mojosmom: (Flower)
mojosmom ([personal profile] mojosmom) wrote2007-08-24 03:59 pm
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A nature walk

Up this morning, and just out of the shower, when the phone rang. It was my boss, to tell me not to bother to come to work as the building is closed - power's still out. Back to bed I went, thereby confusing the cats. ;-)

Up again, had breakfast, messed around a bit, and then decided to walk over to the Wooded Island (Paul Douglas Nature Sanctuary), camera in hand. This island is in the lagoons behind the Museum of Science and Industry, an oasis in the midst of the city. You can walk there, and hear nothing but bird sounds, and the trees rustling. It was orginally designed for the 1893 World's Fair, by Frederick Law Olmstead, and is much-beloved by birders and walkers. It is, as you can see, rather wild:
Path to water's edge

Yet, also, in the midst of this, there is, not its opposite, but another form of serenity entirely: the Osaka Japanese Garden, also a remnant of the World's Fair, which has changed over the years:
Osaka Garden bridge x 2

I was going to wander further, but the skies looked a bit threatening, so I forewent a detour to a couple of bookstores and headed home. In the event, it hasn't rained (yet!) though it's still predicted (despite blue skies currently!), so we'll see. I'm taking advantage of the day of to do boring household things, like laundry, running a dishwasher load and changing light bulbs (my ceiling lights require the use of a stepladder to change the bulbs, so this usually gets put off until there are at least a few that need it!).

[identity profile] madame-urushiol.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
How lovely! Nothing nicer than an unexpected day off, and you certainly know how to make the best of it!

[identity profile] fancyhorse.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
I love the pictures. How nice that that park is close to you!

[identity profile] kencf0618.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
Osaka's a good sister city for Chicago!

[identity profile] cathepsut.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 11:05 am (UTC)(link)
Looks very relaxing, especially that bridge. But, then, so are bookstores... ;)

Such a pleasant day

[identity profile] whimzykat.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
amidst all that crappy weather. That park looks fabulous...its on my list when we get to Chicago.

[identity profile] martip.livejournal.com 2007-08-25 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
It looks lovely! There are Japanese tea gardens here in SA at Brackenridge park - I've heard that they are either great or run-down, depending on who you ask. I suppose I'll need to go check them out myself.

I hope you don't get any more "roof in the road" weather! Yay for some serene nature in the middle of the city. :-)