BarbBBlog

Borrowing More LightHearted Laughter from the Babies...

2012-02-15T17:52:00.000-08:00

Get ready: the Blogstar-Twins are about to turn 3 Years Old! Here's the Official Photo--borrowed, as well, from their Mommy's fb; Too Darn Stinkin' Cute. Inspired little outfits their Mommy found. Alas, this past week both kids came down with a case of pneumonia each, as well as an ear infection for Micah; at this report, neither child needed hospitalization. Hope they will be well enough for the Birthday Celebration this coming weekend.

We Need a Big Smile....

2012-02-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

World's Most Serious Baby will help give us one! The (Blubbering)Blog is too sad and serious lately, with all the somber events. I'm too busy to be creative or rise above it all. Lately, our little friend, World's Most Serious likes to root around in her family's clean laundry as her Mommy tries to fold it. She's especially partial to trying on her big sister's underwear, either all or one at a time. She's only about 18-mo, but maybe she's thinking already about potty-training??

The Vets Plan...

2012-02-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

Possibly, Butterscotch's diabetes will be controllable with "special diet"; at this point, insulin injections may be too drastic as a treatment. The diet will be tried for 7-days; then sugar levels in blood and urine will be measured once again. If you are a cat and you live long enough without being hit by a car or eaten by a coyote, you could get diabetes, kitty-kat-kancer or other diseases of the elderly. Scotchie is at least 13 years old; exclusively a "house cat" by her own choice--she will not even venture out to the deck for supervised play.

Of Course!!! Why Not? ....

2012-02-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

...a cat with diabetes. Was it the marshmallows or the cotton candy? Kidding; she never gets to eat people food.

One last California Memory--

2012-02-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

I love those pretty and perfect Bird of Paradise flowers that are so common to see in Southern California--there's more photos, but by now the mood is broken and focus shifted. Like many this time of year, I'm deep in the swirling vortex of mindless tax preparation details; among the greatest National Colossal Waste of Time!! All my adult life I've thought There Must Be a Better Way!

Back to Reality with a Dreadful Jolt!...

2012-02-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

...Bonnie and Elburn, my personal favorite part of Hubsy's HS Reunions. Suddenly and without warning, Bonnie slipped away in her sleep last week. Gracious, golden-hearted Kansas country goodness, diligent care of family and friends--and little animals; fun, friendship and frankly just the right amount of sparkling mischief! She could tell the old High School stories to me, the outsider; I felt like I was there to the point where I definitely liked his Reunions better than my own! My photo, below, does not do the family justice since the temperature of about 110-degrees that sweltering day. Obviously, she was needed in Heaven for some reason we cannot yet understand. RIP.

Family Scenes From Rodeo Dr. ..01.08.2012

2012-01-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

...not especially teeming with shoppers and visitors on this cool, pleasant CA winter afternoon....the shadows beginning to lengthen...I'm beginning to regret the closeness of the plane trip that will return us home, so far away from our two dear kids...

...the ladies in the group are likely busy shopping in a store while the bored fellows await their return, laden with packages?

...the little girl HAD it for the afternoon and let the whole street know about it! The tired wail of a young child dragged thru one too many shops that day.... and no toys. I did not notice a toy shop on Rodeo Dr...

Ok, what did I learn in CA? I've been reading that colored denim jeans are trendy this year. Unless you are 15, the way to go with this look might be to gravitate to burgundy or a nice deep turquoise?

Daddy's Princess getting the hang of promenading on one of the world's most prestigeous shopping venues. She was adorable, quiet (not tired or hungry yet) and enjoying herself. Our Pearl was inside that Lululemon store finding a nice pair of yoga pants. I had a great time sampling the culture with my camera.

Swipin' a Few Souls on Rodeo Drive....

2012-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

...the lady in the yellow top looks a bit like Camryn Manheim. Part of the fun of SoCal is wondering if that person you just saw is ??? or was that ???

If Your Name is "Barbie" and You Work At BarbieBlog...

2012-01-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

...here's your official motorcar. Smartcars are like adorable puppies and babies: "oh, that's so cute". Actually, I am too old for Barbie dolls--they came out when I was 11 or 12, so I completely missed it. I had sons, not daughters, so I never "played Barbies" till last year when Flowergirl showed me how.

West Hollywood and Beverly Hills...

2012-01-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

Wow! Bold, brilliant, engaging, shiny, colorful, delectable! Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, one of the best eye-catching structures I saw so far. I love big, gooey gobs of bright colors! And these are BIG buildings. It's like our Merchandise Mart, where manufacturers show their products to retailers and designers. And if you work in the Pacific Design Center, the photo below shows your inspiring view across the street.

A Little Arroyo Wildlife....

2012-01-24T18:02:00.000-08:00

I found a cute little toad on the pathway and gently moved him over in the direction he was heading. I spent my toddler- and little girl-hood on a country farm; in those days, I was an out-door baby and have no gag-reaction to little animals like this, or snakes or bugs...

where's my "guide to western birds"? oh, that's right, Blondie and Pearl have it. And I forgot to look the bird up before I left. We're screwed about figuring out what kind of bird this is.

It's a Great House, But I still Hate the Movies....

2012-01-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

The Gamble House, an artistic one-of-kind Craftsman mansion, with unique qualities abundant.

These photos do not do it justice. It was used somehow in the loothsome 80's or 90's Back To the Future
movies. I know I'm the only person on earth who did not enjoy these films, but I hated the tone and the weirdness....

Blondie here, was just a kid. He thought the films were OK. But he was 5. I still love the house, tho.

Walking on the Creepy Side....

2012-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

So. California is not all mansions, mercedes and mellow merlot; I don't mind including some--above, it looks like a hapless homeowner's effort to keep the hillside from sliding out from under the house--that's the damn biggest piece of blue tarp I've seen so far. I wonder if it works. Maybe, too, it's just a big slip 'n slide for the kids.

Good Grief! What a horrible place to play! How did they get in? How would they get out in the (unlikely today) event of flash flood? There was a small dog (theirs, maybe) running up and down the canal, yipping plaintively. Now, Our Pearl is a young lady you favors small dogs (and wants a purse puppy real bad); this scene was not making her happy. There was no apparent way to rescue the pup.

The under side of the freeway bridge. People, there was graffiti in places on these bridges that could only be made by people who could fly. Massive and impressive old structure, tho. Wonder if it's made to survive a big earthquake?

Peer inside the fence carefully and you will see an empty and derelict Frank Lloyd Wright designed home.

Arroyo--Less Romantic Than it Sounds....

2012-01-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

A day of our CA sojourn featured a long meander starting in South Pasadena, residential Pasadena, past a picturesque riding stable, along a river (a dirty trickle encased in concrete and fenced off). We walked about 8 miles...refreshing and tiring at the same time....

evocative photos of horse and novice rider...

