Syrup or Sirup?

In downstate* Illinois, along Route 66, is the little town of Funks Grove, known primarily for its maple syrup (sorry – it’s sirup!). This small place near the beginning (or end, depending on where you start) of Route 66 is a little over two hours’ drive southwest from Chicago, about 146 miles. Since we started […]

Square Up: Abandoned

There were some buildings in downtown Des Plaines that were going to be demolished in order to build a new mixed-use complex. I snapped a few photos of these boarded up and locked up buildings. Vacant buildings, once someone’s home or workplace… …now abandoned. Once a thriving community of monks and pilgrims in Egypt, now […]

Looking Up! Part 2

More views looking up at what is above us for Becky’s January Square Up Challenge! Sometimes we see trees against a brilliant blue sky in spring: Perhaps there’s a birdhouse – or two – in the tree: Looking up at towering monuments against the blue sky: Looking up at animals who live above us:

Square Up: Old Houses

Dale and I are getting ready to sell our house. We moved to a retirement community in August of 2019, and shortly afterward our daughter and son-in-law moved into our house. They have been renting, but are now ready to buy it. They have done a lot to fix the house UP. Part of this […]

Square Up with a Cuppa

Becky’s photo January Square challenge is all about UP. Here are some cups.

Square Up 5: Love and Friendship

Becky’s January Square photo challenge continues with the topic UP – either as a word or part of a word! My contribution for today is coUPles.

Upstairs Downstairs

Years ago, there was a popular Masterpiece Theatre series called Upstairs, Downstairs, examining the lives of the British upper class (who lived upstairs) and their servants (who lived downstairs). The popularity of that series inspired more recent series on this subject, including Downton Abbey. Those of us who had young children in the 1970s or […]

Looking Up in 2021!

Becky has a new Square challenge – square photos of something that contains the word UP! With the turnover of midnight on January 1, a new year – and hopefully a better one – begins and I like to think that things are looking up! So here are my first contributions for this monthlong challenge, […]

Kinda Square: Art Through the Ages

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Chicago Art Institute. There were three special exhibits I wanted to see: El Greco (16th century), Monet (19th century), and Malangatana (contemporary). There are many kinds of art and these artists illustrate how art has changed throughout history. Doménikos Theotokópoulos, better known today by his Spanish […]

Kinda Square: Markets

I’m back after a bit of a hiatus from blogging and participating in this challenge, so this time I’m including multiple photos for Becky’s October KindaSquare challenge, because there are many different KINDs of markets around the world!