The Borrower

We live in an old house next to the fourth oldest house in the town. Pretty cool, huh? We are only renters. I have yet to grow up and secure my own huge mortgage that will follow me to the next world. So in our rented old house there are issues that our landlord tends to ignore. One being the gutters that needed fixed over a year ago. They are hanging on by grace and overflow with water when it rains. But when it is freezing outside....the gutters create an icicle jeweled house that is just beautiful...and maybe even deadly if you happen to be passing by when they start to melt and fall...(Note: this picture is borrowed from the husband's photo folder). Thank you G!

Shame

May fate keep me far from this man...even in his fictional form....I fear I would make a complete and utter fool of myself. We went to see the new Bond flick. What was the plot? *shoulder shrug*. But I do know Mr. Bond looked very nice in his suits...and out of his suits. There is something about this version of Bonds that makes me blush...even giggle. It perplexes my husband. I mean he has a little crumpled face and ears that stick out a bit....but I think that just increases the appeal. Where are the men that can put on a suit and command a room with their presence? And then do the same in a blue brief speedo on the beach...?

Jack

I am skeptic about many a thing in our world. There are very few things that I believe in with absolute certainty. One of these steadfast beliefs pertains to the power of the jack-o-lantern. We were down to the wire getting these fellows ready to go on their shift. I kept giving my husband time updates on how soon the sun was going to set. They made it just in time to do their part in keeping our home mischievous spirit free for another year. The husband stayed up until sunrise watching Halloween horror movies...and re-lighting the Jacks---knowing that it gave me a peace of mind to know they were on duty.

Brunch

Today we did the Sunday Brunch with the in laws. It has been sometime since we have gathered together at our favorite local restaurant. My husband and I have been coming here for a decade now. We love their brunch, hot tea, cheesecake, and the well used dented salt and pepper shakers...and of course the staff that knows us. We exchanged gifts---late for the mother-in-laws birthday(at the beginning of this month) and early for the husband's birthday (next week). While we toasted and ate our share of cozy comfort food goodies...the day drifted by in its October grey. After such a rough couple of weeks at work it was nice to be surrounded by people that actually like me for the person I am. I feel a bit better.

Night Snack

Um, I suppose I was a wee tired today. I missed the sun. My head was in deep sleep until eleven o'clock in the night. That would be over 12 hours of straight sleep...or a hibernation. So when I arose from the bed the husband was waiting to go and get out of the house. We saw a midnight movie and then headed to the grocery store to get some real food. I had the itch to be a bit domestic. At three in the morning we enjoyed tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches....and of course we enjoyed each other's company. He would tell you that he knows all my cheesy stories of my childhood and my post high school day shenanigans....it is my challenge then to find something new to bring the table every now and then....so to speak.

So sweet...

These roses were on my desk at work. The husband arrived to my workplace before me and left them with a little note. So sweet....just like my husband.

The Last Sunday

Our excursion to the pumpkin patch was a boost we needed in our relationship. As of today both of our schedules change...and we will see even less of each other over the coming months. Since July we have been able to share one day a week together, Saturdays, and one morning together, Sundays. With his new position at work and a new program I am part of on my shift...everything changes. People joke when I tell them this. Saying "well, all that time apart makes for a good marriage...no fighting." Why do we sacrifice our relationships for work, for money? (Note: he looked so peaceful this morning...my heart told me to let him be).

Pick Me

The husband and I traveled to a local farm today to do some pumpkin picking. The day was just gorgeous....and so were all the pumpkins, gourds, corn, cider, honey, garlic, apples, kettle popcorn....autumn harvest overload! I feel blessed to have such a day with the man I adore. He even thought I looked cute in my pre-Halloween wardrobe that combined pink cowboy boots, the new favorite purple striped shirt, an owl messenger bag, green bracelets and a Frankenstein necklace. He must have had a crush on Punky Brewster when he was little. (Note: It was very difficult to pick just one pumpkin to take home....so, um, four came home with us instead.)

09/13: Crafters and Celtics

The rain poured for the Renegade Craft Fair. But we loved it anyway. Of course we loaded up on all the free loot and did some "research" for our trip next year. The vendors were very pleasant and tended to flirt with the husband (who tended to roam away from the group).

Did you know that corn was an Irish Tradition? No? Me either. We came to the Chicago Celtic Festival a little late in the day---and a bit on the soaked side. The vendor food was a bit on the mysterious and strange side---but the free Great Big Sea (G's favorite band in the world) made up for it...

Rain ponchos and Great Big Sea. A medium sized crowd of die-hard fans meant we had a great view of the band and plenty of room to kitchen party in our way cool ponchos in the never ending down pour.

