But wait, there's more! I forgot to mention the perfect addition hubby made to the backyard: a hammock!!  

I bought it a few weeks ago (at Smith & Hawkin - same time as the composter, which is going quite well actually, but more on that later). Anywho, I have always loved a good hammock. My parents have one at home. There was one at JackFest. We were at Gaston's earlier this summer and some guy was sitting on his roof in one drinking Coronas. I think that was what finally did if for me. 

So I bought it, but it's really big and obviously was going to require some expertise to hang. I pulled out all the stuff and attempted it myself but didn't get very far. Back into the garage it went. 

Yesterday I tried again and thankfully hubby jumped from his chair, pulled out the tools and threw it up for me straight away. 

It's on the second deck which is perfect because outside of the pig roast it sits literally unused all summer. Now my hammock is nestled in, stretched across, beautifully positioned and beckoning me to it all day long. Picture forthcoming. Glorious. 

I may call in sick to work tomorrow...

Another wonderful weekend of maximum fun within a limited parameter. We've noticed lately that we rarely leave the 10-block radius of our house. In many ways, there is really no need. New restaurants are opening almost weekly, new markets and shops too. This weekend was the Wicker Park street festival so live music, food, drinks and artists set up, all within walking distance. 

Brad and his friend are in town visiting so we headed up to check things out. It was a perfect afternoon, warm and sunny but not hot. Great people watching - our neighborhood has a unique mix of multi-colored mohawks, full-body tattoo "suits," LP-like prepsters, families wheeling strollers, everything you can imagine. All coming together to provide a great, scene. 

Hubby bought three T-shirts (street festivals provide the best selection of one-of-a-kinds), and likely to be his new favorite of all times "Super C," modeled after SuperMan. He stripped down and change into it right at the festival. Not joking. 

We came home for perhaps our first summer Wicker Park People Rock Band concert and then back out for some delicious Crust pizza. Yum. 

Today a few errands, a little work but mostly just enjoying a lazy summer day. Hooray. 

The garden harvest has officially begun and I fear I may already be behind!

Good problem to have I guess.

The tomatoes are all turning, cherries first and fastest. They are so delicious, I've been eating them like candy. They go from green to orange, never red. I learned by default when the first batch bursted at the seams before turning red. Still delicious.

Tonight I'm going in for the green beans. Stella has eaten all the leaves off along the fence, which is about the only thing she can do that makes me really mad. The beans seem no worse off.

I ate an eggplant from the garden this week and it was super. They are Japanese eggplant so long and skinny rather than plump.

The real extravaganza is the cucumbers. I need to begin researching canning as soon as I'm finished with this post. The cucumbers are totally going bonkers. They've tied and climbed up one of the tomato cages and actually pulled the whole thing down. They've woven around the sprinkler and immobilized it. They've crawled across the whole garden and may have designs on the deck soon.

And what, you may ask, is the problem here? There are flowers EVERYWHERE. And from flowers come cucumbers. Lots of cucumbers. I'm looking for recipients. Please send word if you'd like one. Or 10.

The apple tree is doing its thing. They are dropping from the sky as I type. I collect about 20 each day from the patio and dump into the composter. Very short cycle of life. Too tart for me and extremely cumbersome to make sauce (though I've done it). Apple crisp is good but doesn't require more than a few for that.

There are some losers too. I planted peppers and they don't look so hot (no pun intended). The zuccini leaves are enormous but only small signs of life below. Also, I don't actually love zuccini so please let this be a reminder to myself next year in the event that I'm tempted to plant it. It kind of takes over the entire garden and isn't really worth it to me. And the brussel sprouts are big and leafy but no signs of anything edible yet. I'm hoping they will arrival towards end of summer.

This is when I'm happiest, in my garden, picking the treasures out. We will have a big dinner on the porch Sunday and enjoy all our riches!

Did you know you can grow figs in the midwest? I did not. I picked up this little tree at the farmers market a couple weeks ago, along with a tutorial from my favorite farmstand guys. Apparently this will fruit a couple times a year if properly cared for. You leave them outside all summer long, and during the winter they either move indoors or fold into the ground. The trunk is quiet nimble and will go right down I guess. 

I love figs. The only place I can seem to find them is in CA and at Whole Foods. Since my WF was recently shut down due to rodents (ew), I'm setting all my hopes on my own fig tree.  

So you know we've got a pretty sweet garden going, right? I may have mentioned this at some point? I took a bunch of pictures tonight because I think there is something adorable about a baby cucumber. Baby anything is pretty cute but look at this little guy. 

There are a ton of them growing on the vine - cucs are pretty funny. They tie on to anything in reach, so this cucumber here is actually living with his tomato neighbors next door. Tonight I went to turn on the sprinkler and it wouldn't move. Cucumbers. Woven around the sprinkler. 

I'll include some other pics of the harvest in picture of the day. Toms are looking great already. 

On another note, hubby was recognized this weekend for his 10 years of volunteering at Children's Hospital. Can you believe it has been that long? Could you imagine doing it for more than one night? Pretty amazing that he has been visiting these little kids for as long as he has. Congrats on making a difference!

Well after 11 years of living without, tomorrow I will once again own a car. My second ever. Isn't that funny?

We were talking about it today, my first was a Toyota Corolla hatchback. It was used, though I forget the year. I was just thrilled to get my own wheels. I was in high school and it lasted me through all my college years, including several trips back and forth to Oxford.

It died the summer before I moved to Chicago and there just wasn't a reason to replace it. It's easy to get around in the city without one and I never could have afforded it back then anyway. I couldn't afford the bus!

For the last several years I've just used hubby's car on the weekends for groceries and errands. I've been hitching a ride with a friend and colleague to work each day, we both go to the same gym in the morning. Problem is she is about to pop (baby number one) which means I'll be back to my former bad addiction -- cabs.

As it turns out, someone from the dog park is moving to Thailand and looking to sell off everything he owns. His girlfriend has an old car she was selling for a song. We've been test driving cars, everything from convertibles to SUVs, for months but haven't pulled the trigger on anything. This offers the perfect interim solution.

The garage is almost clean. We're picking it up tomorrow. I'm more excited than I thought I'd be. I'm driving to work on Monday!

It has been a really fantastic week - personally and professionally!

Very long work week, but extremely productive. Fun night out with girls for dinner last night. Lots of happiness all around.

Tomorrow I start working from home on Fridays. I'm so excited I may not sleep tonight. I think this will have such a positive effect on my overall state of mind, I may actually get smarter (not possible, right?) And I'm going to get far more done in the quiet of my own home, I can't wait!

Pretty low key weekend ahead. We have a recognition dinner tomorrow night for hubby's service to Children's over the years. It should be lovely.

More to follow, had to get the root canal story off the top...