Saturday in the Park with Nutmeg and Jim by taffy

Saturday in the Park with Nutmeg and Jim

I love this scene for its idyllic and calm feeling. It's not at all what our day was like, so I like it all the more. Setting: Arrigo Park in Little Italy/Medical District. Lovely large city green space (no equipment or athletic fields), with the Sears Tower and the ugliest building of UIC to the right of the Tower.
Background but not important...We drove over (only 6 blocks but too far for Nutmeg to walk now) to give our girl a short treat, hoping she'd be more willing to walk in a park she hadn't been to in a long time. Naive of us...
Nutmeg as a puppy: "Thanks for going to all this trouble to take me on a hike, guys, but I'll just sit here and you go on." At dog training, the one command she'd win every competition for: "Sit." Another favorite, "Stay." She never understood why we stopped carrying her (as she transitioned from an 11 pound puppy to an 85 pound dog). So, it's only worse now with her neuropathy and surgery complications.
So, instead of a walk, I went back to the house, got a blanket and my camera stuff, Jim had the Bulls game on his iPhone, and for 2 hours, Nutmeg got to hang out in the park.
It's just that we had sooo much to get done...so it's now 1 a.m. and I'm finally posting. Those were the best 2 hours of the day!
lovely skyline, I really like the bare trees against the sky in the background, looks like Jim and nutmeg were also enjoying the view :)
April 28th, 2013  
Ah, almost can feel the sigh of 'hè hè, time to relax for a moment' seeing this picture after your story..Really fine capture of this relaxing place and like your PoV
April 28th, 2013  
Lovely capture of your peaceful time - I bet Nutmeg enjoyed just having your company in the outdoors.
April 28th, 2013  
Gorgeous place to park your butt for a couple of hours! I remember seeing Nutmeg in a previous shot...yep no carrying possible lol I bet this place is not normally so devoid of people!
April 28th, 2013  
When you have such a gorgeous day - enjoying it is the only thing to do!
April 28th, 2013  
Lovely peaceful capture and nice skyline!!
April 28th, 2013  
Very peaceful! Sounds like you caught the best part of the day! Great scene:)
April 28th, 2013  
very cool. i'm sure nutmeg remembers the days of pouncing and frolicking in the park. I'm sure nutmeg loves you guys for still taking her there.
April 28th, 2013  
Oh this is a lovely shot, Taffy - and how wonderful for Nutmeg to be able to get out. It's so hard when they get older and have issues with health - we certainly learn to savor the good days. I have a young bullmastiff with a health problem and can certainly relate. We actually love it when she is naughty because it means she is feeling good. :-)
April 28th, 2013  
Calm id what. It feels......
April 28th, 2013  
@ness50 Thank you Vanessa! They were so quiet and still, each in their own world, I think.
@sjouk Thank you! @alia_801
@alia_801 Nutmeg would live outside if we'd let her. That's why we hope she makes it for at least another month as when we move up to Michigan for the summer, she can lie outside on the deck as long as she wants to. @kazlamont It was filled with people and dogs until about 5 minutes before I set up the shot. It was weird -- one moment dozens of people and about 8 dogs were there, then when I saw the photo at home, I realized it was empty of all but Jim and Nutmeg!
@timandelke @carolmw Thanks Elke and Carol!
@colie Thanks Colie!
@photodude Thanks Scott -- she certainly seems to like it when we take her somewhere and she can lie down! She does not seem to like it when we make her move (but then, she never did)
@jankoos I feel for you. And a bullmastiff is no small dog to maneuver around. If it's mobility related, I highly recommend the help 'em up harness. It added a year to Nutmeg's life, we're sure.
@amrita21 Thank you -- that's the feeling I was going for.
April 28th, 2013  
Very peaceful!
April 28th, 2013  
Looks lovely and peaceful........and sunny, very nice. Just been looking through your beautiful photos - love all the colour, the cityscapes and the experiments with lights. I wondered about a challenge to take a photo(s) making use of negative space. How would that work for you?
April 28th, 2013  
Looks lovely!
April 28th, 2013  
Kim
Looks like a great 2 hours spent in a peaceful place.
April 29th, 2013  
Awesome shot
April 29th, 2013  
Looks like a great place to hang out on a sunny Saturday!
April 29th, 2013  
@rachelwithey Yes, this sounds like a great idea. I'll do some reading about it and then get started.
April 29th, 2013  
@olivetreeann @kerristephens @kimshots @paulavdmerwe @rachelwithey @elisasaeter
Thank you so much for your kind comments! It was a great place to be and all day today I kept thinking about it!
April 29th, 2013  
good place to sit by the looks of things. glad you had a nice 2 hours there, and took this lovely shot :-)
April 29th, 2013  
Beautiful skyline, what a lovely place to chill out.
April 29th, 2013  
Looks like a lovely day to enjoy the park and loved ones!
May 1st, 2013  
My dear get-pushed partner, I have an idea for you :-) I challenge you to something I have thought aboutfor a good while now: my challenge for you is to capture nature in an urban environment, except parks like this one (too easy :-)). It can be small grass growing in the concrete, nature in a sidewalk (flower/trees). I'd like to see both the nature and 'construction' element (e.g. concrete) in your image. Does it make sense? Please let me know if you don't like it :-)
Check this portfolio for inspiration, I love it: http://www.mollysteinwald.org/nature-in-the-city.html
June 18th, 2013  
It would be a great idea but for the summer I'm on a very rural island in Lake Michigan, living in a house by the Lake and surrounded by nature. Nature is easy but urban not so much. I'm so sorry as it would be a great challenge and I will do that when we get back in August!
June 18th, 2013  
@mijade we do have a paved road so I could create something from that I suspect!
June 18th, 2013  
@taffy Awesome, can't wait to see your pics!
June 18th, 2013  
Oh yes...sweet one
July 8th, 2015  
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