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...