We had one last visit to the temporary condo after everything had been cleaned, to meet with the owner and make sure he was happy with how we'd left it. We went up to the roof deck to chat and for me to take a few last photos. I thought it was so cooperative of nature to give me some unique clouds -- sadly, the color had faded and lightening was striking. I could have captured color a lot more easily than a lightening bolt so should have gotten up there sooner!
We're returned to Beaver Island where I appreciate having a chair to sit on! Hopefully reconstruction will be done within the month.
FAV -- this is such a unique capture that would only be possible at this precise point in a day -- the light in the sky while the city turns its lights on.
It is great that you can shift around without being confined with a job. You are really up in the clouds with this height and a great photo to show it all!
@skstein Thanks Sandy! No, sadly, our place wasn't ready, but we had been told that July 18th as a move-out date was totally safe and had plenty of padding in it, so we'd given notice to move out. Grrrr.... that's why we're back in Michigan -- it looks like another 2 weeks of work on our unit, and then about a month for the unit below ours (there are two units in the condo and both were destroyed in the fire).
@maggiemae Having the summer free has been a lifesaver, but we have to get ready for the fall semester! Which means being settled in by August. Now it looks like everything is going to happen at once...ugh.
@lesip Thanks Leslie! It's actually the balcony that I'm afraid of, as it hangs out over the building and isn't that big. But up on the rooftop deck, it feels stable, safe -- there are lounge chairs, a couple of grills, tables, etc. so that's the place I like to photograph to the east. To the west, there's an airconditioning set of stuff that is quite inconvenient for us photographers!
Woow !! A stunning and beautiful view and equally stunning capture -- the colours and light are wonderful ,-- a one gorgeous and last farewell !!
A shame your home is not quite ready for you -- but it will be great to be back in your own home again pretty soon !
Even though you feel you have missed the "colour" (probably of the setting sun?), I think that this is a stunningly dramatic image of Chicago. The heavy cloud gives a perfect background to the already artificially lit city. Add to that the lightning which you had, it must have been an awesome sight!
@shepherdmanswife Our own house is totally different...about a mile to the southwest so in the same general area of the city, but we're in the closest low-rise community to the downtown area. Ours is a 3 1/2 story building with one unit below and then ours is the upper unit so on floors 2 and 3 (there's a half-story because the lower unit is halfway below street level on it's lower flower) and the rooftop. So the 4th story rooftop for views rather than the 33rd balcony and 36th rooftop! It's a totally different feel. We have a 'real' neighborhood where we know our neighbors and are across from a park. But we are VERY vertical and we both realized it's time for us to start thinking of a single floor home. We'll likely put ours on the market soon and then hopefully move back into the building we were in as we did love it. With all our renovations, we're hoping someone (probably younger) will like it as much as we do.
@shepherdmanswife The highrise. Shockingly, given my fear of heights and wanting to always be in a neighborhood with my own front door to street level, I just loved living there. I liked the sense of openness and the way we could see the changing rhythms of the city over the day and over the seasons. A photographers dream, but also really convenient in location.
@shepherdmanswife Ah...but we have a postage stamp garden only already...so what I'll miss are our neighbors and the private rooftop, even if it's only 4 stories. And we are only 2 blocks from our office/classrooms so it's really convenient. It's a mixed feeling -- for me at this point, it's the stairs (carrying groceries in, suitcases, etc.) more than anything, and if we are giving up our beautiful restored place, it has to have something to make it worthwhile -- like this view! That's why I love having Beaver Island to go to -- here we have several acres and that satisfies my 'home' sort of urges.
@taffy with Beaver Island to go to each year it becomes a no brainer! go for the pie in the sky! you'll get to know your new neighbours and your old ones are only down the road. Having said that, my husband would never agree to living in an apartment. He loves his garden too much!
Fabulous view. I was reading through other comments and see that you would happily make this your permanent home. I can see some pros but I cannot get my head around living that high up. Maybe it comes from living in a small village where the highest building is only four stories!
@salza Haha! That would mean our rooftop in our regular house would be up there with the tallest in your village! It's all relative I guess. I would never have imagined liking living this high, actually.
This a grand photo for your finale from the roof top. I've eavesdropped on some of your notes here and see that you have honestly come to love this POV on Chicago. Wouldn't that be something if it became a permanent in your life after all of this.
Had to come back as I didn't even remark on the picture it's self. It's a stunning capture. The detail in all those buildings and that amazing sky with the early evening street lighting. Just fantastic!
A wonderful final shot from the fabulous condo!! I do hope that it all sorts itself out and sometime in the not too distant future you will be back there living with that stunning ever changing view!! Fav!
Fabulous parting shot! Although it sounds as if you plan to be back. Interesting how things go in life. If it hand't been for the fire, you might not have had opportunity for the view from on high. Hope your next move and upcoming plans all work out.
How things have changed and what you have accomplished just staring outside to snap photos at this place. Love your photo, Taffy. I hope you are having a great time at Beaver Island. Will be nice to get home again though. FAV
That's too bad about your place not being ready when you expected it to be. I hear your frustration. However, how nice to have an island to go to. Looking forward to seeing the shots you take there.
Oh Taffy this view is stunning! Love what you did with this wide angle shot the lighting and clouds are beautiful.
Sounds like you would like to move back in eventually, wasn't it nice to have a chance to try it out first?
Good luck with your move.
This is gorgeous!! I know I am late, but here is another FAV from me!! Wonderful parting shot!! BTW, do you know how to get up to that roof deck in the future, or is that only limited to residents with a key? Did you make any friends in the building? Remember, it is always good to have friends in high places..... ;-))))
@panthora Thanks for your visits and wonderfully supportive comments tonight! Much appreciated! Sadly, the roof is only for residents and the downside of the building is that we were there mostly during winter so didn't have a way to meet others very easily. But maybe someday we'll be back there!
A shame your home is not quite ready for you -- but it will be great to be back in your own home again pretty soon !
Sounds like you would like to move back in eventually, wasn't it nice to have a chance to try it out first?
Good luck with your move.
Such an amazing view from up there. I am very envious you got to see it.