09/11 :Zoos, Beans and Sox

In the morning we visited the Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo (it's free!). A wonderful zoo with great classic architecture. You can feel the love the city has for this zoo. The animals were well taken care of and the grounds were beautiful with flowers and well behaved children.
The afternoon was spent at Millennium Park and introducing it to my sister and her boyfriend....because everyone loves the Bean.

The Chicago White Sox vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox lost 6-4 but Jim Thome hit a 411 ft home run to make things exciting (this is important, I guess, because he once played for the Indians---so says the husband). There was a 9-11 tribute to soldiers of the war...and some fan ran out on the field in the middle of the game and was escorted off the field by a line of very buff looking security guards. G had only four hot dogs. How does his stomach do it?

The Loot

We have returned...our bags loaded with Renegade Craft Fair loot, our memories loaded with love, and our cameras loaded with over 2,000 pictured from Chicago Vacation 2008! As the husband and I try to recuperate before work tomorrow (i.e.= showering away the funk of the trip, unpacking, paying the bills that arrived while we were out, and taking some big naps) I will also attempt a photo-travel log on my new flickr thing...(Note: this vacation did just the trick in getting me exctied again about the world of art and crafting...and working over the next year to be a part of it!) Oh...and it was just all shades of fantastic to share this vacation time with my lil sis:)

I'd go the whole wide world just to find him...

Sometimes I just feel I am such a lucky fool to have my husband....so sweet, kind, patient, forgiving, funny, creative, smart. Other times I am pretty superficial and I think he is just the most handsome thing...ever. The combination of pony tail, Lennon glasses and the staple black artist t-shirt, well, they just make me swoon.

Love & Marriage

I made it. The vacation time has arrived. Now, a new job...getting ready for that Chicago trip. I have postponed....or more accurately...procrastinated with the final details (um, like travel size shampoo, finding the suitcases, making itineraries for the group...). Perhaps after a day of slumber I will wake up with a cornacopia of holiday energy and get things in gear. Confession...I am a list-o-holic. Making a list, checking it twice, and crossing missions and project of the things to do makes me dizzy with glee. My Lil sis could tell you stories of the huge lists on 18 x 24 sheet of bristol board that covered the walls of our mini-kitchen apartment during my college-get-a-teaching-degree-days. When I am feeling down about my life being in the pits or get overwhelmed by some task she encourages me to get in ye-old college list making mode. It jazzes me every time. If only the husband loved doing the list I make for him as much as I enjoy making them.

So Vain

It may have been a triple dog dare from the husband....but I did it today. Fourteen inches of my hair was clipped and prepared to send to Wigs for Kids. Yes, fourteen inches. Back in December my hair was below the backs of my knees and I had close to a yard cut off in order to style my hair for my brother's wedding. So today I do feel a bit vain...as every time I see my reflection I am still a bit shocked at the change. The decade old librarian school marm bun may be gone but I am forever a librarian at heart.

For The Love of Duckie

Last night was a "let's stay up and watch a cheesy John Hughes eighties movie" night. We were up until four in the morning with Some Kind of Wonderful. Prior to last night I have always had a love/hate relationship with Pretty in Pink. I am a big supporter of Duckie (meaning I would have pursued him in my teendom days...so cute, sarcastic, and loyal...). So by the end of the movie I am at an emotional loss because her prom dress makes me nauseous and she chooses the tweed over Duckie. Last night was my initial introduction to Some Kind of Wonderful. Somehow it has been off my radar over the years. And I think it has eclipsed dear Pretty Pink as 80's teen love-angst genres go (Note: Breakfast Club is the supreme. Period). There is some real feminism sprinkled deliciously through out the movie. And my girl Watts... I would have been her best friend if I were cool enough back in the day. Long rock the Duckies and Watts of this world.

SWAP

Tonight the husband and I had dinner with some friends who also happen to be struggling artists. One of the most difficult things (for the likes of us who graduated with art degrees and big dreams) is trying to figure out the dynamics of networking. How to get your work out there in the world and seen by other people. Over veggie burgers and a few amaretto sours we discussed what my husband calls our Master Plan. Studio= check. Blog= check. Research fairs (ie. Chicago trip)= check. Interacting in art communities= my new project. This little Hello Gnome is the first in a series of paintings for an art swap involving postcards. The requirement is to design three post cards to send to three other artists...and in return I too will get post cards via the postal service from other craftsters. To be simple, art is about making connections. I hope this art swap will be fruitful...and fun.

Sun Chasing

After my husband read my last blog entry we decided to scurry ourselves out of the house and chase the sun. It was a perfect day. And we only had so much time to spare before he had to report to work. We grabbed a lunch and headed to one of our favorite spots. Back in the day we used to come here and skip rocks. This creek has the best combination. It has a great selection of flat rocks and relatively calm sections of water for fantastic skipping distance. Note: the first time my husband ever skipped a rock in his life was right here with me many, many, many pretty moons ago. I feel better with a bit of summer sun in me and better for getting a bit of husband time.