Laowai

A wispy spider web and the red moon lunar eclipse.

Our windows are in bad shape – we decided to go with a window restoration company instead of replacing them. Our fully rehabbed windows were installed on Friday (just the six in our bedroom and bathroom). They look smooth and clean and trim. We didn’t have to change the already great design that was integral to the house. And we avoided the clunky look of replacement windows. It took a long time and not a small amount of money, but we are so pleased with our new old windows. We are hoping they perform well this winter with the new weather stripping and our new storm windows.

Onto the next project…

Claire and I went for a walk at Fort Sheridan. She was on an acorn hunt. I was smitten with hummingbirds eating from the jewel weed. There were more than I’ve ever seen – ten or twelve – flitting around – busy little things. Too busy for me to get a photo but I did take lots of pictures of the colorful meadow. 

Chicago’s Lyric Opera tries to get people excited about opera with a couple free outdoor concerts every year. They are held at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. It’s fun to have a picnic and listen to the music and feel like you’re in the center of the busy city.

We had to hop over and see the bean.

Once or twice a year I hear a ding…. ding…. ding sound out my window. It’s the old timey knife sharpening man. He pushes his cart around and it makes that slow ding as he makes is way around the neighborhood. Last week I finally ran out and asked him to sharpen a couple knives and my sewing scissors. Only $5.00 and so charming.

She gets an idea and she has to do it right now. Nothing can get in her way. She had to make two penguins.

I have a few more photos to post from our Switzerland vacation. We stopped for one night in a town called Neuchatel on our way to the mountains. We were in a bit of a jet lag fog but we still enjoyed seeing the beautiful gothic style castle and church plus all the old buildings surrounding it. 

Here we are goofing off on the train the next day.

Okay – that’s it – no more vacation photos. Bring on the Fall fun photos.

Labor Day Weekend – it’s hot and we decided to go up to Wisconsin to pick Raspberries. 

The girls spent most of the time complaining and sitting in the shade. We had to bribe them with a promise of cheese curds at Culver’s just to keep them from hanging on me.

But enduring the heat and humidity and complaining was worth it – nothing beats fresh raspberries.

Brian is still avoiding eating flour so I made a pavlova with pistachios. 

Bea was away at a sleepover so she didn’t get to dive in and help gobble it (almost) all up. Yum. 

Well the school days have been rolling along and we’ve already settled into our routine. I’m enjoying my time to myself when when both girls are at school. 

We found out that there are two other kids in Claire’s kindergarten class that lived in Zurich. And amazingly one was born in the same hospital.

The Stanley Cup made a visit to the girls’ school today. It was a surprise to the kids. I have no idea how this came about – one of the parents must have some connections. The kids got to touch it, if they wanted to, and got their pictures taken with it. Of course Bea was just disappointed that it interrupted her art class.

Bea had her best friend over for a sleepover last weekend. To celebrate the start of school we made cupcakes. I also took them to the fabric store and let them pick out fabric and then I made them some new pajamas. Aren’t they cute… and so big!

I escaped to my sewing machine quite a bit and made a night gown and a dress for Claire. So far it’s been too hot for her to wear her flannel nightie.

We went for a walk in a meadow last weekend too.

The weather has been hot, hot, hot and I’m afraid I’ve been complaining about it. Just a little coolness at night would be such a relief. Hard to believe that this drippy hot landscape will be covered in snow in a few months. I guess I’m ready for Fall.