Here's what's happening in the lot across the street. The old house was torn down 3 weeks ago. It took 2 days for the demolition. The foundation is coming along....you can see it pretty clearly in the photo. We don't know the couple who owns the land and is building the house, we've just met them briefly. But I see their car drive by in the evenings so they can see the progress. Can you imagine how excited they must be?
Hello! My travels are over and I am home for good. It is nice to be back. So nice!
I took 3 separate trips over the past 3 weeks. First, a trip to southern California for business. Interesting work....and bonus because I was able to see my youngest brother, who lives out there. From there I took a direct flight to Ohio to see my parents (and meet up with my husband and kids) for a week. We drove back here with the last of the 2 wicker chairs (yep, there they are) for my porch. Then, it was back to California last week to finish up on the project that I had flown out for earlier. I got back late Friday night.
So...
How are things with you, fellow bloggers and readers? Have you been enjoying the beginning of summer as much as I have? I hope so. I'll be back soon to talk more about what's going on here. Until then, I hope you're doing well in your little corner of the world!
I am getting ready to leave this afternoon for a few days on a business trip. In fact, this week kicks off a 3-week period of travel for me. Some is for work, some is for pleasure. All of it promises to be good.
I won't be blogging for awhile, but if I can I will check in with all of you, visiting you in your homes and catching up on what you're doing. I wish you a happy beginning to your summer. See you in June!
...than going to your mailbox and finding an adorable thank-you note from one of your best friends? Brig, this wasn't necessary, but you should know that it's made my day. So, thank you.
Plans are in motion to tear the house down across the street* from us. Prep work started this morning. We received a letter in the mail yesterday which said that demolition will be May 30-31st. If you are a Bob the Builder fan, if you have an almost fanatical obsession with diggers and cement mixers, if you eat, sleep, (and dream) construction, consider visiting us next week. It's bound to be a good show.
It's the pink seersucker Issac Mizrahi swimsuit from Target. I would have never known it was out there if I hadn't become so immersed in blogland. Someone was talking about it on a blog a few weeks ago, so I ended up looking for it in my local Target store and buying it (I have the tankini top and the side-tie bottom.) It's pretty darn cute. $40 is what I paid, though I think you can pick it up now for around $30 on the Target website.
Yesterday's trip to the city was exhilarating. Aside from a successful business meeting, I stumbled into a 25% off swimsuit sale at Macy's. And I happened to find another cute suit. I would post a picture, but I can't find one online and my camera batteries are charging. I know you would like it if you saw it, though.
Two new swimsuits in one season! I have not had this much success in the swimsuit category since I was a child. I was thinking that I'd return one, but now I'm having second thoughts. How often is it that you find a suit you actually like, never mind two? And it isn't even Memorial Weekend yet!
This is a treat. I'm catching a train to the city this morning for a business meeting. My destination is one of the buildings you see in the picture above. I'll be slipping on my is-she-or-isn't-she-a-mom mask as I ride into town. Wonder what my fellow commuters will guess? It's so tempting to wear flip flops, but I think that will give me away. Maybe not if I'm casually reading the WSJ. Will be back this afternoon in time to watch the newest episode of Bob the Builder with members from my favorite construction crew. Hope your day is a good one, too.
Let's say you live near a Wonder-Hostess bakery outlet (and, oh yes, those delightful places do exist.) In addition to getting great deals on bread and muffins, you can pick up those sometimes hard to find grocery items, like Light Hostess Cupcakes (have you tried finding these at the grocer? Not an easy task.)
Let's say you live less than 2 miles away from the outlet. It'll be easy to justify in your mind that you can go back as often as necessary. So it's no big deal if the box of 8 cupcakes somehow shrinks to a box of 1 in less than 24 hours.
Let's say your kids didn't know the cupcakes were in the house and your husband doesn't eat junk food. No one can point a finger at you when the stash is diminished. Right?
Well, no, actually. My experience is that there's always someone who keeps an eye on you. Call it your subconscious. Call it your inner voice. Call it the last, lone cupcake in the fridge. Someone will be there, calling you out on what you did. Making you think twice about going back for more.
A little low on news today, so instead I'll show you what was going on here yesterday.
First, my Mother's Day roses are still holding on. When they first arrived they were pale pink, but as the blooms have opened over the past week, they've turned into a beautiful shade of cream. Wish you could smell them through your screen. They are still fragrant and obviously very lovely.
Next, we had a visit from Fireman Small out on the porch after lunch. He wouldn't have shown up without Daddy's help.
Finally, new best friends mowed the lawn together. The little guy wants to do everything with the big guy these days. Well, almost everything...I still get a lot of snuggle time. In the picture below they are walking right by the tomato plants (which by the way, sailed through the frosty night last Thursday.)
When my parents drove up here last weekend, my dad came ready to work. He brought 2 more of the wicker tables that had belonged to my grandmother, and spray painted them out behind my garage (he tried to bring 2 more chairs but couldn't get them to fit right on the top of my mom's car.) He fixed our broken doorbell. He hung up a sign on the porch. Because I rely on his extensive knowledge about it, he went out and selected the wine for my party. He bought tomato plants for our garden. But he didn't plant them.
When I asked him why he didn't want to plant them (it was more of a whine, "Daa-ad, wwhhyy not? "), he said we needed to wait a few more days. Until after the "three sisters" pass - May 16th, 17th, and 18th. He said it's an old German farming rule of thumb, he learned it from his grandfather. It's not enough to wait until May 15th. You have to wait for the 3 sisters to pass to avoid risk of a late spring frost.
