Snowy Sunday.

Yesterday was Evangeline's first snow!  So exciting!  (She is quite pleased about it, can't you tell?) It was a super cold day out, so after Mass we went downtown and spend the rest of our Sunday at the Field Museum (unfortunately, our timing heading down was not ideal--we were stuck in the rush of thousands of Bears fans going out for the game!).  I'd never been before, and it had been forever since Alex had gone, so it was super fun for both of us to just wander around.  It's huge!  I cannot wait to take Evangeline there when she's a little older and able to appreciate all the cool stuff.  

We really loved the Animals of Africa section; there are so many creatures in the world that you have no idea even exist, but each one is necessary in its own right and perfectly suited to thrive and play its own part in its respective environment.  It's really incredible to think about.  We learned about these monkeys, called Gibbons, who mate for life (unlike most monkeys).  The mates (sometimes along with their babies!) sing songs together in the tree-tops to mark their territory--the songs can be heard up to a mile around.  I just think that is so cool.  

Our most favourite section was Ancient Egypt.  It's unreal to see these papyrus scrolls, sarcophagi, and tomb hieroglyphics that have lasted thousands of years.

I love the beautiful white atrium--and of course, seeing a T-Rex skeleton is pretty neat...

This photo doesn't quite capture how freezing it was last night.  I know we're probably in for a long winter again, but there is something so invigorating about these first truly cold days that I just can't complain about just yet...Happy Sunday!

P.S.  Alex helped me last night to FINALLY figure out how to make my photos line up right against each other (something I've been trying to learn for the last six months...).  From now on hopefully my photo arrangement won't be so confused and annoying.  Thanks, Al. 

Saturday Snapshot.

These days we've been trying to keep busy to distract from the fact that, no, Evangeline has not yet decided to be born.  I've been awfully impatient.  The waiting game has been made worse because we definitely thought she might be born last weekend...an exciting day which turned out to be merely 5+ hours of false labor.  No fun, sir, no fun.  

So we spent Saturday on Lake Michigan, reading The Moviegoer, and luxuriating in our still pre-baby lives.  Very lovely.  I cannot complain! 

Walker Percy in Lincoln Park.

We visited Lincoln Park on Saturday, enjoying the chance to finally spend as much time as we want outside in this perfect weather!  Chicago is so lovely this time of year.  Though sometimes I feel the amount of rain we've been getting borders on preposterous, the lush green grass and foliage definitely make me grateful for the precipitation.   

Alex brought his juggling clubs with him.  He's "so rusty," but I was delighted to watch him and was definitely impressed, especially since he hasn't picked them up since last summer.  I can just imagine how thrilled Evangeline will be by his juggling skill...Along with the clubs we brought a picnic and The Moviegoer (by Walker Percy), which we've been reading aloud together.  It's wonderful.  This is the first Percy novel I've read, and I'm transfixed by his style and story.  The writing is simple, yet elegant, acutely rendering 1950's New Orleans and the shallow, yet fantastically deluded narrator-protagonist.  I will waive further thoughts and speculations until finished with the book. 

"What is the nature of the search? you ask. Really it is very simple; at least for a fellow like me. So simple that it is easily overlooked. The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life." -- Walker Percy, The Moviegoer

Firecakes.

Alex and I are huge doughnut fans, so much so that we've made it an objective to visit every artisanal doughnut shop in Chicago (you say "impossible," I say "easy").  A few weeks ago we tried out Firecakes.  And I'm still dreaming about those doughnuts.

I love the shop itself.  It's not so small as the Doughnut Vault, but still only has a little counter and no seating--fine by me!  Outdoor doughnuts are the best doughnuts.  (They apparently serve fresh blood-orange juice which sounds just lovely with a sweet doughnut.)

We ordered the basics, an Old Fashioned Buttermilk and a Classic Jelly, because if they can't get those right, I refuse to trust them. The Old Fashioned was lovely, sweet (perhaps a little too sweet for me), and crispy on the outside; perfectly soft on the inside.  They somehow achieved a light and fluffy doughnut without forfeiting any of that delicious denseness that makes me adore the Old Fashioned.  The highlight of the Jelly was the jelly: thick and sweet, but a little tart, with actual berries.  So so delicious.  

I'm already looking forward to our next visit there.  To try next time: Pistachio Old Fashioned and the Meyers Lemon.

Chicago Delights: Heritage Bicycle General Store

Last week, my friend Mary suggested that we schedule our regular Friday hang-out at Heritage Bicycle, and I am so thrilled that she did.  Thanks, Mary!

Bike shop meets coffee joint?  Sounds charming.  And I was charmed.  And now I think I've finally found a favourite coffee place in Chicago (within walking distance--20 minutes--from our apartment no less!).  

Coffee:  Excellent.  I had their cold drip, which was delightfully buttery, yet earthy.  And I really don't care how "hipster" it is...I love drinking my coffee out of mason jars.  (Farm kids did it before hipsters ever did, anyways.  Why do we give them all the credit?)

