Columbian Exposition Ticket Booth

I took this picture as we were wandering around Oak Park a week or so ago. It's a ticket booth from the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, also known as the Chicago World's Fair. After the fair it was moved to one of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in Oak Park to be used as a playhouse. How fun!

Friday Featured Art: Still Life with Flowers

One of the paintings that Sara liked at the Art Institute was Still Life with Flowers by Odilon Redon. It is very beautiful and luminescent. It seemed much more golden in real life, but this is nice just the same.

Thursday Text: Frank Lloyd Wright

Since we spent some time in Oak Park while Sara was here I thought I should share a quote by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright:

The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.

Nauvoo Legion Button

When we were in Nauvoo a week or so ago, I saw a little lapel pin that said that it was made using the mold from the buttons that were made for Nauvoo Legion uniforms. I wish I would have got one - I loved the image. Here's a picture that I found of the original molds. They say "Life Guards N.L." I really like the beehive.

World War II Medals

The Milwaukee airport has an interesting museum that we visited while we were waiting for Sara to arrive. It's called the Mitchell Gallery of Flight. There were lots of models and things, but what I was most interested in were all of the different World War II Medals. They were beautiful (these images do not do them justice).

Green & Gardenia Sale!

I'm having a sale! Most items are $6 from now through June 1. Check it out!

The Elegant Farmer

I really had a blast with Sara here to visit (and that's not just because she made us dinner and did the dishes and helped me with a Relief Society activity!). It was so fun just to have time together. Last Friday after we dropped her off at the airport in Milwaukee, we stopped along the way home at a place called the Elegant Farmer. They bake pies in paper bags. I'm not sure how or why, but the result is delicious!

Thursday Text: John Anderson, My Jo

The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith (that I recently finished) contained many references to music, poetry, and art. One of the poems that was mentioned was John Anderson, My Jo by Robert Burns. It's a nice poem about friendship - if you can figure out all of the Scottish words!

JOHN ANDERSON my jo, John,

When we were first acquent,

Your locks were like the raven,

Your bonnie brow was brent;

But now your brow is beld, John,

Your locks are like the snaw,

but blessings on your frosty pow,

John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,

We clamb the hill thegither,

And mony a canty day, John,

We've had wi' ane anither;

Now we maun totter down, John,

But hand in hand we'll go,

And sleep thegither at the foot,

John Anderson, my jo!

Chicago

My sister came to Illinois last night for a visit! So today we will be touring Chicago. The Magnificent Mile, the Art Institute, Oak Park, deep dish pizza, and Chicago dogs... It should be great!

Bird of Paradise

Isn't this ring fantastic? It's from the Van Cleef & Arpels Bird of Paradise Collection. It seems like it would be a little complicated to wear...

Camilla Chandelier

Have you seen the Camilla Chandelier from Pottery Barn? I love it! It's beautiful and natural-looking and very spring appropriate. Also available in a 3-arm version (below).

Friday Featured Art: Mill on the Thames at Mapledurham

Another artist influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites was George Price Boyce. This work is called Mill on the Thames at Mapledurham 1860. Beautiful.

Thursday Text: Moroni 8:25-26

A couple of weeks ago I finished The Book of Mormon again. It was a great experience. I really liked the progression illustrated by these verses:

And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

British Bathtubs

Lately I've been thinking of our trip to the UK and the unique bathtubs that they had there. I know it sounds weird, but they were so great. Here's a view of the bathroom where we stayed in London - at the Sofitel Heathrow. It seemed to me like all of the bathtubs in the UK had the spray handle, but what I loved was that they all had two knobs - one for adjusting the pressure, and one for adjusting the temperature. Many of the showers had the same feature. Brilliant.

Mother's Day Gifts

I made small gifts for our grandmas for Mother's Day this year. This handkerchief was for my grandma. I attempted ribbon embroidery as outlined in Martha's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. It was pretty fun! The pincushion was for Tony's grandma, and the pattern came from the Purl Bee (and my sister).

Stuffed Menswear Bunny

I'm not the greatest seamstress, but I like to sew a little. Last Monday my youngest nephew turned 1, so I made him this little bunny. It was kind of a fun project (find the pattern here). It came from Martha's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. It really is a great resource.

Friday Featured Art: Vegetable Garden in Eragny

I like the work of Camille Pissarro. I believe that I saw this piece recently, but I can't seem to remember where. It's called Vegetable Garden in Eragny, overcast sky, morning. It seemed appropriate as we have a rather overcast sky here today.

Thursday Text: The Sunday Philosophy Club

I recently finished reading The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith. He wrote The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I haven't read that series, but I bought this book for $1 at NIU. I was intrigued because my husband is a philosopher, but this seemed like a light read. It was very fun. I mostly enjoyed it because it's set in Edinburgh, and Edinburgh was one of my favorite places that we visited in the UK last summer. The mystery is interesting, and the philosophical discussions that are sprinkled throughout are relatively easy to follow. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

High Society

I caught the end of High Society on TV the other day. It looked like a funny show. What I loved were the dresses. This one that Grace Kelly wore was the most gorgeous shade of grey. As I got looking into the costumes, I discovered that the Victoria and Albert Museum is having an exhibition on Grace Kelly as a style icon. Check it out here. And, Vera Wang designed Ivanka Trump's wedding gown after Grace Kelly's. See it here. The earrings at the bottom are what she wore - stunning.

Morris Memorial Cottages

I've been thinking again about our visit to Kelmscott Manor in England. As you walk into the little town of Kelmscott toward the Manor, you come across two William Morris Memorial Cottages commissioned by Morris's wife after his death and designed by Philip Webb. I really regret that I didn't take a picture! We noticed them but were not sure what they were at the time. Here's the lovely carving on the side of one of them (this picture is from the official web site).