... the path along the river, and one of the lovely older 1930's vintage bridges in this area....

Typical Flavor of a Winter Day in California....

2012-01-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

The shadows grew longer; we left Manhattan Beach for South Pasadena to answer the Vacationers Question: So, Kids, where would you like to go for dinner??

Manhattan Beach CA...

2012-01-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

The Pacific waves were strong that day, the sound of water smashing and crashing, mixed with the fizzy noise of a trillion tiny bubbles bursting...and it was cool out on the pier....

Nice French Braid there, girl. FlowerGirl could do that with Mom's help...I could too, except french braiding and grey-steaked hair?

Pearl usually orders a salad with chicken on top; what will she find today? At the table to our right, out of camera range, sat a blonde lady we all (except Hubs') thought looked like a familiar blonde actress....and the little girl just ranged around the restaurant, adding to the cuteness....To our left was a long table full of "Real Housewive's"-like ladies, trying to outshine one another. California is a theatre even without the show business.

yes, it's a fenceline....I was put off by the startling brightness of the CA winter afternoon sun...

A Low-Key Morning Walk While the Kids Slept In...

2012-01-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I went to the local coffee place, then for a quiet "explore" around the neighborhood. Remember, a month or so ago, Pasadena was attacked by ferocious Santa Ana winds; in the photo above you can see much debris piled at the curb, along with the random discarded Christmas Tree. Many streets share these debris piles....

Usually we can find some local chubby puddy-cat who will agree to saunter out and have a picture and a cat style meet 'n greet....

Three pretty South Pasadena smaller homes, idyllic cottages against the blue sky on a calm Friday morning, the raucous screech of the local parrots can occasionally be enjoyed....fun stuff for snowy midwestern people in January!

Looking East....

2012-01-16T17:24:00.000-08:00

from the Hillside Campus of the Arts Center...the Rose Bowl is down there somewhere....

Random "People" Pictures on "Free Day"...

2012-01-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

...tiny boy riding the wrong way on his stroller, down a small slope....you guessed it, next thing you know he fell off. Wasn't hurt, just unpleasantly surprised, but I couldn't get that shot, as distraught young Mama charged up, admonishing Grandma in Portugese....

Huntington Gardens fashion plate....

Bright colored denim pants for women are supposed to be the style, truth is I saw only the deeper shapes like the burgundy pair in this shot, and some dark greens later in the visit...

Carnivorous Plants, etc...

2012-01-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

this is gonna be in the running for favorite photo of the 2012, one way or another.....

Hubsy and a rare sighting of the BlogHostess at the Huntington Gardens as seen by the BlondeGuy...

..another bug eating plant...

More Garden Photos....

2012-01-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

workman are busy improving the already near perfection of the lovely gardens. Go to a formal garden to take your photos, you can't go wrong. If the workers were operating a back-hoe, it would still be a great pic...

funny gold fish in a pool with the reflection of southern California sky--sublime.... winter temps: high 70's..

add the strong smell of Chinese food here and you would understand the shot completely....

Cactus section at The Huntington Gardens....

2012-01-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

...with a bonus picture of my Hubsy and our younger son, The Blonde Guy among some very big bamboo. We have bamboo in Illinois, but never anywhere near this large.

A Rare Product/Service Recommendation...

2012-01-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

If you are ever in South Pasadena, here's a sweet and romantic place for the above signed items....

L'il Pearl showed us this amazing tree on the grounds of the South Pasadena Library. In addition, the library has great books in their fund-raiser book sale area, many for only .25 each. My kinda town!

I took 302 Photos in CA!

2012-01-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hubsy and I visited Blondie and the 'Pearl in South Pasadena; supposedly the kids were on break from school, but grad students don't get real "breaks". Pearl's portfolio was due, along with several other important assignments. On top of that she decided to bind it (herself) into the necessary book-format. After all was said and done, she photographed the book.

A great photo of the adorable and happy little couple the first morning there.

South Pasadena mixed-blessing: apparently, many years ago, a local pet shop burned and the ancestors of this parrot were set free for their survival in the blaze. The birds indeed survived and thrived so that now there are good sized flocks of big colorful parrots all over town. It's like a built-in alarm clock when morning comes and the hungry birds make loud, raucus squawks as they find their breakfast. The oranges and lemon were ripe; that was a great sight!

Star Sighting? ???

2012-01-06T16:40:00.001-08:00

Visiting our BlondeGuy and the Li'l Pearl. Today we went to Manhattan Beach to see the high surf; I can't miss a chance to see the ocean. We had some lunch at Le Pain Quotidien. At the next table sat two ladies; the blonde one seemed familiar. After they left, both kids voiced the same reaction, and now Li'l Pearl is wracking her brain trying to figure our who that was. It's fun to be shallow for a few minutes. And it's lovely in SoCal, if anyone wants to know; I've got a shipload of pix!!!

2012-01-03T17:28:00.001-08:00

Favorite Photo of 2011

2011-12-31T22:56:00.000-08:00

The luminous deep red of the coral bell leaves, the shadows, the contrast? Or maybe it was not a very exciting year for photos. It's already 2012 as I write this post, so we are spared the soul-searching analysis of the former year. I don't do "resolutions" anymore. My best wishes that we all have a wonderful and auspicious 2012!

A Bit More Review...

2011-12-30T17:49:00.000-08:00

I picked up the desire to fix up and paint discarded furniture.... it's fun, mentally engaging and might help keep me busy in retirement, someday...

I went to a great quilt show with my friends and saw lots of great ideas....

MyFavoritePortrait of the Year. FlowerGirl the day of an "End of Summer Party" she planned and worked on, along with her mom. It was a great success.....

The Red Bellied Wookpecker departs from the suet feeder...

The Eggplant flower was a lovely surprise; the fact that we were able to grow many eggplants was even better....Among all the vegetables grown, it was nearly 300 lbs. on just a little patch of ground. Still we are pulling greens and carrots from the beds...

Hub' highschool reunion took us to Manhattan KS. Visiting family members after that meant we visited Abilene, KS. This replica of a pioneer church is part of Old Abilene Town. It was about 110-degrees that day in late July.

Fast-Forward Thru the Early Summer

2011-12-29T18:46:00.000-08:00

The prettiest summer lilies I've ever seen in the yard of a run-down house near the Kankakee River on one of the only long bike rides we had in 2011...

FlowerGirl all tired, silly and still excited after her dance recital....she's a ham....

The Gardener's oldest granddaughter enjoying her birthday with her cousins at Grandma's house....that's a very old family heirloom rocking horse she's playing on....

FlowerGirl's mommy fell in love with a puppy when they were on vacation and they brought it home....

My yard was full of lovely butterflies last summer, I hope I see even more in 2012!

The Christmas Fiddle Concert....

