Noodles and Waffles

Adelphi Cowl

2012-01-31T20:24:00.001-06:00

Exterior

Interior

Of course Chicago would experience a heat wave just as I finish my Adelphi Cowl. This was my first fair isle piece and I'm extremely happy with the result. I love the bright colors especially during the drab winter months.

I switched out the dogs which were in the original Adelphi Hat & Cowl pattern for hearts. Sorry - Cat person here.

The original pattern is only one sided but I made it reversible. I used the Witch Cats Hat pattern by Christine de Savoie (http://www.ravelry.com/designers/christine-de-savoie) for interior.

Hope your winter is passing quickly.

Lucius - Shenandoah

2012-01-27T10:37:00.000-06:00

I love this song. It probably doesn't hurt that I grew up 15 minutes from the Shenandoah Valley. You can pre-order their new four-song EP on Facebook.

Not Coming Soon Enough

2012-01-12T18:39:00.003-06:00

Can't wait.

2012 Movie List

2012-01-09T23:22:00.009-06:00

Fright Night

Tale of Despereaux

The Artist

Kung Fu Panda 2

Cowboys and Aliens

HappyThankYouMorePlease

Blue Valentine

Ides of March

Northanger Abbey (2007)

The Guard

Sliding Doors

Bill Cunningham New York

Best Worst Movie

2011 Movie List - 115

2010 Movie List - 118

2009 Movie List - 120

2012 To-Do List

2012-01-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

Take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Keep taking it until I pass it.

Work towards Advanced Open Water scuba certification.

Run a 5k with my brother.

Do more flip turn.

Don't take my family for granted.

Listen.

Keep knitting.

Meditate.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2012-01-04T10:20:00.001-06:00

While Bobbi and I did not meet our combined 2011 goal of 255 miles (410 kilometers), we succeeded. Collectively, we swam 217 miles (349 kilometers). We could have swum to Russia's proposed space hotel.

Stayed tuned for 2012. We're going to go for it.

2011 Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

Stats

Collectively Completed: 217 miles (349 kilometers)
Bobbi: 97 miles (156 kilometers)
Nicole: 120 miles (193 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined 2011 Goal: 85.1%

2011 - Year End Evaluation

2012-01-03T13:04:00.003-06:00

Take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.

Didn't happen. You'd be surprised how much paperwork I needed to pull together just to apply. I'm waiting for official approval to take the exam in April 2012. Not excited.

Work towards Advanced Open Water scuba certification.

I got my Adventurer Diver certification back in January 2011, so I'm getting there. Only three more dives before I get my Advanced Open Water scuba certification.

Practice speaking and writing Spanish. Maybe take a class.

I ended up spending just about a month in Puerto Rico in 2011. I definitely got to practice my Spanish speaking and reading. Writing - not so much.

Read more.

I definitely read a lot more in 2011 than I expected. Sadly it was mostly textbooks for my Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Anyone interested in reading Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal and Reuse, let me know.

Do more flip turn at every Masters practice.

I have a feeling my lane-mates and coach will say I didn't do enough flip turns in 2011. I really started doing them more frequently in September 2011. I'm getting better.

Don't take my family for granted.

I need to do better.

Listen more.

I think I did better. Christian didn't really yell at me for not listening although I could have been not listening when he yelled it.

Learn how to knit a sock. Maybe take a class.

Done. I think I took my knitting to a whole new level this past year. I took several classes and had some knitting project going all year.

Replace curse words with "cuss" like in The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Didn't happen despite it being a fantastic idea.

Drive more.

Christian said he didn't think I did. I think I did.

Puerto Rico - Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy

2011-12-20T05:33:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, my coworker and I drove to El Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy. The third largest cave system in the world, it's a must see.

Puerto Rico

2011-12-18T07:15:00.000-06:00

I'm back in Puerto Rico for work. I know, lucky me.

Yesterday my coworker and I went on a marathon sightseeing tour of San Juan, El Yunque, and BioBay.

I couldn't resist taking pictures of these beautiful statues from the Cemeterio Maria Magdalena de Pazzis. They have such kind faces.

Immigrant Song

2011-12-11T20:46:00.000-06:00

You can download the soundtrack to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on iTunes now.

Love this cover.

The Lumineers

2011-12-05T22:58:00.001-06:00

I knew there was a reason to keep watching Hart of Dixie. I thought it was for Wade but now I see it's for the music...and Wade.

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - You're on check.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-12-01T08:04:00.000-06:00

I don't think we're going to make it to our goal - BUT - I think we're going to get real close. Only 65 miles to go!

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 190 miles (305 kilometers)
Bobbi: 76 miles (123 kilometers)
Nicole: 113 miles (182 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 74%
Remaining: 65 miles (105 kilometers)

Downton Abbey - Season 2

2011-11-30T15:30:00.001-06:00

I can't wait! This was a FB Exclusive video - It made my day.

My Life As A Turkey

2011-11-28T23:21:00.000-06:00

This Nature documentary recounts naturalist Joe Hutto's experience raising a flock of wild turkey in the loblolly pine woods of Florida.

“Had I known what was in store—the difficult nature of the study and the time I was about to invest—I would have been hard pressed to justify such an intense involvement. But, fortunately, I naively allowed myself to blunder into a two-year commitment that was at once exhausting, often overwhelming, enlightening, and one of the most inspiring and satisfying experiences of my life.”

~Joe Hutto, Illumination in the Flatwoods

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The cinematography is wondrous - it captures these inquisitive birds with such grace. Above all else, this documentary will make you want to step outside and take a closer look at the world around you.

You can watch the hour long documentary here. Thanks PBS!

Flat Stanley around Chicagoland

2011-11-28T22:34:00.000-06:00

Flat Stanley @ The Field Museum

Flat Stanley @ Morton Arboretum

Flat Stanley with Sue @ The Field Museum

Flat Stanley has been touring around Chicagoland. He doesn't have much longer before he heads back to upstate New York. I'll be sad to see him go.

Goodnight Noises Everywhere

2011-11-18T12:49:00.000-06:00

Flat Stanley

2011-11-14T13:48:00.001-06:00

Have you guys heard of Flat Stanley?

I had no idea who Flat Stanley was until about a month ago when a coworker asked me if I'd be interested in participating in her son's school project. Her son's class was using Flat Stanley to learn about the climates in different part of the United States.

