Remembering Fall Festivities

With all the baby-holding I've been doing lately, I'm reminded of the super baby showers that welcomed them last fall.  The most photo-tastic shower was Liz Young's "Secret Garden Party" hosted by Jennie & Dennis Chacon.  It was like something out of a magazine! Sitting on a blanket by a bon fire, we warmed ourselves with delicious soups, cheeses & wine.  Every table had a fab Fall centerpiece, and the entrance to the Secret Garden was lined with vines & haystacks.  The air was crisp but the presents were a-plenty.  It was a grand ol' time.  See some of the pictures here.

Brick Beauties!

Yesterday I took the "Downtown Living Tour." 

It was....how do you say?.....AWESOME!

My wallet hurt, but my heart was inspired.  Since Tye and I toss around the idea of rehabbing, I thought I'd find inspiration in the hottest places downtown.  So I grabbed my camera, my tour map and followed the trail of brick beauties.  

My favorite finds of the day were the glass garage door walls,  and the "Tribeca" hardwood floors.  

Take a look at the tour brochure or check out my personal photos.  ENJOY!

Inspiring Moments

Though my week was fairly stressful, I had a few wonderfully inspiring moments.  For example, we are using "a cup of coffee" to discuss "community" this week at Crossroads. So, my boss sent me to borrow a VERY fancy espresso machine from Larry Bourgeois. (pronounced: boo-jwa)

I had heard of this man.  My ol' friend Seth was inspired their many late nnight theological, social conversations over exquisitely made lattes at Old Saint George.  So this mission took us to Larry's new place in Norwood--"The Mills".   Larry's passions are theology, social-networking, developing community, study, conversation & COFFEE.  His new place is a bookstore, study center, coffee house, espresso machine gallery, dining room, meeting center & community-builder for Jesus.  Not bad Larry...not bad.

Not only were his lattes inspiring, but just hearing his heart for conversation & community was astounding.  I know he's the "genius" type--because I'm having a hard time summarizing his smartness.  Here are a few pictures of his books, espresso machine collection & latte art.  When it's done--it will be the COOLEST place to hang out in Norwood.

     

Earlier in the week--during the power outage--Tye and I sat around a campfire with some new and newer friends. Little did these folks know that their conversations were feeding some of my own developing ideas.  In my attempts to understand home buying, green building, community, social-networking, design & music--I've been learning more than my brain can handle.  It's kinda like those 3-D puzzles.... I'm trying to create/figure out something that has MANY dimensions, colors, heights & depths.  Without the box...I'm just trying to piece it all together.  I'm sure it will make a beautiful Irish castle or something someday-- but right now I'm feeling a little (ok--a lot) overwhelmed by the pile of pieces.  I guess I'm just anxious to see what it all turns into.  I'm in the right place to learn though--jeez! I'm constantly surrounded by "idea people" as I like to call them.  I just need to figure out how to fit them into my schedule & their knowledge into my brain.

So today, I sat out on the sidewalk sipping on a 'Speckled Bird' soy latte.  Headphones on, magazines open & web at my fingertips---enjoying all the senses.  It's good for me to spend time in creative solitude to bring ease to my mind & a little organization to my ideas. I need to find more pockets of time like this.  And I also need to pay attention to when the Speckled Bird closes, because now I'm locked out on the sidewalk with an empty mug & a full bladder.  Yikes!

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto...

Well, it's been a while since I've blogged.  Get over it---I'm jumping RIGHT into the present.  So yesterday, we had CRAZY windstorms all day.  We had hurricane winds without the hurricane, tornado damage without the tornado, fires without the lightening--CRAZY! 

MOST of Cincinnati is without power, several people were killed, cars and homes are damaged everywhere, almost everything is shut down. Very few places are open to sell food, gas or supplies.  I even read on the news that some fights broke out over gas & groceries. 

Somehow, we never lost power for longer than a minute last night, so we stayed up cooking, crafting & watching football.  Well--football is boring, so I was watching trees fly down the street. They say that the power may not be fully restored for several days. I am thankful that no trees fell on our house & we can take hot showers. Actually--because of that--many OTHER people might be taking showers at our house today.  We might be feedin the neighborhood tonight!

I guess the wind storm was hurricane remnants paired with cold fronts & a side of the wrath of God.  It's strange....the forecast for the rest of the week is 75 and sunny.  Go figure.  Here's a few pics from the storm.  

