Snow, snow, snow, and soup.

Usually when it snows, I start roasting a squash.  It's my thing.

But last Tuesday, I had run out of squash.  So I made soup instead.

I made it in a cast iron pot, just to be fancy.

Vegetable soup with rosemary dumplings -- divine!

Then there was... the sunshine!

Today was the first day in a long time that I went outside voluntarily.  Does that make me sound like a hermit?  Well, I am a bit of a homebody (my Mom calls it "being a houseplant"), but it's not nearly as dramatic as that made it sound.  Sure, I go outside to walk the dog, or trek to the grocery store, or to ship packages, but usually I put that off for as long as I can.  It's cold, and windy, and cloudy, and my couch is more comfortable, accented with a hot cup of cocoa and warm wool socks, than any Winter city sidewalk could possibly be.

But today, the sunshine came out, I heard birds chirping in the tree outside of my window, and so I went outside of my own will, and rather enjoyed it.

It's so nice to be reminded of Spring.  I'm sure it's still a long way off, but these little teasers don't really do any harm.  Of course, the ground is still covered in snow.

Ike LOVES it.  He'll walk in the snow until his little paws go numb, then come back to the sidewalk and look up at me, waiting for me to pick him up like an infant to carry him home.  Last year we bought him little rubber booties to wear in the cold weather, but I can't find them for the life of me...

These ladies seem to always be outside, walking up and down the sidewalk with the help of their walkers, all of them interrupting each other in what sounds like Russian.  I've never seen them acknowledge anyone else on the sidewalk, they're pretty much in a world of their own.  Their conversations get really animated sometimes, too.  I wish I understood... probably a lot of old lady gossip.

Just in case you forgot (as if you could, with me reminding you all of the time) -- the RAW Showcase is taking place in 15 days!!  Tickets are still only $10, but they'll go up to $15 if you end up buying them at the door.  This is a great opportunity to see new, fresh faces in the art world -- photographers, painters, dancers, musicians, makeup artists, fashion designers -- and to get out of your Chicago-Winter-cave for a night.  Heck, if I can get there on the CTA with all of my booth decorations and wearing a dress (unheard of, I know), then certainly you can do it too.  You can also use that opportunity to come to my booth and tease me about how silly I must have looked getting all of that stuff on the CTA while wearing a dress.

Buy your tickets here!!

I'm going to be right next to the downstairs bar (y'heard!), outfitted with two very comfortable booth seats, perfect for lounging on while eating our take-out from Native Foods down the block.

Uh-huh, I've got this all kinds of planned out.

A Nice Day to be Inside

Recipe: Roasted Butternut Alfredo

Lovely Day

Dave & Ike walking toward the Lake

Today was a lovely lovely lovely day.  Dave and I took Ike for a walk down to the Lake, and we had a picnic of cheese & sausages on crackers.  Ike had a few bites, too, of course.

Is that a cracker?

Umm... Dad... I can haz the cracker?

It smells so awesome!

Nom nom nom... mmm... cracker...

The wind made it a little chilly, but I was determined to not let that bother me, so it was short-sleeves all the way!  I put on the brightest colors I could find, and thoroughly enjoyed the 59-degree day.  My friends and family in VA have no idea how good they have it, sometimes.  ;)

Lovin' on the pups.

But seriously, I always say, no one loves and appreciates Summer more than a Chicagoan.  Once you get through the nonsense that is our Winter -- and it's usually far worse than what we were workin' with this year -- you can't help but love, adore, appreciate, and enjoy every moment you get in the warm sunshine.

My two guys.

Whaaaaaat!?

It's 59-degrees today.  In Chicago.  In February.  I need to go outside, now!

I also have a sudden urge to eat a really fresh salad, or perhaps some corn on the cob.

Bummer.

I'm just having... one of those days.  I feel like I want to do something (or want to want to), but I just can't seem to find the motivation.  Maybe I just need to forgive myself a little bit for having a lazy day now & then, as I seem to take it very personally when my mind & body can't synch up.

I hope you birds & blokes are having a lovely day out there in the world, & especially if you're in Chicago, I hope you're enjoying the sunshine!