I was thrilled to help out. Honestly, she had me at coloring.

I have until the end of December to take Flat Stanley around Chicago. Here's where he's been so far...

Wrigley Field

Soldier Field

Tomorrow we're taking Flat Stanley to The Field Museum and maybe The Art Institute of Chicago.

11,11,11

2011-11-11T09:11:00.001-06:00

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Say it real fast. It's fun.

Be sure to check out/contribute to the Flickr 11/11/11 Group.

On a more sober note - Thanks to all our service men and women - past and present.

Once Upon a Time

2011-11-10T09:02:00.000-06:00

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I'm somewhat surprised by the lack of posts in the blogosphere about ABC's Once Upon a Time. I haven't seen any other than the one on Hello, Dear Wind.

What's not to love about a show based on story book fairy tales?

The Good: The story is fantastic. This isn't too surprising since the writer's of Lost are behind it but still. It's pretty fun discovering each fairytale character and their role in Storybrooke.

The Bad / The Ugly: The CGI during the fairytale flashbacks is horrendous. That being said, it isn't nearly as bad as the CGI on PanAm. I think ABC needs to have a little talk with the guys who did the reboot of Battlestar Galactica.

The Best: The acting. It's shockingly great. You'd think Giancarlo Esposito would have his choice of roles after Breaking Bad and what does he pick - this show.

Overall: Catch up while you can!

Contradictions

2011-11-07T18:24:00.001-06:00

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This afternoon, I found this super cute polka dot blouse at Zara. As always, I checked to see if this was a dry clean only piece and was SHOCKED to see what was listed under Composition and Care.

Zara recommends Dry Clean with Perchloroethylene.

So what?

Here's what EPA has to say about perchloroethylene (aka tetrachloroethylene or PCE):

Tetrachloroethylene is widely used for dry-cleaning fabrics and metal degreasing operations. The main effects of tetrachloroethylene in humans are neurological, liver, and kidney effects following acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure. Adverse reproductive effects, such as spontaneous abortions, have been reported from occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene; however, no definite conclusions can be made because of the limitations of the studies. Results from epidemiological studies of dry-cleaners occupationally exposed to tetrachloroethylene suggest increased risks for several types of cancer.

As an environmental engineer, I am constantly working on sites that are trying to cleanup soil and groundwater contamination caused by perchloroethylene use. You can imagine how shocked I was that a retail store would actually promote the use of such a chemical, especially a company that has an Environmental Policy. What's the point of having an environmental policy if you continue to promote the use of perchloroethylene?!?

There are lots of environmentally friendly dry cleaners out there. That's where I'll be taking this blouse.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-11-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

It's getting colder but that hasn't stopped Bobbi and I from swimming. Collectively we've swum 165 miles (265 kilometers). We're dedicated though...and running out of time.

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 165 miles (265 kilometers)
Bobbi: 64 miles (103 kilometers)
Nicole: 101 miles (161 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 64%
Remaining: 90 miles (145 kilometers)

Broken Toe

2011-11-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I broke my little toe. I clipped in on the corner of our couch. It was the first toe I have ever broken. Honestly, I was a bit shocked at how much it slowed me down. I'm also shocked at how much time I normally spend barefoot because these last two weeks have been spent in my clogs. I love being barefoot. Love it.

Which brings me to my new running shoes....

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Since it has been years since I've gone running (Thanks Arthritis!), I decided that retraining myself to run using Vibram fivefingers would be a great idea. Of course, I bought these new running shoes the day I broke my toe which may be an omen. Regardless, I'm excited to start running with them and run a 5K with my brother this spring.

Have you guys ever broken a toe? Have you run in Vibram fivefingers?

Halloween Costume

2011-10-28T10:41:00.003-05:00

Done! I started working on my Halloween costume last week and I've just finished. Our group of friends is going out as the McDonald's characters....so I'm going as a packet of mustard. It's a little weird - I know. I just like being inanimate objects.

Past costumes have included: a zipper, a band-aid, a tea bag, a lollipop, a bowling ball

I think this costume is pretty close to the original.

Are you guys dressing up for Halloween? Did you make your own costumes?

Happy Halloween!

Florence + the Machine

2011-10-17T09:55:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure it's healthy to love a song this much...

Currently Loving

2011-10-13T13:00:00.001-05:00

loving:

{Rachael Yamagata - Chesapeake}

listening to: Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
reading: The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carre
wearing: Splendid Stripe Mesh Wrap
missing: Peru
admiring: 365q (Thanks Fill Your Well)
watching:

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The Hour

2011-10-12T22:56:00.003-05:00

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I've gotten lost in The Hour, a fairly new BBC series set in the world of television journalism in 1956.

At first I thought The Hour was just the BBC's response to AMC's Mad Men and now ABC's PanAm.

You know. Tailored clothes. Chain smokers. Cocktails.

And sure, The Hour has all that but I've been pleasantly surprised at the direction the show takes. Part Spy Thriller/Murder Mystery - Part Ambitious Woman in a Man's World - Part Love Triangle.

What's not to love about that?!?

P.S. Did you guys recognize Ben Whishaw (Bright Star's John Keats)?

Adventure Awaits

2011-10-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

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It seems only fitting that I should use a picture from my favorite Italian blogger today. You see, I got a phone call from Italy this morning.

In 1971, my parents went to Europe on their honeymoon. While my mother had traveled internationally, my father had never left the U.S. They traveled throughout Europe but never made it into Italy - they were stopped at the border. A story they love to tell.

Forty years later my parents finally made it into Italy. I should know - they called me.

Mom & Dad - I hope you have a wonderful adventure. Take oodles of pictures and stay safe!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

2011-10-04T19:36:00.004-05:00

I love this book. I am apprehensive to even write about it - I love it so much.

Listen...

     There is a reason this book was made into a mini-series
     There is a reason this book was made into a movie
     There is a reason this 1974 book is still captivating

And that reason is George Smiley.

Read John le Carre's novel before the movie comes out on December 9th. Trust me.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-10-03T08:53:00.002-05:00

I was traveling for work in September and never got around to posting our August distances. Whoops.

Skipping right ahead - here are our distances for both August and September. It's pretty impressive. Together, Bobbi and I have swum 150 miles (242 kilometers).

