Independence Day!

Posted on by
2

Long ago, a wise leader spoke these words as the Continental Congress adopted the first draft of a courageous document, the Declaration of Independence.

“I am apt to believe that it (Independence Day) will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, and sports, guns, bells, bonfires, illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore.”

— John Adams, in a letter to his wife, Abigail

Amigo and I are home today. Our plan:

Watch Brewers Baseball in the morning (games and sports)

Patriotic Sing along at noon (shows, bells)

Grill burgers for supper (bonfires, perhaps?)

In general, relax.

Have a great holiday!

Top row: Chuck, Daisy
Front: Amigo, La Petite
Photo, of course, by La Petite.

Photo by La Petite originally posted in July of 2009 – worth a repeat

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Everyone knows it’s Windy

Posted on by
4

The short story: Our deck umbrella was impossible to close. The wind picked it up and threw it – tucked it in behind the herbs and the lilac bush.

The much more complete story —

The deck umbrella was uprooted by a gust of wind. It would no longer stay open all the way. Chuck took a roll of black duct tape and repaired the broken piece. That’s good. But now, the umbrella could not be closed. That’s not so good.

A major storm came through town. That’s bad. The wind picked up the umbrella and tossed it. That’s also kind of bad – but only kinda. I like to think the new placement of the large umbrella protected the herbs in their pots from the hail as the second part of the storm raged through the neighborhood.

Umbrella, umbrella.

Umbrella, umbrella.

You can decide. Good or bad?

Note: Chuck made a few adjustments to his repair job, and now we can close the umbrella. We wrap a bungee cord around it so the wind can’t blow up its, er, skirt and take it away. This umbrella’s traveling days are done.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Rhubarb BBQ Sauce

Posted on by
2

I stumbled upon a suggestion one day – rhubarb BBQ sauce. I looked over the ingredients and said to myself, “Self, we have all of these ingredients in the house, including plenty of rhubarb.” Chuck was skeptical at first, but I made some anyway. He tasted it before I went to the trouble of canning, and he pronounced it good.

This recipe uses a lot of rhubarb. I took a look outside to see how much rhubarb we might have, and if I might have enough to make another batch.

Will there be enough?

Will there be enough?

I needed at least 8 cups of diced rhubarb. Did I get it? Here’s the after shot.

After picking

After picking

I have about 6 and a half cups of diced rhubarb now. The dilemma: do I go back outside to pick right now? Or do I set aside the current harvest, maybe freeze it, until the remainder fills out a bit more? Or – cue the ominous music – do I buy a few large stalks of rhubarb at the Farmers’ Market?

Decisions, decisions.

 

 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Guerrilla Gardeners with a touch of maple

Posted on by
Reply

These guerrilla gardeners are getting creative with their travel methods. This batch came by helicopter.

This one left its heli in full view.

This one left its helicopter in full view.

This sneaky arrival wanted just a little more thyme. Haha.

Tricky things, those maples.

Tricky things, those maples.

I won this round. All the mini maples are now in the compost. I will remain vigilant, however. Those guerrilla gardeners can attack at any time.

 

 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

To Market, Back to Market

Posted on by
1

Chuck was busy cooking lunch, so I posed the produce on the table instead of the kitchen counter.

What didn't I buy?

What didn’t I buy?

Well, I bought lettuce, but no spinach. I bought strawberries, and just a few blueberries and cherries. We’ll wait until later, when they’re ripening closer to home. I bought eggs, but no cheese. I bought asparagus, but no peas. We could have had sugar snap peas, but I thought I’d wait until I could get a larger quantity for less money. It could happen this weekend!

Chuck complains that I bring too many bags to the market. He’d better look out; I might just feel I must prove him wrong by filling them all. Sneaky snicker. 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

And the Iron Chef Cooks Again

Posted on by
2

Here it is; another example of the family’s chef wannabe. He really does plate the meals well. Everything is aesthetic as well as delicious.

Salmon. Yum.

Salmon. Yum.

Those are an odd hybrid tomato on top of the platter. They’re Kum-atoes, or a crossbreed of kumquat and tomato. I didn’t grow them; they jumped off the shelf into Chuck’s grocery cart.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

The Office – not on TV, just my spare room.

Posted on by
1

It’s looking a lot better. In fact, I’m blogging from my New Office even as we speak. Desk, file drawer (one might be enough), desk chair — and more.

Summer School, here I come!

Summer School, here I come!

Back to inventory. Desk, file drawer (to the left of desk), pencils (found in file drawer) and pens (also found you-know-where), clipboard, document camera, desk chair, and pillow.

Pillow!

Pillow!

You can’t see the last line. Here’s the verse.

Rain or shine, fail or pass

With crayons or computer, lad or lass,

Teachers never lose their class.

It was a sweatshirt. La Petite made it into a pillow, and it’s perfect for a desk chair.

The room isn’t fully converted, but in my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can do whatever I want to do! (with apologies to Oscar Hammerstein, of course)

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Yarn Bombs Downtown

Posted on by
Reply

It’s great to live in a town where creativity abounds and non-traditional art forms can thrive. On our most recent Fun Day Friday lunch, Amigo and I encountered yarn bombs. Yarn bombs, for the uninitiated, are knitting pieces in public places. We saw a few lampposts with “sweaters” on, benches with slats in different colors and textures, and more.

Ugli doll? Mr. Potato or Eggplant-head?

Ugli doll? Mr. Potato or Eggplant-head?

It’s great when Amigo can enjoy the piece of art work, too.

It's a bird! It's a plane! Its --

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Its —

It's a daisy and a snake!

It’s a daisy and a snake!

Guerrilla gardening, yarn bombs on the Avenue, what else could happen? I’ll keep my eyes peeled for moss graffiti.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

A Family Reunion of sorts

Posted on by
5

In earlier posts, I shared the saga of the antique family bible and how it came to our home. The original owner received the bible on her wedding day. Chuck dug into his records and confirmed the date, the bride, the groom, and the immediate family. He also confirmed that  she lived in several locations including upstate New York, Nova Scotia, and eventually Wisconsin. She is buried (are you sitting down?) less than a mile from our home in Riverside Cemetery.

We thought a reunion photo would be appropriate.

Elizabeth, your bible and your history are in good hands.

Elizabeth, your bible and your history are in good hands.

E Dane marker compressedElizabeth (Locke) Dane, Died 1835

 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Iron Chef at the O.K. Chorale

Posted on by
Reply

One of the many advantages of having Chuck home on vacation- he cooks. And I mean he cooks. If I’m Rachel Ray with my thirty-minute meals, he’s the Iron Chef.

Full Points for Presentation!

Full Points for Presentation!

The Main Dish: Swordfish

The Main Dish: Swordfish

Side dishes and Beverage

Side dishes and Beverage

Dessert: crowned with Door County cherries

Dessert: crowned with Door County cherries

Eat your hearts out, people; he cooked all week.

 

 

 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares