Annette and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
I was driving to my cousin's house for dinner last week when two warning lights came on in the car. Then the instrument panel went dead. When I put on [...]
15
Feb, 2019
14
Jan, 2016
Looking Up at the Snow
It snowed in thick flakes the other day. As I looked up at the sky from my window, with ever more fluffs of white tumbling towards me, I felt that [...]
25
Dec, 2015
From the Christkindlmarket
From my traditional annual visit to Chicago's downtown Christkindlmarket, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! It's been unseasonably warm here, no snow flakes and icy cold to company my sipping [...]
24
Nov, 2015
Winter Break In
We had a winter break in this past weekend. I know this is not the proper use of the English term "break in;" rather, it is a literal [...]
23
Jan, 2015
Magic in the Winter Woods @ VCCA
I have returned to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), where I'm trying to be immensely productive during my two-week residency. When I get tired, or need to rev [...]
5
Jan, 2015
Those Who Trod Before Me
A freshly snowed-on sidewalk reveals who has walked before us. I never quite appreciated that until yesterday morning, when I took my daily walk while it was snowing softly. I [...]
17
Dec, 2014
Happy Chanukah!
Yesterday was the first night of Chanukah, quite appropriate for my family's annual visit to Chicago's Christkindlmarket downtown, thanks to Chabad Lubavitch's giant Menorah. At the Christkindlmarket we stock up [...]
8
Dec, 2014
You Can Always Count on the Waves
I consider living along the Chicago lakefront one of the great blessings of my life. The other day I went for one of my favorite walks, along Rogers Park [...]
6
Mar, 2014
What Makes Winter Bearable
Starting a fire at 10:00 a.m. Ordering a hyacinth garden for a friend recovering from surgery Stocking up on sandalwood lotion and Dead Sea bath salts Hot chocolate for morning break Red [...]
26
Feb, 2014
Before Winter Became Heavy
Before winter became heavy, it came softly. Before we had 3+ feet of snow on the ground, there were just tracks of snow swinging through the woods. I really [...]
13
Feb, 2014
Winter White Lake
On Monday I treated myself to a walk on the lakefront. "Treated," because going for a walk is a major operation these days, involving long underwear, serious snow boots [...]
10
Jan, 2014
The Sounds of Winter
Chicago winter - late afternoon yesterday outside my building We've emerged from subzero temperatures here in Chicago, but as winter has gripped the outside with ample snow, treacherous streets and salty [...]
19
Dec, 2012
A Childhood Window Recreated
Recently, as I was rewriting a chapter from my memoir into the essay Giving Up Christmas that was published in Tablet Magazine, I leafed through a photo album of [...]
13
Dec, 2012
12/12/12 – Time Capsule of a Quiet Day
Inspired by Xanthe Berkeley's challenge on Shuttersisters to create a time capsule of 12/12/12, I decided to capture this ordinary day so that sometime in the future, maybe 20 years [...]
15
Mar, 2012
Photo Essay: Maple Sugar Festival in the Indiana Dunes
Going to the Maple Sugar Time Festival in the Indiana Dunes is one family tradition I started when the kids were little. Since we missed it last year, my [...]
27
Dec, 2011
Photo Essay: Christkindlmarket Chicago
Even though I don't celebrate Christmas, in December a visit to the Christkindlmarket downtown Chicago is obligatory - mainly because I can find favorite German delicacies there that I [...]
12
Dec, 2011
My Winter List: Things to Do in Winter
We had the first dusting of snow in Chicago last week, and temperatures dipped below the freezing point over the weekend, so clearly the weather is telling me: It's winter. [...]
29
Nov, 2011
A Hot Chocolate Party in the Cold
This blog makes me do things, such as following through on fun schemes like having a hot chocolate party outside, in the cold. Our dotted pumpkin showed signs of [...]