Friday, October 29, 2010

Schaumberg with James, Alisa and Family

Dear Anyone
Had a wonderful visit two weeks ago in Chicago with James and Alisa then on to Washington D.C. with Brent and Brenda. Barely kept up with them.  In Chicago we did the picnic thing downtown in Grant Park (Big
Columbus Day parade and many people). You will see a most interesting sculpture of the "bean" reflecting the people around and the buildings surrounding the thing. I really like that Chicago skyline. Chicago Institute of Art has always been an attraction to me since my navy midshipman days at Northwestern University way back so I share with you some of my favorite art works by some of the top people with palette talent. Hope you recognize all of them. Send questions along.
 Spent one quiet afternoon at State Park on Lake Michigan. Then to Chicago center and a day at Cantigny which is located on the estate of Robet McCormick when alive was the owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. His formal gardens were marvelous, mansion was interesting but highlight fir me of that visit was a museum dedicated to battles and honors won by the U.S. Army First Division - Big Red One. They helped break out of the stalemate of trench warfare in War I when they took over a pivotal small town of Cantitgny in NE France. Hence the name of the museum. Dad Foster Barrus served on the battle front in that very area.  The museum featured actual reconstructions of trenches , a section of a jungle of Viet Nam, and etc. Around the museum was a tank "park" with a tank of every model used during  War II. Interesting. Chicago temple was beautiful. Well now, I will see if I can add a selection of some of the pictures of these places. Love, dadgdadggdad