my sweet doggie friends! Our Oreo boy is so funny. He's not much of a fan of the weather we've been having here lately! He lets us know, too! The thing he seems to like most,is dragging John through the bushes. 🥴😳 Of course Oreo is built low to the ground and John is not! I personally am cracking up as I watch Oreo chasing a squirrel with John being pulled along behind. 🤣
What a boy! I must admit, though, that Oreo has stolen my heart. 😍 I'll see if I can send you a picture of him in his little red Santa suit.😉 Any way it's nice to connect with you again. Have a great Christmas season...Pam 🌲🐶✨️
Love your story! Your experiences and observations are so well told. I enjoy both small town and city living but Chicago would be too big for my comfort. Vancouver, which is much smaller than Chicago out grew me a long time ago. Calgary is not a bad compromise as we can get to the country easily. We also loved our small town experiences we had an acreage nearby Sundre for 26 years.
That's awesome, Karen, that you've had both experiences. I was born in Pittsburgh, but I can't remember those days. I'm a bit nervous going to "the City," but I definitely love the excitement of it while I'm there. I'm not sure I could last more than 2 weeks though. Ha Ha! Thanks for sharing! xoxo
Sounds like you had a great time Jan….I’ve just spent 2days in NewYork with my daughter.From the big city now on a small island in the Caribbean where she lives.I’m definitely not a city girl but enjoyed the 2days that was enough for me exhausting 😩pleased to back to a slower pace of life.
( Mind you this one on the island is like going back in time 🤪)Merry Christmas ❤️
Well this was just so fun to read and ponder. I felt like I was there with you Jan. You never disappoint! Amazing time for you and family. speaking of retirement....this Friday, the 13th is my last day and I will be retired. A wonderful story, thanks for sharing.
OMG, Elise -- Happy Retirement! For me, it has turned into a second stage of life. I'll look forward to hearing about your "new way of living." {{Hugs}}
Jan i’m glad you got to visit Chicago and go to Ohio to see Amber Marshall. Chicago is a nice place to visit and to see my daughter Ashley and her family. I do love going to Navy pier and special places that she knows of. Though I am a small town girl. If you’re ever back in Chicago, let me know. I would love to meet you.
Oh, that would be so awesome, Shari! My granddaughter is one of the event planners at The Gray Hotel, right downtown. I will probably visit Chicago again so I'll make sure to tell you ahead of time. {{Hugs}}
San Francisco used to be my favorite big town, but it has changed over the years - and no longer holds the magic it did. As for small towns, it used to be Sylvania, Ohio, but I haven't been there for 40 years, so that may have changed too.
Hi Janice ~ I'm sure Sylvania has changed: lots of growth & new roads up there. We are flying out to Los Angeles for my granddaughter's wedding in March -- in Fullerton, CA. I'm pretty sure LAX will be a different experience for us -- especially my husband who hates big cities. Ha! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. xoxo
Well, I've tried both. I have lived in very big cities, and now live in a small town. I also lived on a farm, but I was a child at the time, so had no choice in it. For me, it's small town all the way. When I was young, I loved that bustle of big city happenings, but really now I want to recognize people I see on the street. I want to feel enclosed within a unit, and not a cog in some enormous wheel, spinning like mad.
Hi Rose ~ I was born in Pittsburgh but never really remember living there. I'm definitely a small town girl ~ who loves to visit the city now & then. It's like a jolt of energy. I agree there's nothing like being greeted on the street by people you know. Such a warm feeling. When a former student yells across the street, "Hi, Mrs. Stoneburner," it makes my day. Hope you have a great Christmas! xoxo
I remember after living here in this small town for nearly a year, we went to the big city of Birmingham, and I was overwhelmed. Who are all these people?! I felt like a country mouse that had come to the city by accident and wanted to get home!
If I could restack and support this post 100 times I would do so. I love both big and small cities. You captured the beauty of both and the true heartbeat of America in one post! 😍
I love Chicago, and I love Terra Haute too. (Okay. So Grand Rapids, not so much.)
I hope I get to meet you one day in person... you capture the magic of the Midwest, something I fail to do. Great work, Jan.
Chelsea, Mi is about two hours from Grand Rapids, Mi. It is a bedroom community of Ann Arbor. Lovely little town where Jeff Daniel’s has his Purple Rose theater and Jiffy makes their cornbread.
Haha, you taught me something! I'm 50 miles north of Grand Rapids. The door is open here for you... if I hit the Ohio state line I'll be sure and let you know!!
I've spent many days in the cold having a meal while people talk about animals. Mostly horse education and never with Amber Marshall. You were so lucky!!! I'm happy for you.
Marsha ~ I wish YOU had been there. It was really surreal seeing Amber. I had to keep telling myself "It's really her." She's definitely special -- full of charisma, but also down to earth. I was lucky. Thanks! {{Hugs}}
Thanks, Jan for sharing this with us!✨️💗💯
Thanks for reading it, Pam! Hope all is well with you ~ and you're snuggling with a lot of puppies out there. xoxo
Hi Jan
Hi again Jan,
I'm loving the time spent with
my sweet doggie friends! Our Oreo boy is so funny. He's not much of a fan of the weather we've been having here lately! He lets us know, too! The thing he seems to like most,is dragging John through the bushes. 🥴😳 Of course Oreo is built low to the ground and John is not! I personally am cracking up as I watch Oreo chasing a squirrel with John being pulled along behind. 🤣
What a boy! I must admit, though, that Oreo has stolen my heart. 😍 I'll see if I can send you a picture of him in his little red Santa suit.😉 Any way it's nice to connect with you again. Have a great Christmas season...Pam 🌲🐶✨️
Love your story! Your experiences and observations are so well told. I enjoy both small town and city living but Chicago would be too big for my comfort. Vancouver, which is much smaller than Chicago out grew me a long time ago. Calgary is not a bad compromise as we can get to the country easily. We also loved our small town experiences we had an acreage nearby Sundre for 26 years.