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 150 miles (242 kilometers)
Bobbi: 61 miles (99 kilometers)
Nicole: 89 miles (143 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 59%
Remaining: 105 miles (169 kilometers)

Barbara

2011-09-26T17:54:00.001-05:00

While I was working in Baton Rouge, Christian decided to fly down and take a little birding vacation. While he only stayed a few days he was able to take some beautiful pictures.

His pictures of Barbara, the barred owl, are by far my favorite from his trip. If you're from Baton Rouge, you'd recognize Barbara from the billboard on I-10. So pretty.

You can see more pictures from Louisiana on Christian's Flickr page.

Oak Alley

2011-09-23T22:03:00.001-05:00

My coworker and I have worked the past two weeks with only a single day off. I decided to make the most of that day off and drag my coworker to Oak Alley Plantation. I didn't really care about seeing the house. Sure it was in Interview with a Vampire and Gone with the Wind but who cares about a house when there are trees to see. 26 trees to be exact. Believed to have been planted in 1730 these oak trees are breathtaking.

After spending days in Louisiana's heat and humidity, I felt blessed to walk beneath their canopy. Absolutely magnificent. And yes - I did go hug one.

Big Shoulders 2011

2011-09-21T23:07:00.000-05:00

On September 10th, I completed a life goal. One I have been dreaming about completing since I moved to Chicago in 2004. I swam a 5K. I swam Big Shoulders 5K.

After last year's attempt at the 2.5K distance, I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish the 5K. It's far. Very far.

I signed up for the 5K in March and there were several times when I thought it was a mistake. I tend to be a bit of a self-doubter. Would I be able to finish? Would I panic if the conditions weren't favorable? What if the water was too cold or too choppy? Would I be disappointed with my time? Would the cold affect my arthritis?

I wanted to do my best. This was a life goal after all.

Discussion the Night before Big Shoulders

Nicole (Swimmer): I've never gone this far.

Christian (Supportive Husband): Really?

Nicole: I've only gone 2.5 miles and that was with breaks every mile or so.

Christian: Really. (dramatic pause) I don't think you can do it.

Nicole: (giggle) I know.

All my hard work and practice helped because I did great. While the water was cold, it was smooth. I had practiced all summer in far worse conditions so I didn't panic. I stayed calm, got into a rhythm and just kept pulling. I finished in 1 hour and 24 minutes. I couldn't be more proud.

Coach Steve says with a time like that I need to more up a lane at swimming practice. We'll see. I had a few others goals I need to master first (aka flip turns).

Congratulations to everyone who finished Big Shoulders! I'll see you in the water next year!

If Walls Could Talk...

2011-09-18T09:32:00.000-05:00

My coworker and I have been installing groundwater monitoring wells in this community. The houses are beautiful will so much character. If only they could tell us their stories.

Callin' Baton Rouge

2011-09-15T20:27:00.002-05:00

I'm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for work.

I flew here on September 11th. I made sure to give myself extra time to get through security as it was the 10th Anniversary.

While sitting at my gate, the gate attendant at the next gate went over the loudspeaker throughout the American Airline terminal and sang the National Anthem. Right there behind the counter. I don't know if it was planned but it was amazing. Everyone stood. Everyone cheered. It was a surreal moment and one I won't forget.

Nothing has gone right this week at work but the food here in Baton Rouge is amazing. I believe the word I'm looking for is Laniappe or a little something extra. If you've been to Baton Rouge and have some dining suggestions, please share. I'll be here for another week or two.

Hope you all are enjoying your September.

Clogs

2011-09-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

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Back in 2002, I bought a pair of Dansko Professional Cabrio clogs. They were my go-to shoe for nine years. Sadly, within the last month I have had to retire them to garden/yard use only.

I wasn't too worried though. Dansko still makes the same clog {dramatic pause} or so I thought...

In the process of ordering a replacement pair, I learned that historically Dansko did not make their own clogs but instead subcontracted the clog making out to Sanita, a Danish clog company. Recently, Sanita ended it's relationship with Dansko. I'm not sure who Dansko has making their clogs now but the online reviews don't look good.

So I decided to buy my clogs directly from the source (aka Sanita). I couldn't be happier.

I feel like Dansko is sort of sleazy now. Their name and reputation are based on someone else's work. Girl Scout Thin Mints are a similar story. They switched manufacturers and have never tasted the same.

Kate's Shawl

2011-09-02T15:03:00.001-05:00

A couple months ago, a women came into Idea Studio wanting a replica of the shawl Kate Middleton wore grocery shopping. While the staff at Idea Studio do not typically accept such projects, one of their faithful customers does for a charitable donation.

When Bob dropped by our knit-along with the finished product, Michele and I immediately began asking for the pattern and encouraging Bob to post it on Ravelry. He was a bit apprehensive at first but we stressed that it would be a great way to raise money for his charity, Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois.

When Bob finally gave in and wrote up the pattern, he asked Michele and I to be pattern testers. As you can see from the pictures above, I jumped at the opportunity.

The pattern is extremely straightforward and does not include any fancy stitches. Despite it only taking me two weeks to finish, it is a lot of work. Yet, it's a project you can easily start, put down and then pick up again.

Grilled Out

2011-08-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Christian and I grilled out last night. Gyros, eggplant, and Lebanese bread. It was amazing and incredibly simple. The only thing I would change would be to cut back on the salt in the eggplant recipe. The eggplant absorbed the entire tablespoon of kosher salt and it was a bit too much. I highly recommend the Lebanese bread recipe. It was so easy. I went and picked up my new prescription sunglasses while I let the bread rise.

We've been trying to cook more. Meal plan. I'm not sure it's been a complete success but we're trying.

Square 6

2011-08-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

Barbara Venishnick square

I was extremely excited to work on this piece because the pattern includes live stitches and turning the work. However, rather than turning the work after every row, I learned to knit backwards. So fun.

This will be my last square for awhile. I'm going to start working on presents for the holidays.

Swimming

2011-08-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

What's better than listening to music while you swim long distances in Lake Michigan? Nothing.

Check out some of the new music I added to my Finis swiMP3. NSFW.

The Help

2011-08-22T08:54:00.002-05:00

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Two weekends ago, Sarah and I went to see The Help.

