Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Encouragement for the Soul, Rest for the Body


Wednesday night rehearsal for pending gypsy jazz gigs 








Friday night, I came down with a strange cold which was not in itself miserable except for the utter exhaustion it brought along. What was supposed to be a long day of teaching and then an evening of rehearsal with Of Wire and Wood out in Carpentersville turned into a long afternoon nap and then tomato soup, excellent conversation and a few hymns out on the porch in the beautiful spring weather with Zachary. 




Sunday morning required pre-church fortification:


Coffee that even Abbie would have been proud of ... 


and grits with eggs and toast.



Church was enormously refreshing! We sang Psalm 62 and It is Well with My Soul and in between were given from Psalm 11 one of the most timely, practical, worship inducing, fear smashing, God glorifying sermons I've heard in some time. I've already listened to it again since Sunday and plan to do so several more times over the next few weeks. I heartily encourage you to find a few minutes and bathe in the truths it celebrates!


Due to my lack of energy, our original plan of a hike at a nearby state park on Sunday afternoon had to be abandoned and instead we drove to Lake Geneva (only about 30 min from church) where we just laid on the grass and alternately snoozed and talked until the sun began to set. 






A quick dip in the still cool lake water was delightfully refreshing mid-afternoon 









Dried by the sun and another snooze on the grass later we got burgers in view of the lake and enjoyed the last of the sunshine before heading back towards Geneva. 




The day ended with the car pulled to the side of the road and the two of us perched on the hood of the car to watch the sun set over neat rows of fledgling corn and finally settle behind the trees. 

Then I went to bed and slept for 11 hours. 



Tuesday, May 17, 2016

From Home to home.



One last Virginia drive


A safe flight later, I drove straight to Morton Arboretum to meet Zachary.






After the Arboretum closed, Zachary rather magically produced this super delicious parcel and to go with coffee by the Barnes and Noble fountain.


When I got home, a gloriously powerful thunderstorm broke loose so I sat on the front porch and read by porch light and light night flash. 

Thursday brought a CODA concert (which went well) and left time to watch the sunset at Northside park before my late evening lesson.



Friday morning I went for a "run" at Morton Arboretum (I run a few paces. See a bluebird. Take picture. Run a few more paces. See beautiful path. Take picture. Ad infinitum. Basically I look like a happy puppy who's just been let off the leash)






Friday night brought a game and movie night at the Draper's house with Zachary, his brothers Joseph and Nathaniel and Mrs. Draper. Grand fun!!

Rose from a student on Saturday :)


An excellent sermon at Village Church of Barrington and then brunch to talk about it.


Super fun flower shopping with Zachary





The house that Zachary has an offer on presently. Isn't it adorable? And what a grand old tree!



A gorgeous rose we discovered called The Charleston. It's fragrance was amazing!


Here it is in full bloom (courtesy of an image I dug up from the internet). I definitely want to plant these in my own garden one day!



The somewhat less dignified but much more accurately happy representation of what most of this day was like :) 




Graduation party for Joseph at the Drapers house. It was great to meet many of the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.



A much welcomed country drive through the late afternoon glow. 


The happiness in this picture cannot be properly described :) Kate Rusby playing, country drive, sunshine, excellent company and a mandolin to jam on. Doesn't get much better than that, folks :) 

On getting back to Geneva, Zachary and I planted our selections to much satisfaction. 






My dinner Sunday night was also rather satisfactory. Shrimp in a garlic cream sauce (and obviously some good cheese :) over angel hair pasta. Yummy in my tummy! 




A quiet Monday morning for reading, prayer and lots of work. Thankful for that gift of time!

Flowers from Zachary

Our pots, already looking perky in their new home!








Monday night, the remaining members of the Schubert Road Quintet got together at Justin's apartment to sight read quartets. What a fun evening! It took us a while to find our groove (and some extra sharps) but it felt wonderful to play together again and was great practice as well. 


We played until midnight in Wheaton so I invited Annie and Clara to sleepover in Geneva to avoid a sleepy drive back to downtown Chicago. Clara and I enjoyed some snuggle time when she woke very early this morning. Isn't she adorable? Those pudgy cheeks get me every time :) 


She found a chair just her size!


It was a great spot to try playing my art project. 

We had a lovely brunch before teaching at my favorite breakfast spot in Geneva




When I arrived at String Academy to teach, Mrs Mallard was crossing the parking lot. So funny to watch them scale the curb.