fall arrives

good morning, it's saturday

amazing night

Best show ever? Maybe. A cab ride later and I'm still feeling goosebumps.

river view

Last week we did a river architecture tour of the city. The views were spectacular, the guide was helpful and interesting, and the tour was worth it if only for orienting me around the city. Money well spent if you're in the Chicago area.

the world travelers

As Megan and Jon make their trek around the world, they spent a few days with us in Chicago. We had a great weekend together. Each morning we rose leisurely and spent the days exploring and relaxing. We cooked and ate dinner outside. We gathered with Kate and Adam and stayed up too late. We took long walks and ate ice cream.

It was a wonderful visit and I was very sad to say goodbye to them this morning. We are so lucky for our friends. I'm already looking forward to the next visit.

ten loves right now

1. apples from the farmer's market

2. receiving good news from friends (wedding dates and new babies on the way, both announced this week)

3. Purity.Organic juices: A little glass of this could substitute for dessert any day in our house. Best enjoyed outside with a good book.

4. Dorset cereal for breakfast: A scoop of this, a couple spoonfuls of my favorite yogurt, and a drizzle of honey equals the best way to start your morning.

5. I don't take my lunch to work anymore but I seem to remember a few lunches being stolen over the years from the community fridge. Why not protect yourself with one of these? Hilarious.

6. walking anywhere and enjoying this weather

7. writing letters

8. Can I have one for fall?

9. finishing a book and opening a new one

10. anticipating the arrival of good friends. A great weekend awaits us!

wednesday

"If I were asked the chief benefit of the house, I should say: the house shelters daydreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace." -Gaston Bachelard

more from kansas

three days of endless rain

On Saturday we holed up in the house to avoid the pounding rain that continued to fall on southeast Kansas. John fixed the projector so we could watch the monster movie he made with Charlie last August.

every morning

With each passing year, I appreciate the morning hours more and more.

In all of my life, I've never been a morning person. In high school I would sleep away the mornings while my family moved about the house and dug into their days. Later in college, I would begin writing papers at the 11:00 hour and finish writing well into the gray hours of the morning. The adrenaline of meeting a deadline would flow through my fingers as I typed and wrote beginnings and endings to stories as the sky began to lighten.

But as I've grown older I've come to cherish my mornings, especially now as I work from home. My morning time is now filled with quiet time to think before the day begins. It is my chance to start the day off on the right foot. It is introspective, calm, and very quiet.

I once read an article about choosing five things and starting your day with them everyday. You'd be amazed at how beneficial this can be for your mind and body. I encourage you to give it a shot. Is there something about your morning commute that you love? I remember sitting in traffic when I worked downtown in Baltimore. I loved watching the shopkeepers open their doors, sweep the sidewalk, unroll striped awnings, and turn the "closed" signs to "open." Do you walk your dog or go to the gym? Do you buy a coffee from the same corner coffee shop?

My five?
1. Telling Charlie good morning before getting out of bed.
2. Opening the blinds to let in some light.
3. Pouring a cup of coffee.
4. Sitting down and completing my morning pages. (What are morning pages? They are part of Julia Cameron's Artist Way. Each morning I fill three pages with longhand, stream-of consciousness writing. These pages sometimes contain something creative, some bit of inspiration. But mostly these pages provide me with an outlet to clear the clutter in my head and start the day off with a clear mind.)
5. Skimming the headlines online, listening to Morning Edition, and eating breakfast.

What are your five?

the field: 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

trees

Holga print, 2008

a gift for fall

To mark each season, it's customary that I make a mix of music and send it out to friends. I thought I would extend that this year with a mix for your listening pleasure while working or Internet browsing. Happy fall.

John Stewart: 1, Republicans: 0

as summer fades

So I know summer isn't officially over until September 21st, but it's really beginning to feel like the warm temperatures are a thing of the past. Before fall officially arrives, I feel like there are a handful of things I still need to do. Inspired by the Chicagoist's end-of-summer-to-do list, I've created my own list.

+ Host a final barbecue in the backyard. Drink summer ales.
+ Take a ride on the Navy Pier ferris wheel.
+ Run along the lake path.
+ Go to the beach.
+ Hang in the park with a good book.
+ Take down the blinds and give them a clean. Clean the house as well and open up the windows.
+ Dry clean the down comforter and our winter coats.
+ Buy proper fall/winter shoes.
+ Compile summer photos into an album.
+ Eat some popsicles.
+ Stock up on summer fruit and tomatoes before they disappear all winter and make the following:
- Pomodori al Forno
- Raspberry Breakfast Bars
- Grilled Zucchini and Tomatoes
- Grilled Corn and Shrimp Salad
+ Enjoy E. Jason Wambsgans' photos and recall the summer block parties of July and August.

What's on your list?

labor day

After Charlie finished his reading today, we headed downtown and completed an impromptu walking architecture tour. We started at the James R. Thompson Center. From there we made our way towards the lake with stops along the way. Some highlights included the Reliance Building, the Rookery, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Monadnock Building, and Federal Plaza. I know we've only scratched the surface in terms of buildings to see, but it was lovely spending a day admiring each corner and window. I'm looking forward to walking the many streets we've yet to see and to continue looking up.

We eventually made our way to Millennium Park and then walked along the lake before wrapping things up at the law school. It was a beautiful day. The streets were packed with families and couples enjoying the last hours of the holiday. I can't believe September is here.

We are now resting our feet and planning our next walk.