A stroll thru the Lincoln Park Zoo

Happy Birthday to my Dad in Heaven!

This year of firsts is rough. 

So much has happened in 2016 and 2017 that there has been no time to digest it all.

Thank goodness for our faith.

And the peace and serenity that comes from nature and the beauty of God's creations.

A few weeks ago, my oldest son took me on a tour of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

(His middle name is my Dad's first name, a wonderful continual reminder...)

I've been to the zoo countless times, but wanted to see it from his perspective.

Last summer he performed a research fellowship at the zoo

studying wild Black-crowned Night Herons.

Most of the adults have begun migrating, but he showed me where the juveniles tend to feed.

Do you see the one patiently fishing above?

He showed me the many communal nesting sights hidden throughout the zoo.

He pointed out native plants like the obedient plant.

While you can see the City peeking out in the background,

we enjoyed the Nature Boardwalk around the pond that used to house paddle boats.

They are returning it to a more natural existence.

Last summer, our son would row out to the island to take a census of the turtles that have returned to the pond. 

He pointed out the towering Cup Plants.

And the Ironweed.

He told me all the Latin names, but I can't remember a single one. :)

The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond at the Zoo is another hidden treasure.

Can you spy the Green Heron fishing in the picture above?

Even thought the Zoo is right in the middle of the City, here you feel a hundred miles away.

A wonderful way to spend a few hours with both of our sons.

And enjoy the peace of the trickling water.

Although the Zoo is known for its wonderful animal exhibits - there is so much more to see... 

And the wild animals and birds like this wood duck that have voluntarily taken up residence here are such a joy.

Mom wasn't up to joining us on our tour, but maybe next year...

People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bucket; they put it on a lampstand. Then it gives light to everybody in the house. That’s how you must shine your light in front of people! Then they will see what wonderful things you do, and they’ll give glory to your father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:15-16

Blessings, Patti

How I spent my birthday

Last week I celebrated my birthday with a delightful day. The boys and I spent the day at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Created in 1868, LP Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country. This free zoo is located very close to the heart of the city. We began our day with a paddle boat ride in the lagoon (something I've always wanted to do, but never made the time...)

The boys did all the paddling, while I enjoyed the ride.

Next was lunch at Cafe Brauer built in 1908 in the arts and crafts style. Finally the animals... Both domestic:

And wild:

This forlorn gorilla was sad that the boys wouldn't share their icecream...

I received some money as a birthday gift and decided to spend some of it on this incredible work of art! (Thanks Mom & Dad!)

Isn't it just incredible?! I have a small collection of folk art Adam & Eve in our master bedroom and think this is the crown jewel! La Donna Welter is an incredible artist in scherenschnitte and vintage photo-oil and hand grains her frames as well. Her blog is featured in the list to the left. You can see her website here:

http://www.ladonna-welter.com/

Saturday starts my favorite week of the year - our week in the northwoods. I don't call it a vacation, as it feels more like going home. It's a week for the four of us to reconnect with nature and with each other. An eight hour drive northwest of Chicago, we stay at a resort nestled between National Forest and the Lac Court Oreilles reservation. We are without telephones, both landlines and access to cell phone towers. The lodge has one landline phone for emergencies. It is a half hour drive from town and the area is pretty remote. We've been going to the same resort for eight years and have stayed in the area for 11 years. I just can't wait!

"Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted, but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known." -Garrison Keillor

I'm off to start packing! Blessings, Patti