Author Archives: Virtual Farmgirl

Archival CB photo from Power House’s website. Tonight everyone got a post-Christmas wish. The kids got to spend the night with their cousins, continuing to having the Christmas vacation time of their lives. And Sim got to try some local brew at the CB, also known as the Columbus Bar and more recently Power HouseContinue reading “A Night Reminiscing at the CB, aka The Columbus Bar”

One of the things that makes it possible for me to live in an urban environment is that, for the most part, I’m not afraid to get around on my own. I’ve embraced train and bus transportation since I first arrived in Chicago in 1997. That doesn’t mean I’m not careful. I’ve read Gavin Becker’sContinue reading “Sometimes the Best Gift is 'The Gift of Fear'”

Well, this picture of my grandfather as a happy-go-lucky teen doesn’t look exactly like my sister. But there’s so much resemblance in the eyes and especially the infectious, knows-more-than-he’s-sharing, smile.

What is it about this holiday season? I’ve been more stressed than I can remember. Juggling work to make it to school holiday programs. Remembering to buy and drop off teacher appreciation gifts. Finding the time to find the right gifts. Getting them early enough to mail before Christmas. Wanting to please without overdoing it.Continue reading “Avoid Holiday Stress, Shop Local”

Several friends – at the breaking point with the stress of the holidays – have told me they’ve given up sending out Christmas cards. I admit it’s something I considered. We haven’t even started ours yet, so we’re pushing the Dec. 24 postal delivery deadline a bit. We may end up sending Happy New YearContinue reading “Too Busy to Write Christmas Cards? I Sure Hope Not”

With the snow and especially the wind today, we were chilled to the bone. Even suited up with hats, gloves and snow pants, it was going to take more than peppermint tea and hot cocoa to warm us up. We started off with a loaf of banana bread…chocolate chips and butterscotch chips thrown in forContinue reading “Perfect Day for a Hearty Soup”

A couple years ago, the kids got super jealous of my Christmas village. I don’t even know how I got so into having a village as part of our decorating tradition. I’d cobbled together my set from church pieces my mother didn’t want, a random wedding gift and a few odds and ends I’d pickedContinue reading “At Our House, Baby Jesus Is Pretty in Pink and Protected by Jedi Masters”

What a weekend! I can’t believe we packed so much into two days: Christmas shopping; snowman & snowball fight; birthday party; playdate complete with movie, lasagna and a battle of wills; painting basement; rehearsal for school video project; whirlwind of cleaning; and…finally… Our tree! I wasn’t sure I could manage it by myself with SimContinue reading “Did We Do All That in Two Days?”

Tonight, I hopped into my minivan, on my way to an evening meeting/holiday gathering. I turned the key and all I got was click…click…click. Ugh. Dead battery. I knew immediately what had happened. The kids had left the lights on by their seats and I’d forgotten to turn off the master switch. Our AAA andContinue reading “1 Dead Battery, 1 Missed Meeting and 1 New Friend”

Years ago, long before children were even close to a reality for me, my optometrist examined my eyes, sat back and said, “You better hope for a miracle. Because that’s what it would take for your children to not need glasses.” I don’t remember how that came up, but I assume I’d asked him aboutContinue reading “One Thing I Hoped I Wouldn't Pass On: Four Eyes”