A Couple Of Sunny Days, And Morning Biking

I know it’s not spring yet, just a couple of warm days in the middle of winter, but I am so thankful for them!

I got on the bike both Sunday and Monday, and saw the sunrise over the lake!

February

The Sunday weather was gorgeous, but because of my 50-hour work day Thursday – Saturday, I had to stay at home most of Sunday, finishing some urgent chores in all areas of my life, and I got out of the house just once.

Christmas Countdown

I didn’t post about our corporate party yet, although the post was almost finished, because it is still difficult to operate in a holiday mood after the tragedy that happened practically at home, but nevertheless, life continues.

Aside from the party, I spent the weekend decorating the cookies and baking additional batches. Saturday started with a trip to Jewel-Osco, the only store that still carries inexpensive plastic cookie boxes, which are not only affordable but also super light, which makes them perfect for shipping.

Also, I baked two kinds of gluten-free cookies, mostly to mail to our exiting team manager, whose wife has a severe gluten intolerance, but then I also had leftovers for others. I loved the GF flour I got this year, and will make sure to stick to it.

This weekend was record cold, down to negative in the mornings, and here is how my balcony door looked from inside – I thought it’s increadibly pretty:

To my surprise, the lake was not frozen!

Also, I received one more international package, this time from Ireland:

The new ornament is already on the tree!

A Snow Day In Chicago

Wednesday was windy like never; Thursday and Friday was super-cold, and on Saturday, it was snowing, setting the record of the most snowiest day in Chicago in November!

Boris and I ventured to the Loop, because I wanted to go to the Art Institute, and do some holiday shopping. It was still cold, it was still very windy, plus, it was snowing!

I found this sweater in one of the boxes when we were installing new shelves in our storage unit. It was hand knitted for me by my grandaunt when I was eighteen, and I decided to try it on. Since it looked not bad at all, I decided to take it out :). I have received complements about it everywhere on that day!

That was by our house at 3:30 PM, and it was not it!

Boris and I took turns cleaning our stairs because it was completely unsafe to use them:

By 6 AM, the snow was mostly over, and the cleaning crew came and cleaned it from everywhere, and then the snow started melting. However, it looks like it’s not it, and there will be more cold and more snow during the upcoming week.

In Helsinki

On Saturday, there was no rain in the forecast, and I knew it would be my only biking opportunity, so I agreed when Boris suggested to bike to IKEA and back, and have lunch there. It turned out that I overestimated my abilities, and also, it did start raining, so asked Boris to take the train for part of our trip back. It was still the longest bike ride I had in almost a month!

Later on Saturday, I went coat shopping one more time, and finally found the one I could live with:). Almost not puffy, with the hood which was not falling off, and with zipped pockets. Not ideal, but the best I could find, and under $100. So now I am finally dressed for the weather.

On Sunday, I met up with my friend Natasha and her daughter Sonia. It was a hopelessly rany day, so we started with spending time in the Oodi library, and then went the the Architecture and Design Museum to see the Moomin 80th anniversary exhibit. I took tons of pictures at this exhibit, and I will share it in a separate post. Here, I just want to mention one more time how much I love all these simple things organized the way that life is comfortable for humans.

The playzones in the library. Multiple coat racks in each corner, and the footwear shelves by the play areas. Outside, I alway marvel the bike paths, the bike turning lanes and how thoughtfully they are designed.

Still Blooming

I am leaving on Saturday, and will be gone for two weeks, so I can’t imagine that my balcony flowers will survive, but they are blooming now, and I do not have the heart to discard them…

Raining

We tried to beat the rain twice today. The first time, we biked for about an hour and had to take the train to the city center, and then biked back home in the rain. I felt cheated because I was very serious about biking more today.

The rain stopped in the afternoon, and it even became sunny, and Boris said he would go for another bike ride, because there would be no more rain for two hours. We went, and we got so rained on, I can’t even describe it! Boris said it was much better than in the morning, because it was an adventure 😂. My biking clothes is still drying!

First Signs Of Summer

It was not the first day over 70F this season, but one of the first (and also, I missed a couple when I was out of town). I didn’t have a chance to get out of the office during the day because I had no time between meetings, but the weather was so nice that I made a point to go for a walk before I boarded the train back home.

When I reached the Tapp (and found that the Tiny Cafe was not open yet, so there was no ice cream), I sat down on the granite and looked at the River. No phone, no listening to an audiobook. Instead, I was taking in the noise of the Happy Hour crowd, this unique Chicago summer buzz, and looking at the summertime over-the-river sfumato:).

Sometimes, you need a day when you do not have to hurry somewhere after work!

A Very Cold Weekend

It didn’t become any warmer, and not only did I not plant anything; I can’t even think about hanging the flower baskets! However, this morning, I biked to the Buckingham Fountain for the first time this season. After three days of biking hills in Helsinki, it was easy 🙂

On the way back, I biked against the wind all the way, and the wind was so strong that it took me twenty minutes longer! I went to Charmers immediately after I returned home. They do not serve quiche, but I love their avocado toasts!