Rain

We had a cold soaking rain all day. It already is good for the garden.

Red & White

Over the holiday weekend I did a bit of balcony gardening. Here's a flower box with Vinca.

Peaceful Lake

I passed Herrick Lake on my bike ride tonight. It was awash in light an hour before sunset.

Memorial Day

Rock & Roll

Augustino's Rock & Roll Deli is a favorite lunch spot. This "Car Hop" scene can be seen at the West Chicago location. Today I got their famous Italian sub, a side of Tomato & Mozz salad and a small lemon flavor Italian Ice.

Handler

St James Farm was an equestrian delight today. The little guy loved handling this big horse. I'm guessing it's his father behind him.

See more photos of the St James Farm Family Field Day event.

Windmill

I've always wondered what the story is behind the building of this private home on Gary Avenue in Wheaton, IL.

Gift

This book was a gift from friends. The Dana House is in Springfield, IL and was the first Frank Lloyd Wright house I ever visited. It contains all the original furniture also designed by FLW.

Bike Path

A stretch of the Illinois Prairie Path, Aurora Branch, in Warrenville, IL near mile marker 6.

Landmark

Every midwest town has at least one (and usually more) water tanks. This is the one for Wheaton, IL and it's located at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

German Settlement

History of Carol Stream,IL according to Wikipedia

A veteran of the War of 1812, Anning S. Ransom, came to farm the area around 1840. He was followed in 1844 by Vermonter Daniel Kelley, who purchased 1,400 acres (6 km²) and settled at "Tall Trees" with his wife to raise Spanish Merino sheep. The Kelleys and their 11 children all became actively involved in Wheaton's political and business life. Daniel Kelley donated land for the Chicago Great Western Railway, and the area around the railroad stop became known as Gretna after 1887. Gretna was settled by German farm families, largely Roman Catholics from Southern Germany.

In 1853, St. Stephen Catholic Church was built in Gretna. The church was closed in 1867. When St. Michael Church was opened in Wheaton in 1872, the St. Stephen parishioners were transferred to that parish. The church building was dismantled sometime in the late 19th century. St. Stephen Cemetery was located adjacent to the church building. It was last used for burial in 1910. The St. Stephen Cemetery (located north of the Great Western Trail behind Meyer Material Company on St. Charles Road) was rededicated 100 years later on September 12, 2010.

Car Show

Scooby's sponsored a vintage car show today. I stopped by with my camera and when I went inside for a Green River shake they gave it to me for taking photos. So if you're in West Chicago looking for a hot dog joint with great fast food; this is the place.

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air

1967 Ford Fairlane GTA Convertible Sticker Price $3990.91

1954 Chevrolet 3100

1971 Datsun 510

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air

1971 VW Beetle

1958 Chevrolet Bel Air & 1985 Champagne Chevrolet Corvette (For Sale $9,499)

Armed Forcers Day

I stopped at Cantigny today where they celebrated Armed Forces Day by showing vehicles and encampments. There were numerous volunteers in period costume.

 Here we see a female American Red Cross worker. Turns out the US military issued uniforms to Red Cross workers in WWI. 

Uniforms made it much easier for women to carry out their work. Many rich American women married Europeans and volunteered with the A.R.C. (Think Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey)

Petunia

My hanging basket of Petunias is looking better and better. A few days of sunshine really brought them to life.

Caboose

Union Pacific was doing some track maintenance today in Wheaton. There was even a caboose on a work train.

Crepes

Tonight's dining location was Suzette's Creperie. The three of us shared our crepes.

 Spinach Crepe

Spinach soufflé at its finest wrapped in a Suzette’s Crepe with Swiss Cheese.

 Spicy Coconut Shrimp Crepe

Shrimp sautéed in butter with red, yellow and poblano peppers topped with coconut and lime.

 Chicken Crepe

Chicken in creamed sherry sauce and mushrooms.

 Dessert was a Fresh Fruit Crepe with whipped cream

Kabob

It's become an annual tradition. When certain friends come to town we all go to dinner at our favorite local Mediterranean restaurant: Pita Paradise.

Today's special was Spinach Pie.

Chicken Kabob

Tag

I love the squeals of kids paying tag in the summer evening with Dad.

They let Dad take a short break while they played with sidewalk chalk, but soon enough they had time playing tag with them again.

Real or Fake?

Today as I drove around Villa Park, IL looking for a Forest Preserve, I saw this house. It's an amazing replicas of a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style home. 

The detail is amazing. If it didn't look so new, I would have sworn it was an original. Just to be sure I checked my book of FLW homes (the complete catalog by William Storrer.) Just as I expected, it wasn't listed.

Gardening

Today I bought a flat of petunias and made up two hanging baskets. These are on a new garden hook near the front door.

Silver Lake Sky

Evening sky above Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve.

Neon

Seven Dwarfs is a Wheaton, IL landmark. The restaurant is a bit shabby but this neon sign is priceless.

Fresh Mown

I love the sight and especially the smell of a freshly mown lawn.

Cow Bell

Souvenir bell from Switzerland.

Heritage Iris

My great Grandmother Mattie Wyse's iris' were in bloom this morning after an overnight rain.

Last year they didn't bloom until after Memorial Day.

Mediterranean Dinner

Tonight we tried Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen on Kedzie in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. The food was delicious and the service great. I shared an Appetizer Sampler with my sister.

Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, Ful Mudamas, Masaka's and Falafel with deliciously warm pita bread. This was more than enough as an entire meal for 2 people.

Wildflowers

Spring Phlox

Wheaton Homes

These two house sit on adjacent lots. They always make me think of England.

Clouds

This evening the sun on the clouds was spectacular. This was the prelude to a "Severe Thunderstorm Watch" which so far has not materialized.

Moon

The moon in the sky this evening got my attention. The lens on my camera isn't nearly big enough to get a good shot but this one isn't bad.

HK$

Here's an interesting coin I got in change recently at the Hong Kong airport.

At today's exchange rate this HK$ 2 coin, which is about the size of a quarter, is worth US$.26.