Now, I've Googled "three sisters", and where crops are concerned, I am not seeing anything about planting dates. I see results about companion planting, as in, plant your beans, squash, and corn all together (could be that this is common knowledge to all of you green thumbs out there.) But never for a moment do I doubt my dad. I'm sure the rule exists. He's the smartest guy around.
But anyway, we didn't wait. The tomato plants went into the ground on Sunday, May 13th. As we were getting ready to plant them, I told my husband about the 3 sisters warning. But we both agreed that a few days ahead of time shouldn't make any difference. After all, the forecast on Sunday said we would have a mild week.
Of course, you all know how the forecast can change.
So, with a frost warning in place last night, I called Dad after dinner for some advice. He did not say "I told you so". But he did tell me what to do (that's why you see my little plants under cover up there.) In a little while I'll go out to see how they did overnight. I just called Dad a few minutes ago and he says sprinkle them with a little water as I uncover them. I'll let you know how they fared.
I promised you an update on the window boxes, so here we are. Since last Friday was my party, and the boxes were empty, we had to act quickly. My husband did not have time to cut out the screens. But fortunately, we took Rick up on his offer and borrowed his ladder. One night after work last week, my husband dragged the ladder out from our back yard, set it against the house, and climbed on up. He just set our flowers inside the boxes, they are still in their little plastic pots. If you can see, there are red geraniums and a little yellow-greenish ivy. It worked out great as a temporary solution until we (he) can get back to the windows this weekend and cut those screens out. We've had just enough rain to keep the flowers thriving in their pots. So far, so good!
| YELLOW |
You are very perceptive and smart. You are clear and to the point and have a great sense of humor. You are always learning and searching for understanding.
Borrowing shamelessly from Sisters with Style, I present to you...drumroll...the color test. What is your color? What does it say about you?
I admit I'm a sucker for online tests. You may have guessed this since I've posted one or two here before. Are you? I think nothing of grabbing paper & pencil in the middle of the afternoon to score my way through emailed personality tests. It doesn't matter how long they are or how much time they waste. No, I didn't get a chance to schedule a dentist visit today, but I did confirm that I'm still an ENFJ. Good thing, too. You never know when your personality will change.
The continuing evolution of all the tests you can take to better understand yourself only fuels my interest. Yes yes, there's what color are you. But have you taken what does your favorite color say about you? Two different tests. How about what song are you? Maybe that's too general. Ok, which hit song from 2005? There's much, much more. What kind of traveler are you? Do you worry too much? Which TV character are you most like? Quite awhile ago I took the Desperate Housewives test (I'm Lynnette). Recently I took a few minutes to do the flower test on TulipMom's site. The results show that I am a snapdragon. Hmm. Wonder what that means?
I'm sure one of the reasons that these tests are so irresistible to me is because they provide results that are generally flattering and nice to read. Come on, just look at the results above. It doesn't matter how I fare in real life, my online color test suggests that I'm smart. Don't you love reading that you're creative? Successful? Fun to be around? The people behind these tests and quizzes know what they're doing. If you need more proof of that, pay a little visit to this site today. Spend a minute or two. Or ten. But don't say I didn't warn you.
The party was great. Wow, and all of your comments... I felt like I had my own personal little cheering section with me on Friday! Thank you for that.
We had so much food at the party, almost too much. Thinking that it would be just the opposite, I whipped up a few things at the last minute. We didn't even get to my favorite dessert, Gooey Butter Cake:
The whole thing was intact until Saturday a.m., when I started in on the interior. I've been working away at it little by little, as you can see. The good thing about this dessert is that it is very rich. So even if you think you can eat the whole pan, you can't. Still, I might have to send the rest in with my husband to work today. The party is indeed over.
Anyway, if you're a southerner, you may already know and love this dessert. If not, I highly encourage you to throw out worries or cares about cholesterol and calories and make this for yourself (and some special friends) very soon. It's delish!
Gooey Butter Cake
Top with (mixed together)
Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 until lightly golden. Center will be soft and (of course) a little gooey. Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top.
Tomorrow night I am hosting a party. I've been planning it for awhile, and I'm excited about it. You see, it's just for the ladies. All the important women in my life (well, nearly all...) We're going to eat, drink, and shop. What's better than that?
But, you know how it goes when you're the host. You go into overdrive, trying to get everything just right. I've devoted the last 3 weeks to party prep. Painting, painting, (more painting), arranging furniture on my newly freshened porch, buying this and that for it. My husband (poor guy) has heard more than his fair share of requests beginning with, "before the party, can we...?" And he's done as much as he can to get to all the items on the list. We both have.
But you know what? Not everything got done. I realized late Tuesday night that some things just weren't going to happen. Painting the porch floor. Getting the front garden beds under control. Heck, even planting my window boxes (although I do have a little shortcut there, and if I get a chance I'll post a picture.)
Whatever disappointment I was feeling about not accomplishing all the things on my list was scrapped when I heard some sad news earlier this week. The news was about a friend of a friend. And it put things in perspective for me. It 'righted' my tilted view.
There's nothing like a dose of real life to make you understand - however briefly - priorities. The timing couldn't have been better in my case.
Instead of focusing on what I don't have on Friday, I'm going to think about all the blessings that I do have. I'm going to relax, enjoy myself, and enjoy all the wonderful women who will be here. I'm sure when they look around my little cottage they will see only the good things, not what needs to be done or what needs attention. And I'm going to see the same.