                        

So today, while most people are picking their roofs up off the street, we'll be cleaning in preparation for possible house guests.  

The Home Stretch

Well...its Tye's last few days out west & he has sent some GREAT shots! Seabird has been rockin the west.

Speaking of ROCKIN'!!!......some friends and I traveled to Indy last Sunday to see (my absolute favorite band) RADIOHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Can you sense my enthusiasm? If you can't...this is what it looks like:

                             

Steven, Craig, Cindy, random dude Ed & I spent the day in Indy. Well---not random dude Ed.... Ed spent the afternoon traveling from Chicago. Why did it take all day, you ask?  Because his car broke down on the side of I-465. We couldn't go get him because we were already at the concert venue & re-entry was STRICTLY prohibited. Thankfully another random person picked him up, got his car towed & dropped him off at the concert. As for the rest of us, we hit up a little vintage store, drove around a big fountain several (hundred) times--almost hitting a horse & carriage--because the carriage driver was TEXTING! Do NOT horse & text at the same time, people! 

Then we proceeded to the concert. We found a sweet spacious spot in the lawn & kicked back until Radiohead came out to BLOW OUR MINDS! I spent most of the concert swaying & thanking God for music. The people around us spent most of the concert smoking pot.

On the way home we recorded a podcast for Craig's band-- The Vinyltones.  It was a FANTASTIC evening. I miss Tye, but have enjoyed the "single life" over the past few weeks.  I got to take up the whole bed, stay out late, spend time on my music, go to a concert, cook & clean less & have some quiet time. But...this week will be extra fun, because in counting down the days until Tye is home....IT'S SINGLE DIGITS, BABY!

What do I need to get done before Tye gets back?

(1) work out at least once 

(2) finish "detailing" the car (more on that later)

(3) clean up my messes

(4) try the hookah (check!)

(5) eat my stash of dark chocolate

(6) sleep diagonally & all sprawled out just a few more times

I'd better get to it!

Big Dreams...

In reading a letter that Tye composed to raise support for our upcoming mission trip to South Africa, I realized that this has been a year of dreams. I'm a full time singer/songwriter, Tye is learning how to be a recording engineer, he's been traveling the country playing drums, we're putting out an album this year, we "missioned" to Mexico--soon to South Africa, and our whole family is growing in great ways through marriage & children.  We are TRULY blessed. That isn't to say there hasn't been some bumps in the road. We've endured much in our marriage this year as well. Tye was hospitalized and sick for most of February & March, we've been climbing out of old debt, this month is the longest Tye & I have ever been apart, and the community of Crossroads has had a HUGE impact on our spiritual growth. 

All good challenges. 

In November we will be traveling to South Africa--following one of my big dreams. When I was 17, I had the seemingly random thought that I had a purpose in Africa. That feeling continued throughout college, but any attempts I made to go fell through. When we moved to Michigan, I just let it go and left it up to God. I figured, if that ongoing thought & feeling truly was from God, then He'd pave the way.  When I started working at Crossroads, I learned of their partnership with "Charity & Faith"--a church community in South Africa.  As soon as I heard about it, I thought... "There it is".

So...we're following that "nudge" all the way to South Africa. We need to raise support for our trip, though. If you'd like to receive our support letter...shoot me an email at andreasummer.va@gmail.com

If you'd like to hear more about the trip, go to www.crossroads.net/gomamelodi.

Here's to a future of Big Dreams!

Tour Adventures: Part Two

Well--the Seabird tour's "home stretch" has taken a few strange twists. Ryan (the guitarist) injured himself on some big Arizona rocks.  With a busted ankle & face, he's not so comfortable on the road--even in their luxurious new tour bus. SPEAKING of the new bus...it started over heating en route to Hollywood. So it went "under the knife" in AZ.  They decided to take their broken bodies & bus home early---canceling the final four shows.  As soon as they started their journey home, the bus started getting hot & heavy again. So...it was BACK the the mechanic.  Now they're killin time at a mechanic's house, drinkin beers & takin showers. (not at the same time--thats just dangerous, but not as dangerous as Arizona rocks)

Hopefully the bus & Ryan's face will heal quickly and they can head home.  

Moral of the story: always wear a helmet.

In the meantime... check out Seabird's FIRST music video--"Rescue."  It's fun crazy animation goodness.

Also...check out the video that someone ELSE made for Seabird's "Rescue".......yikes.