strolling downtown

lunch excursions

Typically during the lunchtime hours, one of two things happens for me. 1) I grab a quick bite and continuing working while I eat or 2) I go to the gym to workout, take a quick shower and rush back to keep working. Last evening I decided that I would take an actual lunch today and step out of the apartment for reasons other than the gym. (on a side note... if it weren't for the gym and church, I could go weeks without ever leaving our place, seriously - especially in the winter)

So today I will venture out into the heat wave of 38°F. Above freezing! Rejoice! Here's a list of my preplanned destinations:

1. Geppetto's Toy Box on Lake Street. This has become my favorite toy shop since we moved here. The owners are great and the selection is wonderful. It's full of European toys made from wood, building blocks, games that actually make you think and have a strategy, puzzles, dress up clothes... it's just great. I have my first baby shower on Saturday so I'm using that as an excuse to shop there and make a purchase for once. What do you get someone who is having twins that's not cheesy?



2. Possible stop at the library. I love my public library. On my list (yes, I like lists) of books to read, suggested by friends: a)Life Signs b) The Wisdom of Tenderness c) Each Little Bird that Sings d) Chasing Vermeer e) The Wright 3 note: the last 3 are children's books


3. Swing into Starbucks for a lovely afternoon pick me up of Apple Chai. Imagine apple cider with caffeine. I'm not usually a big fan of caffeine, I so rarely ingest it that when I do I feel like my mind is buzzing and I have a hard time staying in my seat, BUT... this is so delicious that I'm willing to take the chance.

4. Trader Joe's: we need milk.

Maybe I'll take my camera along and share my jaunt around town. We'll see. Either way, lunch time sounds lovely today.

snow!

Last night we walked to the theater to watch Quantum of Solace, the newest installment of 007. We exited the theater a little less than 2 hours later to find ourselves among some of the fattest snowflakes I've seen in a while. It was officially our first snow. It didn't really stay on the ground as I hoped it might, but that's okay. I'm sure there will be more to come.


I realize that the composition is a bit of a no-no, being cut down the middle a bit, but oh well. I like the car lights left behind by someone who crossed the intersection, so I'm forgiving the composition for the moment.

getting stuck, momentarily

Last week, I was cleaning up in anticipation of my cousin coming to visit and as part of that clean up, I was taking out the trash. Stepping out onto our back porch I placed the bag on the floor (to be taken down to the dumpster at a later time) and released the door from my hand in order to walk over to the railing and soak up some afternoon sun. After sufficiently warming in its rays, I grasped the handle and tugged the door open. Only, it would not open. I then realized I had not "unlocked" the latch on the screen door. At first glance, this may seem like a small problem, as the landlord works just downstairs and could easily let me back in. A quick look around the back porch reveals another door that accesses the stairs leading down. This we keep dead bolted at all times. So, that means I was stuck on a small back porch of trash bags, between two locked doors and no way of getting anywhere. I stood there for a minute or two thinking, "I did NOT just do this. I did NOT just do this." (To compound the issue I had just put a pot on the stove to boil eggs) In one desperate attempt to get back in, seeing no other way, I grabbed the screen door handle and pulled with all my might. "CLICK" It sprung open and I quickly ran inside, breathing a sigh of relief while considering just how little the lock on the screen door actually does! Next time, I think I'll take my keys with me!

PS: On the right of this picture you can see the table I had previously mentioned.

evening in selenium tones

Last night I had some spare time after dinner and decided to try some pictures from our back porch. Or is it a deck if you're on the third floor? I'm not quite sure. The weather was great last night, we opened up our windows and let it cool off the apartment to a nice 70 degrees (it had been 75 at one point earlier this week). It's amazing that just a few drops in temperature can feel so different.

We have a broom out on our back porch which I use now and again to brush away the little pieces of crumbled brick that appear from time to time. My guess is that some birds like to sit on the piping that comes out of the roof overhead, because every so often I find their droppings on the wooden slats below. Up against the wall is, I believe, what used to be a functional table that could fold down to be used for dining. It has over time been painted with various coats of paint, so many in fact, that it is permanently stuck to the wall. There are times when I'm tempted to pull with all my might to see if it will release itself from the layers of paint, but then I get scared that I'll break it and since it is not our place, I refrain. But that doesn't mean I don't day dream about sitting out there on a cool night, watching the traffic go by and the visitors come and go from the retirement community behind us, while sipping on hot tea on a cute little fold out picnic table.

my sink

Some mornings I wake up and close my eyes tight,
wishing with all my might
that little elves came in the night
with soap and towels to wash all my dishes,
just right.

But it is not so,
for when I look upon my kitchen sink
it is still quite a fright.

from our dishwasher

from our window

waffles and toast

For whatever reason, this feels a bit like my grandma's kitchen to me. What reminds you of your grandma's kitchen?

PS- I actually replaced the top picture 3 different times before I found the right composition that I liked.
And now I'm glad I kept at it!

across the way

One of the funny things about living in the city, is how close you are to other people. Everyday I walk into my office, adjust the blinds to suit the amount of light I need, and get a little glimpse into the apartment across from us. I've been told it's owned by the design firm below and used as a "spare" office when needed. So from time to time I see a light on, or a person walking across the room. A few times there has been a light left on and it acts as a little nightlight for us, though not the most efficient, I'm sure.


I do like the hanging light fixture. Wonder where it came from?

polka dots

This bag was given to me by a dear friend (thanks, kjk) and I liked it so much I placed it on my office doorknob so I could see it everyday.


PS- Check out that awesome glass doorknob! How great is that?! (All my doors have them. It's very exciting.)

Additional side note: I ran (okay, walked) to the store this morning and was quickly reminded just how hot and humid it can get here in the summer. I had forgotten what it was like to have the tops of your hands sweat! Praise the good Lord for air conditioning and ice cube trays.

city living...

brings with it bugs. i found this fella in our front hallway this morning. i'm working up the nerve to transport him to the toilet for flushing. (and just a side note for size reference...that's the lid to my large wok)

at night

one of my favorite things at our new apartment is the street light outside our dining room windows. there's a tree planted on the other side of the street that nearly touches our building and at night the leaves come alive in bright green, basking in the glow of the light.

i'm also quite fond of our back porch with it's bricked arch,
that glimpses out over the street below.

a sneak peek

a slight preview of our new home! I found embedding it wasn't the best. so you can view it here with quicktime, i believe. i'll try to post some pictures soon. things are starting to shape up nicely, if i do say so myself!