Coffee Talk - July edition

Happy July 4th weekend! I am linking up with Coco, Deborah, and Lynda for the July edition of Coffee Talk.

This link-up asks: "If we were having [insert choice of beverage here] together, I would tell you..."

I'm not traveling this weekend, but next weekend Adam and I are going to Saugatuck, Michigan. Saugatuck is a beautiful beach town with local wineries, fruit orchards, and art galleries, among many other great attractions. We've visited a couple of times in the past, but haven't explored a lot. Would you believe we've never even been to the beach there? That needs to change immediately!

Aerial view of Saugatuck
Source

Adam and I have an old coworker who lives there and volunteers for Saugatuck's visitor/tourism bureau. How cool is that? We are hoping to reconnect with her while in town.

Incidentally, the timing of next weekend's getaway is perfect because the Rock N Roll Chicago Half Marathon is the following weekend. Translation: a stepback in training next week, so I don't have to worry about doing a long run in Saugatuck. Woo hoo!

It's fun to see locals in action. This morning, I was up at the crack of dawn to knock out a 12-mile run. While wandering through various neighborhoods, I decided to follow part of the Chicago Marathon course. I ran through Chinatown, then continued on through the Bridgeport neighborhood. This led me past U.S. Cellular Field (home of the Chicago White Sox).

The Cell is within walking distance of Chinatown. Wouldn't you know it - there were a bunch of elderly Chinese folks doing tai chi at the Cell's parking lots. I didn't have my phone with me to take a picture, but it looked somewhat like this:

It was a very cool scene, and definitely an unexpected little discovery. Way for people to utilize open spaces, eh?

I am trying to develop a green thumb. A few weeks ago, my mom gave me a gift that keeps on giving - a basil plant. I've tried growing basil in the past without much luck. This time, I read up on the proper way to prune a basil plant - and it has already made a big difference.

It's a good thing the basil has been growing quickly because I have high demand for it in my cooking. I've already made a big caprese salad and have lots of pesto dreams on the brain. Grow, basil, grow!

One good thing leads to another. Xaarlin heard about my basil and mentioned she's growing a pineapple mint on her deck. Earlier this week, she generously gave me a few cuttings to nurture. Look at how adorable they are!

I need to get a pot and some gardening soil so I can plant these little babies ASAP. I'm already brainstorming culinary ideas for them, too. Chiffonades over fruit salad, anyone?

Finally - when I was in DC in March, I went to a create-your-own-succulent-garden workshop with Vanitha and Dina. I've now got this cute mini-garden in my living room:

The dream is to someday be able to grow my own fruits and vegetables - so it's fun taking baby steps to build up my horticulture experience.

I've got a low-key July 4th weekend planned. I've got work to do for quarter-end close. Our friend Lindsay is in town from Pittsburgh, so we'll be meeting up with her at some point. Tomorrow, my mom is coming up and wants to go see the fireworks downtown. Other than that, I'll quote the Fresh Prince in that it'll just be a lot of chillin' out, maxin' relaxin' all cool. (I won't be shooting any b-ball outside of the school, though.) =D

Tell me what you're up to over the holiday weekend!