Red & White Tree

Wauconda Area Library

This is a really interesting building in Wauconda, IL. "Wauconda" is supposed to mean "Spirit Waters" in some Native American dialect. The interior is just as lovely.

Winter Geese, Heading South

Geese are trying to go South! They should have left already!

Upside Down Christmas Tree - Victorian!

These were popular a few years ago, hung upside down from the ceiling -- not sure if they still are around much. I prefer the regular right-side-up trees. But it is lovely, anyway.

Vorstipaev - Estonian Blood Sausage for Christmas!

I call this day Vorstipaev, which is Estonian for "Sausage Day." Blood sausage (vervivorst) is a traditional Estonian Christmas food. We went to the Chicago Estonian Cultural center to participate in the making of the sausage, back to our peasant roots. I like the jugs of blood -- very vampirish! The picture not included is that there was a nice snow and the sausages were laid outside in the snow to cool. Now we have ours in the freezer, ready to eat on Christmas Eve with sour cream and a nice pork roasted with apples and onions, potatoes, sauerkraut, cranberry preserves, beer, and traditional cookies called 'Pipparkogid (pepper, ginger, cocoa and cinnamon), for dessert.

Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat!

We have more snow on the way. . . you don't see any by this frozen pond, but we do have a tiny bit. 3 - 5" is expected later today. Everyone's getting in the Christmas spirit. I love this time of year. But then again, I like all the seasons.

A follow-up to the bridge . . . the tunnel!

This was taken in the tunnel between Detroit, MI, USA and Windsor, ON, Canada. I thought it would be good to show this after the Niagara bridge. This is how we came back from our trip to the Falls. The traffic was terrible in the tunnel -- usually it takes 15 mintues to cross -- this was more like 1.5 hours. Yikes.