Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The UW Does it Again!

Kayak Goddess Alison, teaching my little kiddies!
So what did we do for our holiday weekend?  We hauled out of town for the now-legendary WMCKA Kayak Symposium (hosted by the Western Michigan Coastal Kayak Association). Three days of fun, friends, and water!  It was just the three women, so a number of people here in town can attest to the wanderings of the Unencumbered Man, but I can't say I was witness to that phenomenon.  As for the women, we rocked the lake.

And this, only the first day!  Missed photo-op on day #2 & 3.








Ashby overcame some first timer anxiety, Addie took it to another level. We all returned wanting more.  More summer, more water, more kayak, more camp. Good thing it's in our near future. We love it!

Next step? Paddle surf. Of course!
















If you think I probably stuffed my bike into the rear of the van, you're wrong!  I threw my running shoes in, and got out a few times, but mostly, besides admiring my children, talking to friends, and crocheting (and other camp duties), the Unencumbered Woman prevailed once again.  If it's a holiday weekend, or a sunny day, or anything even resembling an excuse for leisure, seize the moment!
It's about time!


Not a moment too soon.

Day 4?  Pack it up, girlfriend. Everything ends...sniff sniff.  Here's one of the Kayak Goddesses, herself, Mary Colleen.  Mary is the go-to-tie-the-boat-to-the-roof-woman and we are carrying an extra boat home...no, we didn't buy a new kayak.
See this rope? It's so if the kayak falls off of your car, it'll just hit you, not someone else...

Friday, May 25, 2012

The family at work and play.


A lovely Spring day.  We're all outside, taking advantage of the warmth, sun, absence of mosquitos. Life is good.  I've just put the finishing touches on Ashby's celery shawl to match mine.  It'll be a hit!  And on to the lawn.









What should we do about this?















Alas.

Impediment.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Triathlon 2012: Forty-Five and Over...just showing up is half the battle!

Road Trip! It's time for my much anticipated first triathlon of the season!  As they say, "ready or not...". Friday I took some extra time to pull all of my gear out of storage, clean the car, pack up, and leave.  But not before a quick lunch on North Avenue with Peter!  We're just over half way through May, and it's already well into the eighties in Chicagoland...a sign of things to come?  

Hey...do you think it's too loud out here?

No, just close your eyes and imagine....calm.
And after Three Hours of driving I'm at the lake,  packet pick-up, park your bike, and so on.  This race, as simple as it appeared at the outset, is a major commitment. The logistical affairs involved in getting oneself to the race start alone are completely overwhelming, and then there is the reality (i had been warned) of the hills.  The Galena area promises hills, and as far as I can tell from my drive to race start, there will be no disappointment on this front.  It wouldn't be the day before a triathlon without a collection of people giving the water a go.  I hadn't even considered the idea, since, well, it was all I could do to arrive, but it would have been lovely to do a bit of swimming on Friday.
no ice, this year!!!
That said, I worked my way on to Galena, where I was staying, fortified with the knowledge that I'd have a night out on the town in Galena, followed by a day filled with shuttle buses and sports! Leave it to me to find the one hole in the wall in town unpopulated by nervous triathletes. The vibe in Edme bar/eatery was great, and I overheard some great chitchat.  A triathlon anywhere in the state of Illinois? All roads lead back to Chicago...of course!
refugees from chicagoland populate Galena and it's businesses.
And what about the race, you say?  No photos to document my experience, you'll have to take my word, fine reader, that I actually showed up and did the thing. What with all the usual tri-gear accoutrements and comings and goings, I didn't even slow down to take pictures of the lovely countryside on this fabulous weekend!  Next year, I'll try.
The race went off, pretty much with no hitch.  The swim was delightful and short, the bike hilly and beautiful.  Starting in the final wave gave lots of opportunities for me to pass other people.  This is a good and bad thing. That far back in the pack it's easy to feel fast without actually pushing Enough.  Then again, I had plenty left for the run, which was HOT at nearly noon.  I'm never lightning quick, and with the long, steep hill in mile one, i was proud to tick off the four miles without walking, slowing, or any other serious impediment.  So I finished fresh, realizing that the heat had taken a toll on me in this two hour race.  I spent the rest of the day trying to re-hydrate and celebrating the fact that this was the first early season race I've managed to complete in Three years! Yay!!! By looking around at the other 45-plus women who manage to show up on race day, I'm discovering that to hang on for so long is a true accomplishment.  I met a number of fabulous women, but I was particularly thrilled to meet a gal who has been racing for as long as I have been, and has tremendous accomplishments to show for it.  Her engaging smile and conversation was by far the high point of my weekend.  We talked about old time races, training outside, and our aging parents.  I looked around at all the beautiful young women racing and training (and fast) and wondered how many of these kids will hang on into their forties and fifties, with families and all sorts of baggage to show for.  Let them try! I sure hope so, maybe when I'm sixty, sitting around after a race, I'll see lots and lots and lots of other older women!!!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mother's Day, Y'all!!!