2011-12-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

...this time last year, our friends visited; as I posted the photo of our favorite fiddler, I lamented that you could not hear the music too. So this year, we made the room all Christmas-y and video-ed the music. He's about to graduate from HS, trying to decide which great school he wants to attend next year!

BlueRidge Parkway and Roanoke, VA

2011-12-26T18:37:00.000-08:00

...a scenic photo and spectacular view around every bend on the BlueRidge Parkway, even in the early Spring...

...Roanoke, with it's active railroading, rail-related museums, interesting old brick downtown was a fun day of photo hunting for me (some call it "swiping souls").

...my hands-down favorite people-in-action catch of 2011. One photo click apart, the contrast of decades of age difference, and modes of wheeled conveyence---in 50 years, will one of the boys in the top photo be in the same position as the elderly gentleman in the lower photo, I wonder? Only the Lord knows.

A Child's Wish for Christmas or Molly Gets the Last Word...

2011-12-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the set-up for this episode, as told by the Twins' funny Daddy on FB

1. They live in a home full of Tattlers

2. Molly's brother Micah has a Santa Claus Placemat at the table

3. The Twins like to use kitchen utensils and implements for un-food purposes

and

4. Miss Molly has not completely learned to pronounce her "R"-sounds yet.

So, while Dad is fixing one of the kids a snack, the Twins are at the table.

Dad hears Molly yell: "Daddy, Micah is fo'-king Santa on the table! Make Micah stop fo'-king Santa!"

So, all ye People of Earth, heed the words of this innocent babe and for Goodness Sake,

Stop Fo'-king Santa and just Have a Merry Christmas!

Seven Springs Farm, Check, Va....

2011-12-22T17:36:00.000-08:00

...Hubsy needed garden supplies for the coming season, so we stopped to purchase them at this small commercial farm in the remote Virginia hills. While Hubs selected his items and the young men loaded the car, I naturally prowled around finding visions to take home.....

Charlotte, NC...

2011-12-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

... a city of many neighborhoods, full of parks for playing children....

lovely, picturesque homes surrounded by lust flowering greenery in spring....

and a relatively new, sparkling glass "downtown" with lots of new condo and apartment homes nearby.

I Need to Hurry with this Review of 2011...

2011-12-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

...The great snow blizzard of 2011...one of my favorite of the neighborhood homes....

...a warm-looking sunset in later winter....

...a good catch: deer leaping a fence on an early spring afternoon in Fox River Grove, IL...

...a pretty shot of a comuter train crossing a rail bridge over the Fox River that day....

...a month or so later and hundreds of miles away in Charlotte NC, a strange site frozen in time: a young man and woman parading along quickly in this unusual formation: I wish I'd been able to get a front view of the couple; she acted as if he was not there, she was not distressed even with his arm at her neck. It was like a vision from a strange dream. I can still hear his heavy footfalls.

2011 in Review: Superbowl Sunday in Northern IL

2011-12-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

...somewhere in the far N.W. Chicago 'burbs--near the Wisconsin border--a pristeen, sapphire and snowy chill helped make for a nice walk and pretty rustic photos before going in to the warm hospitality of our hosts for the party. Fun!

From the Front Door on Winter Evenings...

2011-12-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

...one blue and one vibrant lavender sunset near soltice in Chicago-Land, USA SkyWatch Friday

A Brand New Bird for the Blog...

2011-12-11T11:22:00.001-08:00

A gorgeously handsome Yellow-Shafted Flicker visited the suet feeder this morning while I was at my desk and had my camera handy! I was just able to snap the photo as it was getting ready to depart in a hurry! The bird is larger and more dramatic than the other woodpeckers I've seen here, so far. Where is my Pileated Woodpecker opportunity? That is what I want to know. It's on Critter Cam

"World's Most Serious Baby" Speaks Out....

2011-12-08T17:41:00.001-08:00

"Oh, hi. Yes, I appear serious, but I'm just a very smart little kid, getting a grip on this new experience called "Life". I'm a semi-regular BlogStar; you may remember me from other posts like this.. I'm the second youngest of the Gardener's grandchildren. My big sister Alice just started going to pre-school (whatever that is) lately, and I like this since I get to play in her room with her toys when she is gone. So, you saw on the last post that we all got together last Saturday with my GP's, my Aunt and my Twin Cousins. Later, Aunt Grace came over too. Not sure exactly what they were doing, but everyone was busy making noise, laughing and mixing up stuff in bowls. Some of it tasted good, but mostly I watched and ate a graham cracker.

They did this activity all day, til I got tired of it, then Grandma and Aunt Grace played with me, fed me some lunch and I probably napped--I don't remember I was asleep. It's like that for a kid like me. Eventually, they produced quite a selection. Turned out, they were making cookies, which I understand!! Believe me, I understand a good cookie! The entire family is full of food scientists, so they know how to rock a kitchen!

I got to help, btw. I made lopsided, red-hots boobs on the gingerbread lady. lol. See, I'm not such a serious baby after all. One of the other kids put a ton of sprinkles on some cookies! Whoa! Then my aunt said to my grandma that when they were kids, they were never allowed to put too much sugar sprinkles on the cookies. (So, I learned, they've done this before!) How come it's ok now? she wanted to know. But Grandma just sighed and said, she guessed when you get to be a grandmother, you learn there are more important things in life than how many sprinkles a child puts on a Christmas Cookie. That makes sense... So, I watched all the action, I decorated a little and I ate and inspected. Quality Control. That's me. Merry Christmas, World.

At The Gardener's House--with the new kitchen--

2011-12-05T17:35:00.001-08:00

Holiday yumminess prepared by a houseful of pink and pretty little children, learning while doing what they can...Micah is measuring baking powder, with Mom's help...

Micah manages a nice smile, as usual. He's a never-ending source of fun and he's developing a sense of humor of his own....

This one is busy growing teeth and enjoying the results: the ability to nibble....

...while her big sister, Alice takes her role as chef seriously in her darling little hat. Here she's busy pounding a rolling pin onto a plastic bag of graham crackers...

Molly and her Aunt are working on the same operation...first, the demonstration so that Molly...

...can take over and make lots of little crumbs. I think this was to be for some creamy, butterscotch and chocolate bar cookies. I couldn't stay long but I bet by the end of the day, the house was fully of sweet sugary aromas and the children were full of cookies.

Li'l Pearl ---and others---Want Electricity!

2011-12-03T17:13:00.001-08:00

...photo taken by my daughter-in-law near their home in CA. Big wind damage! Huge skylight blown out at my son's school (no injuries since it happend at night); maybe electricity on Sunday. Amendment and Correction!!! Good Grief. I'm told--haha, Mom the photo was from the LA Times!!!

More of the 2011 Review...Oblique..off balance...

2011-12-02T18:01:00.001-08:00

...pretty strange cirrus sunset from Jan 2011. This photo was likely taken just as the sun was starting to come back to us in 2011. Bad news for Australia, I guess.