That's awesome, Karen, that you've had both experiences. I was born in Pittsburgh, but I can't remember those days. I'm a bit nervous going to "the City," but I definitely love the excitement of it while I'm there. I'm not sure I could last more than 2 weeks though. Ha Ha! Thanks for sharing! xoxo
Sounds like you had a great time Jan….I’ve just spent 2days in NewYork with my daughter.From the big city now on a small island in the Caribbean where she lives.I’m definitely not a city girl but enjoyed the 2days that was enough for me exhausting 😩pleased to back to a slower pace of life.
( Mind you this one on the island is like going back in time 🤪)Merry Christmas ❤️
Oh, Lynn ~ that sounds awesome. Love the sites in NYC, but I envy your island stay right now. Enjoy!!! Merry Christmas! xoxo
❤️
Well this was just so fun to read and ponder. I felt like I was there with you Jan. You never disappoint! Amazing time for you and family. speaking of retirement....this Friday, the 13th is my last day and I will be retired. A wonderful story, thanks for sharing.
OMG, Elise -- Happy Retirement! For me, it has turned into a second stage of life. I'll look forward to hearing about your "new way of living." {{Hugs}}
Jan i’m glad you got to visit Chicago and go to Ohio to see Amber Marshall. Chicago is a nice place to visit and to see my daughter Ashley and her family. I do love going to Navy pier and special places that she knows of. Though I am a small town girl. If you’re ever back in Chicago, let me know. I would love to meet you.
Oh, that would be so awesome, Shari! My granddaughter is one of the event planners at The Gray Hotel, right downtown. I will probably visit Chicago again so I'll make sure to tell you ahead of time. {{Hugs}}
Please do I would truly love to meet you
San Francisco used to be my favorite big town, but it has changed over the years - and no longer holds the magic it did. As for small towns, it used to be Sylvania, Ohio, but I haven't been there for 40 years, so that may have changed too.
Hi Janice ~ I'm sure Sylvania has changed: lots of growth & new roads up there. We are flying out to Los Angeles for my granddaughter's wedding in March -- in Fullerton, CA. I'm pretty sure LAX will be a different experience for us -- especially my husband who hates big cities. Ha! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. xoxo
Hi Jan, Yes, the LA area will be an experience. I hope you, too, have a wonderful Christmas.
Well, I've tried both. I have lived in very big cities, and now live in a small town. I also lived on a farm, but I was a child at the time, so had no choice in it. For me, it's small town all the way. When I was young, I loved that bustle of big city happenings, but really now I want to recognize people I see on the street. I want to feel enclosed within a unit, and not a cog in some enormous wheel, spinning like mad.
Hi Rose ~ I was born in Pittsburgh but never really remember living there. I'm definitely a small town girl ~ who loves to visit the city now & then. It's like a jolt of energy. I agree there's nothing like being greeted on the street by people you know. Such a warm feeling. When a former student yells across the street, "Hi, Mrs. Stoneburner," it makes my day. Hope you have a great Christmas! xoxo
I remember after living here in this small town for nearly a year, we went to the big city of Birmingham, and I was overwhelmed. Who are all these people?! I felt like a country mouse that had come to the city by accident and wanted to get home!
I love Chicago but Boston would be tops on my list. Smaller big towns would be Austin and of course Columbus, my hometown .
Hi Diane ~ I haven't been to Boston yet. I hope to get there some day. Wishing you a Merry Christmas in that "smaller big town" of yours. xoxo
If I could restack and support this post 100 times I would do so. I love both big and small cities. You captured the beauty of both and the true heartbeat of America in one post! 😍
I love Chicago, and I love Terra Haute too. (Okay. So Grand Rapids, not so much.)
I hope I get to meet you one day in person... you capture the magic of the Midwest, something I fail to do. Great work, Jan.
Ah, thank you, Patti ~ when I come to Chelsea some time, we'll make that happen. I'd love to meet you too. xoxo Merry Christmas!
Where in the world is Chelsea?? Merry Christmas to you, too, my virtual friend!!
Chelsea, Mi is about two hours from Grand Rapids, Mi. It is a bedroom community of Ann Arbor. Lovely little town where Jeff Daniel’s has his Purple Rose theater and Jiffy makes their cornbread.
Haha, you taught me something! I'm 50 miles north of Grand Rapids. The door is open here for you... if I hit the Ohio state line I'll be sure and let you know!!
I've spent many days in the cold having a meal while people talk about animals. Mostly horse education and never with Amber Marshall. You were so lucky!!! I'm happy for you.
Marsha ~ I wish YOU had been there. It was really surreal seeing Amber. I had to keep telling myself "It's really her." She's definitely special -- full of charisma, but also down to earth. I was lucky. Thanks! {{Hugs}}
If you get to go again, maybe I will be there! ❤️