he did it!

This past Saturday was the big day: Tim's graduation from college!

It was so exciting to be sitting in this stadium, anticipating all the graduates soon to be marching in and filling those empty seats. It seemed not too long ago that I was sitting in the bleachers of Tim's high school, heart thumping with excitement and pride that my youngest son was graduating and would be going on to college. 

In my post on May 9th, I had said that Tim overcame some major life obstacles in pursuing his degree and that I would talk about it after his graduation ceremony. First and foremost was his brother's death in September 2009. Tim was in community college when Phil passed away. Tim wanted to quit school. He didn't know how he was going to go on. After a lot of discussion and Tim's own perseverance, he stayed in school. It took him four years to complete community college due to a host of factors, but he never gave up.

During the few years Tim was away at university, he experienced job loss; major car troubles; spraining his ankle twice - the second time so severe that he ended up in a "boot"; a severe case of tinnitus; and...a burglary! I don't want to give too many personal details on that, but long story short, the front door on his rental house was not locked, Tim was not home, and the burglar broke into his bedroom (his bedroom door was locked) and stole his TV, his PS3 game station (which wasn't worth much but was very sentimental - it had been Phil's), and worst of all, his beautiful camera and all the contents in his camera bag: lenses, memory cards, hard drive with all his photos, and some other very expensive photography equipment. We are very thankful Tim was not hurt and that his professor was understanding and worked with him so that he could finish his projects and graduate on time.

To say that I'm proud of my son for what he has achieved - a BFA in Photography - is an understatement. I know that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to, even in the face of adversity. As I have said to Tim since he was little, "The world is your oyster and you are the pearl."

I know that Phil would've been very proud of his brother, too.

a cottage, farms, and a baby

 So there's been a lot going on since I've last talked to you all. Don't worry, it's all good.

 Just a long, busy extended weekend. I'll warn you ahead of time - this post will probably
 be quite lengthy and photo heavy, so grab your favorite drink and make yourself
 comfortable. 

Last Thursday, my former yoga-teacher- turned-friend invited me out to her new house for

 a visit. She and her husband recently downsized into an old cottage that they're
 completely rehabbing. I have a pretty good feel for what someone's house is going to
 be like, just from knowing the person. My friend is beautiful, charming, artsy, and mindful
 - and her house reflects the same. I was so busy taking in every detail of her gorgeous
 cottage, that I didn't even think to ask her if I could take pictures. So I took a few of hers
 from her online album. This is the cottage's one and only bathroom...

This huge upstairs loft became their bedroom. I wish I had a picture of it with all

her furnishings and decorations in it. The room is so beautiful that I told my friend,

"I would never leave this room!"

 

This is her kitchen before everything was moved in, too. She painted all the cabinets

a light creamy brown (has a tint of green), then painted the insides of the top cabinets

and left them open.

 

 

The kitchen boasts the 1960's stove which still works just fine! There's a vintage

fridge, too, but I don't have a photo of that.

 

 

On Friday, we were 2-1/2 hours north in Wisconsin at our church's annual Bible

Camp. We don't go anymore, but we like to head up there on the last day to visit

with some people - most especially, one of my dearest friends who lives in Canada

but yet makes the trek to Wisconsin every year to attend this camp. It's really the only

time I ever see her. And did I take any photos of her? Or have someone else take a

photo of the two of us? Of course not. 

Tim came home for the long weekend and on Sunday, the two of us went on a

photography adventure. The weekend before when I had driven out to my best

friend's new house to help her unpack from her move, I passed an abandoned

barn "out in the middle of nowhere". I made a mental note when I passed it, that

I would love to go back and photograph it one day. And I knew Tim would love

to take pictures, too. I still only have my point-and-shoot, but I do the best I can with

 what I have. We started off by taking pictures of the outside of the barn and
 surrounding property. I wish I knew the story behind this barn and land...it looks like
 there might've been a tornado or a fire.

 There was obviously once a house on the property, too. We found the crumbling

remains filled with water.

 The inside of the barn was really creepy. There were a lot of stuffed animals and

dolls lying around in piles of garbage.

 There were old license plates hung on the walls...

and even a Christmas wreath still in place.

 

 On the drive back home, we stopped at another farm to take photos. Look at

all this beautiful, wide-open farm land. It's so beautiful in the summer. You can tell

how hazy and humid it was that day though.

 And then my wonderful, long weekend was completed today by a visit from this

cutie patootie. His mom, Rachel is like my niece. Rachel's mom and I were best

friends from our last year in high school until our late 30's. Rachel and my oldest

son, Phil (who passed away almost five years ago, for those of you who don't know)

were born only two weeks apart. Me and Rachel's mom spent a lot of time together 

back in those days, plus I babysat Rachel while her mom worked. Anyway, Rachel

got married five years ago and moved to Canada, so I hardly get to see her anymore.

And now she has a baby! Rachel, her husband and the baby are in town right now,

so I finally got to hold and kiss this little guy. I wonder how Phil would've felt that his

best childhood friend was already a mom. I think he would've gotten a kick out of 

being "Uncle Phil".

travel the world over to find the beautiful

 Happy July! Couldn't ask for better weather here in northern Illinois these past

few days ~ sunny, temps in the 70's, and low humidity. And what a bonus: both Brian

and Tim were off work today. I had written in my June 7th post that Tim was moving out

in 3-1/2 weeks. That moving day was supposed to be today. Long story short, 

Tim is taking one last math class here at the community college that he's been attending,

 so now he's not moving out until mid-August. He'll only have one week to get settled

 into his new place before he starts school at the university, but I'm sure he'll be fine.

Seeing we don't have much time left for the three of us to all be together, we

took a day trip to Cedarburg, Wisconsin. It's one of those charming Midwest towns

with specialty stores, wineries, beautiful inns, and wonderful restaurants and 

coffee shops. We stopped at Water Street Brewery for lunch.

Belgian Wit, Pale Ale, and...what's this odd beverage out in a brewery?!

Yep, yours truly doesn't like beer, so I went with the wine. Cheers.

The food was delicious and more-than-plentiful. I had fish tacos and cilantro-lime rice.

 Mr. Garbage Disposal Brian had to finish my food for me.

Brian had the portabello mushroom pizza.
 

And, Tim had a huge, honkin' burger and fries.
 

 We strolled off our lunch up and down the main street of downtown Cedarburg.

Tim got a little bored, so he went off on his own photography adventure...did I ever

mention that he's a fantastic photographer? I know he's my son and we all tend to

brag about our kids, but seriously - he's amazingly talented. In high school, he won

first place in the Visual Communication Contest and then went on to State, where he

won third place in Photoshop Design. One of his photos is the cover for the book,

The Length of Light. And he did his first wedding shoot this past winter in Gatlinburg,

TN. If you have a chance, check out some of his photos at Mr. Tim Photography.

I digress! Back to strolling and admiring the buildings and flowers...

This adorable pup was tied up in front of a coffee shop. I just had to sit and pet her

and talk to her while her human was in the coffee shop.
 

 Loved this collage of vintage pictures on the wall of the coffee shop.

What a perfect day to just relax and truly enjoy the beautiful weather, each

other's company, and some good coffee. Iced tea for Brian though. He's not

a coffee drinker.

Last stop - a chocolate shop. Look at all that temptation!
 

I didn't get anything, but Tim wanted to try the Belgian chocolate-covered bacon.

I think it sounds rather gross, but Tim really liked it! 
 

 You don't have to travel far to find the beautiful. Sometimes even just

a day trip is good for the soul.