Any suggesstions?

I CANNOT LOAD IMAGES ONTO MY BLOG.
I AM FRUSTRATED.

(I've been dealing with this for weeks and have reported it,
but still no resolution.)  When it (image editor) does work it is extremely s-l-o-w,
and now it will not work at all.

So much to say, but alas I cannot.
Any ideas/suggestions?

Chicago, as I saw it.

"On my honor, I promise this will be my final

post about Chicago."  I'm gonna answer some

of your questions in this post and show you

some of  what I consider "highlights" of our trip.

Some of you were curious in regards to traveling

by train, especially with a family.

PROS:

Cost is about 1/3 of flying.

Three of us traveled cross-country

roundtrip for $525. total.

Lots of families on the train,

probably because of the value.

You can move about the train.

Children seemed to travel and sleep

well on the train - it has a lulling

effect.

Good view of countryside

from the lounge car.

Basic Coach Seats are large & comfy.

Lots of leg room.

The train was on time both

going & coming.

You can (and should, IMO) bring your own

food/drinks/snacks.

CONS:It seems that adults did not sleep
nearly as well as kids did on the train,
for whatever reason.

Bathrooms are comparable to

those on an airplane = teeny tiny

and sometimes not-so-clean.

Location of seats varies within

the train and you need to board

as early as possible to

sit where you want.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"What I did on my Summer Vacation"

(my favorites)

#1

#2

#3

I loved this!!

LOL

Someone was very creative!

Oprah has an apartment in this building.

This is one of the three she keeps

in the city. (according to the tour guide)

He says she calls herself a Chicagan

though she is away from the city

most of the time and only there when

she is recording her program.

"On the ledge"

of the Sears/Willis Tower

105 stories UP!

We took several tours

and enjoyed each of them.

This was a great way to see the town

and really learn about it.

This building is so large it completely

covers a city block and has it's own

ZIP CODE!!

DARN!I had more to share with you but the photo uploader has quit working.  One of our more daring days had us on a tour bus in the middle of rush hour when it began to rain and the tornado sirens went off.  Obviously it all ended well.  My "take-away" is -
Chicago is a beautiful, clean city.
The people are very friendly.
And, there are many things to do
for young children, kids, and adults.
Great vacation destination!

Please, tell me this is a joke!

Bridal Diaper.

Really?

Does she?
OR
Doesn't she?

Is this a totally crazy idea

or simply a necessary matter

of dealing with

a bodily function?

Chicago Smiles

The Chicago Vacation is now history.
Good history.
I'll post details later,
but for now here are some moments
that afforded us some big
"Chicago Smiles"!

Princess & Husband

"monkeying around"

at the Chicago Field Museum.

This guy was serindipitously

entertaining the masses

at the Navy Pier

by dancing with his glass of beer

balanced on his head.

Never one to shy away from attention

my husband fashioned a hat

to shield himself from the sun

while we were on a sight-seeing

boat tour. . .

Princess was mortified

by her Dad's

awful hat.

Yes.  That made me smile.

Chicago Hotdog.

BIG smile!

The ice cold water

of Lake Michigan. 

Highlights and details
of the Train trip and Chicago
on the next post.

Wanted:

 experienced
"Vacationist"

Someone who can make this

look like THIS.
Quickly.

We're soon to be packed
and on our way
for our very first cross-country
train trip,
otherwise known as
"Sweet Tea's Big Adventure".
Chuga-Chuga
Choo! Choo!

Can't take the Honky Tonk Outta the Girl!

It's true -

"You can't take the Honky-Tonk

outta the girl".

I have know most of these gals

"for-evah" and though I have moved away,

each Summer we get together;

this year they came to see me

in Louisiana.

The BIG QUESTION -

How much fun can 7 women

squeeze into one short weekend?

I'll let the photos do the talking.

Roseville B&B
Marshall, TX

Strawberry Mint Lemonade, Victorian Soup,

Chicken Crepe, Tomato Pie, Jello Salad

(10,000 calories!!)

"May God bless us one and all
till we gather again"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

During all the fun I found time to step in the middle
of a hill of FIRE ANTS!!
Ouchy-Wah-Wah!!

Looking Back . . .

The BIGGEST Magnolia  Tree

in the world.

(that's what they told me)

located in Washington State Park

in Arkansas.

Our resident "Tree Hugger".

Bath, anyone?

If you lived in the mid 1800's and were wealthy

you could bathe indoors in this luxurious tub,

but only after (and in the same water)

your husband and all children

had been bathed in.

Your children (and you probably would have

had  8 - 12 children; sans birth control)

could attend this local school.

I was quite impressed with this school

which looks better than most any

school in Louisianna today.

(things that make you go "Hmmmmmmmm.")

A few more photos we took on our

daytrip to "Old Washington"
in Arkansas.

The Blacksmith

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Big trees, friendly porches, a slower way of
living;  but on this 95 degree day I was
thankful to get home to my fast-paced
air-conditioned life.

Would you like to have lived in
the 1800's?