Prices:  Reasonable.  I can't complain, because unless you're just picking up the quick $1 cup at McDonald's, it's not uncommon to pay between $3-5 dollars for a nice coffee in Chicago.  (A plus: they don't skimp on their drink portions.)

Atmosphere: Really everything I could want in a coffee shop--a relaxing environment, community seating, large windows, natural wood set off by bright white walls, complete with a chandelier made of bike rims and Edison bulbs.  

All in all, it's really lovely, but don't take my word for it!  Do stop in if you're in the area!  (After you visit me, of course.)

Phoenix SB2K14

Spring "Break" Destination?  Phoenix. 

We had the most lovely visit with Alex's family.  (As always, I wish I'd taken more pictures.)  Every moment was so delightful; quiet breakfasts outside, the huge St. Patrick's day party, god-daughter birthdays, the sweet little shower Alex's parents had for Evangeline...

I am so lucky to have been welcomed into such a wonderful family.  I miss it already! (And not just because Chicago is supposed to get more snow tonight...)  

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A snapshot of our mornings...

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Alex took me a little ways up Camelback Mountain to see the city.  So different from the East Coast, but so so cool.

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Pete and Emily's St. Patrick's Day party was such a blast...too bad, Evangeline, no green beer for you.

 

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Reason No. 8798 why Alex is the best. (Happy Birthday, sweet Ruby!) 

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Phoenix Botanical Gardens on our last day with Alex's Dad... 

Sunny Sunday.

 

   

                   

What we did this [holiday] weekend.

1.

I made 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls with my friend Mary.  When I first saw the link (on Pinterest...typical...), I definitely thought there must be some catch.  No way can something as delicious as cinnamon rolls be made in an hour.  Either they won't rise or they'll taste gross.  

Oh ye of little faith... 

Some of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. 

2.

I got a call from Alex late Friday afternoon asking if I wanted to go to the Chicago Lyric that night to see Madama Butterfly.  

"We don't have to go if you don't want to!" 

Hmm, no thanks. I don't like that idea.  

Of course, we went.  And (despite the nosebleed seats) it was divine.

I'm no opera guru (though that would be so cool...), but I'd listened to Madama Butterfly a few times before, and I was very excited to go to an opera with which I was relatively familiar.  Madama Butterfly is lovely, even though the story is so awfully depressing (though I suppose jilted heroines committing suicide is nothing to blink at in an opera).  

Vogliatemi bene, a duet sung by Butterfly and Pinkerton to close Act I, is possibly my favourite in the opera. 

The Lyric was built in 1929 (architecturally, Art Nouveau meets Art Deco.  Two of my favourite design styles...Look at all that gold!).  Alex was telling me that it is quite a point of pride for Chicago.  How did I not know this until now? 

3.

Baby Burch turned 19 weeks! Hurrah hurrah!!!  I was telling Alex that Baby literally comprises 95% of my thoughts these days...I constantly feel so blessed to have this little one growing inside me.  I have a little paranoia because we still haven't had our ultrasound (hopefully the beginning of February!), and I'm just so nervous to see how he/she is doing, whether he's healthy and growing, what he looks like, etc.  I definitely believe that I have felt him move however, which is such a happy sign for me.  June can't come fast enough!

4.

Alex and I went to the Art Institute on both Sunday and Monday.

Art Junkies...

There's a sublime exhibit up at the moment called "Dreams and Echoes" from the private collection of Chicagoans David and Celia Hilliard.  The collection in it's entirety is really stunning...it's just the sort of art that I would collect if I was say....a few billion dollars richer.  

 

Edgar Degas. 

Study of a Plaster Cast of a Child's Head (after Luca della Robbia), 1856/60. 

Promised gift of Celia and David Hilliard.

Image via http://www.artic.edu/.

Pierre Cecile Puvis de Chavannes.

Study of a Sleeping Woman, c. 1867. 

Gift of Celia and David Hilliard, 2007. 

Image via http://www.artic.edu/.

5.

We went with some friends to see the new Italian film The Great Beauty  at this great Independent Theatre just a few blocks from our apartment.  I'm not going to say more on it other than it was a striking, excellent film.  I think that our friend Mary had a very astute observation, essentially that it is not a film we, as 20-somethings, can understand fully.  In the same vein, Alex said it's not something you can just talk about for hours (though you could), and say "this is what it means end of story."  However, it's definitely something that you will keep coming back to through your life.  It's the sort of thing that stays with you.  See it.

6.

Including Friday and Monday in this "weekend" post is acceptable, I believe, especially because of MLK day, but covering Tuesday is stretching it.  Psh.  Whatever. 

Our friend Fiona is in town to visit her boyfriend (one of our Chicago Pals), and we all went bowling last night.  I hadn't been in years, and it was all good fun even if I was awful.  I mostly just liked watching this cool kid: 

Lovers Lane.