Behold the window boxes on our dormer windows! You can't imagine what an accomplishment it is that they are up. Now, I realize you can only see one in this photo. Take my word for it - they're both up.
We've been working on getting window boxes installed since December. I'm not sure you can tell...probably not from this picture...but the pitch of our roof is quite steep. Therefore it's been hard to find little boxes that can fit in the space.
Rick the workman came over Sunday to put them up for us. Dragged his big 2-story ladder out from his truck and set off to tackle the job. He's a great guy, does great work. As he's finishing up with the first one he calls down to me, looks like these screens are tricky, they must come out from the inside. When my husband says he doesn't think they do, Rick says oh, they must, I've never seen screens that don't come out. After he's finished, the two of them trot upstairs and look at the windows from the inside.
Sure enough, the screens don't come out. They don't move or slide or anything. The storm window moves up and down, but the screens stay put. As I'm sure you've guessed, the windows are original to the house.
So then Rick says, you'd better plant bulbs! he he he! And, you can water them from the ground, just point the hose up in the air! When I ask my husband how we're even going to get up there to plant them, Rick says, you can borrow my ladder! he he he!
Yes yes yes. Even the most SIMPLE tasks end up having some kind of unforeseen glitch to them. Don't they? Little window boxes. Little, sweet, cottage-y window boxes. Big problem! No access to them. Not unless you happen to have a gigantic ladder with (as Rick calls them) "antlers" attached to the top. Which we don't.
sigh.
So. That's where the story ends...for now. The weekend ended and we ran out of time to work on this dilemma. We think we'll have to cut the screens out. I know that's extreme. But both rooms where these windows are have more than one window. And, so what if we get a few bugs when the windows are open? I can't have inaccessible window boxes. We can't rely on Rick's big ladder each season to get up there (and down!) And, I'm not buying a ladder that we otherwise wouldn't use, for the sole purpose of maintaining flower boxes. hmph!
* * * *
To Be Continued...
We added shutters to the sides of our house this weekend. It's been part of the plan all along, we've been wanting to do this ever since we finished painting the outside last summer. Ok, so it took us a little while to get to this part of the plan. But now they're up, and they're not coming down!
When we decided to paint the house white last year, we thought black shutters would be a nice contrast. I was all set to add them to our front bay windows, too, but then read that bays should never have them. Makes perfect sense when you think of it...shutters are supposed to fit as if they were still used to shield windows from storms. Without shutters around them, we're still looking for a way to give the bays some contrast. We've brought home wrought iron window boxes but had to return them...the space below the windows makes it difficult to hang anything. When and if we find a pair that work, I'll let you know.
We did find window boxes for our dormer windows upstairs and had them installed this weekend as well. But I need to save that story for next time...
* * * *
P.S. Sesame Street was great!
Happy Saturday!
Mary tapped me to play "7 things", so here I go...
* * * *
7 things
1. I am ambidextrous. This is because I'm a lefty. It's a right-handed world, people. Lefties must adapt or they will perish. Really! All lefties are ambidextrous.
2. My husband is a lefty, too. Between the two of us we have 4 very efficient and capable hands.
3. I met my husband on a blind date three weeks after I moved to Chicago. That was 12 years ago.
4. One of the people involved in setting us up was his sister, Lisa. She lives out of town now but we keep up through email and also through the blogworld. You may have seen her comments on your blog. She always has something nice to say.
5. Before staying home with my children, I worked in advertising. So I always enjoy reading about what Lisagh is up to at work.
6. I still do quite a bit of work as an independent contractor for my old agency, as well as other agencies and businesses in town. Working on the side like that helps me maintain a nice balance in my life.
7. Today I have tickets to see Sesame Street Live. I've never been. There are two little people in my house who could barely sleep last night and who were up at 5 this morning because they are so excited about it. Maybe we should have waited to tell them until after breakfast?
* * * *
Play on! I tap Kellie, Heather, and Navybluegirl. Have fun, ladies!
Though I found the writing itself to be almost too detailed, this is a fascinating story. It provides an encouraging, if not challenging, prescription of what can be done to promote peace and harmony in a post 9/11 world. And it helps explain why we should care about helping people beyond our borders.
Now that it's warm out, I've taken up running again. And as always, it's so hard. No matter what I seem to do at the gym during the winter, it seems I'm never in good enough shape to just ease into it out there. It's always an uphill climb at first. Lots of huffing and puffing and sidewalk pedestrians moving out of the way when they hear me coming up behind them (they can hear me about half a block away.) I know it will get better in about a month. Maybe less.
I don't run long distances. I rarely if ever go farther (or is it further?) than 3 miles. This is good for me. It's the range that seems to be the best fit.
Several years ago, when we lived in the city, I got into this kick about pushing myself to run longer and longer distances. I think I just wanted to see if I could do it . Also, I was inspired by the joggers I saw every morning down by the lake. I figured, if they can do it, why not me? I started keeping a daily log of my runs on the Hal Higdon website. It was kind of exciting to see my progress over the months, to see that what I thought was impossible was actually - possible! I'd go out in the morning for a run by the lake, then come into work and log my miles on the computer. I saw my distance building like a graph chart. 3 miles, 3.5 miles, 3.7 miles, 4.1 miles, 4.6 miles...and so on. I peaked around 7.5 miles. That was plenty, I didn't have to prove anything to myself after that point. Plus, I got pregnant. My interests changed.
