Day 6 : Something in the Window

One of the places around Des Plaines, IL, that I love most is the Patriot Boulevard in Glen View. The houses are beautiful and perfect as one can imagine and the road leads to The Glen Town Center. The shopping center looks like a beautiful street from a romantic movie. I took a walk in this 'street' for some inspiration and found an interesting art piece. Here is the picture of the day :

'Something in the Window'

The Giraffe was looking at the building ahead, full of nostalgia. Hmmm...was he looking for the yummy noodles? Wait! there something in the lit window above...its not clear, but I think it is a toy giraffe (lol!):

Day 5 : Hot Spot

My Husband and me had Veggie Lover's Pizza at Pizza Hut and as we were waiting for the pizza, I was drawn to this lamp like a fly to flame. Here is the picture of the day:

'Hot Spot'

There was darkness even around the bulb and the light near the darkness was playing some neat tricks with wavy, almost ghostlike look to the picture. Here's another picture of the beautiful lamp:

'Lamp in Dark"

Day 4 : Fire Hydrant Pool

'Fire Hydrant Pool'

I was walking by and found this beautiful yellow hydrant creating a pool around it. Autumn had done its magic again with orange, yellow, and green leaves floating in the pool around the hydrant.

Day 3 : Autumn

Autumn for me symbolizes both beauty and harbinger of winter, however I love it for the simple reason of the riot of colors the season brings with it. In India, we do not have Spring and Autumn and thus the enthusiasm. The word 'Autumn' originated in French and was not used until 16th century. The season was called 'Harvest' before that as farming was the most common occupation. As most of the pictures I post would be based on Autumn, I decided to take a picture that represents 'Autumn' or the 'Fall.' So here is the picture of the day:

'Autumn Leaf'

The yellow leaf with reddened tips on the backdrop of the green Balsam Fir felt like a perfect way ti symbolize Autumn. It is still windy and the temperatures have dropped to 46 F degrees and yet there were remnants of the summer with red berries hanging on to leafless branches:

'Remnants of Summer'

Oh... those berries look delicious, but they are sour...believe me, I tasted them ;). I am planning a color concept soon.

Day 2 : Wind and Swimming

The windy city proved its name yesterday when the winds ran a wild 45 mph with small planes crashing to the ground, O'Hare Airport held hostage by the winds, and trees falling on cars. Miraculously, Helen Miller survived the day even though a branch from a falling tree pierced into her body. The pictures of her crushed smart car sent shivers in my spine and I wish her a speedy recovery.

The day was veiled with enormous dark clouds and the winds shook the trees as if they were in a pepper mill. However, the contrast of these grey clouds behind the yellow autumn trees looked really beautiful and I took pictures. Here is the picture of the day:

'Wind in Autumn'

The winds calmed down in the evening, and it was time for my first lesson in swimming! I wanted to learn swimming for a long time and finally I could do it. Yeh it is an off season, especially as winter is approaching... but when the opportunity presents itself, no matter what the time, you grab it :). I do not know many swim instructors in India, but my swim instructor was horrible. She never got into the pool while teaching me and just put a pole for me to catch when I felt like I was drowning. I was so scared that I stopped going to the classes.

I finally decided to give it a try again when my friend, Raji, told me about this Dolphin Swim Club that had temperature controlled swimming pool. Yesterday when I was on my way to the pool, the winds outside the car were roaring and my heart was thumping with fear. I met up with our swim instructor, Kristine, and started practicing. After half an hour, I was gliding with her help and was not scared of swimming anymore!! I can't wait to go back in the pool again. I went to sleep dreaming of the day I could just swim without anyone's help. 

Day 1: Everyday Chicago

There is something very subtle about everyday life. You think it is going to be just another day, just another road you drive on, or just another hour that will pass away. But once in a while there is something that makes you stop and make you say "Hmm or Ahhh."

'Stop and Look'

This picture was one of those things. It was late Sunday evening and we were coming out of 'Shop and Save' to go home in a hurry, where this beautiful patch of plants brimming with flowers near a Stop sign felt like a sign, to just stop and look around you... there is something beautiful and Ahhh.. things around you.

When you are far away from home and you feel home sick once in a while coz you miss your family and friends, and when everything is new and hard in this new country and new home, you sometimes lose sight of things and feel wretched with the way life has turned out. But then you stand up tall, improvise, and try to adjust to the new life... and slowly the new life unfolds beautifully before you.

'Lone Bird on Wire'

And from a lonely bird, you become one in a group, small it may be. I took the pictures of the "Lone Bird on Wire" and "Same Feather" near my apartment in our community.

'Same Feather'

:) I did not think taking pictures of the everyday Chicago would be so much fun!! The pictures actually relate to my story of life. I have decided to take a picture a day to never forget how change can be good!