Monday, lovely Monday

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a pleasant weekend. Mine was filled with fevers, snot rockets, and moving furniture (including three beds!). Needless to say, I'm kind of glad it's over. I'm one that tends to look forward to Monday with a frown on my face but I decided today would be a good time to change that.

Inspired by my sister's blog, JLCStudio, I am going to name a few things I'm thankful for on this beautiful day.

1. The gorgeous weather. We had an icky, rainy weekend for the most part but today the sun is shining and it's warm!

2. The nap I had this morning before my kiddos woke me up.

3. The fact that we've only had two temper tantrums so far this morning and one time out. I realize the day is young but I'm viewing those stats as an optimist.

4. The tickle session I had with P and C before I sent them off to Kindergarden and naptime respectively. There is nothing sweeter in life than hearing your children laugh.

5. God's beautiful creation. May all of you be filled with it's splendor each and every day!

Beauty+in+the+nature originally uploaded by pvsahiesh

Now it's your turn? What makes you thankful today? What makes you thankful any day? Get your comment on, people!

Sweet Home Chicago

Wow, the time has come for my first official post. I hardly know where to start! In researching our new company and this blog I have come across so much inspiration that I am just bursting with ideas. I've decided to focus this first post on one of my great loves: Chicago! More specifically, some of the amazing sculptures in and around Chicago. There are so many to choose from I may have to make this a series.

The first sculpture is one of Chicago's newest yet it has quickly become a symbol for this beautiful city. "Cloud Gate" or "the bean" as natives have come to call it was created by artist Anish Kapoor for Chicago's Millennium Park. Made from seamless plates of polished stainless steel, it truly invokes its inspiration: liquid mercury. This work of art takes on a life of its own as it reflects everything including the sky, buildings, and anyone who happens to be standing near it. It can look completely different depending on the time of day or the weather. Definitely a site to behold.

"The Cloud Gate" originally uploaded by Intrepide98

Since this is one of the most interesting and photogenic sculptures in Chicago I couldn't resist adding another of my favorites.

"Cloud Gate 2" originally uploaded by Hoot Owl

This next sculpture is another famous Chicago landmark. I remember climbing it and sliding down it when I was a little girl (and maybe once when I wasn't so little but lets keep that between you and me).  The Picasso Sculpture, untitled so usually just called the Picasso or that big sculpture in Daly Plaza, was commissioned in 1963 and completed in 1967. 

Image by J. Crocker

I've never actually seen the next sculptures in person but every picture I've seen of these three beauties has me impressed. They look like they've been sculpted on an enormous wire system so ivy can grow up the base. This makes them look like they're flying. Three Fairies (I don't know their real name) are in Daphne Garden and were done by Dessa Kirk.

"wings over the city" originally uploaded by stacyjclinton

My last sculpture pick is also the one I know the least about. I'm a sucker for mooses so when I saw this lovely creation I couldn't resist including it. This cool guy is found outside the Tribune Building on Michigan Ave. I know there are a lot of these sculptures around because my parents have a horse and a set of deer near where they live but I haven't been able to find out the sculptor. Points to the first person who can tell me! 

"Moose Sculpture" originally uploaded by martin97uk