I just got a new phone, so I went through my old phone and pulled off photos to hold onto. 

Here's a walk down memory lane...

One of the great loves in my life is the open road.

There are simply so many possibilities out there. Since we have been in Chicago, Niall and I have enjoyed taking mini trips around the Midwest. It has been a way for us to appreciate life and connect with where we are in the world, as well as with each other. We celebrated Niall's birthday in 2012 by visiting Dubuque, Iowa and Galena, Illinois. It was lovely. I had a lot of pictures on my old phone from this trip - I was in love with Instagram during that time.

This is an incredible little grocery and café full of organic and local food in Dubuque. We had so much fun there - this shop and a bookstore around the corner were fantastic places to spend an afternoon. 

We had a picnic and wandered around Eagle Point Park.

We saw eagles soaring! (See Niall's excellent photograph with better camera below.)

Galena's parks and streets were beautiful as well, and full of wondrous little discoveries.

Little trips like these are so rejuvenating. I'm glad we've had the chance to take so many of them. 

Photos surely don't do the moon justice. I'm glad I spotted its glowing splendor peeking behind some buildings when I was waiting for the train tonight.  

One of my favorite pastimes has always been sky-gazing. I find it the perfect way to connect with the beauty, vastness and wonder of it all. 

I made Hamantaschen! I didn't even realize these lemony, buttery cookies with fruity filling are traditionally made to celebrate Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrated today and yesterday. I just had the ingredients around and wanted to use them. They are delicious and were so very fun to make!

I went to the Young Chicago Authors' Louder Than a Bomb youth poetry festival tonight. It was extremely inspiring. That's all I can say. I am so full of words and energy right now- in love with this festival and wanting to get to my notebook to jot some thoughts down. 

I found this video about  making things on the website of one of my favorite radio programs, "On Being" 

It has given inspiration to my entire day. 

"A World Through the Hands"

I spent the day on domestic chores indoors and then eagerly burst out to enjoy the spring air. 

Observations on my run just now: 

fat cheeks of babies peeking out of carrying cases strapped to their mothers' chests, round oranges piled on the other side of mini grocery glass, couple singing and guitar playing in the park while little ones play on swingset, game of soccer going strong in the schoolyard, hand-holding man and woman crossing street - in love, highschoolers making fun of each other, leather jacket wearing woman sitting on rocks on beach - writing fiercely, friends with to-go coffee cups busy chatting, man intently reading on lakefront facing away from wind with bike leaning against the park bench, plastic bags and leaves intermingling in a dance, the sky and water so blue,

the longing,

my hands and heart wanting something to do, 

a bit of remembering what they like doing. 

I love this Ralph Waldo Emerson quote: 

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

And I love coming home to these paws scampering to greet me after a long day:

We went to the wonderful Ethopian restaurant Ras Dashen today for a late lunch. They have great spiced chai. It was Niall's first time there. I love taking him to new places. 

                              

Perhaps the final snow storm was last night. The wind blew the snow on the side of everything. Bright white everywhere. I had to go to the south side this morning, driving along the lake was a beautiful sight.

Niall took some breathtaking photographs tonight - during the "magic hour" where the light is just right for pictures - while I took a glorious nap. Here's one of the photos - I love the distant moon...