The Good: The film adaptation is extremely close to Kathryn Stockett's novel. The level of detail they have extracted from the novel is astonishing. I know this because I started reading the novel the day after seeing the movie and I was shocked at how similar the two have been.

The Bad: The Skeeter/Constantine flashback was awkward. I'm not sure it helped develop their relationship because it seemed so out-of-sync with the rest of the cinematography. I'm also surprised they couldn't think of a better way to establish their relationship then an airy flashback.

The Ugly: I think the mother-daughter relationship between Elizabeth Leefolt and Mae Mobley was the ugliest thing in the movie. Uglier than the racism. A mother (Elizabeth Leefolt) is so caught up in her own life and keeping up with society that she ignores her daughter (Mae Mobley) and barely shows any love or compassion towards her. I find this extremely upsetting because I think it still happens today.

The Best: Minny (Octavia Spencer) and Celcia (Jessica Chastain) were my favorite part of the movie. Their relationship and humanity lightens the reality of the story which is at some points depressing and uncomfortable.

Overall: A must see or read.

Calavera Swimwear

2011-08-19T12:03:00.000-05:00

I think I've mentioned it before but Christian is obsessed with Weather Channel videos. Anyway, a couple weeks ago he showed me the above video.

I always hate wearing bikinis in the ocean because inevitably the waves always displace the top and/or bottom. Normally, I just wear a one-piece but the Calavera suits sound like a solution.

I know summer is quickly coming to an end but I decided to buy one anyway. I'll let you know if it's as amazing as I hope it will be.

Bears Camp

2011-08-17T06:00:00.005-05:00

I feel like I'm functioning a week behind schedule.

Last Wednesday evening, Christian and I drove down to Bourbonnais, IL to attend one of the Chicago Bears' camp practices. It was a beautiful evening so I didn't mind sitting around a field watching the players practice. I even survived without a single mosquito bite.

If you have kids that are football fans, I highly recommend attending a camp practice. It's free, well organized, kid-friendly, and the public can get pretty close to the players. All pluses in my book.

Tour of Elk Grove

2011-08-15T09:09:00.003-05:00

Bikes Bikes Bikes.

Last summer, Christian and I went and saw the Glencoe Grand Prix in Glencoe, IL and had a great time watching the pros. So you can imagine we were a little disappointed when we heard that the race was being moved from Illinois to Michigan.

We decided to fill the void with the Tour of Elk Grove last Sunday. While the course is much flatter there were lots of hairpin turns which were fun to watch - up close.

Crazy, Stupid, Love.

2011-08-12T10:16:00.001-05:00

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Last week, Christian and I went to the movies. I won the coin flip so we went to see Crazy, Stupid, Love instead of Cowboys & Aliens (lucky toss).

The Good: Unpredictable. I had no idea what was going to happen. The movie is about several couples and honestly, I didn't know what was going to happen in the end. That just made this romantic comedy so much more clever and enjoyable.

The Bad: The central focus of the movie is on Steve Carrel (Cal) trying to win back his wife, Julianne Moore's (Emily). Yet, I don't think the movie establishes them as a couple you want to see get back together. The movie starts with them breaking up and there are only mentions of how great they used to be. You want them to get back together for the kids benefit and I'm not sure that's a good thing.

The Ugly: Analeigh Tipton (Jessica) is not ugly in this movie. In fact, she is one of my favorite characters but boy is she thin. It looked slightly unhealthy and was thus a bit of a distraction. I don't remember her being this thin on America's Next Top Model. Did anyone else notice this?

The Best: Ryan Gosling. He plays cocky extremely well.

Overall: Heartfelt. Fun. A great date movie.

The Man is a Machine

2011-08-10T11:40:00.005-05:00

It's hard to believe that nine days ago I saw my first Beatle. It was an incredible performance and worth every penny and believe me it was quite a few pennies.

Sir Paul was on on stage for over two hours. He played 36 songs. I'm not kidding - 36.

1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. Junior's Farm
3. All My Loving
4. Jet
5. Got to Get You into My Life
6. Sing the Changes
7. The Night Before
8. Let Me Roll It
9. Foxy Lady
10. Paperback Writer
11. The Long and Winding Road
12. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
13. Let 'Em In
14. Maybe I'm Amazed
15. I'm Looking Through You
16. And I Love Her
17. Blackbird
18. Here Today
19. Dance Tonight
20. Mrs. Vandebilt
21. Eleanor Rigby
22. Something
23. Band on the Run
24. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
25. Back in the U.S.S.R.
26. I've Got a Feeling
27. A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance
28. Let It Be
29. Live and Let Die
30. Hey Jude

Encore 1
31. Lady Madonna
32. Birthday
33. I Saw Her Standing There

Encore 2
34. Yesterday
35. Helter Skelter
36. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

Can you believe that list?!?

What I thought was most interesting is that it didn't look like he was wearing a monitor. You know that little ear-piece that you always see musicians wearing so that the sound engineer can feed a separate mix to the musicians. Maybe they're making them super small nowadays - I don't know.

Fork and the Road

2011-08-09T08:30:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend my friend Julie and I went on the Fork and the Road Latin Meat Lovers bike tour. The concept is pretty ingenious. You bike. You eat.

Up to 15 riders meet Fork and the Road co-owners Dimitra & Sharon in Chicago's downtown Loop and then venture around the city eating at several predetermined restaurants. Each restaurant is unique and intended to highlight some amazing food.

I don't want to give too much away about the restaurants we visited but I have to say La Lagartija Taqueria was my favorite stop during the 10-11 mile ride. The Comadre and La Patrona alambres and parsley and lime frescas were amazing.

I can't think of a better way to experience Chicago.

Currently Loving

2011-08-02T06:00:00.029-05:00

loving: Tim Walker Photography. The Tilda Swinton portraits are breathtaking.
listening to: Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest
reading: A Year in Provence - Peter Mayle

wearing: Aqua Sphere Alpha Eva Foam Fitness Fin. That's quite the name - right?!? These fins are expensive ($35) but amazing. AMAZING. These fins will change your life. They're so light.
missing: Movies from my childhood (e.g., B.R.A.T Patrol. The Boy Who Could Fly). Does anyone else remember these movies. I loved them. Loved them.
watching: Wilfred. I love the mind-games.
admiring: I could get lost in Knit Purl.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-08-01T11:23:00.000-05:00

Bobbi and I are making waves. Collectively we've swum 107 miles. Yup, 107. Pretty impressive considering we both have lives out of water.

