Gazebo and baby garden

So, while I have been home I have been focusing on little projects to keep me occupied. My latest has been putting a gazebo in our yard to enjoy the evening air. I even put up a couple lanterns, which required a quick trip to my hardware store. Above you can see my handy work, of which I'm pretty darn proud.

Also, I have been working on our garden, which is extremely late this season (my fault). Eitherway, the zuchinni, squash, pumpkins, green beans, beets, and spinach are all late season veggies and I am very hopeful that I'll have a chance to enjoy them. As you can see, it has been only a week and my veggies are already starting to sprout.

While on the topic of veggies, I found a great website for anyone who loves vegetables, but especially for those who are vegetarian. It's called "Vegeterians in Paradise!" It is a free online publication from Los Angeles. I haven't spent too much time on it, but I was online looking for the best way to cook a Kohlrabi (just think of it as a third cabbage/a third broccoli/and a third turnip except sweet) because I was given one as a gift and had no clue how to eat it. I bet you they too had no clue how to eat it. "Here little vegetarian, I'm sure you'll find something to do with this," is probably what they were thinking. Ha ha!

After checking out the website, I learned it is actually pretty simple to eat and goes great on salads and in soups.

Good times, friends...good times!

Unbelievable!

It's crazy to think how someone could be capable of doing NOTHING! Two girls drowned in Rome and the people on the beach do nothing. They don't even move away as pictures show the bodies covered in towels, and later, as the bodies are removed in coffins. The sun bathers, just sit there lifeless, heartless, empty voids of ignorance-enjoying THEIR day at the beach.

All life is precious. From a little one in the womb, to these poor girls, to the elderly. We must stand up for human dignity. After my past blog on frienship, to this dehumanizing event...the indifference in those people is haunting.

Click on the title of my blog to read the CNN article and even watch the video report!

Chi Town, St. Anthony, and a big chair

Spending time in Chicago enjoying good company is always needed. Friendships are a beautiful gift and I had a great time with some of them in Chicago.

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Besides enjoying a great meal and catching up on life, the Chicago skyline was also an added bonus.

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It's crazy to realize how life happens and sends us wherever God may need us. That means sometimes it moves us away from those we love. That can be good and bring us new people to meet or it may make it harder.

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As human as we are, I realize our heart longs for humanity and contact with others. Our senses come alive when others we love are around. And, while I may not have the answer to making new friends, except that luckily there are about 6 billion humans in the world--making it a little easier to find them, I can say that when I pray for my friends at Mass, during my morning routine, or even when I look at pictures or bring back our memories, it is at that moment that my senses also come alive with those who have touched my life in one way or another.

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It also makes me smile that my friends challenge me to be a better person. They know me and want what is best for me. Unlike family, my friends have chosen to spend of their life with me. With friends there are good times, and with really good friends there are some bad times too. I guess the bad times are a good thing because that's when you know friends have become family.

During those times, when I revel in the wonders of my heart, I am assuaged knowing that though we may be physically apart from each other, by the graces of God himself, He has put us in eachothers' lives and if we have friendship here on Earth, it will be even more kickass in heaven--no more time and distance constraints!

Through the Saints I'm also meeting more saintly friends and catching up with old ones. Spending needed time with my friends reminded me of that.

I just bought a book on St. Anthony of Padua that includes daily prayers. He is my confirmation Saint and because we haven't chatted in a while , I would like to catch up and see what the Holy Rascal has been up to. He's told me before, but I haven't made time to really listen.

As I started writing this, I found a few inspiring quotes on frienship that I enjoyed:

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."

- C. S. Lewis


"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never,
'cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands I know
That a lifetime's not too long... to live as friends."

-Michael W Smith

Photo Above: The chair was at the Chicago train station and, as a member of the Booze Crew, I could not resist taking the picture. I actually had no one to take it and went up to a total stranger to see if he would take it. He was walking through the station with a fishing pole. He was happy to take it and we established a frienship; even chuckling at this massive chair in the middle of the station.

BP!

With the price of Gas at $4.19 per
gallon (and I'm sure it may be
higher by now) all I can
say is BP...Literally!

My friend MW, MO now that she is
married, sent me a great website a
while back. By logging on to

GAS PRICE WATCH

you can actually compare
what gas stations offer the cheapest
gas around your neighborhood.

Check it out, even if you save a
cent or two by going to the gas
station located accross the one you
normally visit, maybe you can save
some dough for an ice cream cone or
two!

Into the wild...

This past 4th of July weekend I headed up to Baraboo, Wisconsin for a relaxing and a much needed camping trip. I love camping because it is a very freeing and therapeutic experience for me. It allows me to revel in God's creation and it makes me feel alive. Pope John Paul II loved the outdoors and I can see why he loved nature so.

It is when I am out in the wild, that I feel like I can do anything. We set up our tents, hiked, bouldered, and swam. I stayed up until 3 AM hanging out, 'persistantly' tending the fire, and watching the stars. I even had a bit of time for prayer out there in the wilderness.

It freed me up and allowed me to also be crazy and live in the moment.

While hiking I came up with an idea and it is to go camping with friends in the near future. For those who enjoy the outdoors, be ready because I think it will be a good time. As far as a new wishlist item...I hope to be getting a Kayak or Canoe to take up to the various lakes near my home. I'm excited for the new things in my life and my camping trip put a lot of my worries and thoughts in perspective.

Organizing and Summer Cleaning

Coming home seemed like a vacation until I finished unpacking all my 'crap' into what will be my room for a while. A while back, while hanging out with my friends LC and P during one of our Garage Sale Saturday Hangouts, LC ccommented on how much stuff I had. I denied it and wanted to prove her wrong. I wanted to show her that my move would be simple and easy because I didn't have a lot of stuff...boy was I wrong. So, after the frustration of packing , I headed home last week. Once I arrived I worked and worked and worked to finally organize my things somewhat. I have realized that I carry a lot, yet from now on I plan on moving every 6 months to rid myself of things I no longer need. While moving that often will not happen, I will try to do my best not to store things I don't use. In fact, I'm having a garage sale in a few weeks if anyone is looking for stuff to buy. I will admit, once you begin 'condensing' it feels awfully nice to keep doing it. Who knows where this will take me...hopefully not living on the streets.

Here are some Before and After shots to look at...

Shifts and Changes

I can't believe it, but it has happened. Last week, I packed my SUV and my rented Uhaul trailer and shoved eight years of my life back up north from good old Bloomington-Normal. I would have never thought I would have attached myself to this little town in the middle of Illinois, but I did. It feels like a dream and a vacation, and a little part of my heart misses the town I've called home for this long. Yes, there is a sigh of joy knowing I'm back home, closer to family and of course Chicago, but a little piece of me has stayed in Bloomington. Actually, I can tell you where...Go to uptown Normal and get yourself an ice cream cone from Emack & Bolio's, but only after getting dinner at the Coffee House and a drink at Maggie Miley's. Then, sit on the bench at Emack & Bolio's, the one with the golden wings, and there you'll find the little piece of me. Why this spot? I'll tell you...because from there you can see all the uptown life and the ISU campus and even up towards Linden where the Pub II can be found. Like me, this area has gone through so much change. I remember walking these 'Normal' streets when they looked very different. I will miss this place and the people who've shaped me to be who I am, but I tread on to bigger adventures...

Get ready...A lot of entries in a day!

So, it's been a while I know, but I do have much to say. However, I'm gonna space it out. Are you ready here we go :)