2011: The Year in Review...

2011-11-29T18:41:00.001-08:00

January 2011: ...or lots of reasons why my niece, Flowergirl is very fortunate; a full-time, hand-on, engaged homemaker-style Mom. Oh, she'll probably go back to work-outside-the-home sometime, but for now, it's spotless house, delicious meals, care of pets, care of family, purposeful reasoned plans for FG's days, lessons and you name it. She can cook like an Angel, if an Angel cooks. She will teach FG to cook from scratch with real ingredients in a real kitchen! If you are ever invited for a meal, don't miss it.

A Squirrel's Tale...

2011-11-26T18:20:00.001-08:00

...underneath the sunflower seed feeder, the ground birds and animals rumage among the hulls for whole seeds. Squirrels, chipmunks, the voles that live beneath the deck and even possums and racoons at night can be seen...

...for the past week or so, we've noticed this squirrel; see how he's carrying--or dragging--his tail? He's hurt: either a fall or a run-in with a predator or grazed by a car. At first, he was literally dragging his leg as well. He was unable to hop, since he had no power from his rear legs. I figured him for a goner.

...but he keeps hoppling back to the feeder, even hassling other squirrels as they compete for food. I saw him today; he was wet and bedraggled with the rain we have now, but eating. He appears to be recovering the use of the leg; tail still drags.

Holiday Whiskas--I mean Wishes--from the Cats...

2011-11-23T15:08:00.001-08:00

"Happy Thanksgiving from the pet cats of the 'Blogger. Being Scotchie and Hobbes may look easy to you: we doze, show up for meals and visit the litter regularly. The humans who help us are quiet people, some may say too quiet, but here's the rub for us Cats: Two days a year--Thanksgiving and Christmas--pandemomium (or all hell) breaks out around here. PEOPLE - many people; 20? Feet! And did you know that for some reason little children like to chase us? Well, one of us. Hobbes heads for a shelf in a bedroom closet and that's all, folks....Well, we suppose it's what's called a Happy Problem. Have a Great American Thanksgiving."

It's Ok to Sip a Chardonnay When You Read This Book...

2011-11-21T14:52:00.001-08:00

A month or so ago I lamented that I could not find anything I wanted to read--and I need a book to be "in" at all times, in order to be happy! In my public library's used book funder-store, I found a nice old-fashioned copy of a little American cult classic called Winesburg Ohio by Sherwood Anderson--which I read as a high-school girl (tho not for school); thoroughly did not understand the book at that time!

So, Sherwood Anderson was a bit of an odd-duck. Born about 1876, he grew up and was influenced by childhood memories of the town he and his mother lived: real-life Clyde, OH. He married, had kids and ran a production factory in Northern Ohio,(and wrote some) got to near middle age and just left it all and went to booming, early 20th century Chicago, lived in a boarding house and suddenly one night poured out this elegant little book....

...made up of a series of loosely interconnected stories or literary portraits of people who lived in and around his remembered but imaginary town. Each of these characters might today be considered--maybe neurotic--Anderson called them "grotesques", since they attached themselves to too many or incorrect "truths". The literary device he uses to help tie it all together is the main character, young, coming-of-age George Willard, who lives with his dying Mother and business-obsessed Father in the hotel the family runs. George works for the towns little newspaper, so he gets to run around town all day and night learning of the quirks of the quirky townfolk. The first story, Hands, came to my attention just as the Penn State Child Sex Scandal hit the headlines. Strange.

The out-lying countryside is wonderfully described in simple, clear detail In the first few stories the author will suddenly break away from the subject at hand to inform his readers about rural American life in the long ago days just after the American Civil War---and he's writing for my Grandparents' generation. The presence of passenger rail as an everyday item is richly portrayed. Right up my alley, in other words. About 3/4 thru the book, suddenly all these disjointed stories meld in the readers mind. Cool. It just suddenly jells as a continuous piece, colorizes itself. Neat book, not always easy to read because some of the people are so crackers. Anderson personally influenced Faulkner, Hemingway etc. I'm such a fan of Wm. Faulkner and I can see that without Anderson, he may not have come up with that difficult classic, The Sound and the Fury. So what happened to Anderson? Typical early 20th Century artistic flame-out: he swallowed a toothpick likely concealed in a martini olive and it punctured his intestine and he died of infection. This was 1941 and they didn't have as many antibiotics and medical techniques.

My Brand New Best Friend....

2011-11-18T17:41:00.001-08:00

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker returned again yesterday at least twice during the bright, sunny day, so I was able to enjoy the glowing warm orangy-red of it's head, the precise, tailored patterns of it's wings...

...much better that the last photo I took, on a brief fly-by a year or so ago in the grey snow. "Goodness, he certainly brightens up my day!" exclaimed Grandma.... Bird watching is much cooler than it sounds but I always feel like a dusty old fossil when I talk about it.

...Here's his rear-end as he jumped off the feeder, spread his strong wings, caught the air and swooped away across the yard. Today, the bird was back about half-a-dozen times; must like this restaurant! I'm so happy! It wants to be a CameraCritter, too.

Last Roses of Summer 2011....

2011-11-16T11:18:00.001-08:00

...Hugh Hefner was not involved, but the Ladies graciously agreed to pose among the leavings of my new plant obession, the Coral Bells and a hosta. The roses are now gracefully aging in a bud vase on my kitchen window sill. Today's Flowers and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Sunrise to Sunset...and an Autumn Day Walk....

2011-11-14T17:08:00.001-08:00

....sunrise is late in the morning, deep in the Southeastern sky...the light is slanted all day, with long shadows...

...I've walked these neighborhood streets a thousand times, no doubt...nothing new? nothing to see? hardly.

....whimsy in the neighborhood, a few streets away...

...then Mr. Sun dips brightly into the Southwest, leaving us for another day. SkyWatch Friday

No Snow Yet...

2011-11-12T11:50:00.001-08:00

...This is a photo from last winter, when a Red-Bellied Woodpeck came to eat at the feeder. Tho I was unable to get a new picture, I had another visit from the species two days ago. The birds are fairly large and noticable when they visit.----I call this "Old Lady Fun".

Two Birthdays on the Same Day....

2011-11-10T14:41:00.001-08:00

Flowergirl is 7 today--here's a "Hatchling" Picture

....a tadpole, really. Just days old. Her Mom, with special, tender care, right from the start.....

....a particularly nice photo from her "one's". Pink is her favorite color....

..... playing with her younger cousin at a family event.

..."me and my monkeys" from a few years back.....

.....with Mom and Dad at First Ballet Recital....

....at the Rehearsal Event for her cousin's wedding. Second Flowergirl duty, performed well.....