Today I don't think about pushing the distance, I think about pushing myself out the door. But hopefully not for too long. When summer really gets going, I'll be just fine.
Before leaving for work this morning my husband took out the glass in our front storm door and put in the screen. Hooray! Spring really is here!P.S. That browned out grass that you see? That's part of the area where our new garden beds will be. Not to worry, it's all part of the master plan. ;)
I was hoping to show you my beautifully painted porch this morning...but wouldn't you know, I'm not finished painting. ah! Somewhere in the middle of coat #2 I decided that it needed a third coat. Yes, yes, yes. Trying to keep up my enthusiasm here. I finished coat #3 late Sunday and started in on the white trim. I'm hoping that's just 2 coats...we'll see. The important thing is that it will all be over soon. I hope. And then on to more exciting things! Chair cushions! Floor rug! Room accessories! Fun finds to share! Stay tuned.
In related news, my husband spent the whole weekend creating a garden bed at the back of our garage that wraps around to the back door of the porch. He went to an Arbor Day sale on Saturday a.m. and bought 2 new baby trees for the area. I did not make it outside with my camera, but I'll show that to you soon. While we were admiring the new area (what a change from what was there before - basically nothing!) we started dreaming and scheming about a backyard patio. Mind you, we have our plates full in getting our landscaping situation under control this year, but putting in a patio is so enticing. Did I mention we're having a 4th of July party? Is it possible to get this all done in time...?
Remember me telling you about my artist friend Mary? She is the gifted lady behind a few special pieces in my home...this, this, and (oh how could you ever forget!) this.
See that piece up there? Sorry about the blurry picture. That's my dry sink, which used to belong to my grandparents. I wish I had taken a picture of what it used to look like inside. There was a record player & radio built right in, all you had to do was open the doors. 2 large speakers were built into the sides. I had those taken out last year, and then Mary painted the doors and trim for me.
So, why am I bringing this up right now? Tonight?
I found out over the weekend that Mary, who is my friend in "real" life, is also a friend here in blogland. That's right! She stumbled upon my blog when reading Kim's blog the other day (another thanks to you, Kim. I'm not sure if Mary and I would have found each other out here without your fun blog!)
Anyway, I'm delighted to tell you that Mary is out here in blogland, keeping her own blog that showcases her (and her daughter's) delightful, beautiful work. That's right! I'm thrilled that you can go and explore Mary's world and see for yourself her unique, remarkable talents.
Please stop by and see my friend Mary! You can tell her that you've been an admirer of hers for awhile now...
Look what was waiting for me when my youngest son and I got back from our walk this morning: a package from a blog buddy!
Don't you love the cute little pink checked ribbon? Can you see the stationery a little bit on her enclosed note? Darling!
Yes, sharp shopper Ms. A sent me a prize for winning her drawing the other day. What you see below is an eternal fortune cookie, one that keeps on doling out smart advice and answers, whenever you give it a little shake (the answer screen is on the bottom). Also included was this cute little key fob from Toe Goz. 
Thank you very much, Princess! I will be consulting my cookie regularly. And looking forward to my next martini...
Wednesday mornings I have 1.75 hours by myself. Each week it's a little different, how I choose to spend my time. I have been known to go to the library and leaf through back issues of People and US magazine, for a little escape. I have been known to hang out at Caribou Coffee, blogging as I sip a latte. More often than not, I head to the gym. Today I took myself to Target.
We have a very nice Target near our house. It's been open...what...about 4 years now? It's a Super! Target, where you can find a wide variety of grocery items. They don't have everything there, just the basics. But you notice a dramatic difference in your receipt when you shop for your basics there v. at the regular grocery store. Plus, they have a nice selection of Bob the Builder toys. The importance of that cannot be understated.
As I was pushing my cart around, choosing a bunch of bananas in the produce aisle, picking up canned tuna in the "canned meat" aisle, maneuvering around the checkout line with (mostly) moms and kids, it occurred to me that my being alone gave me a whole new identity at the store. Usually I am the mom, with one child in the cart, one tagging behind. Or sometimes, 2 in the cart (the kind with double seating), trying to break up fights as quickly and quietly as possible.
Today I could have been anyone. Anyone! Well, almost anyone. I did have my wedding rings on, so people could see that I am married. But the rest of it was sort of open-ended without my usual identity in place. Without my little guys around. I let my mind wander...
Maybe I was a newlywed, shopping for her new husband and new home? Maybe I was the mom of high schoolers. Maybe I couldn't have kids? Maybe I had chosen to not have kids. I saw a mom in front of me in line who was worn out, exhausted. She had a newborn baby boy and a toddler daughter with her. Our eyes met briefly as she stacked her groceries on the belt. And I wonder who she thought I was. I wonder if she thought, that lady looks rested and has no idea what it feels like to be me.
1 sunny, warm day.2 little people, excited to finally wear their flip-flops.
20 happy toes.
We spent the weekend outside. It was sunny and warm with a cloudless sky. *happy sigh* It was absolutely beautiful. Hello shorts, t-shirts & sandals! What a happy reunion I had with you!
You may remember me mentioning my back porch project last summer (yes, last summer!) On Saturday I got back to it: cleaned it out, cleaned it up, and started painting the walls again.
I also painted all of the porch furniture. The wicker above, and the iron table and chairs below. It took me 12 cans of spray paint to complete the job. I ended up with a nose full of white paint, but it was worth it.
In her comment the other day, Kellie said she wondered why there is such need for space these days - as in, people choosing bigger houses over smaller ones. Then, Homedaisy asked us to show her our words.
