At the Close

Over Labor Day weekend, we opted for one of those newly touted "staycations" and paid a visit to Milwaukee and then to St. Joseph, Michigan. We had been to neither and it proved to be just right for making the most of our long weekend. Our first stop in Milwaukee was the Miller Brewery, which, other than the free beer, left much to be desired. Actually, it was pretty embarrassing compared to other brewery tours I've experienced. I'm chalking it up to an "off day". In any case, at least Andrew got some good photos.




Michigan was our final hurrah of summer. Beaches. Sunburns. Swimming. Reading. Picnics. Perfect.

We bid Summer adieu, and while I will miss the long, warm days, Fall is my season and I beckon it with anticipation. I recently read a reflection by someone who thought Fall should mark the New Year. I couldn't agree more. There is a newness in the crisp air... a chance to start over... again.

Air and Water

The city looks different from 22 floors up. I've been to the Hancock tower, but nothing really beats an outdoor patio on a crystal clear, sunny, summer day watching the Blue Angels fly past at eye level. We were extremely fortunate to be able to attend the annual Air and Water Show via a Topiarius client's Lake Shore condo. Good company. Good food. Incredible views.

Update: Tomatoes

Oh if you could only have seen Andrew's face this morning as he picked three bloom-rot free tomatoes with clean, shiny bottoms and displayed them on our windowsill. They will have a very short shelf life; indeed, they are probably being diced and spliced as we speak. Yummy.

Porch Dwellers

We have expanded the list of inhabitants on our porch this summer. Andrew's new job has inspired him to invest in our own "landscaping" and the payoff has been great. One hibiscus, one hydrangea, two flower boxes and one tomato cage later, our back porch has turned into a virtual garden jungle (indeed, we seem to have adopted a more "natural/wild" look than anything coiffed or controlled). I spend many an evening prying Andrew away as he tends to and cares for our new charges. Here's the roll call:

Hibiscus: Affectionately known as "Hibby", this plant is on her second or third life. We purchased her in early spring and kept her inside until it finally became warm enough to move her to the porch. We think she underwent a bit of a shock in acclimating to the outdoors, and didn't bloom for several weeks in protest. But then we reaped our reward and she has been averaging about five blooms a day. Right now, she is recovering from either being root-bound or possibly some kind of disease in which she lost most of her leaves. Slowly but surely, more new growth is emerging every day.


Tomato: We have some Jetstars and a hybrid variety which look promising until they start to ripen. We think they have some type of bloom rot and Andrew has been adding garden lime in an effort to combat the problem. Successfulness TBD.


Hydrangea: Ah, the beloved hydrangea. Always a hit, ever beautiful. These came home with Andrew from work and have been a joy since.

A One Car Family

Call it a step in a green direction, call it a fiscally responsible move toward a new fuel economy, call it an opportunity to walk more and drive less, call it a way to save money, gas and parking... call it what you want, but we are now a one car family. And I must say, it feels pretty good. The Red Ranger served us well: it moved Andrew to Chicago, it moved a whole lot of other people to a whole lot of other places, it carried (and stored) Andrew's alley finds, it transported discarded treasures from the museum to our home (and sometimes back again), and on countless occasions, it dependably made those trips to and from Home Depot, laden with materials and supplies. But lest you go thinking we've lost our minds ridding ourselves of such a fine and faithful truck, let me tell you that not every day was a cruise through the park. For the last several weeks, our beloved Ranger couldn't go 5 miles without steaming and spewing. Indeed, as Andrew drove it to and from several potential buyers this weekend, he had to pull over in between each one to let Old Faithful cool down, hoping that he could prevent one final act of ultimate rebellion. Fortunately for us, and for our truck's new owner, he did. And so, with one last display of affection, Andrew said goodbye.


Our truck's new owner can give it what we could not: a new radiator (at least). So, we are happy to send it on to a better place. We're thankful for the many services it provided, but now, we're thankful we don't need to provide it with any more services.

Ahoy!

