Chicago at Easter time

Long held as my favorite holiday, I awoke to 2 inches of snow on Easter morning. Raspberry Danish Kringle from Racine, Wisconsin was a great way to begin the day! I had just been in Chicago where it was likewise cold, windy, and wet. In fact,the Magnificient Mile was supposed to be flanked in Tulips, as was the Chicago Botanical Garden, but the midwest had experienced a long, cold winter. Macy's on State Street (formally Marshall Fields) was hosting it's annual Flower Show, which was impressive. However, cold weather didn't stop me from enjoying a great performance at Chicago Symphony Hall of the famed Simon Bolivar Youth Symphony of Venezuela. Amazing performance!
Upon returning home, an invitation to dinner a few nights later, at the home of a talented musician from our local symphony, was wisely and gratefully accepted. My wife, son, and I enjoyed an evening in her home with an accomplished cellist visiting, as well as her professional violinist daughter/family visiting from Paris, France. Both mother (who was the principal violist in the Houston Symphony until retirement a few years ago) and daughter, could have been evasive and elusive, as they certainly are accomplished and talented people. But, on the contrary, both are extremely warm and welcoming. I've appreciated this in the mom whom I have come to enjoy working with in rehearsals, and I found her daughter to be equally gracious, kind, and sincere. Then last night I attended a concert featuring these fine string musicians. I enjoyed both of these recent concerts: one large and very impressive, the other small and intimate, yet equally impressive.
However, what has been most touching is a recent You-Tube 7-minute presentation of Susan Boyle this week, as seen on Britain Has Talent. Her story is heart-warming: the youngest/last of 9 children, she has, until her mother's recent passing, stayed home tending to an aging parent. Her father, long ago deceased, was a coal miner. She's lived in the same small village in Scotland all of her life, the mine is now closed, the economy poor. She lives alone with her cat, Pebbles. "Never been kissed" and never been married, she appears to be the stereotype of a graying, middle-aged, frumpy woman. The judges and the audience, upon seeing her/hearing her self-introduction, were sceptical, if not out-right rude. But then the opening chords to "I Had a Dream" from Les Miserables (a personal favorite) were heard, and she soon after began to sing. What an impeccable voice~she is the real deal. I've so enjoyed this 7-minute video over and over again. I commend it to anyone reading this.
I typically plant Sweet Peas on Good Friday afternoon, but this year at that time I was at the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows at the Navy Pier in Chicago. (Pleasantly surprised, I found a large collection of original works designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I've loved his architecture since I was college age, and then when we had young children, taking them to Washington D.C., I stumbled upon his Stained Glass work at the National Building Museum. Ever since then, I've taken an interest in his stained glass designs as well.)But the seeds got planted none-the-less, giving me something to look forward to in my Danish Garden.
Finally, I mention yet another unexpected pleasantry of my Chicago trip: Thursday evenings from 5-9 is free admission night at the Chicago Art Institute. Of course I went. Where I spent most my time was in a lower level section called The Thorne Miniatures Musuem. What a great way to learn about both 18th century European Estates & affluent American13-Colonies Revolutionary War Era homes. Room-by-room, scaled to perfection in minute detail in miniature, were drawing rooms, libraries, dinning rooms, etc. I took several photographs as a way of reminding myself what I was experiencing. If interested, google Thorne Miniature Rooms The Art Institute of Chicago. You can then click the link to show these amazing rooms, enlarge on your screen to optimize the experience. The Chicago Art Institute is, like the National Art Galleries in Washington D.C. and Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, one of the many fine places I hope to enjoy again. Until then, I'm thankful the internet allows me to visit them on line. One of the best on line visitations is the Springville Art Museum in Springville, Utah. It, and the BYU outdoor track, are a couple of my favorite places on the planet. Just google Springville Art Museum. Go to it's site, and explore the links on the left hand side. They host an amazing feature: a magnifying glass that allows one to look up close and in detail at fine works of art. It's an amazing place to visit, in person and on line.

As always, I'm glad to be home. I enjoy the quiet, peaceful evenings here with my family. I enjoy reading in the hot tub out in the patio in the back yard. I enjoy working in my greenhouse, yard, and garden. On my flight from Albuquerque to Denver to Chicago we flew over this valley where I reside, I could see my little town and surrounding towns from high above. They really are very small. But I'm okay with that. Regardless the cultural advantages of an urban area,.... given the meanness, crime, and drama of city streets, I'll take "home" any day!
Be well, do good...