Chicago

The weekend: it is that break and rest that you get for working at your job (in most jobs) or going to school. You abandon someone else's imposed schedule and create your own.

Some of us are so programmed, so wedded to the weekday clock that we find this to be an insignificant change. We get up at nearly the same time, we eat meals that we're hungry for at the same hour. The older you get the more this is the case. So that even if you are retired and by definition not tied to that work ordering of your day, you do not do what you've longed all your tired adult work days to do -- you do not as a habit sleep in, you do not unravel your commitment to a set schedule.

So I am not surprised that this Chicago household, though looser at the edges, still gets up at close to a weekday hour and still aims to follow many of the routines of a weekday. It's just easier that way. Though the stress is nearly gone: no one will kill you if you slack off and get going later than you had wanted to.

Morning: breakfast, and a leisurely vibe. Us older guys eat granola. Juniper tries oatmeal with peanut butter to test her peanut tolerance.

(Juniper and Primrose: good with each other, good for each other)

My daughter has the idea that we could walk to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park. It's one of Chicago's nicest farmers markets and it's only a brisk 45 minute trudge from where we are. I'm tickled with this expedition. I love local markets, especially now, in July, and I very much want to see how different this one is from our own. A Chicago market gets lots of produce from Michigan so I'll be able to see what's growing in Illinois and its eastern neighbor.

We set out. My daughter comments later that she looks stern in the photo. I think she looks determined!

It really is a cool walk. Chicago's neighborhoods are architecturally and historically and commercially interesting. Perhaps it's not a great plan to meander through all of them, but today's walk certainly ranks as a really good one. 

And the market is also a winner. It's along a U-shaped space, with lots of green grasses and shady spots for a blanket if you want to linger. And we do!

We pick up some bakery items and, too, some fruits from Michigan... 

... and I do see that there are for more fruit stands than we have and perhaps somewhat fewer veggie and flower stands. But the vibe is great and the foods are delicious. And guess what! I find a stand with this year's first corn! Definitely worth adding to tonight's dinner.

In the afternoon, the kids rest (Juniper cut her first tooth and this brings her a great source of relief -- she has struggled through teething and a set of viruses during my time here and it's nice to see her finally exhale some). I prepare the foods for supper. And what may that be? You wont be surprised if I say a spinach and mushroom frittata! I mean, talk about making something that I know from every angle! Besides, they have lots of good CSA eggs in their fridge.

(dessert: vanilla ice cream with blackberries, just like one in her book; if you're a kid you'll likely know which book)

Evening. Hard to believe it's my last one. Too, it's not as if everything is cleared up and everyone is good to go. But, the kids are *mostly* good to go (for now) and their dad will be coming home tomorrow.

In the meantime, bugs, viruses and all, it's been thrilling to be with these three! Such great girls they are! 

With so much love...