More from the Garden

I'm going to risk sounding like Grandma Shirley here. What keeps impressing me about being back in the United States is how big the sky is. Maybe it's because the land in northern Illinois is really flat. Maybe it's because there are wide open spaces here. Maybe it's the lack of tall apartment and office buildings. Or all of it put together. In any case, the sky just seems so much bigger to me here than in Korea.Here are some more photos from Mom and Dad's garden.

Happy 231st, U.S.A.!

It was a beautiful 4th of July here in the Chicago area, despite forecasts of thunderstorms. We had a picnic with my mom's side of the family--17 out of 21 of us were able to make it. I really miss being a part of family events when I'm in Korea, so it was nice to visit with people. It was fun to answer questions about my life in Korea and also hear what's new in my aunts', uncles', and cousins' lives.

We ate (a lot), talked (a lot), and played a family game of whiffle ball. Actually, they played. My aunt, two littlest cousins, and I watched. Everyone headed home in the early evening, and my parents and I went to the community fireworks display. Here are some photos of the day.

In the Garden

Here are some photos I've taken the past couple days in my parents' garden. Not too bad for a camera without macro capabilities and only a so-so zoom.

LiliesHydrangeas (Look carefully for the Daddy Long Legs! There are two of them in the second photo.)Cone flowersDahliasA daisy
A fancy begoniaI don't know what these are called, but the humming birds really like them. If I sit down near the flowers and hold still, the humming birds will fly within 3 feet of me, but I haven't been able to get a good photo of them . . . yet.A deer wandered into the yard the other day. I wish I had better than a 3x zoom to get a clearer shot, but I guess this one is okay.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

To celebrate my parents' 30th wedding anniversary on July 2nd, my Mom, Dad, sister, and I all went to see The Color Purple at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. We all enjoyed the show. I'd recommend it, but I think I would have had a hard time following it if I hadn't read the book and/or seen the movie.We went to a matinée performance. It was a beautiful day in Chicago--sunny, windy (it is the Windy City, after all), and 69 degrees--so when the play was over, we went for a walk to the restaurant for dinner. Here we are on one of the bridges over the Chicago River.I'm happy to be home with my family. Happy 30th Anniversary, Mom and Dad! I wish you many, many more healthy and happy years!