A chock full weekend. (Again).

January 23, 2011

Five days later we are driving back from Iowa with another carload of our belongings.  This time we are chock full, no rear view action possible.  We are leaving from Solon/ Iowa CIty because we had a sleepover with Avanlee and Grandma Barb.  

A recent picture of the awesomeness that is an 8 year old niece.  On another visit, we snapped umpteen pictures of perfect bubble making attempts.  Such fun. 

Yesterday we packed our car in Dubuque, drove down to Solon for a dual birthday party for Cousin Jamie and Uncle Jim.  Instead of driving an hour and a half to Dubuque and leaving from there today, we got to hang out with 8 year old awesome Avanlee and Grandma Barb.  We were introduced to mini electronic Scrabble, an addictive and humbling game that gets those neurons firing, and we had Grandma’s famous fiber packed muffins that promise your full serving of fiber for the day.  Delish.

This is an internet photo (boo), but still a good replication of what we saw!

I love our car, but I am looking forward to a weekend where we stay in one place.  I think it’s safe to say that the lower back support is lacking, and while the repetitive views from the road are mostly pastoral and lovely, it isn’t the best way to spend a Sunday.  We’ve often been driving on Sunday mornings, and today is no different.  Our Sunday drive is commonly characterized by On Bieng with Krista Tippet, The Splendid Table with Lynne Rossetto Kasper, and the birds of prey that dot the trees every mile and a half.  They are mathematical in their dispersal, their territory must be exactly a square mile and a half because we seem to notice them stoically perching on top branches, surveying their land for glimpses of something tasty.  

We have a habit of singing “birds of prey” (imagine low note, high note, medium note), when ever we see one.  They vary, we’ve seen owls, red tailed hawks, falcons, and bald eagles so far (not to mention the cardinals, sparrows, tufted tit mouse, juncos, and a fat squirrel that were munching on feed on Grandma Barb's back porch).  It is nice to see nature in action before we return to the abyss of urbanity that Chicago sits in.  I love being out in the country, love love love, at the same time, I cannot wait to feel settled in our new apartment.  Last week Nick got a mattress for us, a futon, and a sitting chair (is their any other kind of chair?)  It is a nice put it together yourself Ikea chair, but it has a neck cushion that invites sitting and relaxing.  Haven’t done any sitting or relaxing yet, but I am looking forward to it.  The apartment is coming together.  This week my handyman husband is going to build a bed for us, a coffee table, a custom window frame shelving situation, and a bench for our entryway where we take off our shoes. He’s made many promises, but I think he’s super excited about having some space to create some things that are bigger than earrings.  Nick’s jewelry making habit is wonderful for me as the recipient, and so practical for apartment living where there is no space for larger creations.  Now that we have some space, I cannot wait to see what he fashions for us to use: hands on crafting that is immediately useful! I love it.  

I promise pictures of our apartment with our new Nick crafted pieces soon!