Chicago

My August trip to Chicago is not long: there today, return tomorrow. I mean, it doesn't even give me a pause in the lily clipping (unfortunately)! But this doesn't make it any less special. I have an evening with my two grand girls before me and I think about that as I step out into the brilliant sunshine.

But first (what did you expect?), cleaning up the flowers...

(last of nymphs and shepherds...)

And breakfast. With Ed.

The drive to Chicago is best done at midday, when medium-low traffic allows for a 2.25 hour coast. With music, it seems more like half that. Once there, I stop by the house to get my instructions for the night (the parents are going out for the first time in ages and ages to a concert). Then I swing by Laura's -- she's my go-to haircut person these days. Honestly, her cutting is great, and her stories are equally wonderful. She can spin a family tale of woe like no-one!

(In this neighborhood, like in so many other Chicago ones, the corner houses have the uniquely rounded bay towers...)

When I get back to my daughter's home, the girls have just come in from school. Does Juniper even remember me from a month ago? I hope so, because it's who she gets tonight!

Bye mom, get going already! You're late for your concert!

(Thank goodness for the Australian show Bluey -- just long enough to run a couple of episodes for Primrose while I settle the babe for bed.)

Since I love to see kids laugh at funny stories, I broke down and bought a couple of Pilkey books for Primrose. Predictably, she laughed and laughed. (The dinosaur series is a little less potty mouth than books in his other series.) 

And so ended my evening with the awesome twosome.

It's good to see them healthy and happy. Parents too!

With so much love...