Well, these words aren't mine, but I thought of both of you gals when I saw them.
This sign hangs on a small house that is a few blocks away from me. Across the street from the house there is construction on a new house, the old home that was there was torn down. When I saw the sign, I knew it wasn't a coincidence that the owners of it had decided to hang it so prominently by their front entrance. It is as if they are trying to tell the world that they don't like big houses, either.
So, what happens to the young bear, after a long winter hibernation? I'll tell you what happens to him.
He (and his younger brother) don jean jackets and leather slippers and head out to the trampoline. The slippers are to protect their feet - um, er - paws, from those pesky pine needles that fall from the tree above. The jackets are to protect their bodies, in case they end up in a ball, intertwined and rolling across the mat. (Actually, it's not in case this happens...it's for when it happens.) You've probably seen a ball like that. Maybe you've seen one in your own home? Little bear cubs, giggling as they hurl each other about and wrestle around (does this happen with girl cubs too?)
Good thing Mom can step in as referee. Sometimes when they really get going the ball becomes a blur, and she can't see where one ends and the other begins. On days like this she wonders, where does this energy go, when the bears are cooped up indoors?
Oh well, no need to think about that again for a long, long time.
Cindy at My Romantic Home was nice to give me an award last week...the thinking blogger award. I got distracted last week and didn't get back to my blog after the big house tour (guess that wore me out), and then when I did get back into the swing of things, I started reading everyone else's blog first. I'll tell you what, reading about your lives is what makes me a thinking blogger. And I think it makes you one, too.
It's so much fun to read your funny stories. So delightful to see beautiful pictures of your home, your inspirational home, your work in progress home. Great fun to check in on what you're wearing, what you ordered, who you ordered from. Such a treat to see what you baked, how you grilled, what you served up on the dinner plate last night. I live vicariously through you when you tell me about your trip abroad as well as your night out on the town. It's true - my home, my wardrobe, my cooking, my (attempt at) crafting, my traveling plans...all influenced (and truthfully, made better) because of you.
But, the real benefit of the blogging world, for me anyway, is sharing all parts of life through you. The good, the average, the not so good, even the downright awful. You saw my story the other day, but we all have stories of our own. And, it's the "comments" section at the bottom of each post that makes it a shared experience. I learn from you, you learn from me. I support you, you support me. Who says we aren't friends, for this is what you do in a friendship...right? You celebrate the good and muddle through the bad. Together.
So, as I sit here and digest the news of yesterday, I am grateful that my thoughts are out there, with you to read them. I'm grateful that yours are out there so I can read them. I'm happy that we can talk and think and comment on life together. And somehow make sense of it all.
Special day here, folks: it's my 150th post. How about that!
balloons falling, noise makers, horns, confetti
I saw that this was coming up and thought I should mark the occasion with an extra good post. So, yesterday my youngest son and I headed out for a walk, and we grabbed the camera on our way out the door. I thought you might like to go on a little tour of the neighborhood. See what's what, who's who, and how the surroundings of the Little Cottage appear each day. Sound good? OK! Let's get started!
To begin, here's my house. You can see by the Halloween decor that this is an old picture. I forgot to take one yesterday. But really, not much has changed since we took this picture last fall. However, soon there will be changes. Remember the visit from the landscape designer? We'll be planting our new plants and bushes soon.
Next up, this sweet little 2 bedroom green and white cottage. It's about 5 doors down, same side of the street. Currently a rental but sadly, slated for demolition in the next year or two. I think this would be the perfect vacation home for my parents. They could come and stay on the weekends or in the summer, and spend as much time with the grandkids as they wish. However, I don't think they are interested in a fixer upper vacation house. Too bad.
Just checking in, here's my walking companion. Yep, he's warm enough under the blanket.
Ok, a typical scene around here. This is the next block down, across the street. I think the house on the corner is going down sometime this week, if the weather cooperates. The 2 houses to its left sit on a lot that used to be occupied by one house. The old one was a brick Georgian. Beautiful on the outside, but from what I understand it was quite cramped on the inside. See the yellow digger? That's the real reason my son wanted to go on a walk. Notice he's holding one as well. He was hoping to see the big one in action yesterday.
A little sad - and incredulous - that the big "Scoop" is on a break today.
A look back towards the top of the street. Our house is the little white blip, top right. I think you can see the chimney.
One street over, one block down. Two new houses. I love the one on the left. It's supposed to be mine, they are saving it for me. I just need to figure out the financing on it and we'll be all set.
Another view. I wonder what I'll put in the big picture window? hmm. Still have some time to decide.
Same street, same block, a little further down. The blue house is going down soon. This house has not been occupied for some time. It has had that neglected look about it for awhile. Do you recognize the middle house? I think everyone around here is excited for spring to really get going, just so they can see the beautiful gardens again. The new house on the far left was completed in the fall and is looking for new owners. If you move here I will introduce you around. That's a promise!
Another street over, one block down. More contrast between old and new. It really is something to see these changes happen so quickly. The neighborhood is in a constant state of flux and we wonder when it will settle down.
This is a friend's house. She lives across the steet from the 2 houses above. Her house was a little cupcake like mine is now, but a few years ago she and her husband did a complete renovation - new kitchen, added a new master bed & bath, and also a new family room. You can't see the changes in the front, they just bumped it backward a bit. You would love the inside of this house. Her kitchen is to die for!
