Hi All!
So I'm over at my other blog today: Intentional Family, talking about a subject that everyone loves: FOOD. You might be surprised by how "crunchy" I've really become. HA!
Hope you all have a terrific start to your weekends!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Army of Women wants YOU.
A few months ago, I joined the Army of Women, a breast cancer research initiative that joins forces with women like you and me to reach their goal of eradicating breast cancer. I received an email from them today explaining a research study in Chicago that incorporates women between the ages of 50-70 who have never been diagnosed with breast cancer.
I am shamelessly using my blog to promote the study tonight - because I love their philosophy of participation. The Army of Women asks women to join in the fight against breast cancer by signing up to be informed of research studies in the regions - and to perhaps participate in one of these studies.
Who knows? You might be able to participate in the research that keeps women alive to snuggle up to their families for the rest of their natural lives. Consider joining the Army.
I am shamelessly using my blog to promote the study tonight - because I love their philosophy of participation. The Army of Women asks women to join in the fight against breast cancer by signing up to be informed of research studies in the regions - and to perhaps participate in one of these studies.
Who knows? You might be able to participate in the research that keeps women alive to snuggle up to their families for the rest of their natural lives. Consider joining the Army.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
NOFO. That's the North Fork to you
Our family vacation this year was just awesome. We spent 11 days in Mattituck, NY, on the North Fork. We rented kayaks for most of the first week, and the Runner and I took them out every single day, together! Alone! We did take the Talker on a long kayak excursion (probably a total of 4 miles out and back) to a salt marsh to explore the wildlife there. So terrific. The only way it could've been better is if I'd had some chicken necks and string and a bucket for all the blue crabs that would've become an illegal (but delicious) lunch. The Talker's godfather came down for a long weekend, which was a major treat for all of us, especially the Runner. They went clamming, we ate steamers. They went out again, we had the BEST clam chowder (Rhode Island style) courtesy of Gramps (and Froggy Gramps, really).
How lucky were we?? Both sets of grandparents took the kids to the Up & Down Horsey in Greenport! And Miss Rosie found a blueberry bush with enough ripe berries to last her at least a week (and enough to turn her poo bright green. Who knew?!) 
There was always a full house, but it made for lots of interesting conversations and late night card games. and I, of course, got in a ton of knitting with some lovely yarn from Knitche. Very relaxing.
We didn't have a single bad beach day, and the Talker took to the water like a slippery, white otter. He even played a bit with his sister. It was a week full to the brim with blessings and family time, and I'm pretty sure it was desperately needed by all of us. We came home renewed and ready for whatever the coming chill holds. Except maybe for the actual chill part. At least I would be willing to pass on that. It's possible that these pictures will find their way into a post in January when the snow is six inches deep but the Talker still has school. Ahhh, sweet home, Chicago.
We didn't have a single bad beach day, and the Talker took to the water like a slippery, white otter. He even played a bit with his sister. It was a week full to the brim with blessings and family time, and I'm pretty sure it was desperately needed by all of us. We came home renewed and ready for whatever the coming chill holds. Except maybe for the actual chill part. At least I would be willing to pass on that. It's possible that these pictures will find their way into a post in January when the snow is six inches deep but the Talker still has school. Ahhh, sweet home, Chicago.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
It's been a while...again
I'm not sure what's keeping me from the blog lately. I think it's a classic case of self-induced pressure + writer's block. A dear friend of mine reminded me (via her excellent blog, The Traveling Circus) recently that I really shouldn't let perfection be the enemy of good. I think I fall prey to that logic too often - wallowing in a sometimes-obsessive need for perfection while sitting very still.
If it were New Year's Day, or Lent, I'd have one hell of a resolution.
Perhaps I should just deal with it in real time, though. Not wait for that golden opportunity to arrive in which I can easily change...I suppose this is because change is likely the toughest challenge we can ever face as individuals. If you truly want to modify something about the way to face the world - it takes honest-to-God dedication and hard work! Am I up for that? If I took the easy way out, I'd wait for Lent.
If it were New Year's Day, or Lent, I'd have one hell of a resolution.
Perhaps I should just deal with it in real time, though. Not wait for that golden opportunity to arrive in which I can easily change...I suppose this is because change is likely the toughest challenge we can ever face as individuals. If you truly want to modify something about the way to face the world - it takes honest-to-God dedication and hard work! Am I up for that? If I took the easy way out, I'd wait for Lent.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Exploring the Michigan Coast
We are East Coast babies in our house. I hate to admit that sometimes, because folks from the Midwest are truly so much nicer than we are - and we'd be lucky to be Midwesterners, but we're just not. Our real problem has always stemmed from a bit of snobbery surrounding access to an ocean. You know: Saltwater. Seafood. Undertow.
The Runner is not only a snobby East Coaster, he's also a stuck up New Englander. (Sorry, babe!) I don't mean that he is rude - quite the contrary. What I mean is that he likes certain things to be a certain way. Roads, for example. They should be windy and have trees that could be growing into your lane. Sugaring sap should run in most of them, too. There is no Spring where he is from, just Mud Season. I, too, have my moments. Mine typically center on access to fresh seafood and not being "land locked." Ridiculous, I am aware. But still. When we first moved to Chicagoland I went to 4 different grocery stores before I could find a tin of Old Bay. (The pride of Maryland!) I was extremely agitated by this - what kind of place were we living in now? Clearly we were no where near the Bay, and I wouldn't be organizing large crab feasts in our backyard with tons of newspaper and paper towels and melted butter. I mean, honestly, Dwyer. What were you expecting?!
Much of this changed, however, over the Fourth of July weekend. On a whim that was characteristic of our lives before homeownership, we skipped town with zero plan on Saturday morning, just knowing that we were headed to the Michigan Coast to check things out.
