Hi! Long time, no write. Been busy making our Illinois life… a rewarding task.
We’ve been here a year. Met amazing people. Soaked up gorgeous scenery. Enjoyed Chicago. Survived our 1st winter. Become Cubs fans. Learned about black squirrels and buckthorn. Recommitted to our dislike of deep dish. Discovered cheese curds are simply fried cheese. Been identified as Southern from only saying “hi”. Decided that conduit makes for much neater (and pricier) wiring. Figured out how to shovel snow and not hurt our backs. Rated every bakery in a 20 mile radius. And made great new friends, while missing our great old ones.
So a quick catch up. If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, here are 109,000 words you don’t have to read.
August 2020
[clockwise: the drive, seeing our new kitchen for the 1st time, breaking in the inherited pool table, the train station, Finn’s new high school, the charming garbage collection, the view of Lake Michigan from our dog walking route]
September 2020
[clockwise: Lake Forest beach, playing into Emma’s joke of our house being a lovely hotel to visit, exploring with Poppet, Anniversary celebration in the city, Nana & Pop come to visit, Lake Forest Open Land’s Bagpipes & Bonfire covid-style, and the work on the house continues]
October 2020
[top to bottom: exploring Chicago, Poppet’s 1st winter wardrobe purchase, Finn’s surprise “Day Off” for sweet 16 when M’Lyn and Emma flew in to celebrate, my favorite market in Lake Forest ready for Fall, black squirrels make a meal of pumpkins, 1st snow flakes, Finn’s 1st in-person day at school, the drive to city is worth it for neapolitan pizza]
November 2020
[top to bottom: pretty Lake Forest, work on the house continues, Chicago Botanic Garden, Thanksgiving at home]
December 2020
[top to bottom: pretty Lake Forest (I could say that every day), to-go cocktails from Deerpath Inn!, ice skating the ribbon, the many moods of Lake Michigan, Poppet loves him some snow]
January 2021
[clockwise: tubing with the fam, Poppet is crazy, Poppet and his alter-ego Creepet celebrating Emma’s birthday from afar, record snow fall, Rogi is born, salt caving with friends]
February 2021
[top to bottom: Lake Michigan is pissed, cold outside, warm inside, yurt dining in the city with friends]
March 2021
[clockwise: sun bathing, dog walking the golf course, Rogi joins the family, channeling Moira]
April 2021
[work on the house and with the puppy continues, Rogi’s 1st touch of Lake Michigan, puppy needs Dad’s coat in April!]
May 2021
[clockwise: Rogi walking Poppet, Elawa Farm – a favorite, M’Lyn visits, baby girl is home after freshman year of college]
June 2021
[top to bottom: earning birthday cake, thought Lake Forest was on fire but it’s a cold lake/warm air thing, Lake Bluff street party, cubs fans are born, when your kids are grown you do dog playdates, “Chicago Summer” begins, Segways are our friend]
July 2021
[top to bottom: visiting the boy at work, magical 4th of July in Lake Forest, entertaining friends in the city, Rogi learns to swim, Neon Summer, Fuck Regina George, Second City!, a near death experience on “the zipper” at Lake Forest Day Festival – note how smiley the teen is about that]
August 2021
For the anniversary of our move, Travis and I hosted a “Toast to our Tribe” this past weekend. There are so many wonderful people who have done so much to help us transition to our new area/home… it was our small way of saying thank you. We’ve been constantly touched and humbled by the efforts of our friends here. We are overcome with gratitude.
That bring us to today… sort of. Hard to capture it all. There were more fun times than pictured. And home sick days that are already fading in my memory. And also, laundry. I have lots I want to write about when I can find time. But the work on the house continues (literally have 6 guys here today doing stuff). And I’m making the beds up for our next round of visitors. Text anytime to book YOUR stay at our daughter’s favorite inn – Locanda al Lago. We look forward to welcoming you. Now that we’ve been here a year, we may not get lost showing you around.