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 107 miles (145 kilometers)
Bobbi: 36 miles (59 kilometers)
Nicole: 70 miles (112 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 42%
Remaining: 148 miles (239 kilometers)

July Highlights

2011-07-31T06:00:00.007-05:00

The Original Grease

On the 15th, Christian and I joined some friends for the American Theater Company's 40th Anniversary restoration of Grease. Did you know that Grease was written about kids growing up on the Northwest side of Chicago? I had no idea. It was also interesting to see the original (intended) dynamic between Sandy and Danny. We both really enjoyed the production and all the little shout-out to Chicago.

Swim Across America (SAA)

This is the second year I've decided to participate in SAA, a charity swim in Lake Michigan which raises money for cancer research. After several months of nagging, I was able to convince a bunch of people from my U.S. Masters Swimming Team to join my team to raise money. All in all we raised $4,737. Not too shabby. Unfortunately, we weren't able to swim because of water quality issues on the 23rd. No regrets though. We did a great job.

Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox

Christian and I joined his parents on the 25th for a baseball game at U.S. Cellular Field. Papa Smurf and Buddy Guy threw the opening pitch. Awesome. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was a great reminder of how much I love Chicago in the summer.

Fill in the....

2011-07-29T00:00:00.003-05:00

{Photo Credit: Dad*}

1. My favorite color is orange. It goes great with my complexion and it also doesn't hurt that it was one of Virginia Tech's colors.

2. My travel destination of choice is anywhere that my cell phone doesn't work....think...middle of nowhere.

3. My favorite food is currently olives. I can't get enough of those salty ovals.

4. My happy place is in water. Shocking coming from me, I know.

5. My favorite saying is "If you can't be good, be careful."

6. My dirty little secret is I hate to drive. I'm a great passenger though. Doesn't that count for something?!?

7. Something friends might say about me is that I am a control freak.

* Dad - I'm very proud of you for learning how to upload pictures from your new digital camera. I can't wait to see more picture from around the farm. I miss it and you and Mom. Thanks for being my favorite followers!

Thanks for another great week of Fill in the Blank Friday's the little things we do. I hope you feel better soon.

Square 5

2011-07-25T06:22:00.000-05:00

View from the Side

View from the Front

How about Square 5?

It involved a technique called illusion knitting. Viewed from the side you can see the heart but from straight on it is more difficult. There are some knitters who make this style of knitting their focus. It's pretty ridiculous.

Fill in the....

2011-07-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Still lovin' the little things we do Fill in the Blank Friday.

1. One of my happiest moments ever was swimming with sea turtles in the Galapagos.

2. Summer is wedding season and weddings are just an opportunity to break out my dance moves.

3. This summer is going by so quickly. I feel like I haven't done anything.

4. My summer food of choice has been watermelon. Yum.

5. My summer uniform has been a bathing suit. I've put so many hours in a pool this summer it's ridiculous.

6. If I could spend the entire summer in one location I would choose here. I'm happy here.

7. My summer anthem is We Used To Wait by Arcade Fire. [W]e used to wait for letters to arrive/But what's stranger still/Is how something so small can keep you alive.

Soundscapes

2011-07-21T06:00:00.004-05:00

Can you believe it's almost August?!? I can't. Honestly, I don't know where this summer has gone.

It really hit me this past weekend when I realized how behind I was on listening to Science Friday podcasts. I had 31 hours of podcasts backed up in my iTunes. Ah! In an effort to catch up, I listened to 10 hours this past weekend while helping Christian at work.

My favorite segment from the 10 hours was Listening to Wild Soundscapes. The program featured two scientist who record sounds in various landscapes...thus soundscapes. They have been recording for years and are able to hear drastic changes occurring. They have an incredible and disturbing sound bite from a coral reef in Fiji that broke my heart.

The program is worth a listen. If you're interested, like I was, you can listen to other soundscapes at the Purdue Soundscape Ecology Project.

One Day on Earth

2011-07-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Have you guys seen the trailer for One Day on Earth? On October 10, 2010, people throughout the world took videos of life around them. One Day on Earth took the videos that were submitted and made a movie. The trailer by itself is beautiful and inspiring. I can't wait for the movie.

Software

2011-07-18T22:07:00.001-05:00

So I just invested in some scrap booking software to spruce up Noodles and Waffles. Slowly but surely I'm getting the hang of it.

Fill in the....

2011-07-15T08:26:00.000-05:00

1. I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) morning person although I like sleeping through it on occasion.

2. My favorite Pandora stations are non-existent. I use 8tracks. I love searching for an artist and then listening to playlists that include that artist. It's amazing how much new music I've found doing this...

3. Three of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are DVNO by Justice, Yippyo-Ay by The Presets, and No You Girls by Franz Ferdinand. I like driving beats (pun intended).

4. My favorite pattern is ocean waves.

5. My favorite perfume is L'occitane Green Tea Eau de Toilette.

6. Rules are made to be followed.

7. My most overused phrase or punctuation is apparently.

Loving Fill in the Blank Fridays with the little things we do.

Unexpected

2011-07-14T08:57:00.002-05:00

Christian and I saw Midnight in Paris last night. It was wonderful and captivating. Where other movie trailers give the whole story away, this one gives you nothing.

Hillary - I think you'd love it!

The Good: The plot twist. I don't want to give anything away but it really was magical. When Christian and I finally figured out what was happening we turned to each other - smiled and then giggled.

The Bad & The Ugly: I'm not sure there was anything really bad or ugly about this movie. No wait...Rachel McAdams wardrobe was pretty bad. Apparently costume design was obsessed with shirt dresses during filming.

The Best: I was completely caught off guard by the plot twist. I had made an assumption based on the trailer that it would be a quirky romantic comedy that revolved around Rachel McAdams, Owen Wilson, and Michael Sheen. Boy was I wrong.

Overall: While you probably don't need to see this movie in the theaters, it definitely deserves a place on your rental/Netflix list.

Chukker

2011-07-13T06:00:00.008-05:00

While we were in Virginia, we visited King Family Vineyard on a Sunday to enjoy some wine and polo. I'd never been to a polo match before so it was incredibly exciting. It also didn't hurt that the scenery was beautiful, the company wonderful or that the vineyard was 10 minutes from my parents farm.

