Observation vs Inference

An inference is a conclusion one comes to based on evidence and information.  This evidence and information being seen is an observation. One example is This last week I observed that I had been congested, blowing my nose and coughing.  I also observed that my nasal discharge was discolored which therefore led me to infer that I was sick and needed to call my mother and ask her what to do next.  The conclusion that I came to of being sick was the inference and the evidence for my sickness was my observation.