Merry 2015 Christmas

Awilda

Cat and Flax

Close up of Flax

Oak Leaf Lettuce

I met my family in Chicago last week and we walked through Millennium Park. We came across this incredible head. It's 39 feet tall and made of marble. I researched and it's been there since June of 2014 by an artist named Jaume Plensa. The full title is "Looking Into My Dreams, Awilda". Can't believe I missed it for more than a year. It might of been hidden by the foliage in the spring and summer. It's amazing and really really huge!

Stopped by the garden yesterday. Christmas Eve pictures

- Flax - I grew flax last year to keep the potato bugs away from the plants and it worked.  The flax looked so beautiful. I can't wait to see blooms next spring.
- Cat guarding flax - this tin cat is so old. Someone gave it to me back when I lived in Indiana and that was more then 27 years ago. I think it supposed to deter rabbits but I just think it's cute.
- Lettuce - this beautiful green color is almost everywhere. I let a few plants go to seed and missed collecting them all before they fell to the ground.  Lettuce flowers have little fluffs once they go to seed. Like a dandelion. So - the fluffs blew all over.

They drifted over the ground and there are little spots of lettuce everywhere. Since it's been so warm, we might just eat lettuce harvested on December 25th!

Merry Christmas!

Little Stone Houses

Stone Houses

I've been working on little stone houses for a while now - maybe a year. I wanted to finish some of them before this years Christmas season but it didn't happen.

There about 4 in various states of construction. Stay tuned - they will be finished in 2016 and posted on Etsy.

Stay safe this season!

Winter in Illinois

This years Christmas Tree

Behind our office Building

Just a couple of pictures for today. Our Tree is really really cool. And so easy to put up and take down. Bobby's the creative one this year.

I took a walk at lunch yesterday behind the office building and came across a bridge and creek. A big brown beaver like thing was swimming and then hid away in a whole in the bank. I think it was a river muskrat or maybe an otter. I waited for a while to catch him come out of the hole but he didn't in the 15 minutes I watched. Maybe another day. I'll make it a lunch hour ritual until I can see him clearly.

Enjoy your day - it's 60 degrees here in Naperville and the windows are open in our home. AND it's December. Incredible.

What does a Garden Mean?

I went to the Naperville Community Nursing Home Last Friday to share some Holiday cookies and just to chat with the Residence. I brought the camera along and asked each resident on film, What does a Garden Mean to them.

Meeting with each resident was priceless. I received fantastic answers that made me laugh and cry. I can only share a glimpse.

I'm hoping to go back and re-film a one on one without people in the background. There was a permission issue with filming randomly. I had a full 4 minute strip put together for YouTube but again - Permission. It was my first time - you learn.

More movies to come - that was really incredible. I can't stop thinking about it. I want to film all people and just ask them "what does a garden mean to them". Then branch out to "what does a Farm mean to them".

Thanks for stopping by.

Snow and Cookies

First Snow so far this winter

Cookies - the Scraps

It's been a mild winter so far but I love the Birdhouse frozen and cold. The wild birds were happy we put it out again this year.

The cookies were a 7 hour process and the scraps looked better than the finished product. Bargello was the name of the pattern of the patchwork cookie. It was the most unbelievably time consuming cookie I've ever made. Each Christmas I try to bake at least one new cookie but this one didn't make it. The Scraps just rolled into this beautiful pattern.

I took them to the office and the folks were happy with my experiment.They did taste good.

I'm sticking with gingerbread men, butter cookies, and chocolate chip. Simple yet good. I might try one more but nothing as complicated.