I always tell people that Chicago is a great place to visit spring and fall, but is to be avoided in the summer, when it’s too hot and humid, and in the winter, when it’s way too cold. Why am I not following my own advice? We spent the year until now visiting Australia–it wasContinue reading “It’s August. Why are we in the Midwest?”
Category Archives: USA
Under the “Heat Dome”
Meteorologists must spend all their down time inventing terms for the next big climate moment. “Polar Vortex”, “Snowmageddon”, “El Diablo”, and now “Heat Dome”, are some of the more recent ones. I say this in admiration, as we all feel better when the weather changes and we know we’ve survived whatever-it-was. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/how-a-heat-dome-happens-1.5216908 In the Midwest,Continue reading “Under the “Heat Dome””
California Beaches
It was a pleasure to find that California beaches are as well-tended in the Santa Barbara area as they were in Mendocino five years ago. I often mention the quantity of debris that we find on beaches around the world in our continuing rounds of beach combing. California beaches are a remarkable exception. Yes, theyContinue reading “California Beaches”
Interim–October in Santa Barbara
We left Peru with great fanfare, but didn’t get all the way to New Zealand in one hop, we stopped for a month in Santa Barbara, CA. It was a month of relaxation, walks on the beach, exploring the area, and wine-tasting–this is California, after all. We visited the Avocado Festival in Carpenteria, and theContinue reading “Interim–October in Santa Barbara”
May in Lagrange, IL
There are beautiful flowering trees this week in Lagrange. They bloom and fade so rapidly that I didn’t get a photo of many of the white pear trees that are widely used in landscaping. I love the pink flowering redbuds. This tree looks like it is dancing in the street.
Farewell to Illinois and Hello, Summer!
Our extended stay in Illinois wasn’t all we might have hoped for, after all, it included a hospital stay for Jonathan (only overnight). After all the waiting for tests, the surgery itself went smoothly and he was home and sore the next day. Now, a week later, he is largely back to normal. WeContinue reading “Farewell to Illinois and Hello, Summer!”
Thanksgiving in the Heartland
The weather moderated for Thanksgiving. It was mild and pleasant, and we shared our feast with our friend Peggy and with Lyra, visiting from New York. You won’t see Lyra in any of the photos because she was sick on Thanksgiving Day, and we let her sit out the pictures. I am thankful for myContinue reading “Thanksgiving in the Heartland”
Inadvertent Visitors
We are held captive by the winds of fate, and have settled for the month of November in Wheaton, IL, our former home. When we arrived here (11/3 and 11/8 respectively), we planned to stay for a week, visit doctors, stock up on odds and ends not readily available in Peru and leave for pointsContinue reading “Inadvertent Visitors”
Something new: the toe of Manhattan
I thought I knew about Manhattan, having visited quite a bit while growing up and having lived in couple of neighborhoods. I’ve ridden on the Staten Island Ferry and been to the Statue of Liberty. Both require you to go to the toe of Manhattan. What I skipped over until this trip was the neighborhoodContinue reading “Something new: the toe of Manhattan”
Meeting up with Spring.
We have been observing spring in the Northern hemisphere. We left Peru on March 31 and stayed for a week in Wheaton, IL. The weather was cool but the flowers were emerging. Hemos estado observando la primavera en el hemisferio norte. Dejamos Peru el 31 de marzo y nos quedamos una semana en Wheaton, IL.Continue reading “Meeting up with Spring.”
Llywindatravels 2026 