life.

as of late, jake & i have been enjoying peaceful mornings on our front porch eating breakfast and cool evenings outside in our backyard or on the front porch having dinner together. this is good. it feels good in every way. not only have we have met a couple more neighbors (casual "hello" at this time) but it has also been good for us. we feel that if we let it, summer gets away from us and although we enjoy the season, the experience of summer and community are often pushed to the side with busyness and bike rides and trips and gatherings and...

so this yesr we are making a more concerted effort to stay at home. i think i've posted this link before, but here is it one more time: The Most Radial Thing You Can Do

i've been ruminating over this article for quite some time now. it fits well with me. it works well with this 30th year that i have entered into - for many reasons (all of which i will touch on sometime soon.) in the meantime though, here are some photos from recent times:

- an early morning coffee & dark chocolate treat (thanks to Elaine for giving us permission to enjoy chocolate each morning) -

- the pianese are simply breathtaking this year. Irene shared that it's always the 3rd year when they truly start to shine. i'm beginning to think this may be the same for our marriage as well. -

- a few days back i was reading a blog from a stay-at-home mom (i think i read too many of these sometimes) who shared that her family loves to engage in the activity of geocaching. After exploring what this strange activity is, i was captured and addicted at the thought of following a "true" map to an end with an unknown suprise awaiting us - our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

i asked jake (who presented to have know about this experience for years now, as well as my mom!) why we had never gone on such a treasure hunt. he shared, "you hate technology. i didn't think you would like it." to which i responded, "you should know, i like technology when it means that you get to play outside and there is a treasure hunt with a prize at the end!"

all of this to say - we have gone on a couple treasure hunts in chicago (which makes living here a bit more bearable) over the last couple of days. One of which lead us to this marker under a tree in a hidden park in Oak Park. i quote, "to desire truth is to pursue wisdom." ~James E. O'Brien. -

- one of my mother's day gifts from Irene. i wonder if she knows that we don't have kids? -

- our spiritual community, WPG, has taken on the task of turning an abandoned lot and engaging in the practice of resurrection through community gardening. yesterday was our first day of clean up and planting. i wish i would have taken a "before" pic. but was too excited at that time to think about taking photographs when there was so much to do. as activity settled down i washed my hands and took a couple action shots before digging my fingers into the soil once again. -

- we found a number of these nightcrawlers (a good sign of great soil) dancing thoughout our garden beds. upon finding them i was reminded of the french fry contests my sisters and i would have when we went out to eat, "who has the longest french fry!?!" yesterday, i had the longest earthworm. how things have changed and yet - how they always stay the same. and jake wonders where my competitive side comes from? -

- the kids have been coming over more lately. i have missed their consistent company over the winter season. yesterday, much of our time was spent wrestling inside to be following up with a couple hours playing in the park. not only were the kids amazing (so bummed that i didn't bring the camera) but i also have not seen jake so active and joyful. it was an afternoon filled with simple delight -

- for my 30th rachel sent our way a sprouting jar as well as some beans from The Sprouting People. Following is a progression through the last couple of days, beginning with day 2 (day 1 - just beans).

- day 3 -

- day 4 -

- day 5, we couldn't even stick the lens of the camera into the jar without getting it all wet from the long sprouts. -

- lastly, Megan, our niece, made this beautiful candle holder for "the 30th". isn't it beautiful? -

hope each of you are enjoying the sun this afternoon!

nurturing.

there are times in our lives, i'm convinced,
where we just need to engage in the action of nurturing.
nurturing ourselves, others, the world and our spirits.

Radiant Wonderer

Potent radiant wonderer, how do we describe
the extraordinary ones? Co-creating, co-evolving
our emerging, even converging universe.


Our consciousness. Together. Collective wisdom.
Light meets light, is wave, is part. Flows all.


Rock to mountain
Leaf to tree
Cell to organ
Aliveness in pattern
Snowflake, toaster, cat


The vibrant, brilliant hues, kaleidoscope of creativity
cosmic synergy where eye connects to eye. We flow.


Lured in by bright eyes awake--
indeed, intensely alive. The sparkle of spirit
emanating from every particle, gracing
fluid movement. Crisp, clear, translucent
conversations, connection luminescent,
transfixed, transformed, trans-beinged.

- herman is loving the summer warmth -

it was time to say good-bye.
- she brought us through ice storms -

- carried us where we weren't meant to go -

- kept us fed and warm -

- was shelter for laughter & tears -

- and sent us away in our marriage together -

we will miss our dear friend, our 95' Honda Civic.
Purchased December 1999 with 78,000 miles.
Traded in May 2009 with 237,000 miles.
New car stories - coming soon.

tonight i need memories.

without expecting a need that is longing to be filled, tonight i'm finding myself pouring over memories of long ago (okay, really only three years ago). i hope you enjoy as much as we do.

