from Chicago

Morning in Chicago. Being a farmette person, I am now very attached to my country habits. Weed plucking, chicken feeding, pear picking. Groaning about the unreasonably large number of melons coming from that one baby plant we picked up for $1.29. (You can only eat so many melons before they start reminding you of motel and conference breakfasts.) Still, every once in a while and only in select places, I love to get my city fix. The neighborhood where my younger girl lives gives me just enough of all that I like about an urban walk: great bakeries to poke into, cafes to pause at, and unaffordable but oh so attractive other shops to stare into. I have a chance to do just that this morning.

I'm up at my usual hour, which happens to also be the girls' waking hour. I join Primrose for breakfast: we have our favorite, at least when I'm around -- granola with yogurt and a variety of fruits.

Everyone disperses by 8, but before that, there's time for a little art work! 

And sister watching.

And there's even time for a (rushed) selfie on a timed release!

But eventually, work and school beckon. One parent catches a train to her office, another parent drops Primrose at school and I'm charged with taking Juniper to her school.

It's a lovely walk actually. The neighborhood is quiet and very green and the warm sun today makes me think that my fleece jacket is very unnecessary. The little one has always liked her stroller walks and by this age, she actively takes in all that we pass. Makes me want to sing. (So I do!)

The drop off at school is smooth and easy and I am now on my own, in the city. With time to take a walk. And time to think about the utter wonderfulness of the visit!

And of course I want to check out the newest bakery in the neighborhood. Mindy's Bakery. Don't trust my photo, which is from behind the glass and therefore awful. 

Look at their website here to make your mouth water. I "only" bought a few bagels, a croissant or two, a strudel, and a danish. Enough to tide me over until tomorrow! [Mindy herself has the coveted James Beard award for Outstanding Pastry Chef, so she is no newcomer to baked goods. Me, I love the variety here! We have, by now, quite good croissants and pains au chocolat in Madison. But the buck seems to have stopped there.  Mindy and her staff push boundaries and bring in baking traditions that go well beyond what you'd find in Paris.]

Eventually I finish my walk and head home. It's good to drive in or out of the city before the day starts winding down. The traffic is inconsequential earlier in the day. Too, I want to get back with time to help Ed do the clean up of the cutdown tree branches.

Except we don't do any of that. Why? Because we have something that has been nearly absent all summer long: mosquitoes! Unbelievable! 

So now you'll find me wishing for that first frost! We may get it by the end of next week. 

We are ready for it!