Since a hobby of mine would never necessitate buying a sailboat, for example, that means I must maximize other available resources, like friends who have sailboats. Seriously, tell me that's not a good deal. Several weekends ago, a co-worker of Sarah's offered to take her and some of her friends out on his 30-foot Catalina to cruise around Lake Michigan. Our captain was exceedingly gracious and hospitable, and despite the brief thunderstorm, it was a wonderful opportunity to eat, drink and be merry... matey.

Mr. & Mrs.

Congratulations to Ilona and Derek on their marriage two weeks ago! Ilona and I first became friends at North Park, and it was a privilege to share in their wedding celebration. Andrew and I even tried our hand (or feet as the case may be) at some traditional Assyrian dancing. Best wishes to the both of you!

One Bet - $2; The Thrill - Priceless

While you can all breathe a sigh of relief that gambling is NOT going to become my hobby, I have to admit that I had one heck of a time at Arlington Park a few weekends ago. I lost $4, but it was totally worth it. Horse racing: a definite hobby potential.

Turnip Tales

This past week we received our second box of veggies from our CSA program, in which we discovered napa cabbage, kohlrabi, garlic scapes, purple-top turnips, head lettuce and baby beets. In order to dialogue about our experiences, our church has started a blog where we can reflect on our participation with Mike and Clare's Farm and Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm. The idea is to provide an opportunity to share thoughts, photos, recipes, triumphs and challenges. Check out the blog and my guest post for this week!

Party!

On Saturday we had the pleasure of hosting a graduation party for our friend, Cristina. We have developed a close friendship with her over the years since she came to the US from Romania to start her undergraduate education at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire. Fortunately, when we moved to Chicago, so did she, and she has just completed her Masters in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She is an inspiration to many and we are exceedingly proud of her. Congratulations, Cristina!

Further Confirmation: Summer Is Not for Working

I love to rise in a summer morn,
When the birds sing on every tree;
The distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the skylark sings with me:
O what sweet company!

But to go to school in a summer morn, --
O it drives all joy away!
Under a cruel eye outworn,
The little ones spend the day
In sighing and dismay.

Ah then at times I drooping sit,
And spend many an anxious hour;
Nor in my book can I take delight,
Nor sit in learning’s bower,
Worn through with the dreary shower.

How can the bird that is born for joy
Sit in a cage and sing?
How can a child, when fears annoy,
But droop his tender wing,
And forget his youthful spring!

O father and mother if buds are nipped,
And blossoms blown away;
And if the tender plants are stripped
Of their joy in the springing day,
By sorrow and care’s dismay, --

How shall the summer arise in joy,
Or the summer fruits appear?
Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy,
Or bless the mellowing year,
When the blasts of winter appear?

William Blake, "The Schoolboy" from Songs of Experience (1794)

I'm pretty sure my buds are being nipped.

Signs of Summer

Dog Days

Every summer I try to adopt the mentality of living in the present. Summer arrives and the fun begins and then, before you know it, it's over. So I try to soak up every moment and be conscious of each day. Sometimes I succeed; sometimes I fail. But it's always a good reminder for me to look back at the summer's events and remember that we did indeed take advantage of those dog days. I know we still have some summer left, so all the more reason to be conscious of what we did and what we have left to do.

Celebrating Cristina's birthday in June

Fourth of July fireworks in Grant Park

A game of Cornhole (there have been lots of those)

Go Cubs!

Applying tattoos at our church's neighborhood block party

The Butterfly Conservatory at the Nature Museum

(Even the best of us can have an identity crisis)

The butterfly mating dance

Venetian Night at Monroe Harbor

Outdoor Living

With summer comes the desire and opportunity to revive a tired, sometimes frustrated (at least in Chicago) relationship with the outdoors. This past weekend we brought some life to our back porch. Even in the 90 degree heat, we enjoyed hand choosing, planting and watering our new flowers and tomato plants. We were fortunate to also find some good deals on a new table and umbrella to complete what now seems like an additional room to our apartment. We love being out there any chance we get. And each time, we are reminded of how much God has blessed us... to be with each other, to enjoy our neighborhood, to be surrounded by life (ok, and brick).