We hadn't intended to stay with Jeannie, but we are certainly glad we did.

A problem with the studio we'd reserved left us hunting a "home away from home" for 5 days in Chicago. I sent Jeannie a message telling her of the fix we were in and she responded IMMEDIATELY with "your room is ready."

She met us at the door and offered us hot cider. She showed us where there was coffee and tea and assured us we were welcome to help ourselves. We could not have felt more welcome.

The accommodations were lovely - it is a gracious home and Jeannie made it comfortable for us to enjoy it. But the real treasure is the garden. Jeannie is a master gardener and the paths and beds were still lush and colorful even in October.

Jeannie herself is a delight, we enjoyed our time getting acquainted with her.

And although we thought the location was further out of the city than we wanted to be, with a Blue Line train stop just a few blocks from her house, we could get to all of our many destinations easily and quickly.

Jeannie turned a potential travel nightmare into a fantastic experience and we're looking forward to our next visit!