Between polar vortexes, my husband and I had a chance to go for a walk in one of our local forest preserves. One thing that that I find remarkable about the Chicago area is the forest preserve system. They are maintained by the individual counties, but their common general goals are to preserve open, natural … Continue reading A Midwinter Walk
Bullies at the Bird Feeder
By the title, you'd think I was talking about those pesky squirrels again. But not this time. This time it's an even more obnoxious bully, the Blue Jay. Despite how handsome they look, looks can be deceiving. They are the original "Angry Birds". My mom Peggy has a terrible time protecting her feeders, as well … Continue reading Bullies at the Bird Feeder
Cross Country Skiing-25 Years Later
I'm not sure why, but ever since we moved to Chicago, my cross country skis have been in storage in the basement. Many years, there just wasn't enough snow to ski, and then when there was snow, I'd come up with reasons why the conditions were never quite right. Mostly, it was that I grew … Continue reading Cross Country Skiing-25 Years Later
Tax Time
I've had to take a break from thinking about gardening and bird watching to take a week long training class to be a AARP Tax Aide for Seniors. Tax season can sure be daunting, and I'm going to try and help a few people get theirs done a little easier. Do you volunteer? I'll be … Continue reading Tax Time
Squirrel Calisthenics
Anytime you put out a bird feeder, you are also bound to be inviting squirrels to your yard. So, I now have a group, scurry, dray, or whatever a bunch of squirrels might be called, who visit on a regular basis. I'm beginning to be able to pick each out based on their coloring and … Continue reading Squirrel Calisthenics
Hidden Nests
I am one of those that snoops gently around in the bushes in the spring looking for those secret nests. But, I'm not usually very successful, so one of the things I love about fall and winter is finding those hidden nests that were so painstakingly made and camouflaged so well. I am always … Continue reading Hidden Nests
Air Plant Terrarium
As I mentioned in a previous post (Blog-Themed Christmas), in addition to my gardening and bird feeding Christmas gifts, I also received a cute little Tillandsia air plant terrarium from my daughter. She went Christmas shopping for me at a very unique garden and gift shop, Alaplash in the North Center area of Chicago. Thank … Continue reading Air Plant Terrarium
Winter Visit to the Morton Arboretum
The other day, before the polar vortex descended into the Chicago area, Steve and I went out for a walk and lunch at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. The Arboretum is a real local treasure where we can always find something interesting every time we visit. Today we walked around one of the very … Continue reading Winter Visit to the Morton Arboretum
Yarn Wrapped Bottles
My mom Peggy and I had some fun making these Pinterest-inspired yarn wrapped bottles. You can use this fun and easy craft project to decorate for the holidays, a party, a wedding, or for whatever you have that needs some color. First, gather your supplies. Depending on the size of the bottle and thickness of … Continue reading Yarn Wrapped Bottles
More Grocery Store Cheer
What to do when it is dreary, cold and snowy outside and no inspiration is to be found. Plus the roads are a mess, so it's hard to get anywhere. Time for Peggy to go back to Meijer's, pick up a few staples and see what's in the flower section. … Continue reading More Grocery Store Cheer