Thank you so much for all the happy birthday wishes! You are so kind. I had a lovely day with my husband and we had a yummy dinner at a favorite local restaurant before Don had to run out the door to get to the theater. Between Facebook, Instagram, and this blog, my cup runneth over! But the best just might have been a little boy singing Happy Birthday to me via a message on my phone. This Auntie was smiling from ear to ear.
On Monday I walked across this bridge to meet my nephew at Christkindlmarket – which is a lovely open air market celebrating Christmas, German-style. We had about an hour to talk with each other before he had to go back to work. Eric is my brother’s youngest son and he is such a lovely person.
Here we are. I am so grateful for this time with my family. We all live so far apart that getting together is impossible most of the time.
Today, we stopped by the Art Institute so that we could see the Edward Hopper and American Gothic and some of the other paintings in the Modern Wing – and the Chagall Windows, which blow me away every time I see them.
Skaters were out and about in Grant Park.
And I visited the Bean:
This is one of my favorite things in Chicago. The Bean reflects the people standing nearby and the skyline as well. It’s stunning.
We thought we’d have more day time hours together, but along with the Put In rehearsal last week, there is no show on Thanksgiving and only a matinee on Sunday, so those shows have to be made up. Consequently, Don has a matinee tomorrow and one on Friday, as well. Sigh. But tomorrow works out well because I’m having lunch with my best friend anyway.
Suddenly I only have four days left here! On Thanksgiving, we’re having dinner with the cast. That will be fun! And on Friday evening, my best friend and her family are coming to the show. And then, I’m up early on Saturday morning and a long day of travel lies ahead.
When I get sad about leaving Don, he reminds me that he’s coming home a week later.
Oh…right! That’s okay then.
They replaced the router in this apartment today and the WiFi is working again.
I will be glad to get back to my basic diet – I’ve gained weight during these trips to New Orleans and Chicago. Don is going have to adjust to meals at home. I know I’ll have to rein him in.
Oh boy.
Happy Wednesday.
glad you are having fun, especially time with don and other members of your family and on your birthday. :)
hope you found that used book store (in addition to barnes and noble) near the theater and bought yourself a treat. i’ve always wanted to go to one of those german-style, outdoor Christmas markets, but never sought one out. maybe someday. most likely it would be in chicago as another chance to see all that art, walk across the bridge, be by the lake and river …. seems i’m in chicago only during cold months (except for hearing jimmy at wrigley field this summer and that was a quick trip with no time for tourist things) or it rains like it did last friday when we escaped to margaritaville, but that’s alright. chicago has lots to offer and it’s not too far from where i live. anyway …
have more fun today and a wonderful thanksgiving tomorrow!
kathy in iowa
I found the book store but I wasn’t real impressed. It was okay. The Christmas market was nice but it was packed and it was hard to get around. I was basically there to be with my nephew so I didn’t mind.
That’s one beautiful bean! It’s like one I have, but on steroids. (We have a running family joke about beans, mostly centering on a vegan son who lives almost entirely on beans and who once gave me an Elsa Peretti silver bean necklace from Tiffany. Whenever I wear it I am overcome with giggles.)
The bean is incredible, Shanna!
Another fun post with a giganto bean and ice skaters. So happy you’ve seen so many family members on this trip. Being away from home and eating delicious food someone else has cooked for you at new places can contribute to some weight gain, even with all the walking you’re doing. Enjoy the new foods while you can.
Well, I’ve been overeating in both New Orleans and Chicago, so when I get back home, I’m going to stop with the sweets, especially.
1. Your nephew is a handsome lad – does he look like your brother?
2. Where is the cast having Thanksgiving? That really WILL be a lot of fun! I’d like to be a little bird at the table – what interesting conversations I’d hear.
3. I can relate. I don’t travel often but when I do I COMPLETELY disrupt my normal eating habits – I eat whatever & as much as I want. Traveling is like the holidays – nearly everyone gains weight. And pays for it later.
Have a wonderful T-Day with Don & the ‘Margaritaville’ cast! Peace.🍗
#Resist
He’s a mix of both his mom and his dad.
I have no idea where we’re eating Thanksgiving Dinner. I’ll just let Don lead me there.
I’m looking forward to getting back on my normal diet soon!
oh good lord. those Chagall windows.
beautiful. a flimsy adjective.
sounds like a wonderful away-from-home-Thanksgiving!
I have so enjoyed your trip to Chicago! lol.
Thank you, Tammy. I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.
Treat yourselves to a jaunt to the Union Church in Pocantico Hills, New York. All the windows but one are Chagalls; the exception is the Matisse rose window over the altar. My mother’s family was from Pocantico Hills/Sleepy Hollow and I used to play on the rocks behind the church as a child.
I’ll try, but we’re rarely down that way these days. It’s either all the way into NYC or staying around our neck of the Hudson Valley!
Claudia, I love that you are having such an adventure there in Chicago. You nephew is a handsome young man, and you look so happy to be with him. Makes my heart happy for you. Blessings to you, Don and cast for lovely dinner together. xoxo, Susie
He is not only handsome but good inside and out.
Thank you for bringing us along on your trip, sharing the adventure; your photos and descriptions of places in Chicago have been just terrific. I wish you and Don a very happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow! Glad you can be together for some of it, same city at least! As I said in my belated birthday comment on the previous post, we’re darn hot here in SoCalif. Santa Anas blowing wildly; 98 degrees in my tree-shady rear yard, 100 degrees in my front yard on my covered front porch (at 12:30pm-ish). Not very holiday-esque with a/c blasting and sun frying us. But I’m grateful for the holiday; counting the blessings. I think having Thanksgiving dinner with the big cast will be loads of good fun!