7.

I'm so happy Martha at Romancing Reilly is back to blogging again.  Her posts are always such inspiration for me! (After all, it was her blog that got me to start blogging again...not sure that that's a gift to anyone else, but it's good for me, hah!)

You're so artsy...

One of Alex and my favourite Christmas presents this past year was a membership to the Art Institute (thanks, Brian and Sara!).  Every time I visit, I am overwhelmed by how massive the collection is; it is really an inexhaustible gem.  It's also walking distance from Alex's apartment, so once these spring days come along (I know, I know, so long to wait!) I envision almost weekly museum visits and picnics in the Park...

Lawn of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1895.

I can't wait to take Baby to see this Chagall! 

Marc Chagall, America Windows, 1977.

22.

Warning: There is a lot of shameless bragging in this post.  So if you don't want to read about how awesome my birthday was, or how amazing my husband is, that's fine.  I understand.  I don't really care for internet bragging.  But I figure, hey, I can get away with it every so often.  Especially around my Birthday.  

But in all honesty, this was the best birthday I've ever had.  

I suppose I've never been super enthusiastic about birthdays.  Yes, they're exciting I suppose, but I've never really had one that was that stupendous.  Enjoyable is the better word.  Which is perfectly acceptable to me.  I loved having just plain old enjoyable birthdays as a kid.  No pony rides, no blow- play-houses...just family, Olivia (my best friend), cake, and presents.  I didn't even go to a bar on my 21st birthday.  So what? 

But this birthday threw my entire birthday-world-view for a loop.   Golly, I never realized birthdays could be so fun before.  And all because my husband is super amazing.  Thing I've learned since being married: husbands make everything better.

Alex's Super Cool Boss told him he could go into work a little later which was wonderful.  I was brought breakfast in bed (delicious, fresh, warm chocolate croissants), and we were able to spend a good portion of the morning together which was so so lovely.  When Alex left for work, he beckoned down from the sidewalk for me to go to a window in the pantry.  Sitting on the windowsill was this iphone case:

and a note informing me that he had set up a special Birthday Treasure Hunt with one clue leading to the next (22 clues for 22 years).  I LOVE TREASURE HUNTS.  Each and every clue was very well hidden and cleverly worded.  I had to go digging in the salt cellar for one, and opening this pen for another: 

(see that little piece of paper in there?)

Every few clues there was a little gift to go along with the clue, like these lovely patterned tapes I'd been lusting over for weeks: 

There was a clue stuck to the back of this butterfly's frame, and one in our corkscrew...  (Did I mention that on the other side clue paper he had written a dear memory we had shared together?)

There was a rather tricky step involving some invisible ink.  I had to warm the paper with a flame, and, as you can see, the entire paper almost went up in flames in the process.  The word I eventually discovered was "Laurie". 

Laurie had given us this awesome silver urn that we have up on a shelf.  Inside the urn was this GOLDEN shimmer sugar (all I've ever wanted!) and a fortune cookie. 

Yes, the fortune cookie had the clue inside it.  He's just that good. 

This was one of my favourite clues.  You can read it for yourself.  The letters seen through the holes were V, O, D, and A.   

Add the K? Vodka. 

(Inside this wine cooler there was a Wusthoff Knife Sharpener.  EEE.)

There were clues hidden in the oddest places, like in the peep hole of our front door...

And the glass globe on the light fixture.  

Part of the hunt took me on a walk to Trader Joe's, where Alex had hidden clues on bags of Raw Almonds, Christmas Jingle Jangles, and under the shelves of the Honey Nut O's.  

Those clues brought me back home to the coolest chalk pencils!

The tile clue led me to a beautiful orchid, and an even more beautiful love letter.  Thanks, best husband ever.  

One of the most amazing things was that one of the clues led me to this cashmere J.Crew sweater:

I owned this sweater in the past (J.Crew stopped making it long ago), and it was my favourite sweater of all time (isn't it just perfect? Look at those lovely sleeves!).  Somehow I lost it at college, and I've been mourning its loss ever since.  I cannot tell you how many times I've looked on eBay or craigslist for this sweater but to no avail.  Leave it to my husband to find the exact same sweater and hide it in our bathroom towels as part of a treasure hunt.  Did I already say he's the greatest?  

The rest of the day did not fail to disappoint.  Luckily, Baby Burch cooperated all day so I was feeling good enough to go downtown.  We stopped in at the Art Institute for about an hour or so (free for Chicago Residents on Thursday nights!), and then went skating at the Ice Rink in Millennium Park.  Alex, for being "really bad at skating" did a remarkable job.  I hadn't been on skates in so long, and it was delightful.  

(What's extra awesome about this place is that it's totally free if you bring your own skates!)  

After skating, we went home, ordered in Thai Food (another one of my favourite things), and watched a period drama.  Best Day Ever.  Thank you, Alex, for being the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful man I've ever known.  You make me feel like the luckiest woman alive.