....glad for her new dog, Edie. We played with her Barbies this summer when I babysit......
Happy Birthday, Flowergirl. We will celebrate after your "kids party".

...she shares a birthday with "uncle Hubs". When she was a baby, she called him "the boy". Happy Birthday, Hubsy.

Sometimes The Magic Works....

2011-11-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

...you point the camera and capture something interesting, unusual, lovely, odd, scandalous, weird, one-of-a-kind. This is just one confused little goldfinch, after Hubs took the screen down from the window. It was fluttering around, trying to see what I was doing in here. The radial shaped paper thing taped to the window is to help the birds see there is a barrier. Otherwise, they try to come crashing in---some of them, anyway---I'd rather they didn't kill themselves at the feeding station. Crap, that window is dirty; that is one way that you know when you are my house--but the food is good. He's a Camera Critter now.

"Ethel and Lucy's" Magical Tour....

2011-11-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

....the adventure is nearing completion as I write; Lady R and L'il Pearl's Mom are winging their way home. There will be photos, there will be stories. This was Lady R's first visit to Israel, tho Pearl's Mom's 3rd trip.

32 Years...Happy Birthday, Brown-Eyes.

2011-11-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

1986, typical antics, with baby-brother Blonde-Kid

Recent times, with new wife, Amethyst.

On a walk in Charlotte last spring, with Hubs.

(Blessed: Two Great Sons, each with a wonderful Wife.)

Other Halloween Headlines.....

2011-11-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

...with lots of "borrowed" photos from other peoples' FB pages...

...now, we might have thought that Molly might have come up with something really scary for Halloween, but here's the heart and soul of the little sweetheart all decked out as HappyFeet--what a smile!

...Hire This Contractor and he will knock some Home Depot Heads if they don't have the blippin' drywall here by 7AM--little Micah.

The twins are such good little friends

Alice and her sister in their new home with all their Halloween finery

Hello. I can Fly....

Me Too, don't know what's happening yet, but it's fun. Don't know how cute I am either.

This is Munchkin' of Omaha NE, Who is Officially the Halloween "Caller of Quits". It's over, get over it, it's in the can for another year. "Get Me Out of This Pumpkin Suit."

Inwhich We Review The History of FlowerGirl's Halloweens...

2011-11-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

...Halloween is such a special time of freaky indulgence for kids and grown-ups alike; I try not to miss...

....last year, you may recall, The 'Girl was forced to miss the festivities, while seriously portraying a character of misery, illness and near-death (not really). She had beast of flu and she was a mess; a sad, sick little mess...

...But Wham! Yesterday She was Back with a Vengence! She popped in the door, home from school and already full of candy from the school's party and parade. I don't know what she "is"--maybe skeleton Lady Gaga?

...the full force and power of the "Sugar-Fuelled" Horror!!!

...back to Serene Little Angel once again, more comfortable without the wig, appreciating her little pumpkin...

...Edie, the dog, has a costume this year too. So they got Mom and Dad and all went out to collect the candy....but, seriously, by this time Edie really needed to go out for a potty-break; trouble was she was so excited by all the little hellions outside that she could not "produce". Later, my brother took the dog out again. And The 'Girl--for a second round of Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween From FlowerGirl!!

Say Hello to the Great Pumpkin!

2011-10-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

...the effect is pretty good. Colorful 12-pack boxes of soda, like Sunkist orange, Dr. Pepper, etc...

...found in the Dominicks grocery store in Mt. Prospect, Ill. It's been done before, but it looks pretty cool in person...

...as a Happy Halloween to myself, I finally read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving; both certainly entertaining yarns. Don't stay up late with the rest of the essays in the Sketchbook, tho! No, they are not scary, they seem trite and contrived! I like to finish books I've started, but I could not with this. Currently, I'm high and dry with nothing to read that I'm loving.

Little Project: Completed...

2011-10-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

...finally.

...not easy to photograph.

...but it was harmless fun for me to sand, clean, design and paint.

..it's in the front entry area, an awkward spot with the cold air return. When / if do more projects, I may put them on craigslist.

Really, It was Just an Excuse to Enjoy the Sunshine...

2011-10-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

...I rambled thru the yard with the camera on Monday afternoon, recording what may have been our last warm and sunny day for a while...

...most of what was left of the garden produce was brought in already, the sky was cloudless, deep and blue; the sun was comfortingly warm....

...one of the neighbors' hydrangea plants was showing lovely tones as it prepared to sleep for the North American winter to come....

...my own front door, viewed from a romantically unfamiliar angle. This pine tree on our right is likely to be our Christmas tree in a couple of months. It has gotten so big I can't work around it in that corner of the yard with out getting stuck by pine needles--I seem to be allergic.....

...Winter...It's On! Yesterday, the first juncos were seen in the yard, so we are committed now. The feeders are hung up and our little birdy well-fare clients are lined up for their meals. The deal is, we feed them and they entertain us with their antics all winter. Pretty good trade if you ask me. I should add, these are Goldfinches at the feeder, not the juncos.

Vegetable Garden, Sweet Winter Dreams....

2011-10-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

...Dear Garden,
It's been a slice of Heaven this summer, hasn't it? With Hubsy's help, you produced 300-and-some pounds of lots of good things: peas, beans, too many cucumbers to count, lima beans, tomatoes of several different times, eggplants and the peppers, along with some zucchini and some volunteer little pumpkins, chives, dill and whatever else I forgot. The edemames were a wipe, since the chipmunk found and devoured them, that was too bad. Soon, the plastic tunnels will be put in place so that swiss chard, carrots and so on with be available to meals into mid-winter. Thanx, little garden. I'll see ya' next spring!

Well, Hello Roger...

2011-10-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

...this was unexpected. We did some quick shopping at our local Sam's Club the other night, when to our surprise, in the parking lot, we saw this display on the rear of a motorcycle. Who knew? This is what you do with that old Roger Rabbit toy! We have one, you know. He lives on a shelf in my office; I need to sew one of his arms back on. Otherwise, he's in great shape. He's just hangin' out with me now--maybe a little sad because his Little Boy grew up and found a pretty red-headed girl and moved away....such is life.

For All My Family and Friends....

2011-10-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

who've bonded with the St. Louis Cardinals--This is pretty good--and fun!!

Autumn Comfort Food....

2011-10-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

It's a variation on Stuffed Green Peppers. We had a surplus of green peppers in the late garden this year, but they were funny sizes and shapes--not stuffable, if you know what I mean. So I par-boiled about half a dozen of them, after cutting off the stems and seeding them. I cut the peppers into nice bit-sized chunks; buttered a 9 X 13 inch baking dish and layered them in with alternating strata of about a lb. browned ground beef, half a chopped onion, a couple of cans of Campbells Tomato Soup concentrate, salt, pepper, about a cup of cooked rice, about a cup good shredded cheddar cheese and some old bread or cracker crumbs. Everything is cooked, so heat it up in a 350-degree overn for 30-40 minutes. Yummy--the taste of stuffed green pepper without the committment! And plenty of left overs if you are an empty nester!! Or use your favorite stuffed pepper recipe. The Campbells Soup seems to be important, however. It never tastes right if you mess with that. Don't dilute the soup.

