Duly Noted

Far from the reaches of modern day advertising and supermarkets, this little Wisconsin farm finds success (and JOY) in a weekly pizza night. All pizzas are created from local ingredients (except the olives...although these are local enough for me since they were attained at Bill's Imported Foods on Lake Street- a treasuuure of the cities. Be warned- cash only) and cooked over a wood fire brick oven. Folks are invited to wine and dine on their grounds after ordering. Tuesday night, my former college roommate, the sweet as honeybees- Hannah, Mike, and I made the country trek. A couple hours and many gravel roads later, we found ourselves in this lovely oasis. For us, half the thrill was greeting our good friends and now "farm hands" out in the country. Betsy took our orders as Andrew prepped! They are out there all summer long...maybe more. For me, visiting the farms certainly nurtured second thoughts about farm living.

This mid-July lunch reminded me of the days on the farm when I carried a salt shaker in my overalls in case I found myself in urgent need of a juicy tomato pulled straight off the vine.

I'm pretty lucky to have some fit, athletic lady friends that need some running buddies as much as I do. This morning, we had our first collective meeting (although, truth be told we did more running, eating, and chatting than "meeting" but that's the point right?!). It was very relaxed; we did manage to pull together some suggestions for the future of the collective however. Ideas included night runs, races (in which we would sponsor a women's health non-profit, girls' sports causes, etc), and once a month run and brunch. So a very successful first meeting. Best of all, the women who came to the meeting are totally inspiring individuals and amazing friends. That's really the best news of all. Also, if you read this, are female, and like to run...and live in the twin cities. Shoot me an email and I will get you on the list serv. Future running goals: -TC Marathon 2009 -Urban Wildland Half Marathon: Aug. 1st -Some kind of trail race...I am IN LOVE

I'm pretty lucky to have some fit, athletic lady friends that need some running buddies as much as I do. This morning, we had our first collective meeting (although, truth be told we did more running, eating, and chatting than "meeting" but that's the point right?!). It was very relaxed; we did manage to pull together some suggestions for the future of the collective however. Ideas included night runs, races (in which we would sponsor a women's health non-profit, girls' sports causes, etc), and once a month run and brunch. So a very successful first meeting. Best of all, the women who came to the meeting are totally inspiring individuals and amazing friends. That's really the best news of all. Also, if you read this, are female, and like to run...and live in the twin cities. Shoot me an email and I will get you on the list serv. Future running goals: -TC Marathon 2009 -Urban Wildland Half Marathon: Aug. 1st -Some kind of trail race...I am IN LOVE

My crafty, industrious friend Callie is currently in the process of making many paper and basket reed lanterns for her wedding. It's quite an ambitious project. Although she's been leading the effort, several of us girlfriends having been gluing paper and forming animal frames here and there. Here's some shots of the dragon lantern we were working on the other night. On wedding night, the lanterns will be lit up by candles inside of wire-hanging bell jars secured within the lanterns. I told Callie she better hang on to these for my fantasy wedding someday.

As promised, here are some stills of the making of Orange Mighty Trio's first music video for their new album, Infrastructure. What a funky looking word. Joe and Kris Swanberg , independent filmmakers and our good friends, directed and filmed the shoot in sunny Chicago. In spite of a few piano-moving mishaps (okay only one really- a piano toppling in the moving van that occured within in one mile of leaving Mike's house en route to Chicago!), the band and crew had a blast. There were some beautiful shots of Zack on the roof of Joe and Kris's building but unfortunately I didn't have my camera on me. Kris also has a successful little rooftop garden. The basil plants seem very happy as they look out on the cityscape.

This fourth, Mike and I are on our way to Naperville to visit the Vasich fam. Our parents are in tow on interstate 294 headed south after a night in Milwaukee watching fireworks down at the lakefront with old neighbors. Highlights from our Milwaukee rendezvous- *Lunch at an small outdoor bistro in the third ward (man, I would definitely live in that district if we were in milwaukee. So cool.) *breakfasts at the mueller's- fresh fruit, scones and cinnamon rolls, coffee, and guava juice *dinner at a new "french" restaurant in wauwatosa *a fabulous green dress Previous to our Milwaukee jaunt, Mike and I spent more than a few days in the Chicago area. Although I plan to blog more on a few of these experiences soon, here are some brief highlights- *rooftop Orange Mighty Trio concert in Chicago proper *multiple graduation parties *36 hole mini golf extravanganza *cool evenings playing bags out on the Vasich patio *shopping with Mike's cousin Diana * learning the prowess