browsing

It is spring break. And we are in our "new" city, looking around at different suburbs where we may want to live. It is fun and exciting...but also a little exhausting, too. There are so many ways to go, different areas in which to live, various scenarios...my mind starts spinning by the end of the day.

Yesterday we saw about a thousand homes, and I didn't like any of them. I thought, what's wrong with me? Have I lost sight of what I like/what I don't? Nothing was quite right. Some were good, some were ok, almost everything was in that blah middle ground. As in, it could work if it had to. Maybe I could learn to love it.

Then, today. Today!

This morning we stopped in at an open house and my whole perspective changed. We saw a gem. And I am in Love! I feel just as I did when we found our little cottage 5 years ago. I am remembering how it feels to swoon over walls, windows, rooms, and doors. Ahhh!

We are going back tomorrow. Oh.my.gosh. There it is up there. It's even better in person. You would love it, too. Yes, you cottage lovers, you would love it.

I wonder if I will like it as much then. I can't imagine why not. I was ready to sign my life away today. It is so ME!!

genius

That was my score on this test. Give it a shot.

http://www.cramersweeney.com/smartmarketing.html

Easter flowers

Flowers from my mom and dad. Look at the little birdie...how sweet! Hope you had a nice Easter holiday. We sure did.

300!

This is my 300th post. 300! Wow! That seems like a lot. Especially because my posting has been a little sparse as of late. Well now, what better way to celebrate the big 300 than to show you the large pile of mulch that was sitting on my driveway yesterday?

Good thing this was yesterday. It took my husband several hours to spread it around our garden beds, walkway areas, and trees. But the sun was out and shining and he had no trouble working until late at night.

The reason for spiffy-ing up so early in spring? I'll tell you:

WE'RE MOVING.

Yes, Moving! The Little Cottage is going up on the sale block, hopefully to be snatched up by another cottage lover. We are putting it on the market in a little less than 3 weeks. Keep your fingers crossed that we find an enthusiastic buyer who loves its charm as much as we do.

The reason for our move? I can tell you that, too.

We have applied and been accepted into the school that we were looking at for my son. It is out of state, so off we go. We don't have anything else set up at this point - house, job - everything is up in the air. But our hearts tell us this is the right move for our son (and us) right now. We're feeling bold and confident, no matter the uncertainty of the situation. But you know how it is with your heart. When you listen carefully, it always leads you in the right direction.

I will be back shortly to show you, or at least talk about, some of our plans and the changes we're making around here before we are For Sale.

Until then, have a wonderful day, and a delightful holiday!

don't look now

...but I think spring is coming. Really!

from the Tribune's editorial page today:

This will come as no surprise to the weather-weary multitudes around here. But since Dec.1 Chicago has gone no longer than two days without snow, sleet, slush, hail, rain or some unspeakable mix of the above. This little winter nugget was reported in Tuesday's Tribune by WGN-TV's Tom Skilling. But Tom's sorry trend could end this week. No cause to break out the Coppertone, but still. This wet winter also has been cold. It has been gray -- among the cloudiest winters ever. Snowfall thus far -- and isn't that a menacing phrase? -- totals 53 inches. Since the start of the year, snow has fallen on 46 days, the most in any year since 1975.The winter of 2007-2008 has been a character-builder, and it's not over. We can't officially peel winter's icy grip from our region for another two weeks, with the arrival of the vernal equinox March 20. Not that winters here pay much attention to such niceties as calendars, equinoxes or other imperatives. Even then, the nastiness may continue. Snow, cold and gloom don't usually respect their cue to exit in Chicago.
But we know change is coming -- and not just because daylight-saving time arrived Sunday. Step outside. There's a softness in the air that would have been unimaginable a week ago. The sky is ... not always gray. And there's not a drop of anything falling from it -- for the moment.

* * *

Thank you for sending thoughts of spring our way. Keep 'em coming!

birthday

I'm flexible. I was thinking that these could be a great birthday present for me. Perhaps birthday 2008, 2009, 2010, or even 2011. Being patient is not a problem. If it's unlikely that this is going to happen in the next 3-4 years, I'll start making plans for another garage sale, or some serious selling on ebay.

Of course I'm talking about the whole set. Here are the earrings and bracelet.

Should I be talking about something less shallow and materialistic? Yes? Well, Ok. Next time.

happy birthday, my darling

My little boy is becoming not so little. Today he celebrates his 6th birthday. 6! I can't believe it. Now he needs two hands to count up all the fingers in his age. It's hard to believe. I know he is still a little boy...but he barely fits on my lap anymore. He's going from being a small boy to a medium boy. Oh boy.

6 years ago we weren't sure if this day would be his birthday. Late in my pregnancy I developed preeclampsia, and my doctor prescribed bed rest. I was at 37 weeks and she wanted to induce me. Over the phone she told me to be prepared to go the hospital directly after my next appointment with her (her office is across the street from the hospital.) She said, pack your bags.

My husband and I were excited. The morning of March 7th we drove down to Northwestern. On our way we noticed the license plate on a car slightly ahead of us on the freeway. It said, DUEDATE. We thought, Oh my gosh! Maybe it's a sign!

A little while later I was just drifting off to sleep when my husband nudged me. There was another car in front of us (actually it had cut in right in front of us.) This license plate said, BOBBIE. We looked at each other with wide eyes. It was thrilling.

We didn't know the sex of our baby, but we had names picked out, and Bobby was our boy name. Still...the license plate was a little tricky. Did the spelling of that name mean we were actually having a girl? or was it another sign - a not so subtle sign - that our little boy was on his way home to us?

Well, you know the answer, and today is the day to celebrate that wonderful arrival. Our little cherub. Our Sweet Boy. We simply couldn't love him more.

Happy Birthday, my darling boy!

please come soon

Late last week my friend Betsy called me up. She said, I just put up my 'March' Kate Libby picture, and it's so cheerful! I couldn't remember what the picture for March looked like, but when it was time to change the calendar I got mine out and saw that she was right. Here it is:

On Saturday I had groceries to buy and added some daisies to my cart. You know they are my favorite. I don't know why, but they are not at the neighborhood store very often. But maybe since winter is on its way out they'll be easier to get from now on. See, here they are, looking sweet and cheerful:

On Sunday I read an email from my sister in-law, Lisa, telling me about the dinner party she had hosted at her house over the weekend. She had pictures to share as well. The dinner table looks so festive and colorful. Between the tablecloth and the beautiful flowers in the center, it just shouts, spring!

But, alas, pictures and flowers aside, I look out the window and more importantly, look at the forecast, and there's no sign of spring. Yet.

But we remain ever hopeful...with each new 7-day forecast from Tom Skilling...that warmer temperatures will be on their way soon....that heavy coats and mittens can be returned for the foreseeable future to the coat closet...that I will need sunglasses one of these days.

so proud

My youngest son...what an imagination. Well, you might know - if you are either at this stage or you remember how it was when your kids were this small (3). Last night he was flinging around his sock, using it as a lasso. He was throwing it around every room. But look where it ended up!
There must be a rough patch on the wall there, but I can't find it now.

He thought this was hysterical. He was so proud. Of course we had to get the camera out.

tough day for the family roadster

Have you been fighting those terrible potholes that always erupt after a harsh winter? Well, I hope what you encounter isn't nearly as bad as this! What you're looking at is actually a sinkhole that appeared today after a water-main break on a city street in Chicago. It swallowed a minivan. Poor little minivan.

Just had to share the picture. Here's a link to the article.