Sunday, July 6, 2008

Feels Like Vacation

Glorious weekend. The weather was on the chilly side of pristine, different plans every evening and still plenty of time for reading in the garden and wandering around the neighborhood. The rundown went as such:

Thursday- Home for a fast nap after work then off to Columbia for Kurt's Annual dock party. Bunch of pirates but I was so exhausted I slept till 11 the next morning. Unheard of.

Friday- Once I got up and around, I held off on the suburbs for an extra day in favor of attending a last minute cookout around the corner at Blake & Meggan's (who are so cute and going to be my new neighborhood friends!). I came bearing "Tennessee Caviar ." You can tell I'm missing Mom a bit when I start making all of her standby recipes- I'll post our version Tuesday! We had a LOT of wine, found fireworks in every direction and an all-around festive evening.

TKTC Note: Not going to dwell on this but WHY after three years of being single (for the most part) do all manner of people show up at the exact minute I'd rather be off the market?! Murphy's Law?! Or maybe they can smell it? Other people have experienced this phenomenon, yes?

Saturday- On the Metra by 10:30am and then....Lake Bluff.

Lake Forest/Lake Bluff adopted me as its lost Midwestern child sometime in college when I kept collecting friends from there (CVDJ, Bobby J, Abs, Caro, Jaimeson, etc). It's beautiful and walks the line between idyllic American town, Stepford and the Ice Storm. Heavy on the first but the kids that grew up there will be the first to relate stories specific to the other two. I should reiterate that it is in fact gorgeous and I've been taken in by four separate families who are among my very favorite people.


Speaking of, Caro's family invited a few of us to the pool for the day. The pool where I remembered how fantastic it feels to jump into cool water and be fully submerged. Then pull myself out, take a sip out of a monstrous seabreeze (poured by a heavy-handed teenager in the clubhouse) and drip dry. No sunburns, just fun and food. And lots of Lily Pulitzer.


The second half of Saturday was spent at Nairb's (that would be him and Roman prom posing at Lake Bluff beach). Nairb's parents were out and about and literally left him the keys to the castle and meat in the fridge. This particular field trip consisted of solo cups of whiskey cocktails and an extensive game of pick-up-sticks for later.


The Fourth of July is Caroline's absolute favorite holiday. "Christmas in July!" says Caro.

In keeping with our surroundings, we built a fire, made gourmet s'mores and told ghost stories till the wee small hours. Neums and Nairb know all kinds of goose-bump inducing items about the town's history and we had an old fashioned good time listening to the Robert Plant/Allison Krauss album and sipping.

Sunday: A fabulous morning run (weather-inspired), Baked Eggs with Bobby J and CVDJ then reading in the garden and chores for the remainder of the day. I also just finished Muhlholland Drive and think I may have to accept being confused on that one while still thinking Naomi Watts is a rockstar. Got more fabulous fun today but I'm going to do a proper post- it involves a very cute dress!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had a fun weekend :)

Nilsa S. said...

You were up in my work hood this weekend. North shore is beautiful. And the houses? Divine!

Laurie Stark said...

I have absolutely experienced that phenomenon and it is so ridiculous. I have no idea what causes it, but it's super frustrating!

L Sass said...

That's funny, this weekend we were discussing how I give off the MOST closed-off vibes now that I'm well into a relationship. I wouldn't mind a good flirt once in a while, but I think I repel new potential suitors these days.

TKTC said...

Jen and Nilsa: The house-stalking up there is pretty fun. It's such a fun place to wander around, wondering if you've stumbled onto a cross between 90210 and Pleasantville.

Overcoat: It's only gotten worse. I'm a big girl, I can handle it.

Sass: I think the difference is being IN a relationship and being on the cusp. I like him. So much. But I'm still single even if I don't always feel like it.

Colleen said...

Doesn't a campfire with good buddies just seal the deal?