Next Stop, Chicago

...Continued from yesterday:
     And so, Tom's and my plan to drive from St. Louis to Chicago being foiled by a knee injury (see previous post, https://www.ailantha.com/blog/the-best-laid-plans​),

...we instead drove home to Columbus and the following day I caught a plane to Chicago while Tom stayed home to rest his bruised patella. 
   Though my daughter and son-in-law -- both of whom had taken the day off from work in anticipation of our visit -- offered to come and fetch me at O'Hare, I assured them that I was quite capable of negotiating my way from the airport via the Blue Line train, which I did,      

...buying my Blue Line  ticket,

...and meeting them at the Damen stop in Bucktown.

      We then went for lunch to the cutest little eatery across the street from the train station called Dove's Luncheonette,

...where the food was so good.
​    Miguel had and egg over tasty pork tips,

...while Claire and I had yummy salad-topped avocado toast.

    After lunch we walked from Bucktown to their Logan Square neighborhood, a city stroll that I always love taking.

    On our way we passed the whimsical fence,

...behind which live the neighborhood chickens.

     The last time I had been to Claire and Miguel's house was the last week of February, 2020. Upon seeing their yard for the first time in two and a half years I was surprised - and enchanted - to see the wonderland of an urban gardenscape it had grown into.

     I stayed in their cute, cozy guest room.

      My grand kitties were thrilled to see me.

     To be continued...