A club polo match consists of four to six chukkas which last seven minutes with three minute internals between chukkas and a five minute half time. Ponies typically play two chukkas in an afternoon with a rest of at least one chukka in between. This makes complete sense given the intensity of play during a chukka. Bumping or riding off is allowed but contact must be made between the pony's hip and shoulder.

The field was packs with picnicking couples and families. It was so cool. I can't wait to visit my parents again and see another match.

A Visit Home

2011-07-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

A couple weekends ago, Christian and I visited my parents in Virginia. It was a wonderful weekend filled with family, friends, and the farm.

Christian was in heaven. He became my Dad's sidekick...plowing, shooting apples, taking pictures, counting bats, and herding chickens and guinea hens together. They were adorable.

Square 4

2011-07-09T06:00:00.005-05:00

Lily Chin square

I had such a great time knitting this square. It is a bias pattern that starts with a single stitch, increases to 69 stitches, and then decreases to a single stitch. I loved making the bobbles and absolutely loved building this square up from nothing on a diagonal.

I can't wait to see what pattern my teacher picks next!

Fill in the Blank...

2011-07-08T10:17:00.000-05:00

1. My plans this summer include a charity swim (Swim Across America), knitting squares for my afghan, and enjoying time with friends and family.

2. The best summer I ever had was when I was nine years old. I went to a nature summer camp. I got to run around fields and forests all day.

3. Summer would be my favorite season if mosquitoes didn't exist.

4. My favorite summer food is watermelon.

5. The best way to quench a summer thirst is with sun tea from a big ole pickle jar.

6. My summer uniform consists of Columbia capri shorts, a solid tank-top or v-neck shirt, and my 10-year old Chacos. I can't tell you how grateful I am to the staff at Columbia for understanding that women have hips and thighs. I love you guys!

7. The best thing about summer is swimming outside.

I love playing the little things we do Fill in the Blank Friday's!

Cringe

2011-07-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

I saw this commercial this past weekend and had immediate flashbacks to 9th grade and Mrs. Gardner explaining why funner and funnest are not words. While times have changes since I was in 9th grade, I hold firm to the use of fun as a noun and only a noun.

Funner / Funnest = NO

More fun = YES

For more information on the incorrect use of fun as an adjective, check out this great post.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-07-07T09:15:00.001-05:00

Bobbi and I really put in some pool time in June. Check out our numbers...

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 89 miles (144 kilometers)
Bobbi: 31 miles (50 kilometers)
Nicole: 58 miles (93 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 35%
Remaining: 166 miles (267 kilometers)

Fill in the....

2011-07-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

1. The best news I ever received was getting a job after moving to Chicago without one.

2. Something I'm looking forward to is world-wide eradication of mosquitoes. Let's make this happen people.

3. Something I would never do is say never.

4. If I could choose someone to be my life coach (famous or not, living or dead), I'd choose Lynne Cox.

5. If I had to put a label on my style it would be tom-boyish.

6. One should always be prepared to flee danger.

7. I want to sleep.

I love playing the little things we do Fill in the Blank Friday's!

Can't Wait...

2011-06-30T08:10:00.000-05:00

Considering how much I loved his adaptation of Let the Right One In (2008), I'm extremely excited about Tomas Alfredson's next project Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Isn't the music in this trailer amazing?!?

Square 3

2011-06-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Joan Schrouder Square

This square was so much harder than Squares 1 and 2.

This was an unusual square because you start it from the center using a circle or disappearing loop cast-on and then built outwards. Once I had the cast-on figured out I thought I was home free; however, the increases (M1K/M1P) caused me to start this square over from the beginning twice.

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to have this square finished.

Never again!

Swimming Saved Our Car

2011-06-22T08:10:00.000-05:00

How you ask?

While I was at Masters swimming practice last night, our area (and most of Chicagoland) was hit with a pretty intense storm with 80 mph winds.

This is where our car would have been parked if I hadn't gone to practice.

Take away message from this story...don't skip practice.

It'll probably rain...

2011-06-21T10:45:00.001-05:00

Christian and I got tickets to see Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field yesterday. We're sitting on the field. Considering how lucky we were to get tickets, it's bound to rain.

While I was still in queue to get online tickets, ticket scalping sites were already selling tickets for four times the retail value. Upper deck tickets (originally $35) were going for $250. What a racket! It's almost a joke how expensive these tickets were. That being said we could never afford to pay the scalping prices so we really lucked out.

I can't wait.

Margarita Pizza

2011-06-20T08:36:00.002-05:00

Last week, Christian and I made a Margarita Pizza from scratch. We used Jamie Oliver's pizza dough and quickest tomato sauce recipes, which came from Jamie at Home.

With a take-out menu as backup, we started cooking...

5 cups of King Arthur's Bread flour

2 cups of Bob's Red Mill Semolina flour

1 tbsp. Sugar

4 tbsp. Olive Oil

1 tbsp. Sea Salt

2-1/4 ounce packets of Yeast

2 1/2 cups of lukewarm Water (120F)

Mixed and Kneaded

Olive Oil

4 Garlic cloves

Basil

2 - 28 ounce cans of Whole Tomatoes

Sea Salt and Pepper

Pizza Dough
Quickest Tomato Sauce
Mozzarella

Basil

10 minutes in a pre-heated oven set to 500F.

...it turned out to be wonderful and incredibly easy.

Have you tried any good recipes recently?

Fill in the....

2011-06-17T08:00:00.006-05:00

{via}

1. The last movie I saw was Never Let Me Go. I didn't love it although the cinematography was breathtaking.

2. I want to catch up. I feel like I'm behind.

3. Surprises are only good when you secretly want them.

4. The best accessory are glasses (i.e., jewelry for the face).

5. My favorite warm drink is tea.

6. My favorite cold drink is iced tea.

7. Currently loving Jamie at Home.

Summer Stillness

2011-06-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Letters to the Future

2011-06-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

When I heard about futureme.org I knew I'd have to share it with you. It's a website that allows you to write a letter/email to yourself in the future.

As the website explains, the space-time continuum is bent so you can send yourself a message of encouragement or a kick in the pants. You get to pick the date you'd like to receive the letter/email - either a month from now or 50 years from now. The message can be private or made public.

