Duly Noted

Doling out presents acquired from weeks for perusing African markets, Christmas in Milwaukee was as gray as a shock to the system can be gray. My stomach still can't handle my mother's fiber filled menu, nor the buttery cookies that my dad, sister, and I secretly stock up on to counter brusselsprouts, root vegetable casserole, and fish. I love my mom's cooking, don't get me wrong, but my white bread and wine diet in south western Africa didn't prepare me for a quick reunion with mom's food pyramid. Enough about food, I feel sick thinking about it. I guess I should mention I'm lightly hung-over as I write this; well worth it, still... I knew, flying home from Jo-burg, adjusting would be tough and I certainly didn't want to sink back into the miserable routine of waking up at four in the morning to open up City Market Bakery and then the day sort of teetered away after that... I still haven't figured out how exactly I'm going to make it to San...

***(I wrote this but forgot to publish.  I must have been distracted by a little love nut.  Better late than never.) Yesterday, I turned 29 but for a minute, I thought I was 30 and I was totally okay with that. For the last three years and forevermore, my birthday shares the same day as our wedding anniversary.  As my brother in law put it, "Happy Biversary!" July 24th is certainly a date for the record books.  This year, Mike and I fondly reflected on my last three birthdays and anniversaries. First, our wedding day. Then, our epic 50 mile bike ride followed by a three course dinner at Muffuletta's. And then...our discovery in a bed and breakfast overlooking the Duomo in Florence Italy in 2012. This year, we kept things simple.  A picnic in the park.  Perusing vintage finds at neighborhood shop.  An evening bike ride to dinner at Muffuletta's. And lots of smiling with our little darling boy. And...apparently...we didn't ta...

July somersaulted into August as Mike, Misha, and I headed from our cabin weekend to joining Mike's family in the northeast.  There, our days were colored with gray fog rising off the water in the morning and jewel toned sunsets.  Early morning coffee with the baby and rounds of game playing in the evening.  Trips to the local corner store for soft serve coffee ice creams.  Long runs along hilly roads with views of shingled farm houses and adirondack chairs.  Postcard perfect views from mountain trails and steep, careful downhill climbs with precious cargo strapped to my frame.  A cold swim for a little babe in a evergreen shaded lake.  There was a not so satisfying crab cake, and, fortunately, a very glorious oh-so-savory crab cake later on.  With lots of eager arms and quick smiles about, Misha savored the loving attention from his family while Mike and I set off to complete as many crosswords as humanly possible.  :) Preparing to set o...

Just a handful of shots from our cabin weekend on Spider Lake with a group of old friends (and four new ones!)