Another view of my friend's house...you can see she is right next door to an older house, one that probably won't be here beyond its current owners. The house 2 doors down on the left was built last summer.
Ok, down one more block, same street. This is where the neighborhood ends and the park begins. You can see the metra train in the background. That takes commuters into the city. I love this house. It reminds me of my grandparents' house. Can you see the big window on the left side, facing the park? That is their dining room. My husband and I think their house would be perfect for Thanksgiving. Big meal in the dining room, and then everyone out to the park for the turkey bowl afterwards.
Here we are at the park, facing the train station in the distance. You can see the train platform.
If I turn to my right I can see the baseball diamond.
When the kids swing, they like to face the train tracks so they can catch a glimpse of the trains going by. My sons don't realize how lucky they are...they like trains, and they actually live near trains.
Looking for the train.
Here it comes...
Speeding by!
On our way back home now. This house is around the corner from the park. It is another house that I love. It's an oldie but goodie, and I hope it stays on...forever.
A new house. Don't you love the dormers and the big front porch! So friendly and welcoming. We're back on my street now, 2 blocks down.
These houses are to the immediate left of the new cape above. The white sign on the lawn is a builder's sign...so that means that the little blue house is going down.
One more stop before home. This is a little further up the block from the grouping above. Such a cute little bungalow. A nice couple lives here. The wife inherited the house from her grandfather. It was one of the first houses on the street. You can see the new green house that I like behind it.
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Back at home now. I hope you enjoyed the walk! It was fun to walk around and think of things to show you. Thanks for helping me celebrate my big 1-5-0!
It's still quite chilly outside - definitely not time for sandals yet - but I'm not concerned. These pink beauties arrived in the mail a few days ago to carry me through the cold spring days and nights. Do you recognize them? If you are a clog fanatic like I am, then you know they are by Dansko. Circa 2006. I should have bought them when they first came out last year, but I hemmed and hawed and waited too long. Thank goodness for ebay.
Me and pink, pink and me. We seem to be enjoying quite a bit of each other these days. I told my mom that I was going through a "pink phase". That was 2 years ago. Clearly, it's not over yet. Who knew? Not me. I don't remember being a "pink" person when I was a little girl. Quite the opposite now that I'm all grown up and sharing a house with a group of boys. Could it be that my new love of all things pink is an(other) attempt to reinforce my feminine side, now that I'm surrounded by trucks and trains, tractors and race cars, baseballs and footballs? I'm sure stranger things have happened.
It's been a wonderful weekend, in no small part because of all of the lovely and sincere comments I received on my last post. I want to thank you for those. Thank you for taking the time to send an encouraging thought, or to offer advice, or to just tell me that you read my story. Hearing back from you has meant so much to me, I didn't realize how much it would. Thank you...so very much.
I hope you all had a nice Easter. Ours was COLD! but lovely. The egg hunt at the neighborhood park on Saturday was complete with hot chocolate, red noses, and shivering bodies. The Easter bunny brought new Bob the Builder books and toys Sunday morning (along with a heavy dose of chocolate...I just love the Easter bunny). And yesterday morning I headed out in my new suit. Yes I did! With my new open-toe shoes. I felt great. Happy to be wearing something cheerful and pink. And I wasn't cold at all.
Today's Oprah is about autism. Maybe you will have a chance to watch it. I heard recently that the show was looking for Chicago area families to participate by sharing their story about living with autism. We didn't make it on to the show, but I would like to share my application with you. I think this explains a lot about me, my family, and "life in a much loved 1950s cape". It's been something that I have wanted to share with you for awhile now, but I didn't know how to. This seemed like the best way to do it.
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Dear Oprah,
My husband and I have a 5 yr-old son who was diagnosed with autism shortly after his 3rd birthday. He is our oldest child. We also have a 2 1/2 yr-old son who is a typically developing boy.
Bobby is our son with autism. He is a beautiful, fun-loving, sweet child, who was the perfect baby. From the time he was born until well into his toddler hood, we thought his quiet attention to details and his preference for listening and observing were personality characteristics consistent with being a first born child. It was not until the middle of my second pregnancy that my husband Rob and I started to notice that Bobby was not interested in things that other children his age seemed to be: communicating with peers, potty training, and extensive communication with his parents. He was a friendly baby who would smile at us, liked to be hugged and touched, loved to listen to music, look at number and letter puzzles, and run...yet he did not spend much time interacting with us. When he spoke he repeated what we said more than anything. It was as if he enjoyed us from a distance. Our pediatrician at the time told us that Bobby was just shy and needed to be around children more.
After our second son was born, we felt that we needed to pursue our continuing doubts about Bobby's development. Fortunately, we found a pediatrician who guided us down an aggressive path of having Bobby's development evaluated by professionals. We signed him up for an evaluation with the local school district as well as with a private center in town. The process of having Bobby evaluated by both sources lasted for a few months. By the end we had read a lot about developmental delay. Still, it was heart breaking to hear our fears confirmed when a doctor told us that Bobby had autism and that he needed extensive therapy.
Ever since that day, we have devoted our lives to treating and conquering Bobby's autism. We are fortunate to live near the Little Friends Center for Autism, where we have found tremendous resources and support. We are also fortunate to live in a school district that recognizes and provides for children on the autism spectrum. More than anything, we are fortunate for the love and support that we give each other, and for the love and support that we receive from our parents and families.