Some of the public messages are trivial but others....others are beautiful. Like the man with Alzheimer's who sends himself memories.

Take a moment this week to visit futureme.org and send your future self a letter of reflection.

Caption It!

2011-06-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

What's Wrong With People

2011-06-10T09:00:00.009-05:00

{via}

Another powerful and disturbing infographic from Earth-Touch.

Addicted

2011-06-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

{via}

Why didn't anyone tell me about AMC's The Killing?!? I started watching the series this past weekend and am completely hooked. Now I have to wait an entire week to see the season finale where I know nothing is going to get resolved. Ugh.

Are there any fans out there? Can we chat about who killed Rosie Larsen?

I love love this show. It's a murder mystery series that follows three main story lines that are all interconnected. There are two reasons I love this show. First, I love how people's actions and secrets have consequences. Second, I love how the show doesn't dumb things down for the audience. I can't tell you how much I hate the obvious being stated and sometimes re-stated just so everyone can follow along.

Holder and his hoodies. Linden and her nicotine gum. Love it!

In summary, if you're bored and looking for a new series to watch...watch this one.

Square 2

2011-06-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

Melissa Leapman Square

It's a cat!

The second square in my "Great American Afghan" included cabling, chart reading and a great deal of right-hand to left-hand knitting conversions. Overall it was pretty easy but did require a little extra mental focus to remember to switch all the slanted stitches.

I can't wait to sew on some eyes.

Pooped

2011-06-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

Don't you wish you could be a house cat?!? I do.

I have a feeling my weekend is going to be busy and on top of it all I want to finish planting my garden (I'm missing beets, peppers, and potatoes), finish knitting my 2nd afghan square, finish reading the most recent issue of Swimmer magazine, go grocery shopping, and go see X-Men: First Class. Busy busy busy.

I hope you guys have a great weekend and get everything you want done.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-06-01T06:18:00.001-05:00

The month of May was a little slow for both Bobbi and I. Hopefully the warmer weather and outdoor swimming locations will make June a better month. Still...we've swum 72 miles. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 72 miles (115 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 28%
Remaining: 183 miles (295 kilometers)

And the Winner is....

2011-05-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Angela from Jazzy Angel. You won the beautiful and versatile summer table runner from SewPrettyCreations.

As a special bonus, SewPrettyCreations is offering free shipping to anyone who participated in the giveaway during the month of June. Simply mention Noodles and Waffles when checking out. Thanks SewPrettyCreations!

Bike the Drive

2011-05-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last chance to sign up for my Summer Giveaway!

Sarah with her cookie

What's not to love about highlighter yellow?

{Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune}

Sarah and I rode in the 2011 Bike the Drive yesterday. Bike the Drive is one of my favorite Chicago events. All eight lanes of Lake Shore Drive are closed to car traffic from Bryn Mar Avenue to 57th Street (~30 mile loop) from 5am to 10am. During that time, Chicagoland bikers take to the road and help raise money for the Active Transportation Alliance.

As you can see from the pictures it was a bit foggy. That didn't stop us though. We managed to put in 34.3 miles and had a great time although my toes were freezing by the end. Despite the significant number of people on the road, Sarah and I managed to average 15.3 mph. Not too shabby considering it was my second bike ride of the year and Sarah's first.

Let's just hope the weather clears up for riding in June!

Moscatel

2011-05-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to enter my Summer Giveaway!

Been a while, I know. Sorry about that. I wanted to do a decent spring wine but it never got that warm. Next thing you know, it got really hot and now here we are in a slightly warm but rainy and humid holding pattern so this is as good a time as any for the spring wine I wanted to submit. So here it is...

Moscatel (AKA Muscat wine) is a sweet wine, Muscat grapes are used for making desert wines and have the reputation as being one of the oldest known domesticated grapes. If you do a search on Muscat grapes, you'll find wines from all over the world use this and it also is the basis for spirits like Metaxa out of Greece as well as Pisco out of Peru. They make table wines and dessert wines, my selection today is a white Moscatel from Sierras De Malago which is the southern end of Spain in the region of Andalusia.

I pop the cork and pour a little out and my first impression is how this wine flies around the glass, it's so light, there is almost no substance to it at all. It's a pale gold, almost entirely clear. I move in for a closer look at the nose of this wine is huge for a white. Very pronounced and clear, with tropical fruits and I get some apricot and pear scents in there with maybe a touch of citrus. I have a sip and, man, this wine is refreshing. Light texture but very strong tropical fruit flavors, that citrus is still there with a touch of honey. That sweetness is just the right touch and lingers just long enough to encourage me to want more. There's no bite at all, this is a smooth, pleasurable spring/summer wine. Muscatels have a reputation for being dry wines, but I am not getting that here at all, this is very subtle, but very sweet, the flavor stays with you for a good while. I am a fan. Plus look at that label, this is one of the more photogenic bottles I have had. I found this at the local wine shop for $14.99 and a modest 13.% alcohol by volume so certainly one anyone could enjoy, I'll be coming back to this for sure. The label suggests having this with seafood or spicy food, I would agree with that. I am having it with a mild cheese and it doesn't pair all that well, probably be better with some food with a little more action. But don't let that dissuade you, this is a wine that anyone could enjoy.

Yours in vino,

Will

Square 1

2011-05-27T16:00:00.007-05:00

Don't forget to enter my Summer Giveaway!

Nancy Bush Square

Two weeks ago, Michelle and I started our next knitting project...the Great American Afghan. The afghan includes 24 patterns which involve quite a few new techniques and skills.

Our first square (shown above) used a technique found in an Estonian knitting book to create little bumps in the knitting. Although I had to modify the button stitch a little because of my left-handed issue, I think it turned out great.

Tomorrow we start on Square 2, a pattern that uses cabling to make a cat silhouette. We're both pretty excited about this one.

Hope you all have a productive and relaxing weekend.

Summer Giveaway

2011-05-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Are you planning on hosting a party/picnic/grill-out this summer? If so, what better way to dress up your table than with this lovely table runner from SewPrettyCreations. This 13-inch wide by 43-inch long reversible table runner is perfect for summer and would make a great gift.

It comes from SewPrettyCreations, a side project of my friend's mom. She's been selling her creations for almost 30 years and has just broken into the Etsy market.

To enter:

1. Check out the other beautiful pieces at SewPrettyCreations.
2. Leave a comment on this post with a way for me to contact you.
2. Become a follower of Noodles and Waffles.