Just a Few More...

2011-10-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

...beautiful and colorful examples of quilt-craft by the Quilting Guild in Lake County, IL--NiceNice!

Quilt Show, with Friends...

2011-10-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

...L'il Pearl's Mom, Lady R and I met Alice at an extensive quilt showing in Lake County, IL today. Alice adapted and made the "griffin" quilt; the photo doesn't quite do it justice...

...stories behind the various quilts were fascinating: this was among my favorities of the day. Coordinated "sale bin" fabric was purchased by the maker with no plan of what she would do with it. Quite soon, she got an idea and was working on this lap sized quilt with a few days... this seemed fresh and original to me.

...I left full of inspiration and a camera full of photos on a pleasantly lovely Autumn day.

Connecting the Dots, Finally....

2011-10-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

...No Wonder Spiders are Associated so much with Halloween....duh. It being Late Fall: Spiders are

EveryWhere!! Here's another one of the Orb Weaver on Hubsy's Truck. I think it is a Marbled Orb Weaver, after much Internet study. There is a lot of variation with that species, it appears...

...here's a Cross Orb Weaver, long deceased, scuttling away from me and the Nikon back in 2009. And, People, Today I learned about Mi-Fi!!

Random Shots Around the Yard: Mid Oct.

2011-10-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

...spiders are everywhere. Here's some kind of Orb Weaver perched on the edge of Hub's work van, hoping he doesn't stick out like a great big spider on a white van...

...one of the last of the hollyhocks, looking big and fresh. Still there, too.

...firebugs aggregating on butterfly weed seed pods, for some reason.

...and the lovely seeds themselves. After many years, these plants are beginning to come up from seed in my yard.

Having Trouble Finding Your Local TrainStation??

2011-10-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

Molly, Micah and their paternal Grandma (borrowed from Mommy's FB)

Up to your fanny in Weevils and wondering why? I might be able to help. The Twins are growing, as can be seen in this recent photo: they are over 2-1/2 now. Wow! They are learning so many things--among them, the nightly saying of The Lords Prayer, with assistance from their Daddy. Micah has his own way with words, as we've enjoyed before. And The Lord has a sense of humor (having put up with humankind all these years!) So when little Micah--the soul of innocence--implores his Lord to "...lead us not to train stations but deliver us weevils.." what is He to do? Wipe his tears of laughter and get started!

Kiss That Face....

2011-10-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

....an appearance by one of our BlogStars, the Fabulous L'il Pearl! (now to find some recent pics of her hubs and the other two).

What Is It? Friend or Foe...?

2011-10-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

... Hubsy is concerned. I think it's a FireBug. i wiki'd it. No, it doesn't frequent The Moon! That's our driveway! My neighbor was concerned it was "an asian beetle" and yes, it is. It aggregates (lots of individuals on one plant) and I have a photo of that to come. Another thing that's striking, in a Halloween-y way. So far, I have not read that it is harmful. ??

To Whom It May Concern...

2011-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

....many faces are missing from the New Year's Dinner at L'il Pearl's Mom's house; I remember when these events where bigger and extra tables were needed. It will be so again, no doubt. From left, standing Hubsy, L'il Pearl's Mommy, Lady R and Sir Goldenheart (favorite curmudgeon ;-> ) and seated is L'il Pearl's Daddy. Poor fellow: he is seated because he is recuperating from a nettlesome leg clot! As you get older, you find out all the things that can go wrong when they happen either to you or around you!! Happy New Year! Have a Sweet Year. Did I say Sweet? That Cake!! Lady R found it, it was marzipan and so very delicious.

Furniture Painting: A Meander...

2011-10-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

I had this little hall table; the usual story: $2.00 at a garage sale in 1982 or similar. I just slapped on some "harvest gold" 1970's paint we happened to have around....

...so this time I had an inspiration: Colors and patterns of Mackinzie-Childs and this little green console table by Ultimate Accents. And please remember, I haven't even seen a paint brush in 36 years. I sanded, I cleaned, I used my tack cloth, then primed and sanded and cleaned some more. I used my new best friend Martha Stewart's Hummingbird Blue Satin finish for the legs, a Glidden bone white satin on the top. Then I went to town with little bottles of craft paint for the decoration on the edge. Free-hand. My 63 year old hands are a little shakey, I learned. Maybe this will improve with practice?

I took a big chance and applied a glaze of my own concocting with acrylic medium, a bit of aqua and brown craft paint for a thin wash over the whole thing. It is drying and curing in the garage, where I won't see it tonight and get discouraged....

I plan to distress it a bit where it seems right. Then a couple of coats of clear satin acrylic finish.

Early October...OK, bring it on...

2011-10-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

..o no! cat photos again; but this is how I feel--I'm not depressed, but somehow I just want to curl up and snuggle in my quilt, with a cat or two, maybe a hubsy, and maybe read. All summer I've been trying to finish the last of a biographical trilogy on Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. Being a distracted reader, it takes time, but it's wonderfully written...I'm working during the day, of course--but working from home has wonderful advantages. I'm trying to trim down a bit, doing the SlimFast "1-2-3" plan which seems to be working. Chores, playing around with furniture painting, exercise....That's me, for now. Oh, and silly TV shows. Hubsy is ready to call for medical help when he sees me watching "Fashion Police" or the Beverly Hills Housewives or some "red carpet"...I told him don't worry, it will pass like a virus.

Outside, it's like this--when the sun comes out. Raggedy butterflies on their tattered wings, getting the last of what's left of the nectar. Pretty, tho. We've had a crazy weather pattern of sprinkling rains on and off for days. I noticed today that the DesPlaines River is nicely swollen, tho we have no reports of flooding. We need the rain, truth be told.

Clouds like this just seem to spontaneously drop a few minutes' worth of light to medium showers. Strange, after the hot, dry-ish late summer. And for the reluctant entertainer / hostess (me), Thanksgiving begins to loom on the horizon; I actually like to have friends and family over for the big dinner, I enjoy seeing everyone. And, if I do say so myself, the dinner is great. I'm finally managing to get everything done when it should be and on the table hot or cold, whichever. Somehow, in Life, you only get to the point where you can accomplish these events about the time your mind, heart and energy begin to fade.

Two Reasons to Celebrate the Day...

2011-09-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

...the beginning of a New Year for our extended family and wonderful friends to enjoy--and we get to join in!

...Red Letter Day For Old Ladies...I swapped out the regular weight cotton sheets for the winter weight flannels. This is one of the ways you know when you are a senior citizen!

