Amy Artisan

Back when spring was trying to emerge from the long winter here in Chicago & when Rebecca was ready for the school year to be through we started talking about plans for a sisters’ weekend in June. We picked a weekend, made reservations at our favorite inn in Michigan and started planning what we wanted to do. Then, we saw a concert date later in June and decided to change our plans to include the concert. Rebecca flew into town on Thursday evening and our weekend was filled with a bit of everything – from silliness to shopping to fine dining to just relaxing.

On Friday night, we travelled back in time almost 20 years & went to the New Kids on the Block concert down in Tinley Park. Yes, back in the day we were fans – along with many of our friends. My sophomore year of high school included Dad standing in line with me early on Saturday morning to get tickets for a concert – then Mom & Dad rode Marta downtown with us (& 2 friends) for a concert at the old Omni Center in Atlanta. So, when we saw that they would be in Chicago in June, Rebecca & I modified our sisters’ weekend plans and picked up tickets during the advanced ticket sales.

(more pictures here)

From the moment we arrived at the amphitheater we were laughing at what we saw – minivans with NKOTB on their windows, a plethora of homemade shirts pledging undying love, tour t-shirts from high school, a NKOTB lunchbox in use as a purse, a Joey doll was brought by the gal sitting behind us. Without a doubt, the best use of “vintage” memorabilia was the gal who had refashioned her NKOTB sheets into a tunic. When the guys finally took the stage, we dived in & were suddenly silly girls at the concert – cheering, singing along…and at least one of us threw our hands in the air & waved ‘em like we didn’t care…

At one point in the show, Donnie was 6 rows in front of us for a song, as Rebecca said “I have to admit we were screaming like 16-year-olds!”

Since the concert venue was basically en route to Harbor Country, we spent Friday night down there and then on Saturday morning we headed over to Harbor Country. This year we visited some of our favorite spots but also discovered some “new favorites” that will be visited on future trips. From the first time that I stayed at Gordon Beach Inn, people have always asked if I’d eaten at Timothy’s – the restaurant at the inn. Until this weekend, the answer had always been “not yet.” Saturday evening, we treated ourselves to a wonderful meal at Timothy’s – we had a table on the screened-in porch and enjoyed everything that we ordered.

After sleeping in on Sunday morning we packed the car & began to meander back towards home. The last several trips over to the area I had seen a cute coffee & tea house – so our breakfast on Sunday was the time to try it out. The iced coffee, iced cappuccino and almond-strawberry tart were delicious we enjoyed them while relaxing in the Adirondack chairs in front of the shop.

The trip back to the city included a stop at the European Market in Union Pier, a little bit of Michigan City shopping (mostly looking) and a late lunch with a friend as we hit Chicagoland. As we unpacked the car, repacked Rebecca’s suitcase for her flight home & downloaded our pictures for the weekend we were so thankful for the chance to get together and have fun in so many different ways.

I have always enjoyed taking pictures – it probably started with my toy camera, as a child. Before too long, I was using a Kodak Instamatic – then a Kodak Disc camera – then a 35mm point & shoot – then a 35mm Advantex – then a digital camera…of course, it wasn’t long before I was dreaming of a DSLR – but I repeatedly said that while it was high on my wish/want list it was very low on the need list.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve done a lot of travel for work over the years – in addition to assorted airline miles I had amassed quite a few hotel loyalty points. Several years ago, Rebecca & I enjoyed a spa weekend with some of the points; however, I still had lots leftover. Last summer, the hotel loyalty catalog came & I discovered that I had more than enough points to pick up a DSLR.

Last Labor Day weekend I started taking pictures with the new camera & was immediately thrilled with “how much better” they were.

Until earlier this month, I had only used the auto/preset settings on the camera – I hadn’t had time to focus on the manual side of the wheel. The first Saturday of this month, I spent the day getting to know my camera. I enrolled in the one day Boot Camp offered by Chicago Photography Classes. As we learned about shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field we were sent out in the neighborhood on a few quick photo assignments.

After several hours focusing on the camera, we spent the rest of the afternoon working with the pictures on the computer. At the end of the day, I had several favorites that I had brought down to grayscale & printed out.

I definitely know more about using my camera now – I’m wishing I had time to take the more in depth Photo I class – maybe another time. Until then, I’m looking forward to trying new things with my summer activities…gardening, cooking, knitting, a few vacations…

After the seemingly unending winter that we had here, the arrival of spring & the possibilities of backyard gardening seemed even more exciting this year. Growing up in the ‘Ville, a local nursery chain advertised with the tag line “It’s time to play in the dirt again…” and I truly looked forward to that activity these last couple of weeks.

Over the last couple of months, the perennials in the flowerbed have been poking through the dirt & have recently moved into “explosion” mode. Last weekend, the first bachelor button blooms appeared – these are always the first of the season for me. In addition to the perennials coming up, the wild violets went wild in the flowerbed – last weekend it was time to get the bed in shape. After weeding it was time to add some top soil & the turn it with some coffee grounds I picked up at Starbuck’s. I added a few more perennials to the mix: lavender, oriental poppy, delphenium, 2 sedums & a dianthus to provide ground cover for an area where “tall” is a problem.

On the deck, I’m doing a bit more vegetable gardening than I have in the past. On my first trip to the farmer’s market last month, I picked up a “Cut & Come Again” salad bowl. I had wanted to plant some lettuce & this bowl was just the thing: 3 red leaf lettuces, 2 green leaf, 1 romaine, 2 types of spinach, 1 curly parsley & 1 edible viola. Last weekend I harvested my first bowl of greens – with the rain we had this week, early this morning I harvested a second bowl for the coming week.

Last weekend I picked up several herbs to add to the mix: genevose basil, lime basil, sage, tarragon & orange mint. Last summer the herbs went wild on the deck – I’m hoping for the same this year. This weekend I picked up 2 tomato plants (Window Box Roma & Tumbling  Tom Yellow) & 2 pepper plants (Gypsy & Jalapeno) to add to the veggie deck.

(Full suite of garden pictures here…)

There is a possibility that work may involve travel this summer – if that is the case, I probably won’t be adding anything else to the garden & will have the neighbor girl water for me during the week. If I don’t travel, there are a few annuals that I would like to add to the deck & the flowerbed. In the meantime, it is quite nice to come home from work and sit on the deck in the evening while enjoying a book, beverage & growing garden…

It is now the moment when by common consent
we pause to become conscious of our national life and to rejoice in it,
to recall what our country has done for each of us,
and to ask ourselves what we can do for our country in return.

– Memorial Day speech, May 30, 1884  - Oliver Wendell Holmes

…since Kristy moved away from Chicago last August, she became engaged to her beau…

…a lovely wedding on the Kansas prairie is being planned for this fall…

…Kristy came to Chicago this past weekend for a bridal shower…

…we gathered at my house for an afternoon tea…

…instead of shower games we made a “first year of marriage scrapbook”…

…had many delicious treats…

…and spoiled her with gifts…

…when the afternoon was over, everyone left with a sweet treat favor…

Congratulations Kristy!

(A few credits: Lavender Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe here; Custom Lavender & Lemon soaps from SoapScentsations; Love Song Lyrics for the Paper Chain & Favor Bag Storybook Romance Tags from Ormolu)