I'll select the winner on Memorial Day, my favorite holiday, using a random generator.

Yes, Please

2011-05-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Still from Fish Tank

I can't tell you how excited I am for X-Men: First Class. Although to be honest, a great deal of that excitement has to do with Michael Fassbender and his wonderful accent.

You might recognize him from Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre or Fish Tank.

I can't imagine you'd forget his performance in Fish Tank if you've seen it. He plays such a disturbing character who you love, hate and then really hate.

Trust me...you'll be seeing a lot more of this smile. His career is on fire.

Busy Bee

2011-05-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

I disappeared for awhile because I was busy putting the finishing touching on this Flower Power Girl's Suntop. It has involved intarsia, cabling, short row shaping, and lace work, all new skills for me. Although it is only nine rows of this piece the lace work has proven to be the biggest challenge. Thankfully, I'm finished and only need to sew on buttons.

I was considering giving this piece away to a friend but after suffering through the lace work I think I will save it for a future family member. While I might have to wait years to see it on a little body, it will be worth seeing on someone I love.

Currently Loving

2011-05-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

loving: Words with Friends (Let's play! Username: NoodlesandWaffles)
listening to:

reading: Middlemarch by George Eliot
eating: Olives
wearing: Patagonia Down Jacket

missing: Jenn and Melissa

watching: Giro d'Italia and Amgen Tour of California (Go Leopard Trek!)

admiring: Rex Parker

Wide Awake

2011-05-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Swamp Sparrow

I woke up this morning before my alarm. I can't remember the last time I did that. Doesn't that seem like something you did as a kid?

I think it's odd since today is my 31st birthday. It's been a wonderful birthday. My parents visited and helped with odd-jobs around the house. My in-laws threw a wonderful birthday/mother's day bash.

I'm a lucky lady.

Thanks Dad!

2011-05-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Before

After

A couple weeks ago, Christian hit the side of our house with a tractor. When I came home from work he mentioned it to me but didn't really convey the magnitude of the damage. On the bright side, we learned that the older part of our house is made from flue tiles. I know what you're thinking and no...houses are not typically constructed of flue tiles.

So when my parents called to let me know they would be visiting from Virginia this weekend, I asked my Dad if he would take a look at the hole and let me know if it was fixable. Well he looked at it and said, "No problem."

We picked up some cement, found some old bricks, added water and an hour or so later my hole was filled in and patched up.

I've considered painting it to match the stucco but at this point I want it to stand out so Christian remembers to watch where he's going. I can't be flying my dad in every weekend.

Thanks Dad - You did a great job...as always.

Yeah!

2011-05-05T06:57:00.001-05:00

{via}

Bobbi's online shop opened up today. Be sure to stop by and check out all her wonderful handmade products.

South Riding

2011-05-04T06:00:00.005-05:00

{via}

I'm in love with Masterpiece Theater. Love, I tell you.

Ever since I blew an entire Sunday watching Downton Abbey, I've been obsessed. So you can imagine my glee when South Riding started this past Sunday. If the story doesn't intrigue you, which it will, the costumes and scenery will have you wishing you were headed to Yorkshire too.

You can stream it on PBS now. Watch it while you can!

P.S. Felicitations to my wine guest blogger Will! He just got engaged to the lovely Eileen. Congratulations you two! I'm so excited.

International Swimmers Challenge - 2011

2011-05-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

It looks like Bobbi and I are right on schedule. We're just about 1/4 of the way to meeting our goal. Pretty impressive don't you think?

Goals

Bobbi: 145 miles (234 kilometers)
Nicole: 110 miles (177 kilometers)
Combined: 255 miles (410 kilometers)

To Date

Completed: 61 miles (98 kilometers)
Progress towards Combined Goal: 24%
Remaining: 194 miles (312 kilometers)

Winter's Bone

2011-05-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

This past week Winter's Bone made it to the top of our Netflix queue. It was the only 2010 Oscar nominated movie that Christian and I hadn't seen and I was excited to see John Hawkes (You Me and Everyone We Know) and Jennifer Lawrence, the actress who will soon star as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.

The Good: The acting in this movie was amazing. The subtleties of Jennifer Lawrence (Ree) and John Hawkes (Teardrop) expressions were astonishing. They both had these incredibly looks of desperation. The story is pretty compelling. I wouldn't call it suspenseful as some of the reviews did but I was definitely interested in finding out where Ree's father was...

The Bad: This movie was so slow. Painfully slow. Even the dramatic scene near the end moved like a Sunday stroll.

The Ugly: I can't say there was anything I really hated about this movie other than the pace. The cinematography was excellent, the script was well written, and the acting spectacular. That being said I would never sit through it again which makes it a little ugly.

The Best: It seems to me that Hollywood typically makes light of poverty in country environments by playing up rednecks, hunting, and trailers. Winter's Bone succeeds in painting a heartbreaking picture of poverty in the country. It is a harsh reality that I have not seen from other movies. Growing up in the middle of nowhere Virginia, this portrayal really hit home. While we typically think of urban poverty, this movie succeeds in making us remember that poverty is everywhere.

Overall: Slow but worth seeing.

Currently Loving

2011-04-28T06:00:00.038-05:00

loving: letters to crushes

listening to:

reading: the beauty department
eating: Giardiniera
wearing:

{Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It}

missing: Sun (Seriously Chicago, We're the Windy City - Not the Rainy City)
watching: Oz and Jame's Big Wine Adventure
admiring: Rowan Pattern Books

mne·mon·ics : a technique of improving the memory

2011-04-25T06:00:00.005-05:00

{via}

I bet most of you listen to the radio or music while traveling. Not this family! We listen to bird songs.

Ever since we purchased the Bird Song Ear Training Guide audio CD at the DuPage County Birding Club meeting we've been listening to bird songs. Each track includes a bird song, a short description of the sound, and the common mnemonic used to remember it.

We do look a little crazy listening to random noises and then reciting mnemonics like "Who cooks for you?" which is the mnemonic for the Barred Owl. Hopefully with time we will be able to learn more and more bird songs. It's a fun/random skill.

To make the deal even sweeter, profits from the sale of the CD were donated to the Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.

Happy Spring!

Christian - Happy Birthday! This birding post was written just for you.