When Hubsy Met Blogsy.....

2011-09-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

...in September 1975, he kept her so busy with excursions and fun that it turns out she put all her paints and painting gear away in a drawer and forgot about everything til Friday. This is what your palette tray looks like after 36 years uncleaned. It cleaned up pretty well, after some chiseling and a trip thru the dish washer!

The Flower of the Eggplant....who knew?.....

2011-09-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

...how perfectly lovely, in a Halloween-y sort of way. We've had good success with the eggplants this summer; from two plants we've had perhaps a dozen full-size gorgeous fruits. I like to slice them across in about half-inch slabs, arrange them on a plate with kosher salt in the 'fridge for a few hours. Rinse and pat dry; then dip the slices in beater egg and fry in a bit of olive oil 'til tender. These can be eaten as a vegetable as is. Or stack a slice of mozarella cheese and a spoonful of marinara/ spaghetti sauce and nuke for a few seconds til everything is melty and warm. That's a better vegetable. All from this pretty purple flower!

Hummingbirds, finally....

2011-09-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

...no, I don't have any photos. But today, there were two in the yard. At this point in the season, the yard is a bit of a mess--the sunflowers are for the goldfinches to eat and I don't care what they look like, since sometimes I count perhaps a dozen little yellow and olive colored birds chowing on the seeds and getting drinks at the birdbath. I leave all the "nectar" flowers alone for the bees and birds. As the season gets colder, the hummingbirds stops for a spell to eat and rest before continuing on to warmers weather--I've never seen more than one at a time. They must be telling their friends about the nice restaurants we have here on our little street.

Unless I've Messed this Up....

2011-09-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

...here's the "before picture" or "baby picture"....

...and here's the "after picture" or "graduation" for the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Hubsy took both these shots in the garden, the catarpillar was just a few days ago; the full grown was last summer--perhaps an ancestor of the "baby"? it would be nice to believe.

Back to Nature...

2011-09-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

...in the backyard garden, Hubsy found and photographed this odd concoction of an insect, with a mean-looking 4 inch stinger-like thingy on it's rear! Thank Goodness for Google: I was quickly able to tag it as an ichneumonid wasp--and fear not the stinger: it is the devise of a God with a sense of humor, used to boar into tree wood and deposit eggs. Videos of the process are even more humorous than.....(think of your favorite)

Another Very Special Birthday!!

2011-09-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

...You know, it's not easy to decide to start a blog; first you get the idea, then overcome the natural tendency to say "why would anyone read my blog? my life is so humdrum, I bore myself." Then you might "run the idea" past your Hubsy and friends. Goodness, you would think I suggested committing a crime!! I can be discouraged easily, so you'd think I would have left the blogging to others. EXCEPT for the bright smile and interested encouraging attitude of Lady R! She is such a gracious, smart lady that I designated her the Official Blog Encourager! She's very busy contributing time and energy to charities she likes, spending time with her family--her wonderful Hubsy, two great sons and adored Grandies. This friendly group of people "came with the package" when our Blonde Guy married L'il Pearl, since Lady R is BFF of Pearl's Mom. I borrowed the photo above from Lady R's fb--at her happiest with the Grandchildren. Happy Birthday, Lady R!!

Today is My Birthday...

2011-09-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

...what better time to introduce my late Mother, Vivian. In the photo above, she's the older girl with her small brother on her lap. I would date the photo sometime in 1928, by the appearance of the baby. Mom was about 9; her twin sisters about 5-6. The girl on the right, Betty, remembers the photo shoot---she had to go potty very badly and was uncomfortable and anxious--finally the photographer realized what was wrong and she was taken off to the bathroom. In time.

Special Birthday...

2011-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

My Mom's Mother would be 114 today, if still alive. She passed about 1970. Above is a photo of her 1st Grade class in Rockport IN about 1903. She's in the front row, third from the right, looking much like her great-granddaughter of today, FlowerGirl. The teacher was her dad's sister, Aunt Emma. This picture was taken not too long after the death of her mother and younger sister, all in the same summer. It was a tragic family, in some ways. But she had her Dad and brother, a couple of sets of Grandparents and her aunt, sometimes she lived in Rockport, a small town now but bustling then; other times she was back with her Father in Louisville KY.

...I think FlowerGirl got some of that "cute" DNA.

Lexi's Family Photos....

2011-09-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

...her youthful and lovely Grandmother...she's FlowerGirl's Grandma, too...

...her handsome Dad, who has a great sense of humor, as well....

...and her beautiful Mom, Angelique. It is amazing the amount of stress these young Mom's deal with and still manage to have a gracious sense of the importance of family...

...here's a better photo of the Mom, ministering motherliness to little 'Bella, while Lexi lights up for the camera... she'd like to be a fashion model--certainly she's very pretty!

FlowerGirl's "Goodbye to Summer" Gathering....

2011-09-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

...she's only 6, so she doesn't understand the concept of Sept.11, 2001. It was a lovely warm day, so we had a somewhat subdued family gathering at her house...

...with a recipe from a childs' cookbook, and her mom's direction, Our FlowerGirl made those shortbread squares with dark and white chocolate on top....of course, they were great...

...FlowerGirl has three adorable girl cousins in her own age group; Lexi, Olivia and 'Bella. Lexi, who's about 11, took off with my camera (it was ok, she was very careful) and took this lovely photo of her sisters in FG's playhouse....

....then followed photo of a little tempest....GlowerGirl.

...and finally, her sisters again, at the door of the playhouse. In other events, the older girls tried shutting the baby into the playhouse--that was panned by the critics! ....earlier that afternoon, Edie the dog got into nettles and had to be rushed to the dog groomer for an emergency haircut; and of course, skunks might be living under the playhouse just now (it's skunk-season here in northern IL.) Good Times.

Vintage FlowerGirl.....and her 1st Cousin, the BlondeGuy in LA

2011-09-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

...FlowerGirl is a late addition to our family, sort of a Special Dividend. My kids are 31 and 26, this one...

only 6, soon to be 7. These were some early-baby FlowerGirl, when she was in her 1's....

...she's a bit of a carbon-copy of her Dad, my younger brother, with this baby-grin. Cute.

...and here was Blondie, back in the day at about the same age. Our older son, BrownEyes: his baby pics are all on paper...guess I better digitize them.

From One Year Ago...

2011-09-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

...some shots of NY and PA to look at while I say Thanks! I sorted my "Mapco" gadget for top cities, where visitors come from. I realize, most of my "frequent flyers" are family, friends and family of the Gardener Next Door, including The Official Blog Encourager, Lady R. (more to come, since our birthdays are soon! and close together). But, Goodness! I don't think I know anybody in SanFrancisco, Providence UT or Glendale Heights, IL, yet I have some regular visitors from those locations, it seems. Wow. And several other places like Scranton PA. Thank you-Thank you! There's even a nice sprinkling of people from abroad--I'm honored!

