

An icy morning

 
Usually our weather is a bit more moderate at this time of year but it went from 50*F to
6*F in less than 6 hours yesterday. We woke up to this....and it is icy just in case you were wondering! sorry I haven't been around lately. I was out of town.....catching up now on everyone!

A lovely fireplace

 
This is in a little store that used to be an old Victorian house very near where I live...I am positive I don't want to be the one who has to dust!

More Snow!

 
It is snowing again at my place....I was under the impression it was supposed to be a warmer less snowy winter this year.....this is early and quite a bit for this time of year....

Reflections

 

I almost used this as my ABC Wednesday "R" but decided not to. This was also on the trip out to Manassass, Virginia a few weeks ago......It is one of the reasons I do not mind driving places as we see so many parts of the country. A GREAT opportunity to take pictures! I believe this is in Pennsylvania but I am not positive....could be Virginia.

ABC Wednesday T is for trees Mighty Oaks

(Click to enlarge)
 
ABC Wednesday is hosted by the ABC Team.
I really liked the way my neighbor's house looked through these mighty oaks which have not lost their leaves yet. They look so majestic, especially with the snow surrounding them.....I thought they made a great choice for "T".

Lights in the distance

 
I took this because the neighbor's Christmas lights looked surreal in the early morning snow and light.

Winter Wonderland

 
This was my house this morning....Too bad hubby hadn't winterized the snowblower yet! On the other hand...the lawn mower is still up and running!

Thanksgiving Dinner for 25

 
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as it involves good friends and family and a menu I adore....and I find not hard to cook.....and no presents are involved!
This was our Thanksgiving dinner...I had someone ask if it was a "sit down" dinner...my response was "I have enough chairs for everyone to "sit down" after you "dip up" your plate! " so there...hope everyone had a great day....

ABC Wednesday S is for

 
Simon and Sparty....on the DOG couch...only for them because it is old and furry!! Sparty the Spaniel loves any of the other dogs that will let him cuddle up to them...Simon is more than agreeable....Enjoy more ABC around the world hosted by Denise and the ABC team.....

Our first snow

Not only is it our first snow of the season, it is Sparty's first snow as well....he seemed to not mind the snow and I could not get him to come in as he was eating the snow.....just like a kid!

Windmills

 
These were in Pennsylvania and boy were they TALL....I guess I had no idea how tall they are but I sure was impressed by them....as well as how they stood out in the sky.....

Music

 
I wish I could have captured their music....but I still like this photo. This was the group that played for my nephew's wedding.....

Winter is coming

 
The geese were flying all around the house the other morning. I love the way they are in a formation.....This was taken in my back yard.

ABC Wednesday R is for Railwalk

 
It is ABC Wednesday-- here is my contribution. This is the train station near me that takes you downtown to Chicago. The village has worked very hard to make this appealing so homeowners might want to buy near the railyway or railwalk!
Thanks to Denise for hosting ABC Wednesday!

The three sisters

 
This is a picture of the 3 of us at the wedding I went to last week for my nephew....this is for Peter to show him I was really there! I will tell you that I am the middle child and the tallest. Dare you guess who is the older sister and the younger sister? no hard feelings either way!!!!

Skywatch Friday

 
Welcome to Skywatch Friday hosted by the skywatch team!.....I just liked the way the sun came through the trees.