Overcoming the challenges that autism presents is not an easy task for Bobby. While other children his age are busy playing, Bobby is working. For the past 2 years, Bobby has attended a preschool class through the public school system 5 days a week, where professionals provide speech, occupational therapy, and social skills therapy. He receives ABA therapy 5-6 days a week at home, for 2-3 hours each session. He attends an extra hour of both speech and OT during the week away from home as well. From the moment he wakes up in the morning until he goes to sleep at night, we are constantly working with him on learning something: how to dress himself, how to feed himself, how to perform other self-care tasks that other children know intuitively, how to speak to his brother, how to ask for something using the right words, how to express his needs verbally by using the correct pronouns, how to play with a friend, how to figure out the world. Learning the ins and outs of potty training took about 2 years of constant practice, and has been his biggest accomplishment to date. It is not an exaggeration to say that Bobby’s schedule as a 5 yr-old is busier, more rigorous, and more demanding than some adults we know.
And yet, we press on and challenge him because we see progress every day. Every day we see his potential increasing. His progress is slow, but it’s steady. Bobby has made obvious strides in all the areas that he works in, because he’s got will and determination, love and support around him, and the tools within reach to do it. He can construct full sentences now. He can sit and attend to a teacher at a table and perform multiple tasks when asked. He can draw a circle, square, and sign his name. He can take turns (albeit, sometimes reluctantly) with his younger brother when they both want the same toy. The tasks are not easy, but they become more familiar and routine the more he performs them. In the area of academics, such as (pre)reading and (pre) math skills, Bobby is performing at a level that is superior to other children his age. His biggest challenge, perhaps the area that is his biggest deficit, is maneuvering social situations with a group of people. Next year after kindergarten he will attend a half day social sills program to improve his peer to peer relations. We are confident that Bobby will make the strides in this area that he has in the other areas.
Living with autism is not easy. My husband and I are lucky, because we are on the “same page” when it comes to seeing Bobby’s strengths and weaknesses. Neither one of us is in denial about his condition and the challenges he faces. We get strength from that because we have the same hopes and dreams for him. But from time to time, we still struggle to come to terms with the realities that autism presents. We wish that he could talk to us beyond telling us his wants and needs and observations of what he sees around us. We wish that he could tell us how he feels, what he wonders, what he believes. We know there is a little boy inside that body who has hopes and dreams of his own. We know he probably feels different from other children when he’s around them, and he probably doesn’t know why he is different. We know he has a vivid imagination where he spends most of his time visiting the characters he has met in books or movies. We wish that he could spend more of his time visiting us.
Treating Bobby’s autism has completely changed our lives in terms of how we live on a day-to-day basis. I have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom, but given Bobby’s schedule and his needs, I could not return to work full-time even if I wanted to, because I need to manage his constantly changing and intricate schedule. Meeting other moms during the day is almost impossible because we generally do not have time for play dates or other kid/mom activities. When I am around other moms who have typically developing children, I sometimes find it hard to relate to their daily talk and discussion of what life in their households is like. It can be isolating to experience something that you think no one really understands. I have met a nice group of women who also have children with autism, but I do not see them often, probably once every 2-3 months. In order to combat the loneliness I was feeling during my days, I started a bunco group in my neighborhood. Connecting with women at night – and without kids – has been the best way for me to encourage a network of friendships with moms close by.
Treating autism has also meant staggering medical bills for us. From the evaluation process, we have been consistently fighting to pay the medical expenses generated by treating autism. Most of these expenses are not covered by insurance. It is maddening.
Another maddening aspect of autism is the mystery surrounding it. The great divide of beliefs within the autism world in terms of its origin is confusing and upsetting. No one knows where it comes from and why the number of kids being diagnosed is on the rise. Some people say it’s the vaccinations. Some people say it’s not. Also, what does a diagnosis really mean for a child like Bobby? What will his life be like? All of the professionals we work with are carefully trained to not speculate. We are optimistic but uncertain about the opportunities that Bobby will have when he is an adult. For that matter, we are uncertain about what his life will be like as he grows more into his boyhood. Will he have friends? Will he be able to converse with us, in a true back and forth manner? Will he be able to work, go to college, live on his own? While it’s true that no one knows what life brings for any one of us, it is maddening as a parent of a child with autism to not know any parameters. Every child with autism seems to be different, so it’s impossible to say how each of these children will function as an adult.
With the clock now ticking past midnight, I should not write any longer. But I am happy to share our story with you and your viewers, especially if hearing about our experience helps another family and another child in the same situation. The one thing I want to be sure you understand is that our story is one of hope. Our little boy has great challenges and is in the fight of his life to secure a “normal” life for himself in this big world. But he is on his way. Despite the struggles and battles, this is not a sad story, Oprah. Bobby is on his way, and he is going to get the best of autism and live the fullest life imaginable. We imagine great things for him.
Sincerely,
Meg
I spent most of Monday and Tuesday doing a thorough cleaning around here...yes, spring cleaning! Always dreaded but much celebrated afterwards. If only you could see how clean my house is - but then I'd have to show you a "before" picture and that's just out of the question.
Last item on the task list is taking down all my window valances and this cord cover, and getting them cleaned and pressed. The cord cover's been in place now for almost 4 years, never been touched. Or vaccumed. You think it's about time for a cleaning? This is just the kind of incidental thing that starts to bother me when I wake up in the middle of the night. But with my valances and cover cleaned, what can possibly keep me awake now?
