And sometimes life IS...

Dirty dishes

Just trying out a new lens.

Stripes

Seb on the web

Whether he's doing a little research, checking family history, posting on Facebook, looking to buy crickets on Craigslist, Skyping with relatives worldwide, managing his investment portfolio, updating his blog, or just checking email, Seb loves his MacBook Pro.

Vending machine

Just what's needed when you have one of those late night cigarette / m&m / KitKat cravings.

Boulder in Boulder

On Pearl Street. Couldn't resist the pun. Not even sorry for it.

RMNP

Terri taking a picture of a ground squirrel in Rocky Mountain National Park when we were there four years ago. She was so excited about this "wildlife" she was capturing. But she wasn't so keen on wildlife out on the desolate Ute Trail, above the timberline, when we saw bear scat.

I want to go back there.

New table and chairs

Amish-built and worth the wait. Terri wanted dark wood and I wanted light. As you can see, we compromised.

(And she was right-- the dark is better than the light would have been.)

Ah, the elusive...

...Fairy Slipper Orchid, which I had never heard of, nor seen. But all the little old ladies on the trail that day were so excited about seeing them ("They're quite rare!" they told us.) that they practically dragged Terri and I back to see one and photograph it.

Cool house in Elmhurst

On top of the world

Here's Terri sitting on one of the rock outcroppings overlooking part of the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois's Garden of the Gods.

A bright and mild winter day

Would be refreshing right about now, wouldn't it?

2023 USA Women's National Team?

Imagine... any one of these girls might be playing for her country in the Women's World Cup in 12 years or so.

Sprinkler

We try not to water the lawn, but when it gets as crunchy as it is now, we do give it a drink.

I thought the way the setting sun lit up the spray made it look kind of like a sparkler.

Alternate caption: It has been so hot that the water coming out of our sprinkler burst into flames-- well, sparks anyway.

My lovely bride

Happy to see me.

Feeling pretty

A woman I did not know was kind enough to pose for me. (I wonder if she thought I had some sort of foot fetish.)

Sierra Maestra

Our summer of live music continued Thursday night with another Music Without Borders performance in Chicago's Millennium Park.

The Cuban sounds and beats of Sierra Maestra had hundreds of people dancing. As sunset approached, the bandshell lights gave visual support to the colorful music.

It was a great night!

People watching at the Bluegrass Fest

It looks as if people from all walks of life like Bluegrass!

Be different.

What could I possibly say about this?

Reflection

A beautiful summer sky is reflected on a Nashville office building.

Elvis is Alive...

...and thin, and playing the Dobro in a bluegrass band called The Hillbenders!

Porkchop sideburns, pompadour hair, and mirrored shades-- niiiiiiiiice!

Frankfort Bluegrass Fest

The adjacent town, Frankfort, Illinois has a wonderful town square that is well-used for local events. This weekend it is the site of the first Frankfort Bluegrass Fest.

I've been trying to see the Henhouse Prowlers for the past three years but always missed them by a week or so as they travel throughout the country. It was close to 90 degrees, but they still performed in their trademark shirt and tie dress clothes. Class act, good pickin' and great vocal harmonies. I'll look to see them again.

Chicago

So lucky to have all the benefits of the city so close. This is a dusk view of Anish Kapoor's Cloudgate (locally referred to as "The Bean") in Chicago's Millennium Park. I never get tired of looking at it.

Chicago's front porch

Grant Park is a large park on Chicago's lakefront that has been called "Chicago's front porch" because it is a such a popular gathering place. In the northwest corner is the hottest tourist destination in Chicago: Millennium Park. The Pritzker Pavilion and the Great Lawn are two of many attractions in Millennium Park. The overhead latticework is both decorative and supports all the speakers. The dramatic curling bandshell is a work of the world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry.

Last night Terri and I were there to see two acts that were part of the Music Without Borders series which entertains and shares cultures through music. We saw Balogi, a kind of Congo-rap artist (minus the bling) from Africa, and then Rupa and the April Fishes. Rupa and her bandmates performed a very high-energy Cumbria/Chanson/Salsa/Swing music that had even the oldest people in the crowd up and dancing.

We sat in the pavilion so we could see and hear better. I think next time we will join the others on the lawn where it's less like the parlor and more like the front porch.

Fun in Nashville

"Hello?... Is this on?... Hello?... Test, 1-2-3, test, test... Now coming to you LIVE from the top of Nashville's Music Square-- where all the recording companies have offices..."

This cool sculpture is also functional. The microphone's cord is rigid and serves as a bike rack.

(Either that or Terri got into Alice's pills and took one of the kind that makes you small.)

Dive

The sassy bartender proudly told us that Springwater was, "Voted the best dive bar in Nashville the past six years, and I'm sure we'll get it again this year."

Located right next to Hog Heaven BBQ and across from Centennial Park, it was a cool oasis on a hot afternoon.

Boom!

Fireworks at Main Park-- it's like Mayberry here on the Fourth. There are kids running around everywhere, lawn chairs, spread out blankets, a band plays Sousa and Tchaikovsky, the Mayor makes a speech, then the quiet night sky gets blown to bits.

Let freedom ring. And boom.

Birth

When Terri and I were in the Garden of the Gods, she took this picture of me coming through a narrow opening in the rock formation. I thought it had a resemblance to birth.

So, I thought it would be fun to post it on the 235th anniversary of the birth of our nation.

Happy birthday America!

Juniper berries

Baby bunny

Awwww, right? Sure they're cute. Until they eat your flowers and other plants. Then they're just rats with long ears.

Honky-tonk singer

In Tootsie's on Nashville's Broadway we were sitting at the bar while the band took a break. When they came back, the singer got up on the bar and decided the best place to stand while he sang was right next to my elbow.