- our first date "hiking" in kalamazoo -

- sleeping in the fields of w. lafayette -

- i think this was the first day we kissed in the back woods of his parent's home.
it must have been the smell of cedar that drove us over the edge. -

- this has to be one of my favorites. i still love hugging those long toes. -

- the night we got engaged -

summer mornings, fresh tulips, sweet coffee, warm sun.





- lilacs blossoming above! -

the season of Easter is in the air.

i had every intention (three weeks ago) to begin writing & posting again.

i uploaded (or is it downloaded) the following photos (everyone loves photos) with hopes of starting to share our lives once again, three weeks ago.

yet, with beautiful weather outside and sweet evenings & weekends with friends and my beloved, remaining on the computer has been the least of priorities. i apologize (i need to know who set this computer's spell check to "london style" - let us embrace the "z" and leave the "s" where it belongs - in strawberries!) as l know this is the way most of us stay attempt to stay connected.

today, with the smell of spring in the air and sweet memories finding a home as the trees blossom and settle my spirit - here are photos of early april and late march. enjoy.

- an afternoon nap in the park -

- we were honored to have our dear friend Kaleb & his wife Sa with us for Easter -

- OD on simply sinful Easter treats from mom, dad & neighbors -

- Easter dinner with friends at WPG -

- my precious (and longest known) friend Amber & i -

- an early spring day of work on our city transportation -

- for spring break I headed down to kansas city to spend some time with my sisters, parents (who were visiting as well), niece and closest friend. i love this picture of Allison and this classic face of hers (most likely in the middle of saying, "Jessica, that's ridiculous.") -

- Jen & i at jerusalem cafe -

- we also spent one weekend visiting with Jake's parents, grandma and the woods. I can only dream of how green the woods are today..." -

celebration.

today, in celebration of my 30th (yes, 30th) birthday my beloved and I gathered some blankets, sweet books, spring jackets and delicious banana bread (thank you Kevin & Christina) to spend a day in the woods and largest prairie (Goose Lake Prairie State Park) east of the Mississippi (a fact we learned on our little adventure today). upon reaching the wet-lands and marsh prairies of Goose Lake we enjoyed a long walk together and later enjoyed a picnic in the park. not long after we found ourselves wandering throughout the DesPlaines Conservation Area where we basked in the sunlight walking alongside riverbeds, lakes and blossoming wooded areas. hand in hand we enjoyed exposing hidden treasures (two beautiful feathers, hibernating insects, an in-tact skeleton of an unknown small creature, varieties of nuts & beautiful lichen), exploring indigenous prairie birds and plants, climbing abandon barns, conversing, tossing a few rocks with our new slings, and often finding out feet quite soggy from the receding flooded plains. it was such a joy to scout out new trails and places for retreat.

this one is for those of you who know Jake and love him for exactly this reason...

afterwords, we headed back to chicago for or spiritual gathering and found ourselves having dinner with Andre, a young 17 year old boy who has taken some time (by AWOL) off of his residential treatment to "get some fresh air." such a good kid.

to bring a perfect conclusion to this day of celebration my cherished friends had prepared a yummy vegan cake, vegan banana split cupcakes (from Vegan Cupcakes take Over the World - both creations of Amy) and showered the evening with inspirational gifts and laughter. thanks friends!


as for the rest of the evening - we are home after a wonderful day's journey with sun-kissed skin, dirty toes (and hands) with another decade waiting to be explored. thanks to each of you for your wonderful birthday wishes, sweet messages, e-mails & notes.

and to tickle your appetites for what's occurring in our backyard...

a couple photos from the last week.

so grateful for clear days without a cloud in the sky.

we love a little fungi in our home.

when i was young i use to think that these little bug tracks use to be old petroglyphs to tell me secrets no one knew. i now revel in ways which otherwise insignificant creatures mark their territory in such beautiful ways.first spring wild flowers.

i cannot get enough of the beauty inside grape stems. so much intricacy in such a small and insignificant form.

beautiful wet lichen.

last weekend we had the gift of hosting Cory for the rainy days.
beer, late nights (kinda), hookah, cheese & time = perfect weekend

our kitchen table in full bloom.
look at those iris' & succulents!

sweet blossoms.

The more I see him, the more I like John Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

it's a dark, wet, thunderstorm kind of day.

a good reason to stay close to home and in the company of good friends, dense loaves of bread and sultry cheese.

we have a blossoming iris harmony bringing light into our room for gathering together. her colors are contagious.

do you have a favorite thunderstorm or rainy day memory?