We’re looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow until dinner in the evening. I’m tired out. Don is even more tired!
My husband is very tired, too, after traveling out of state last weekend, going right to work on Monday and working some late nights so he has just ‘crashed’ today and I’m glad we decided not to do the ‘big do’ dinner – we’ll do that on Christmas Day now – besides which I can’t even stand to be outside because it’s so hot although we were scant degrees cooler than the 100-degree temp we got yesterday here in SoCalif.; just glad I don’t have to have the oven on and that I didn’t have to be anywhere in this heat today – – or be out on those packed freeways (have done it enough in my earlier life; trying to get out of L.A. last night at even 10pm was a bear for my poor husband).
Neighbors next door, first Thanksgiving in their ‘new’ house/first house, are having a HUGE party, backyard, three large tent canopies set up and I think they’re deep frying or BBQ-ing/grilling turkey and some traditional Mexican fare, as that’s our heritage/culture in this part of the state; I, for instance, can’t go without a tamale anytime now through New Year’s. I took the dog outside to pee and was about to say, “Can I come over?” because the aromas coming from that yard and house are incredibly tantalizing. The young wife was arranging flowers on banquet tables; I think it’s going to be QUITE a spread. I’m glad they’re having so much fun; they’re a nice couple. It’s just after 4pm and not many guests have arrived yet so I’m wondering that this thing isn’t going to go late into the night but, you know, they’re entitled to be hosts when they’ve probably never really been able to accommodate a big crowd of friends and family (so, I’m being patient/flexible/air conditioning is blasting with room fans and we have a well-insulated house to where we can’t hear much outside noise anyway). For all of them, it’s like a summer evening here, so how perfect to be eating outside with the warm air, star-lit sky and a bit of breeze.
I think I’m finally at the point where I can enjoy a simple Thanksgiving with my husband without lamenting the absence of other relatives I’ve lost or those living too far away. A peace has come over me about it and it’s high time. Thanksgiving memories with my folks, brother, aunties & uncles and grandmas all now long gone are treasures, and I will do a couple of dinner sides tonight that definitely remind me of what my mother would present for the table. And it’s all good. Makes me smile. Gratitude! Next year, if our house is finished of home improvements, we want to bring in a crowd, too. That’s just the way it is some years; sometimes a big get-together, sometimes not. But, again, it’s all good. I really think if I was single, I could be sitting alone watching holiday television, enjoying a frozen dinner (microwaved!) and do just fine. It’s a nice feeling. But I know that I know people who’d think that was pitiful. Well, it’s not.
Looking forward to hear of what you two did today! Some day, I really am going to see what it’s like to go OUT for dinner, to a restaurant, on Thanksgiving Day!
Are you going to be in the air on Sunday with all those Thanksgiving travelers, Claudia? Oh, no, I went back in the post, and you’re traveling the day before; much better.
You can get it together diet-wise in December when you and Don can be back in the house as a unit, eating more regularly and eating ‘your normal’. I got carried away and bought too many fave sweets which are now cropping up in the stores for the holidays. Promptly put them in the freezer to keep for awhile, after looking at them for a couple of days and deciding, nope, not healthy for me. Darn.
Our Thanksgivings are always simple. Sometimes we make a big meal, sometimes we don’t. We don’t eat turkey, of course, so it’s not about a big, long day of cooking. This year we spent it with the cast and it was absolutely lovely.
Ah…the bean! Ice skating! Visit with Nephew! Sounds like you are having a great time playing tourist and catching up with family. Have a great day tomorrow with the cast and Don! ;)
I am. I’m tired, though, and I’m looking forward to getting back home!
Those windows are beautiful. Eric is a handsome young man. Glad you had a nice birthday.
Marilyn
I did! Thank you, Marilyn!
My philosophy for eating on vacation…eat now worry later…lol….The cast together for Thanksgiving meal…sounds like a wonderful time! To bad you can’t make your cloud biscuits for everyone Claudia!….Have fun you two and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a very good meal!
Oh, I’m taking the day off! No biscuit making for me!
Dear sweet Claudia – Happy Belated Birthday. Had a sick little one all day yesterday and never made it to the computer. Am so glad you are having such a great time and having this time with Don. Enjoy every minute.
Hope you had a great day – sounds like you did!!
Love,
JUDY
Thank you, Judy! xo
The Bean is so fascinating. Whenever you see it or photograph it, it is totally different! It really shows what an impact our surroundings, the weather, the time of day, etc. has on what we see through the reflection.
Your nephew (all of your nephews!!) is/ are sweethearts! You are lucky, indeed. Enjoy your meal tomorrow. Except for putting the turkey in the oven and peeling and boiling and mashing the potatoes, all else is made and awaiting…… Hope you have a great day!
Thank you, Chris!
Happy belated birthday Claudia. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and it’s so great you get to spend time with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Gracie!
Thanks for sharing your trip, Claudia. I’ve really enjoyed traveling “with” you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you, Susan!
Thanksgiving Day…just saw the “Anastasia” cast on the Macy’s parade. Wonderful! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I did, too. They were great! Thanks, Melina!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Don!
xoxo Monica
Thank you, Monica! The same to you!