Sunday, November 29, 2009

28-27



Hark, the sound of tar heels whining...


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posted by Carroll @ 2:47 PM 7 comments

Thursday, November 26, 2009

thankful 


For all that You've done I will thank You,
For all that You're going to do,
For all that You've promised
And all that You are
And all that has carried me through,
Jesus, I thank You.

Thank You for loving and setting me free,
Thank You for giving Your life just for me
How I thank You, Jesus I thank You,
Gratefully thank You,
Thank You.
By Dennis Jernigan

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posted by Carroll @ 12:01 AM 1 comments

Monday, November 23, 2009

at first sight

I fell in love on Friday.

Rachael and I were shopping at Homegoods (as we have been known to do). I was minding my own business. I rounded the corner and we stood face to face. I was mesmerized. Time stood still. I literally heard angels singing. The only thing that I knew in that moment was that we would be together forever.

Meet Howard:



Who wouldn't love that face?



The pictures just don't do him justice (he's sparkly!). Just come on by and meet him...because to know him is to love him.


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posted by Carroll @ 9:35 AM 4 comments

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Saturday in Chicago

Well here we are again. Let's get this thing finished up before I see Burt and Laura next week, shall we?



So Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day. I have this crazy fascination with Navy Pier, so we went down to check it out. Burt dropped Laura and I off and drove around to avoid paying for parking.

There's the cutest little lighthouse farther out. I took a slanty artistic picture a-la Burt...



We're really starting to look like cousins, don't you think? Something about the eyes...



There is a stained glass museum inside one of the buildings on the pier. There were pieces by Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright...and lots of others that were made in the area.



Aside from Oprah, Chicago is known for 2 other people. I find it ironic that their merchandise shares a shelf...



We finished up at the pier and headed for Millennium Park to see the silver bean. It was REALLY cool. Check out the reflection in the skyline. Can you spot Laura and me?




After leaving the park, we decided to actually park the car. Here I am doing an official Chicagoan activity - paying for parking at the pay box.



They let me in on a little secret. It costs about $18 a person to go to the observation deck of the Sears tower. If you go to the restaurant on the top of the Hancock building, it's free.



Laura told me that the best view was from the women's bathroom...and she was right! The whole wall is a window that overlooks the city. Amazing. (I think Burt was glad we took pictures so he could see.)



Burt turned us loose in the Hershey's store and we may have gotten a little crazed. I don't know what he was thinking...



Aren't they cute?!



Our last stop was the beach...so I can say that I've been on the shore of Lake Michigan.



We finished up the day with a delicious Giordano's pizza. And fancy milkshakes. Cause Laura is an amazing chef. Have I mentioned that already?



So that's the end of my adventures in Chicago. For now. We had such a wonderful time! I'm definitely planning to go back one of these days...I mean, we didn't even get down to the Field Museum and the Planetarium!






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posted by Carroll @ 12:09 PM 3 comments

Monday, November 16, 2009

Friday in Chicago

OK OK...I've been a blogger slacker. Here's the rest of my trip to Chicago:

On Friday we set out for the Institute of Art.



Once inside, Burt suggested that we check out the dollhouse rooms. I couldn't figure out what he was talking about...until we walked in. There's a hallway with tons of windows in it...and in each window (they're about 12" x 18") is a perfect replica of a room in different styles and eras. Here are a few of my favorites. You should click on them to really see the detail...




We found a photo op...



And we also saw a bunch of great art. They had several by el Greco, and one that everyone will recognize...



It was a cold, rainy day, so we went to an Austrian coffee shop for something warm to drink. Ahhh...European flashbacks...



We ended the day with another incredible meal. Laura made pasta and roasted veggies with the leftover pesto. Mmmm.

I was really hoping to finish out the trip today...but I have too many cool pictures...and lunchtime is over.

Tune in tomorrow for Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and an amazing view from the ladies' room.

That's right. I said ladies' room. (how's that for a cliffhanger?)




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posted by Carroll @ 12:16 PM 2 comments

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

11/11

Happy Veterans' Day to my favorite veteran!




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posted by Carroll @ 12:00 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Thursday in Chicago

So my trip was too exciting and eventful for one post...here's the breakdown one day at a time:

I went to Chicago to visit my wonderful cousin Burt and his wife Laura (have I mentioned lately how GLAD I am that he married her?). They have a super cool condo on the north side of town. Laura had made yummy burritos with homemade guacamole, salsa verde, regular salsa, etc. She also had made molten chocolate cakes - which are my new favorite dessert.



Laura had to work on Thursday, so Burt and I spent the morning playing video games and then set out for the Lincoln Park Zoo.



We got to see a lot of animals up close. My favorite was the black leopard. Look at her sitting in a box just like Oozey does!



Here are some of my other favorite animal pictures:




Apparently I'm the missing link...



We also met this little fellow...he took a leaf out of Burt's hand!



And we may have played around in the gift shop for a bit:



After we left the zoo, Burt took me to the restaurant where the filmed one of my favorite movies, Return to Me ("Grace has Bob's dead wife's heart!"). We went inside and everything looks very similar (minus the Irish-Italian decor, of course), but we didn't take any pictures in there.



When we got home, Laura had made a pumpkin-sweet potato soup and pesto-baby swiss paninis. And there was more chocolate cake.

Tune in next time for our trip to the Art Museum!


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posted by Carroll @ 4:28 PM 3 comments

Monday, November 02, 2009

fair warning



I have returned from the Windy City. Cousins were visited. Sights were seen. Much food was consumed. Many pictures were taken.

A mega post is coming.

You've been warned.


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posted by Carroll @ 8:59 AM 1 comments