Even though Chicago is entering Phase Four today… we still all need to dig deep to stay safe, stay focused and get through this together. Getting closer… but we’re not out of the woods yet!

This morning’s “cloud-free” sunrise was pretty… but it was this wonderful “community” mural at Sheridan & Howard that caught my attention. I loved the sense of whimsy & depicting the community all working together. The sunrise was just getting to it… illuminating the top section as I continued to pedal home.

For more about this mural… CLICK HERE for Matt Bourque’s website post about this mural.

You know I already love a good mural.
Even better when it’s for a good cause.
Making a good statement.

According to ThisIsColossal.com…
“In a show of solidarity, a massive tribute to Black Lives Matter has been painted on the street leading to the White House in Washington, D.C. Completed in permanent street paint, the message features bold, yellow letters that span more than a block of 16th Street and marks a historic moment in the United States after weeks of protests.

Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the banner-style piece, which city workers and volunteers began at 3 a.m. Friday morning ahead of weekend demonstrations. The new message is just two blocks north of Lafayette Square, where police charged peaceful protestors and released tear gas and flash-bang shells to clear the crowd for a photo-op for President Trump earlier this week. It sits at the foot of St. John’s Church.”

While everyone is looking for a little more brightness & joy these days… it was great to turn a corner on my bike this afternoon and run across this colorful mural under a bridge. It made me smile. Thank You MollyZ for making Rogers Park a little more beautiful… and for helping make people smile even during these tough times!

Today I was surprised by my doorbell… who expects a doorbell when everyone is self-isolating still?! Well, not me.

But it was a wonderful surprise to find Pam & Carla downstairs just to say hello! They were on a socially-distant & face-masked walk… so I went out with them as it was such a beautiful Spring day! A surprise afternoon with friends!

Just what I needed today.

After all of the rain the past couple days, it wasn’t too surprising to find the beach areas flooded just north of Loyola… with the water resting all the way up to the cement mural bench that runs the length of Tobey Prinz Beach Park! Cool to see… but better to see the sun again this morning!!!

For today’s run, I strayed from my usual loop… heading north into Rogers Park and finding some more beautiful murals under the train tracks… like these wonderful birds under the bridge at Glenwood & Greenleaf.

I saw this on Banksy’s Instagram and just had to share! With all of us quarantined these days, what’s a famous “graffiti” street artist supposed to do?… except work at home!!!

His comment on Instagram…“My wife hates it when I work from home.”

Yesterday, my niece Taylor & sister Jen tackled a plain gray wall in their basement… with some painter’s tape and paint… and made this amazing mural on the wall of their new “office & art area.” Who knew that that chalk drawing was just the beginning! I love it… as these desperate times call for creative measures!

About a week or so ago… it’s all blurring together, right... my niece Taylor and her mom Jen (my sister) made a beautiful geometric chalk drawing on their driveway. Oh, how this quarantine time is making us all get a little more creative!

And the big questions was “how long will this last with rain coming tonight?”… and then we found out the next morning.

Answer is… better than expected!!!