Free Pastry at Starbucks -- this morning only

Free pastry with the purchase of any beverage this morning until 10:30 am at Starbucks. Rejoice in Savings has a coupon you can download.
Follow up --- I printed out the coupon and drove to my local Starbucks and just came home with steaming tall decaf-latte with skim milk and flaky, buttery, croissant for free. Yum..........

inSight photo exhibition

Last night was the opening reception for the inSight photo exhibition at Brickton Art Center in Park Ridge, IL. This was a culmination of a class through College of Du Page photo exhibition class. My photo's above were taken in Beijing, China in 2008 and are part of my portfolio. By the end of the night I sold one piece, "The boy with a View"

Custom T-shirt by DNA

This is a custom T-shirt designed and silk screened by DNA-Dynamic Nature Apparel. This particular T-shirt is for a local swim club championship. DNA can make unique designs in any color in a very short time, and are noted for this urban style.

Wildcat Creek Winery in Lafayette, Indiana

I visited Wildcat Creek Winery and was welcomed by very friendly guys including owner Rick. I was immediately whisked away to a tasting counter and was tasting wine within few minutes of arriving, there were already several people tasting wine on Tues. afternoon and with wine flowing and company good, it made for a very pleasant afternoon.

Wine Tasting here is free, after you taste several different wines you can choose to buy one you like for $5 a glass and take it out to several outdoor seating areas, or purchase a bottle or several starting at $14.00 and above.

Coming from Chicago on Interstate 65, Exit #175 toward West Lafeyette. Turn right onto State Road 25 and then take the first, immediate, left at 200 North. Wind around the beautifully wooded path, cross the bridge, and the winery is the farmhouse on the right. The farmhouse, originally constructed in 1900, has undergone renovation, but still maintains its wonderful Hoosier farmhouse appeal and hospitality. Sign in the front of the winery is prominently displayed and can not miss it. There are ample parking to the west of the building, and handicapped parking to the east.

Oh I almost forgot, how is the wine you ask? Well, I purchased three bottles, Prophet's Rock Red which is a dry full bodied wine, Lafayette Red, sweet wine made from concord grape and Lafayette Blush, another delicate, fruity, light and refreshing sweet wine to go with desert.

Double Blue Balloon Flower

This beautiful and quaint balloon flower quietly opened up in my garden this week. Look at the way it is opening up, first the outer petals, while the inner petals will stay closed like a balloon and then few days later the inner petals will burst open. The scientific name is Platycodon 'Double Blue'

Yokohama restaurant in Westmont Il

I haven't been to Yokohama Restaurant in a while. We happen to be in Westmont so we stopped by for an old time sake. Yokohama is a local favorite for a true Japanese food and Sushi. Most of the Japanese restaurants these days are run by people who are not of Japanese heritage and though food is good, misses the slight touch of traditional wabi. This place reminds me of mom's kitchen. They have my favorite, mackerel cooked over a grill, yellow tale Kama - jaw portion, grilled and served with daikon. But tonight we had few sushi, and my hubbies favorite, handrolled Kani. This is the only place that we know of that serves the handroll crab this way, and it is delicious.

Noodles "Pho" U

I love "Pho" and could not wait to try this new place in Lombard Ill. Noodles "Pho"U is decorated simple but nicely next to Jimmy John's sandwich place on Main street, and really clean. With anticipation I ordered Pho Dac Biet -- Rice noodles, eye of round steak, brisket, glank and beef meatballs. It came in a large white bowl with bean sprout,jalapeno pepper on the side dish. I was immediately disappointed as the soup was cloudy, meaning when they prepared the soup stock, they boiled it so that stock came out cloudy, and meaty taste gone. Eye of round steak was only couple of pieces and only with two meat balls, it was not what I had expected. I am not sure if I will go back to this place, but the menu is extensive and other dished might be better. But when the restaurant put "pho" as part of their name I expect them to have an exceptional "Pho".

Fireworks

Happy 4th of July.
I tried a new technique for photographing fireworks, and I love the way it turned out.

Invitation to the gallery opening

Okay, so I haven't taken a class for a while but thought this would be a good way to learn new things or two. Well, it started out with 15 to 20 themed photographs ready for a portfolio, and it didn't stop their, but the culmination is that we will have a fantastic gallery show on the 17th of July. I hope if you are nearby, you will take a chance to stop by.

Soto Gallery

Gallery tour to ZHOU B art center, where we encountered oil painting of a beagle "Hunter" by his owner Martin Soto, later we ran into this adorable puppy.