9:30 am and Im at Ottawa airport - along with many others who are trying to go to either
washington or Chicago - seems there were several flights to these 2 cities cancelled yesterday
and everyone is wanting to go home -- NOW!! - check in - flight is late seems to be a special
service offered by United (my ticket is with Air Canada but the airplane is United) . Good flight.

There is a small group of young men in red/black sports uniforms on board - the Ottawa Fury -going to Indiannapolis for a match -- I observe the ground crew in their hoodies - hhhm I think
it is cold out there (LLeft Ottawa HOT and STEAMY at 9:30 am!)....

Into Chicago and the Carleton in Oak Park by 3pm - an interesting 'vintage' hotel that was built
as a residential hotel so the king size bed sits in what used to be the living room and the small
kitchen alcove is where the murphy bed was located!

4:30 sharp we leave for the President's reception and oh yeah we just happened to have organi\ed a silent auction so plse bring $$ -- the building is the Rookery - Chicago's first sky-scraper at 11 stories and built with an internal steel skeleton and therefore could 'grow' to 11 stories a beautiful
building with FLWright connection because he 'renovated' the original - and in 1930 his renovation
was renovated - also the FLWright Foundation has there storefront here - free champagne, wine
and, gratefully, water - little snacks - didn't have any ......

7:30pm we are back at the hotel - a quick change (it was cocktail/business dress code) -- for a walk around the block 3 interesting restaurants in one block also learn there is a Whole Foods and Trader Joe's within 3 blocks -- tomorrow?

a lovely calm evening -- with clear sky...

Friday - having trouble downloading photos so they may have to wait -- sorry!
8am continental breakfast - not a protein in sight!! some fruit, muffins, cinnamon-doughnuts and
pastries - off to Penwren - a 2hr drive (by bus) and we are warned to bring our coats it is snowing!

Penwren is on lake Delavan neighbor to Lake Geneva - a summer spot for the rich of Chicago -
the usual story families came for the summer fathers came (by train) on Fridays for the weekend!

It is a beautiful property - recently renovated to the original - by a couple who live in California -and although the decorator was most discreet when I enquired had there been a budget she replied 'no' -- we also met and had a chance to speak with a fellow who is preparing a book about the house (at the request of the current owners - now that's vanity press!) ....incredibly beautiful and liveable - open spaces beautiful views - just grande. Property contains house, boathouse,
horsebarn (stables, plse!) and gate house (which also looked perfect - in the same style but much smaller) -- no one could give us a price -- short trip to Black Foot Country Club, yes 
named for the Indian nation - very nice buffet - we were the only guests (about 45 of us) --
then onto Yerkes Observatory - one of the few groups who visits who are not interested in the science but rather the architecture of the building! Fascinating and a pleasant, knowledgeable guide.

Several people on the weekend have been before!! - and several couples have made numerous
trips planned around FL Wright houses - hotels and other public buildings….of course the majority are from the US - but did meet a woman from Ottawa - and the West End!!..also a woman from Winnipeg.

Got back to the hotel about 7pm went in search of Whole Foods - not a nearby as I had been led to believe but found it - too healthy, pure, organic for me -- however walked through a lovely block of small shops just a block from the hotel … very nice - oh yes, the weather cleared about
 2pm and another pleasant evening!

The hotel is FULL!
Bit nervous about tomorrow seems a bit complicated to me -- we'll see