Goals

I found this the other day and thought it was worth adding.

Christmas is upon us and I will be baking soon for neighbors, co-workers, family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

Grassroots Farm

I came across a farm site and this is their picture - oh so pretty.

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving.

Bulmers Orchard Ireland

I came across these photos - Hurricane damage to an orchard in Ireland. Unbelievable. Their Harvest is done. No coming back from this.

Looks so perfectly staged doesn't it?

Strange Flower in Las Vegas

Flower in Las Vegas

Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin

Bird House Gourds

Fall Peaking Through

During My work trip in Las Vegas, I passed this plant each morning walking to the convention. It had a strange bloom. Not sure what it was but it caught my attention. Almost looked fake but it was real. Anyone know what it's called?

Fall shots from my Balcony. Drying the gourds and already used the pumpkin for Pumpkin Bread. Oh So good.

Next month will be one full year of Nicotine Free.

Farms

Bobby took this

Bobby took this

I can not stop thinking about them. Every waking hour I think about living on one. Urban farming will have to suffice until I can find the space to spread out.

The above shots are just some pics I found. I think I've mentioned before that when I am stressed out by work, driving or just life in general, I think about the pictures above. They calm me.

My Mom and Nephew came to Chicago yesterday and I took the train to meet them for lunch. They went on to the opera and I came home. It's now a point in our lives that we better see our family when we are able. The world is moving so fast that I see now the point of making the effort. It's only a few hours out of my day and so worth it.

We ate at a restaurant on Michigan Avenue that had perfectly fresh and delicious food. Remington's. Out door seating and what a perfect day. My Nephew had prime rib hash and eggs and my mom and I had crab Louis salad. Butter lettuce and oh so good.

Stay tuned -

Cat and Travel

"You Are Not Leaving"

"You're Leaving?"

DC Airport

DC

Untouched

Willow has recovered from her Asthma. She's so smart. I couldn't get the pills down her throat so I crushed it in her milk. She drank it once then wouldn't touch it the second time. So - I crushed it in butter. Again, She fell for it once but not twice. I was only able to give her maybe a total of 4 pills. Little bugger. How do you get a cat to take a pill?

We kept an eye on her breathing and it might of been just an allergen that she breathed in that caused the attack. She's spunky and looking good.

I have to travel a lot this month. Well... two trips but they are back to back. I just came back from DC on Wednesday and off to Las Vegas tomorrow. Willow hates when I get the suitcase out as shown by the above pics. She literally gives me the look. Love that little girl.

DC airport - Ronald Reagan. Cool ceiling in the waiting area. Really old building but lots of character.

I had a perfect salad at the counter for lunch while I was waiting to fly home. It was something so unexpected at an airport. Everything on it was crisp and fresh. Green beans blanched to perfection. Red radishes that were so fresh, I swear they were picked that morning. The greens were all perfect. Not a wilted or rotten leaf among it. I really could not believe it.

I have to eat out during my travels and usually the food is just mediocre and usually it's horrible. I pack nutrition bars and crackers in case I can't eat out. I've gotten food poisoning twice so I am super careful. This salad is worth mentioning. If you ever have a chance to eat at the Ronald Reagan Airport, order the salad of the day. You will not be disappointed.

Fall is here in the small "woods" near my garden. I pretend it's acres of "woods" but it's just a small beautiful patch of wildness.

Cat Asthma

Beautiful Day of Rest

Willow

Willow had breathing problems. Poor little thing - she has Asthma. Emergency Vet - 3 hours later - Asthma. Probably needs to be on pills the rest of her life.

For a about a week, she was sneezing and hanging her head low but on the Sunday before Labor Day - it was so bad, I thought she was having a heart attach. Too worried, I called the EV and Bobby and I drove her to the Vet with her howling the entire time. The sound is soul retching. Others were in the waiting room with their pets - a greyhound that couldn't stop puking, a Jack Russell terrier with a skin spot and an older cat that was lifeless in her container. Her owner petting her the entire time. Not sure what was wrong with her.

