Thanks everyone
Yep, this year's theme was perfect for us.
Part 3 -- Beyond PUDDLE -- June 24
After PUDDLE, TrueFan invited us to visit for a bit, so, on Sunday, we packed up and hit the road.
First, lunch at Mitsuwa and this highly recommended dessert. How did I not know about this and the bakery??
![[Image: 45121369052_2a24323313_z.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/45121369052_2a24323313_z.jpg)
"Yes! Now we're talking!"
![[Image: 30231914197_5545344ff7_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1902/30231914197_5545344ff7_o.jpg)
On the way to western Illinois.
![[Image: 44448073444_192f05d58d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/44448073444_192f05d58d_o.jpg)
"Who's this guy...?"
"And what's wrong with his head?"
We stopped at Willowbrook Wildlife Center. They rescue injured birds & small animals from all over the area, including having people pick up birds that hit the skyscrapers in Chicago.
![[Image: 45121370052_943b362a39_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1916/45121370052_943b362a39_o.jpg)
Rose-breasted grosbeak. Some of the permanent residents can't be released because of their injuries.
![[Image: 44448071754_51d7f984a8_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1965/44448071754_51d7f984a8_o.jpg)
Sunsette is not afraid of snakes.
![[Image: 45121367772_76de4a5b9b_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/45121367772_76de4a5b9b_o.jpg)
"Look, the turtle came to say hello!"
![[Image: 30231911677_8d9f014cd4_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1945/30231911677_8d9f014cd4_o.jpg)
True showed us the PUDDLE donation brick on the walkway.
![[Image: 44448072714_e4a2599d6a_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1929/44448072714_e4a2599d6a_o.jpg)
Now I want a pond.
![[Image: 45121371622_72755b229d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/45121371622_72755b229d_o.jpg)
![[Image: 30231912767_0390efb83c_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/30231912767_0390efb83c_o.jpg)
![[Image: 45121373322_85db1bd6d2_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1941/45121373322_85db1bd6d2_o.jpg)
We
trees.
June 25 -- Local e
lorations
![[Image: 44259089595_a11d8df6c7_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1921/44259089595_a11d8df6c7_o.jpg)
Lunch with True and Crayola and some of their girls.
![[Image: 44448598254_9905160a40_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/44448598254_9905160a40_o.jpg)
We visited Old Main building at Knox College campus, site of a famous debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858.
![[Image: 30232421927_a9e3c2f6d6_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1965/30232421927_a9e3c2f6d6_o.jpg)
"Blowing out the moral lights around us" is a terrific line.
![[Image: 31296690958_ce015c9c50_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1958/31296690958_ce015c9c50_o.jpg)
![[Image: 43356298450_721f449418_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/43356298450_721f449418_o.jpg)
"Abraham Lincoln sat here! Wow eh!?"
![[Image: 44259090435_a565ff19cc_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/44259090435_a565ff19cc_o.jpg)
"Mum said she wasn't sure we should, but, hey, we were here too!!" XD
![[Image: 44259091485_98412b3a70_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1954/44259091485_98412b3a70_o.jpg)
True showed us the library where she works. This dollhouse was pretty neat.
There was also a fairy garden outside...
![[Image: 44259092385_9284ec6547_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1952/44259092385_9284ec6547_o.jpg)
"This is so great! It's us-sized!!"
![[Image: 44259088635_8ab9bac312_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44259088635_8ab9bac312_o.jpg)
"Mum, can you make us a fairy garden at home??"
![[Image: 43356297430_b2688a9c8d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/43356297430_b2688a9c8d_o.jpg)
"So, is flying hard to learn...?"
![[Image: 31296690478_95fc4c713a_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1926/31296690478_95fc4c713a_o.jpg)
"Thanks for reading... more to come!"

Part 3 -- Beyond PUDDLE -- June 24
After PUDDLE, TrueFan invited us to visit for a bit, so, on Sunday, we packed up and hit the road.
First, lunch at Mitsuwa and this highly recommended dessert. How did I not know about this and the bakery??
![[Image: 45121369052_2a24323313_z.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/45121369052_2a24323313_z.jpg)
"Yes! Now we're talking!"
![[Image: 30231914197_5545344ff7_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1902/30231914197_5545344ff7_o.jpg)
On the way to western Illinois.
![[Image: 44448073444_192f05d58d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1956/44448073444_192f05d58d_o.jpg)
"Who's this guy...?"
"And what's wrong with his head?"
We stopped at Willowbrook Wildlife Center. They rescue injured birds & small animals from all over the area, including having people pick up birds that hit the skyscrapers in Chicago.
![[Image: 45121370052_943b362a39_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1916/45121370052_943b362a39_o.jpg)
Rose-breasted grosbeak. Some of the permanent residents can't be released because of their injuries.
![[Image: 44448071754_51d7f984a8_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1965/44448071754_51d7f984a8_o.jpg)
Sunsette is not afraid of snakes.
![[Image: 45121367772_76de4a5b9b_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1957/45121367772_76de4a5b9b_o.jpg)
"Look, the turtle came to say hello!"
![[Image: 30231911677_8d9f014cd4_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1945/30231911677_8d9f014cd4_o.jpg)
True showed us the PUDDLE donation brick on the walkway.
![[Image: 44448072714_e4a2599d6a_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1929/44448072714_e4a2599d6a_o.jpg)
Now I want a pond.
![[Image: 45121371622_72755b229d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/45121371622_72755b229d_o.jpg)
![[Image: 30231912767_0390efb83c_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/30231912767_0390efb83c_o.jpg)
![[Image: 45121373322_85db1bd6d2_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1941/45121373322_85db1bd6d2_o.jpg)
We

June 25 -- Local e

![[Image: 44259089595_a11d8df6c7_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1921/44259089595_a11d8df6c7_o.jpg)
Lunch with True and Crayola and some of their girls.
![[Image: 44448598254_9905160a40_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/44448598254_9905160a40_o.jpg)
We visited Old Main building at Knox College campus, site of a famous debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858.
![[Image: 30232421927_a9e3c2f6d6_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1965/30232421927_a9e3c2f6d6_o.jpg)
"Blowing out the moral lights around us" is a terrific line.
![[Image: 31296690958_ce015c9c50_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1958/31296690958_ce015c9c50_o.jpg)
![[Image: 43356298450_721f449418_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1928/43356298450_721f449418_o.jpg)
"Abraham Lincoln sat here! Wow eh!?"
![[Image: 44259090435_a565ff19cc_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/44259090435_a565ff19cc_o.jpg)
"Mum said she wasn't sure we should, but, hey, we were here too!!" XD
![[Image: 44259091485_98412b3a70_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1954/44259091485_98412b3a70_o.jpg)
True showed us the library where she works. This dollhouse was pretty neat.
There was also a fairy garden outside...
![[Image: 44259092385_9284ec6547_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1952/44259092385_9284ec6547_o.jpg)
"This is so great! It's us-sized!!"
![[Image: 44259088635_8ab9bac312_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44259088635_8ab9bac312_o.jpg)
"Mum, can you make us a fairy garden at home??"
![[Image: 43356297430_b2688a9c8d_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1930/43356297430_b2688a9c8d_o.jpg)
"So, is flying hard to learn...?"
![[Image: 31296690478_95fc4c713a_o.jpg]](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1926/31296690478_95fc4c713a_o.jpg)
"Thanks for reading... more to come!"