Ahhh....Mother's Day. What a fine holiday. The day that Mom gets to "not cook or clean" and either get served by others, or get taken out for a meal. Cooking? Cleaning? There's always tomorrow, the sooner the better. And now that I've got that cleared up, I have a few minutes for blogging. So what's new and exciting? Not exactly a lot, besides the arrival of spring and lots of holiday joy.  Here I am, last week, at Ashby's birthday party. Can you say, "pass the valium, please?"  I'm hoping I don't always have this glazed look on my face while talking to a nine-year old.  But look a little closer, catch the apron-dress thing?  One of my recent vintage acquisitions, which looked simply fabulous on the rack.  Unfortunately, a full frontal apron has the negative effect of, well, broadening the appearance of one's torso.  Kerry Vitali, apron creator extraordinaire, lectured me on this very theme quite some time ago, when I requested an apron that covered the stain age portion of my cooking wear, and she explained how utterly un-flattering full length aprons look.  How true, how true.

hmmm....motherly peace?

OK, now it's my darling daughter with the transparent sneer on her face...
So, now that Mother's Day is practically over, for those of us east of the Rockies, I'd like to celebrate with a song.  Connie Francis, "Mama", sort of reminds me of the mother that my own mother's generation was trying to be.  In fact, in our own moment in history, when women are being pushed back by political forces more powerful than we can comprehend, I find this delightful ditty to be heart wrenching and ominous.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

But Wait...there's more!

"Did you make that?" "Why, it would take years!"
Yesterday I wrote about the fabulous aluminum cups I bought at the estate sale two doors down.  I didn't even take the time to discuss multiple shades of crochet arcana!  Dig this, in the basement I find a mint condition crochet thread weight cardigan, hand made in China, who knows in what year (1970?).  The thing, clearly has never been worn, and I love rescuing crochet of any sort, especially when it's slammin' like this garment.  Even better, there was a Gala Event to attend last night and I hadn't even begun to think about attire, so snap! Instant evening sweater! Check it out!!!!!

But there's more! In the basement, there was a pile of pattern books and cooking pamphlets, usual assemblage that you might find at a house that hadn't significantly altered in 40 years or so.  Lo and behold, I find a Granny Square pattern book from the seventies that is beyond perfection.  Words don't give this little gem justice.

Yeah, baby, dare me to sport this puppy!
Ahhh. The romance of the seventies.

















I get goosebumps just thinking about the fact that the crochet revival that has taken place in my own household during the past three years has been sitting practically on top of a treasure trove of kitschy goods. Perhaps we've been cosmically connected to that little house, two doors down, little molecules have been drifting up the sidewalk all this time. Who's to say?  Something could be in the air, indeed!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Made in Italy!

Remember when...
It must be Spring! An estate sale, just two doors down! I've been waiting for this one for quite a while, and although a bit overwhelming, I wasn't disappointed.  A set of mint condition Bascal cups and I'm good for the season! Been looking for something new to put in the bathroom for our new color-coded motif! Stay tuned and I'll post a photo of the hand crocheted vintage cardigan I found in the basement. Frighteningly meticulous work, would be mistaken for machine-crochet, if there were such a thing.