Hubsy's Packing More Pickles....

2011-09-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

...so I'm staying out of the kitchen and playing in his garage--a role reversal? Two coats of Martha Stewart's "hummingbird blue" in semi-gloss acrylic interior paint. I plan a painted-on design in creamy white on the back..

...just a small repaint of this little hall table, currently having a sadly chipped "1980's" color. Hub's just announced 38 qts + 21 pts and several gallons of fermented refrigerator pickles! The cucumber harvest was pretty good this year.

It's The Time of Year....

2011-09-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

not much going on here...garden harvest and canning is in full swing. The late summer flowers are in full bloom...here's a hybridized sunflower from an envelope of seeds I scattered last season and finally came up this year....

...after 15 or more years of having hollyhocks (and never adding new purchased varieties) the mix tends to hybridize as well...above is a pale yellow tinged with deep red....

...one tattered, tired looking tiger striped swallowtail flittering around the sunflowers a few days back...I feel it's pain, I'm tired myself sometimes. The weather is beginning to cool, the days are shorter---and the people who write blogs in Australia are noticeably happier, with thoughts of spring!

Last Week...

2011-09-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

...on a pretty afternoon, we had nice mares' tail clouds to our southeast. Happy SkyWatch Friday

New Chair Project: Another Rescue....

2011-08-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

...in the same haul with the small stool earlier this month, there are two of these chairs. Stained and laquered with a heavy hand and lots of "drips", (so first, I sanded) I'm planning to paint only seat and back, leaving the rest natural wood. Also planning a design for the chair back, for now this one is nearly primed... ps: 15 lbs of plum tomatoes came into the house this evening from the garden: I'll be saucing tomorrow. This homemade sauce is so delicious, I had no idea! Good enough to eat by itself.

Harvest Time...

2011-08-30T12:43:00.000-07:00

...a small garden produced hundreds of pounds of food in the form of cucumbers for pickles, green beans for freezing, plum tomatoes for "saucing" and several others (eggplant! green peppers!). So I've skinned and seeded tomatoes, put pulp in the food processor. Add salt, pepper, garlic and a touch of olive oil and reduce over a slow flame, stirring regularly, til you like the thickness. Simple. I must have several gallons frozen by now. Add the seasoning for chili or spaghetti or whatever, later.

Lazy Late Summer Flower Garden Stars

2011-08-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

...today, on those butterfly weeds above, I had a big beautiful Monarch butterfly floating and flittering around all day. Monarchs are kinda shy, however. They don't hang around so you can take a photo. After all, it's Mellow Yellow Monday

Stop Everything!...Vicarious-Thrills Star Sighting from the GardenNextDoor...

2011-08-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

...Here at the 'Blog, we know the Gardener well, so here's the story of her great-niece, a slender wisp of a lovely teenage girl whose beauty and range of appearance is advancing her a career as an international fashion model! Since it's a "family affair", I won't mention her name just yet but will follow her progress. She reminds me of Jean Shrimpton, super-model of the 1960's, with maybe a dash of Jackie O as well! For me, it's fun to watch my Gardener Friend discover the tinselly world of pop-culture: she's a Real Scientist by profession, People. She knows about Power Plants and Environmental Issues and Regs & Stuff. Makes my nose bleed. As a teenager, when I was glued to my next issue of Seventeen, she was acing Chemistry. She does worthy projects for her church, likes classical music, gardens with finesse--a true intellectual, in other words; but So enthusiastic about a recent (international) Vogue magazine, when she showed me her niece's "cover" and a color fashion spread within! (It's about the kids, I'm thrilled for her, too.)

Naked Ladies....!

2011-08-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

...lilies, that is. Or some call them "surprise lilies. The foliage comes up in spring, quickly dies back; then in August, the floral spike seems to come out of nowhere, with precious palist-pink fragrant flowers....

...ceramic tiled ornamental bird house and a peek at the splendid late summer flower garden next door...

...and I am a sucker for hollyhocks, especially this dazzling, lipstick red one in an otherwise "dead spot" in the yard....

I Love Furniture Projects....

2011-08-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

...a few weeks back, we had plentiful rains; some were so generous that basements flooded. It's a time honored Chicago-land tradition; all the water soaked furniture gets kicked to the curb. Not even the Amigos take some of it. ( I use the word, since it means "friends"with pick up trucks who take stuff away, informal recyclers). The pile was high at the house across the street, and I found this little stool and two older wooden kitchen chairs. I sanded and primed with BIN Primer. I used the same old "off-white-bone" semi-gloss interior acrylic I used on the Lingerie Chest earlier in the summer. I purchased a whole quart of Martha Stewart Living Hummingbird Blue semi-gloss interior acrylic from 'Depot. (This will be my "go-to" color for a while.) Later in the fall, when it's too cold to work outside, I will paint a design on the seat.

You Can Share the Excitement of FlowerGirl's First Day of First Grade...

2011-08-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

...their Mommies and Daddies came along the first day to help them get started.....and took these photos.

...to help them buckle down to work....generally, the 'Girl has good concentration when it counts. When it doesn't count, she can be a Goofball...

The Future Meets Here.

Molly RunsAmuck....

2011-08-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

...you may remember, little Molly has a distinct personality. Her legendary baby scream-fests were feared by grown-ups. As a toddler, her courageous explorations and climbs were a wonder to see. In this recent photo, she helpfully waters the lawn for her Grandma--she's really a sweet little girl. But, Folks, they've had to dump her in daycare, along with her twin brother. Poor Mommy finally had to go back to work; she's suffered with concern for the kids--and she misses them! (They are the cutest kids). Micah is rolling with the punches and adjusting, but Molly has provided tearful partings and a scream-filled evening. This morning, the pair was to go with their Daddy to play at the park...they were all ready to go. But the Sky opened up and rained buckets! Apparently, Molly had enough. She took Toddler-Revenge: waiting till the coast was clear for a moment, she got into her daycare backpack, got her bottle of sunblock (gooey, oily lotion) and vigorously applied it to every upholstered item on the first floor--either ran out of goo or was caught before committing mayhem upstairs! Good thing her parents are professional child educators, both gave funny but stressed accounts, along with crime-scene photos.

Interesting Skies, this summer...

2011-08-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

Nearly Out of Photo-Amo...

2011-08-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

...so here's a nice vision of morning dew on a leaf of the banana tree on the deck. In lower center is a volunteer yellow grape tomato plant that is now supplying a few tomatoes.

The View From The Backyard....

2011-08-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

...looking at the sky to the southeast, (photo from a week or so ago) a massive thunderhead over the south end of Lake Michigan, probably raining hard on NW Indiana. Complete with low hanging scud clouds blowing across. The anvil is so high the the setting sun in illuminating it with a peachy glow.