Day 156 : Empty

I saw this beautiful warm restaurant, empty, but inviting. This corner street restaurant with its beautiful red leather seats, hanging lights and cozy booths reminding me of 'the restaurant' where the hero and heroine of a romantic movie, meet. But for today, the restaurant sits empty, waiting for lovers to meet. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 155: Dragon Fruit

When you look at the fruit, you will certainly know the name without looking at the name tag in the fruit store. This fiercely red Dragon fruit is a fruit from a cactus species. Today was the first time that I tasted this amazing fruit. If you like Kiwi fruits, then you will love this fruit too. This post sounds like a e-how article rather than picture of the day, but for people who might not have tasted this fruit, I wanted to share my love for it with people with adventurous palate. Check this article on how to cut and eat this boisterous fruit here. The fruit is sweet with a tinge of saltiness and the edible seeds add a subtle flavor to the taste. I am surprised at the sweetness of the fruit, especially given the conditions the cactus grows. Here is the picture of the day which reminds us of sweetness in bitter times:

Day 154 : Spring Abstract

Abstract art is something which I did not completely understand before a few years. But now I know why abstract is so important. Abstract reflects the person seeing it - you just see it and you enjoy its beauty. The meaning is only as deep as your soul. The picture I uploaded today has no meaning. Its just beauty. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 153 : Pink Bouquet

This is bouquet, Nature made for us. No plastic cover, no waste in the garbage, no scissors used to get this beauty... just the way nature was intended to be. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 152 : Glasses and Trumpet

Day 151 : Clock and the City

The Chicago downtown is a feast for people who love architecture. This picture is one such example. The blue clock tower with the backdrop of red brick building caught my eye instantly. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 150 : Blue Eyes

I saw this woman completely clad in beautiful blue, but what caught my eyes were her blue eyes whose beauty had not changed at all with time. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 149 : Look Who's Staring

As I tried taking pictures of these naughty horses, they starting posing for me. I am sure its my imagination, but I felt these horses were talking to each other like a bunch of teenagers cracking jokes. Fun apart, these horses were really giant magnificent creatures and I could not imagine approaching them in the wild where they were free. I sometimes wonder if they even know that there was a time when they were free and could run miles at a stretch. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 148 : Red

I saw this march band with their red coats at a distance and it looked like some kind of red wave was flowing through the woods. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 147 : Sleeping Crocuses

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw these little violet flowers blooming on the ground a few days back. I did not know anything about these flowers, but I found out that these flowers are the earliest bloomers in spring. I could not forget the sight and I had to go back today to take picture, even though it was raining outside. This batch of Crocus buds did not open, and looked like they were sleeping. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 146 : Is Spring Here?

The Sun tricked us Chicagoans into thinking that Spring was here with two days of warmth, but the temperatures dropped and more bad weather awaits us this week. But spring is definitely here with little flowers blooming on the ground, little seedlings growing strong everyday, and children running around the backyards. My friends, the Tree Climbers returned to welcome the spring. They climbed the tree farther than they ever did, and as we spoke, M. said "New Year... New Picture?" I smiled and took this shot. Thank you Tree Climbers, here is your picture of the day:

Day 145 : Fitting Blocks

I took this picture when I was in downtown Chicago. The view was exquisite, not only because of the tall buildings but they way they looked like puzzle blocks pulled apart to fit again. There was space exactly for the opposite building to fit in perfectly. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 144 : Leprechaun

Leprechaun

Day 143 : White Horse

This white horse looked incredible in a sea of green hats. The little green bow tie detail was very cute, which made the horse belong to the parade. I really thank them for not coloring the horse green like the way they colored the dogs, but I think it would have been funny ;). Here is the picture of the day:

Day 142 : Irish Blessings

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you guys. Due to the early parade that I attended in Chicago, I felt this whole week was 'St. Patrick's Week'. One of the striking scenes at the parade was this priest on roller skates. I love the way the priest adapted himself to send his message across to everyone. Happy St Patrick's Day to everyone and here is the picture of the day:

Day 141 : Green Smile

This officer stood out in the crowd of the St. Patrick's Day parade with his mustache dyed green. I altered the picture to highlight him here, but I did not mess with his mustache at all....I promise :). Here is the picture of the day, and hurray for the green mustache smile:

Day 140 : Little Vikings

This parade picture of a proud father sitting with two little vikings is one of my favourites. The little naughty one is very cute while her father holds her proudly. Their little woolen viking caps with braids of Irish Flag color were simply cute. Here is the picture of the little vikings:

Day 139 : St. Patrick's Angel

If anyone asks me if I had seen an angel, I would show them this picture. This little angel was in a bus participating in the St. Patrick's Day parade. The affection between the mother and daughter was heartwarming. Here is the picture of the day:

  

Day 138 : St. Patrick's Bagpipers

Listening to a group of bagpipers play a sweet tune together is heavenly. It makes your heart race as if you have just fallen in love with your soulmate. All the groups of Bagpipers that played in the St. Patrick's Day were very good. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 137 : St. Patrick's Day Parade

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all, especially the Irish. I had a beautiful experience today participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade here in Chicago. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and had become iconic part of the Irish culture over the centuries. Even the Chicago river is dyed green on this day, click here to see the amazing video by Anthony Stewart. I decided to post some pictures of this parade this week. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 136 : Lone Pigeon

Day 135 : Romancing the Night

Day 134 : Behind the Glass

These tender flowers look like they are going to break free from the glass cage that imprisons them. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 133 : Blizzardy Night

Its March now and I hope there will be no more snow here in Windy City. But Chicagoans will never forget the blizzard of February 2, 2011. As the winter is melting away like the snow it brought, I decided to post some remnants of winter. I took this picture from my window during the blizzard. I love this picture for the melancholy outside along with the warmth and calmness of my home inside...both perfectly balanced. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 132 : Patio View

Day 131 : Sunset Warmth

Not everything is cold in the Chicago winter. Sunset is one such example, here is the picture of the day:

Day 130 : Green Bridge

This green bridge over the snow-covered frozen lake surrounded by yellow-branched willow trees is a sight that you do not see everyday. I wish I could sit on the shore and take in, this exquisite view, but the cold wont allow me. An earlier post, Bridge Rusty, a picture that I took earlier in Autumn is sharp contrast to this bridge in its warm colors and warm weather. Here is the picture of the day: 

Day 129 : A Room with a View

Imagine a beautiful winter landscape outside your window; no cars, no houses, no electric wires, no roads....just vast expanse of wilderness smiling back at you. This is how it would look like:

Day 128 : Hot Pink Orchid

Oh Yeh! Its time for orchids again!!! No words necessary to describe the orchid. Here's the picture of the Hot pink Cymbidium orchid. Go ahead and click and zoom on the picture, enjoy the 'inner' beauty:

Day 127 : Empty Merry-Go-Round

Ever seen an amusement park with not a single soul around? It is not a typical beauty without laughing people taking the rides; however it feels like a lonely dock in the middle of the ocean where unique beauty is coupled with loneliness. Here is the picture of the day:

Day 126 : Shrimp Plant

I do not know how people in temperate areas manage their life in snow, but I am done with it. I cannot take the cold....the layers and layers of sweaters, jackets, and gloves that one needs to wear before going out as if preparing for the battle with the cold. My only console in such a climate is the Chicago Botanical Gardens that gives me sense of belonging with its Tropical Greenhouse. Here is the picture of flowerless Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant (Barleria oenotheroides) of the tropics: