winding down

So this is the time of year when we do spring cleaning and engage in what we call our Farewell Tour LOL- we go to all our favorite places one more time before we head north.  The condo here gets closed up for the summer and everything is put in order and cleaned before I leave for the summer.  I renew the memberships for another year to Asolo and the Ballet and the museums and Symphony... so when we return at the end of October everything will be in order.

Meanwhile we have been making the rounds at favorite places- Star Fish for a long long lunch- and Nancy's for a short dinner during the Film Fest and then Louie's at the end of the Film Fest and then catching up with Al & Carol at Cafe Baci during the last few days of our time here...

wines from Louie's dinner- folowed by entrees- lobster for Phil and Mote Marine sturgeon pour moi...

the bottle of the week- from our trip to Cafe Baci-

The transition north is never quite as well orchestrated LOL- because I leave before Phil in the fall the Chicago condo isn't prepared in the same way and because the winters are a challenge for the outdoor plants - all the outdoor things need to be stored for the winter, and we hope the potted trees make it to the next year.

When I get back to Chicago in early May there will a fair amount of outdoor work to get things ready for summer - not like it used to be with the yard but still...

these pots are all annuals - so will need to be redone- (as are the yellow flowers above)

the succulents went inside for the winter so they should be good- but the ornamental grasses in the planters at the end - well who knows?

I am pretty sure the boxwood will be fine but the alpine currant remains to be seen - I also have a small ginkgo tree that will be interesting to see how it fared...

on the inside not too much to handle - a few changes from last year- and because we are having company right away I will need to ready their room but a day will get that in order...

but at this point I am looking forward to the change of scenery - I LOVE it here but I also LOVE Chicago and couldn't give up the urban life completely- the winter getaways are great but... I can get good Mexican at 2AM three blocks south and good Chinese two blocks north- not to mention the Michelin starred restaurants run by folks we know quite well- 42 grams, goosefoot and now Oriole!

We already have plans for all the favorites right away- with Ruxbin, Oriole, Tanta, mfk and Osteria Langhe when S& S visit and 42 grams the day after I return from closing the Florida condo for the season...

by mid May we will be so settled in - we are headed to NYC for a visit.... and we already have visitors scheduled for May, June, and July - and we hope to have Mary Ann & Gene as well as Al & Carol make it to Chicago this summer... oh and the Ireland trip- so I am sure those months will also fly by -

meantime I did get my photo book done from the Uzbekistan trip- check it out at - (copy and paste)
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbtHDNo4ZtVK6I&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Now I am off to pack for DART 2017 - so stay tuned...