Florida

We are visiting Jeroen's parents Jan and Tine for the fifth time in Florida. They are snow birding there, escaping the dreary Dutch winter weather. It's the third time we visit them in Fort Myers Beach, where they rent a condo right on the beach with fantastic views over the Gulf of Mexico and a small estuary filled with wildlife.

And after a nice day in the sun, we dined out at Blue Pointe Oyster Bar and Seafood Grille in Fort Myers for an early celebration of Jeroen's 40th birthday coming up in two weeks.
It's nice to spend a couple of days in 50oF warmer weather!!

Location:Estero Blvd,Fort Myers Beach,United States

Historic blizzard

I guess you heard of the historic storm hitting the Midwest, all the way from New Mexico to Maine with historic 20" snowfall in 24 hours in Oklahoma and Chicago. Jeroen left for work Tuesday morning early.

The roads were still reasonably clean, but the forecast was pretty horrific. A couple of inches of snow on Monday night, so Johnny needed little cleaning.

Because of all blizzard and flood warnings along the lakefront that were in effect starting Tuesday 2pm, coming home from work around noon seemed the smartest thing to do. However, there is a snow ordinance/no parking in effect out in front of our house each Tuesday from 10am-2pm (so crews can clean the streets), so Johnny had to be parked further down the street. The blizzard lived up to the forecast - winds started picking up on Tuesday afternoon, creating another winter wonderland out there.

 So better get Johnny, now we still can.

The strong northeastern winds blow straight from Lake Michigan over the fort's parade ground, making the snow go horizontally. Not sure if this is new snow falling, or snow being blown up from the ground. Probably both.

Some dogs are loving this weather, but the owners not so much. Ruba not so much either, so we are trying an indoor "potty-patch". So far without success, because of 13 years of conditioning and training to go and do her thing outside.

Tuesday evening is nice cocooning with the blizzard howling at 50-60 miles per hour outside, the century old roof cracking, and the Weather Channel reporting about power outages, ice rain in Indiana and motorists stuck on Chicago's Lakeshore Drive. We are learning new weather phenomena here, and today's term was "thunder snow". The thunder combined with the snow creates a catalyst, so around 9pm it was coming down at 2-3 inches per hour and blowing in all directions. Waking up on Wednesday morning it was still snowing, and we had about 2 feet on the ground. So much that they had stopped plowing.

 But when the going gets tough, the tough get flapping. Finally we can try our new snowshoes!

The wind is still chilly, blowing up snow.

But eventually the sun even came out, making for another picture-perfect sight.

The dandies are in town

Jeroen's brother Rene dropped by for a 24-hour visit on his way to a Keystone (CO) science conference and skiing gig. Arriving Saturday afternoon, we immediately hit downtown Chicago navigating through a free-Egypt protest to the Purple Pig for nice bites and drinks. Bone marrow, pig's ears, octopus, the whole sha-bang, and it's was excellent.

And then a quick tour thru the city to Millennium Park and Big Bean. Chicago and January are not the best match with a chilly wind from the lake, but we were much better off than the bride having her wedding reportage taken in high heels and a strapless dress. They are off to a warm start of their lives together.....

Next on the schedule was some serious shopping along Michigan Avenue, not for nothing dubbed The Magnificent Mile. The Mac Shop, royal parfumeur Creed at Neiman Marcus and Cole Haan.

Ladies and gentlemen, the dandies have touched down in Chicago! 

Sunday morning we took Ruba on a short term polar expedition to the Fort Sheridan lakefront, finishing off with a little more..... shopping, but now at the local Target. 

Rene, thanks for coming - we had a blast............

Oh baby it's cold outside

The Illinois winter has not been too bad up till now - less snow than average and not always cold. But once in a while the temperatures fall, and fall, and fall. And the windchill adds on to that. It does result in interesting sights: Johnny's got Illinois plates and icicles!

Our tv room

We keep on moving furniture around. Today we have a tv room where the dining room used to be. Jeroen is watching football. The Bears are in a very good condition.

Spring in my studio

It might snow today, but it's spring in my little studio



Finished one necklace yesterday. Started a new one today (Laura McCabe design). The centre piece looks pretty good.

Location:E Old Elm Rd,Lake Forest,United States

And as promised Ruba and her new boots...

Don't make fun of her. She won't like you anymore!!!