We arrived home Sunday night to cool temps and the promise of rain...and maybe even snow (shudder!) later this week. April showers arrived this morning (oh, and that's the view of my street through my front door...see the school bus pulling away at the curb? My little guy had just boarded.) That's Ok. I know what I saw last week: sunny days, shorts, the sweaty heads of my kids from running around outside. That kind of spring will come back. In the meantime, however, I have a new pink suit to wear for Easter. If it's really 40 degrees on Sunday, can I possibly go out in it (with my new open-toe shoes)? If things get ugly I might have to stick to black wool pants. hmph.
is that the old fisher price "little people" sets are 100x better than the new. Does this scene on the carpet bring back memories for you? Perhaps in your memory the carpet was a 1970s shag? My mom saved these sets from when we were small. I think the boys were surprised to find that these little people fit so easily into their seats. Unlike the chubby little people of today who have to be wedged in. My favorite little person from the days of old is a little brunette girl wearing blue with a white collar. You can't see her in the picture. I think she's driving a bus just off to the right.
I did get a picture, just barely. Actually, it took 2 to get everyone. Getting the kids together was all the craziness it promised to be. We were outside, we were inside, we were upstairs, we were downstairs, we were riding scooters and bikes around the circle in the street, we were in the sandbox and swings in the backyard. Oh yeah, and we ate almost a whole bag of tootsie pops. Ok, so the sugar made them a little crazy, but they deserved the treat. Not surprisingly, mine fell asleep in the car before we even made it onto the highway. Going to bed tonight, they were already been talking about seeing their "new friends" again soon. And me? I am, as always, so happy to have seen my "old friends". Special, irreplaceable friends whom I would trust with my life. *happy sigh* It was a great trip.
We are in Ohio this week for spring break, visiting my parents. Today was a trip to the zoo, and the kids had a ball. We lucked out...warm weather, sunny skies, no lines, yummy (packed at home by their devoted grandmother) lunch that included their favorite *treats*, even a carosel ride. Yep, there were happy creatures on both sides of the glass...
I'm trying to plan fun days throughout the week for the kids. As always, my mom has done much prep to make the house full of fun and a place that they love being at. Her hard work has paid off. They think they are in a 5 star kid resort! Tonight my oldest said he didn't want to go home. You can imagine how happy it made my parents to hear that.
Tuesday we'll be driving over to visit with 2 college roommates and their kids...there will be a total of 6 boys & 2 girls. We've never had them all together before, and I can't wait to see the commotion. Talk about a zoo! If I can get a picture, I promise to post it.
I like to think of myself as an optimist. Happy by nature, or at least, choosing to be happy by nature. Most days I'm easily encouraged, ready to see the silver lining in the clouds, ready to see the glass as half full.
But everyone has their days.
This has not been the greatest week. It hasn't been bad. It hasn't even been terrible. There have actually been a couple of really terrific moments. But, it's Thursday afternoon, almost Friday, and the week is rolling to completion soon. Looking back, it's just not been one of my favorites.
So this morning I did what I always do when I'm not feeling my best. I made myself look as good as possible. Make-up, hair, clothes, everything. Not fancy, but all steps taken, nothing skipped. Shower. No track suit. No pony tail. Mascara and lipstick. If you look good, you feel good. Right? It works for me.
Get ready - here's another obscure reference - remember the musical "Hello Dolly!"? We did that in high school, which is why I know it. There's a number in it called "Put on Your Sunday Clothes". I can still remember the lyrics:
Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out
Strut down the street and have your picture took
Dressed like a dream your spirits seem to turn about
That Sunday shine is a certain sign
That you feel as fine as you look!
Beneath your parasol, the world is all a smile
That makes you feel brand new down to your toes
Get out your feathers
Your patent leathers
Your beads and buckles and bows
For there's no blue Monday in your Sunday clothes!
Maybe you already have your own strategy on how you get through the days that aren't your best. Your weak days. We all have them. But this is what works for me.
Oh, and the flowers really help, too.
bloggers and non-bloggers alike! Why did I get a 50/50 score...that doesn't tell me much....except that I am balanced? hmm.
| You Are 50% Left Brained, 50% Right Brained |
 The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports. |
I thought when I started out that my blog would focus mostly on what it's like to live here, and how we renovate & decorate. But it's evolved into something broader than that. I am getting much more into the "life" part v. the house part. And my blogger profile confirms this!
Bloggers, which type are you?
| You Are a Life Blogger! |
 Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible. |
My little 2 yr-old goes to a half-day Kid's Day Out program once a week at a local church. We call this "preschool". It makes him feel like he's a big boy, just like his older brother. His teacher is one of our neighbors, she lives at the end of our street. When we pass by her house in the car he always calls out, "there's Miss Ginna's house!" He loves her. He loves his Cookie Monster backpack, too.
No plans yet this weekend, but we've got plenty of options. Top of the list should be cleaning out the basement, but, uh, well, hmm, I don't know if I can face that just yet. We're having a garage sale later this spring, so we need to do one of those clean outs where you make piles of things to discard and things to try to sell. For something like that, I find motivation in the 11th hour.
Much more interesting ways for us to spend our time on Saturday include a local parade, a Cub Scout pancake breakfast (we bought our tickets from our Scout next door), and a cookout at our friends' house at night. Still looking for a babysitter, though. Wish me luck!
I was just talking to my pal Betsy on the phone. She told me she spotted little shoots coming up in the ground around her house. I told her about these little guys that I spotted the other day next to our chimney. She asked me what they are and I said I don't know. I'm terrible when it comes to gardening. I can never keep plant names and identities straight. Any ideas out there?
Betsy, what do you think?