The doc gave us the three probable causes, Heart, something I can't remember and Asthma. I was probably as wide eyed and nervous as Willow but we'll take Asthma. $298.00 - What can you do? They quoted over $300 on the phone.

She's home with us and a little stressed out from the trip. She never goes anywhere and so set in her ways that a trip to a strange place with strange people and animals, just was too much. It will take her two to three days to get back to normal.

Normal - two pills a day, crushed in her milk cause I can't get it down her throat.

Are we a world of prescription medicine? Bobby takes over 13 pills a day and now the cat? What is going on? Sometimes, I just can't understand it.

Nicotine Free - 10 months but wow - this weekend was taxing.

All Grass Farm

 

All Grass Farm in Dundee, IL on Route 31 - A MUST VISIT! Through Angelic Organics Craft day - Shout out and thanks to Sarah for assisting this group on a Sunday!

The place was fabulous. Exactly how a farm should be run. Bobby took some amazing photos. Perfect day!

Master Urban Farmer

The Instructor, Zach and Me

The Best Folks Ever!

The class ended in July and I received these photos today from Sarah - she's way far to the left in the back row wearing a green shirt. We took a class together a few years ago and she recommended this one for me. How these people enlighten me! Each one had a mission, plan or idea that makes the world better. Some farmed on empty plots in Chicago, others had land from family they needed to learn how to manage. Many just grow food for others but they wanted to learn how to do it AND earn for themselves.

I just want to farm my garden to a larger money making plot and with all these people, I am now inspired to really achieve something next season. I've been in contact with the Michael Fields Institute to assist me in grant writing. I've contacted the neighboring School to see if I can talk to them about teaching the children about growing in back yards. It's Begun!

I needed a little guidance and that's what this class was for.

Community Home Garden

Some pictures Bobby took of the garden. I have let the weeds get the better of me again this year. Never Fear! Next Year will soon be here!

I'm taking the garden to the next level this fall. It's needs a new fence and I want to put in some sort of raised beds with possibly a water storage underneath. I'm researching and it's time to make it look beautiful and functional. The goal is to teach and share with the kids from the school next door. The Residents and the kids. hmmm...

Stay tuned.

Ball Seed

Seed Coating

Seed Coating in a Tumbler

William Kautz of Kautz Farm

Desert Rose

A couple of weeks ago, Bill Kautz invited me to Ball Seed's event. They had tours of their gardens and behind the scenes. They coat seeds to make them last longer and protect them as well.

The Zinnia's were really pretty.

The last picture is from my balcony and of one of the baby Desert Roses. The mother plant blooms pink but the baby is white. Really pretty.

Moth

Luffa Vine on the Balcony

Moth on the Sidewalk

More Nasties

Baby Desert Roses

Toes by the Pool

Barn at the Children's Farm

Mini Apple Trees

Perfect Corn Plants

Cucs on a fence

Melons already Bagged

Pig

Pretty Yellow Flowers

July is in full swing. My luffa plants are now on my balcony. Each year at the garden plot, they suffer from either theft, lack of water or frost too soon. So - I have them now growing on the balcony. One Luffa is all I'm asking for.

The Moth was spotted on a walk. It was so pretty but unfortunately barely alive. Not sure what type. Some sort of Lunar but I'm not sure if Lunar Moths even live in the Chicago Suburbs. Research for another day.

Baby Desert Roses - these are like little Solders. Too Cute

I was lounging by the pool but I can't sit still for very long. So I took a pic of the toes. Just being silly.

Now - the rest of the pictures are of The Children's Farm in Palos Park, IL. The Master Urban Farming Class I'm taking has one more class next Wednesday. It is such a surprising place. All around Palos Park are factories, power lines, highways and a million people. You turn into the drive and it seems to all disappear.

We were being shown irrigation methods in the garden and I snapped a few pictures. The corn was absolutely perfect. I have never been able to grow corn from seed successfully so this was just amazing to me.

The mini apple tree was so cute and well pruned. Every yard should have a mini like this.

If you have the chance - it's a must visit place.

Onward!