WOW. There were windy roads and farm stands and trees threatening to shove us into oncoming traffic. There was a big sandy beach with Mattituck-like waves. There were even signs alerting swimmers to the dangers of an undertow. An undertow! In Lake Michigan! (I didn't need to read it, though. I could recite that warning in my sleep.) The sand was so hot it burned The Runner's feet! I did miss the salt and seafood, though. But the perk of no salt is that you don't feel desperate for a shower immediately after leaving the beach.
We started in Holland and had a yummy lunch at the New Holland Brewing Company. Several of The Runner's friends had recommended it (for the beer), but the food was quite good on its own, especially the homemade hummus. Then we hit Holland State Park where we burned our feet, read the riptide warning, swam, and threw some sand at other small children. Oh, wait, that was The Talker.
The whole coastline was gorgeous. And everyone we've talked to since said it just gets more pristine and lovely as you drive north. Who knows? Maybe our next adventure will take us up to Traverse City? If you can't beat 'em (or organize a crab feast), join 'em.
The Runner is not only a snobby East Coaster, he's also a stuck up New Englander. (Sorry, babe!) I don't mean that he is rude - quite the contrary. What I mean is that he likes certain things to be a certain way. Roads, for example. They should be windy and have trees that could be growing into your lane. Sugaring sap should run in most of them, too. There is no Spring where he is from, just Mud Season. I, too, have my moments. Mine typically center on access to fresh seafood and not being "land locked." Ridiculous, I am aware. But still. When we first moved to Chicagoland I went to 4 different grocery stores before I could find a tin of Old Bay. (The pride of Maryland!) I was extremely agitated by this - what kind of place were we living in now? Clearly we were no where near the Bay, and I wouldn't be organizing large crab feasts in our backyard with tons of newspaper and paper towels and melted butter. I mean, honestly, Dwyer. What were you expecting?!
Much of this changed, however, over the Fourth of July weekend. On a whim that was characteristic of our lives before homeownership, we skipped town with zero plan on Saturday morning, just knowing that we were headed to the Michigan Coast to check things out.
WOW. There were windy roads and farm stands and trees threatening to shove us into oncoming traffic. There was a big sandy beach with Mattituck-like waves. There were even signs alerting swimmers to the dangers of an undertow. An undertow! In Lake Michigan! (I didn't need to read it, though. I could recite that warning in my sleep.) The sand was so hot it burned The Runner's feet! I did miss the salt and seafood, though. But the perk of no salt is that you don't feel desperate for a shower immediately after leaving the beach.
We started in Holland and had a yummy lunch at the New Holland Brewing Company. Several of The Runner's friends had recommended it (for the beer), but the food was quite good on its own, especially the homemade hummus. Then we hit Holland State Park where we burned our feet, read the riptide warning, swam, and threw some sand at other small children. Oh, wait, that was The Talker.
On the 4th we drove into Saugatuck, an artsy little town with a rockin' Fourth of July parade. The Talker scored more candy than he did as a rootin-tootin' cowboy on Halloween. Rosie cried when the fire trucks came through. I aquired a coffee table book from the a group fighting to preserve the Saugatuck Dunes. It was a very generous parade. We drove home by way of South Haven, mainly because I needed some ice cream.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSIE!
Our smiley flower turns ONE today! This year has simply flown by. Between the exhaustion of a new (and refluxy) baby and a regular school schedule for the Talker, the time just whizzed on past. I feel a bit sad about that. She is changing fast - developing a formidable personality to compete with the other three attention grabbers in our house. Yes, I've included the Runner and myself. I'm honest, at least.
Here's a little photo retrospective of Rosie's first year! Enjoy!
So, it's been a while.
WOW. Two months of no blogging! That's just too long. I don't really have many excuses to give for my laziness, though we have been going through a few family adjustments since May. But seriously, when are we not?!
Since I last wrote I've completed the Naperville Women's Triathlon, we've enjoyed our local swim and tennis club (still enjoying!), witnessed my father being ordained a Roman Catholic deacon (SO AWESOME.), and explored part of the Michigan coastline (gorgeous, sans salt). It's been a busy two months. We've got lots and lots of pictures to come - with stories to compliment them. Or captions at least.
And I'd been writing for the Chicago Moms Blog for the last several months, but their organization suddenly decided to close shop, so I've been avoiding blogging while I try to figure out whether or not I want to join up with a new Chicago mommy blogging community. I'm still on the fence. The thing is, I don't consider myself much of a self-marketer trying to "create my brand." Frankly, I'm not sure if that's even real. I'm interested in writing, of course, but I was running out of clever things to say to all of Chicago's moms on "the big blog." For now I think I'm going to play it close to the vest and just write here for a while. And while I can't promise an all-kids-all-the-time theme, it does seem to be the one I like best.
Since I last wrote I've completed the Naperville Women's Triathlon, we've enjoyed our local swim and tennis club (still enjoying!), witnessed my father being ordained a Roman Catholic deacon (SO AWESOME.), and explored part of the Michigan coastline (gorgeous, sans salt). It's been a busy two months. We've got lots and lots of pictures to come - with stories to compliment them. Or captions at least.
And I'd been writing for the Chicago Moms Blog for the last several months, but their organization suddenly decided to close shop, so I've been avoiding blogging while I try to figure out whether or not I want to join up with a new Chicago mommy blogging community. I'm still on the fence. The thing is, I don't consider myself much of a self-marketer trying to "create my brand." Frankly, I'm not sure if that's even real. I'm interested in writing, of course, but I was running out of clever things to say to all of Chicago's moms on "the big blog." For now I think I'm going to play it close to the vest and just write here for a while. And while I can't promise an all-kids-all-the-time theme, it does seem to be the one I like best.
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