Donkey Nannies

Shout out to Content in a Cottage. I saw this and just had to add it to my site.

As the story goes, the Italian Sheppard has help from the Nannie Donkeys. The baby lambs are just too young to make the long trip so they use the saddle to carry them. The Momma's follow. Ingenious!

Thanks to the blog - I love this photo.

Oak

Oak

I am always amazed at the leaves as they change. After I post the picture, I think it's really not that perfect but while walking by, it makes me stop and gaze.

Community Garden

Brand New Fence 2009

9 years Later

There you have it. The trellis was the last thing to remove and it came apart with one push. I dragged it to the dumpster and the garden is done. A little sad but again, a new chapter in my garden/farm life is about to begin.

Community Garden Coming to an End

I've completely pulled up the fence and I'm about to pull out the trellis if it would only stop raining today.

The garden will be put to bed as all my contacts at the home have moved elsewhere. The home was sold and I really am kind of glad to be moving on. While I absolutely loved the garden, the residents and the people who worked at the Nursing Home, it's time to move on and take my energy and get that farm! I learned a lot gardening and tested my knowledge on many levels. I grew grain, and even tested cover crops. I'm am now ready to tackle the next chapter.

So - these past weekends, I worked for a few hours pulling everything up. I'm talking, plastic in the path, bricks outlining the path, the fence AND each of the green poles that held it up. Let me tell you about the green poles. They were in the ground about 12 inches and they had a tee bar. I had to dig each one up and yank it up. 3 of the 12 came up in one swoop - the others. Lets just say I was cussing a bit. Roots had wrapped around some of them so it took a bit of brute force. Luckily no one was watching me.

Stay tuned!  I can't wait to see this plot next spring. I am curious to see if it resorted back to an empty field. It should. I am removing everything.

Yellow Maple

Fall is here! On my walk Sunday morning, I came across the most beautiful Maple that was standing alone in a lot. Not a lot of fields or prairie here in the suburbs but standing underneath, I felt one with nature and was able to block out the noise. It's become over congested here and I find it harder and harder to find a quiet space.

Farm dream still consumes my everyday thoughts. Stay tuned for the "Farm Campaign" coming soon.

McCormick

I had a work trip this week. Pack Expo in Chicago at McCormick. We stayed in a Loft instead of a hotel for this event. While I do live a train ride away, commuting in takes too much time and it's nice to be only a few minutes away.

The Loft was on the 1500 South State block. I have to say, the South Loop in Chicago is so much different then when I lived in Chicago in the late 80's early 90's. It's beautiful now. Lot's of parks, grocery stores, day care, dog parks, condos, lofts, and it's all clean. Back in the day, it was not pretty. anyway...

Shout out to the incredible workers at the McCormick. It takes a massive team of employees to get the show on the road. It's amazing. I believe at least 100,000 packaging people visit in the 4 days so you need a lot of people.

Each morning, the beautiful women of McCormick set up the 100's of pots of coffee urns. This is provided by one of the packaging sponsors and it's free. Then, my favorite are the ladies that work in the cafe that provides breakfast and lunch. It's a structure that attendees need to follow. There is a roped off area and if you are not in the correct order, you will get a yell and that makes it all worth it. I know, you probably think I'm nuts but there is nothing better than a cashier letting out her frustrations on some men in suits because they can't follow orders. I think the cashier's get a kick out it. I know I do.   

The place also has a few security guards that I meet each morning with a hug. Then we hunker down in our booth and welcome packaging people and answer their questions. Sunday to Wednesday. I didn't mind it this time. I do have some members I like to see each year.

Thanks for stopping by.

Alexandria

Walla Walla Drying

Pretty Weed

I had a work trip this past week and the Hotel put me up in the "Martha Washington" Suite. It was nice. Old fashioned but nice.

Pics from around the place.

Garlic

Garlic - Hardneck vs Softneck

I've grown garlic for years and I only grew softneck until this year. Hardneck is my new favorite.The little stem is a perfect built in tool to break the cloves apart.

Fabulous!

Morning Pics

Shop at Farmers Markets

Wild Morning Glory

Grass after a Rain

Patched Hole in a Fence

Lettuce gone to Bloom

Morning is my favorite time - just some pictures for your enjoyment.

Co-Worker

Barb and Barbara

At the office this week, we had a luncheon. Barbara and I have worked together since 2006 and she's leaving the company at the end of the month. She is the first person I stop and see each morning. It's going to be hard not seeing her pretty face every day.

Happy Retirement Barbara - gonna miss you.

Straw Flowers

My new favorite flower! They are so pretty and last a long time.

Datura

Datura -unbelievably beautiful.

Today's Bobby's 57th Birthday. I can now say "My old man". he he

Spring Walk

I took a walk around the neighborhood the other day and all of the trees and shrubs were in bloom. Spring is beautiful in the Midwest. It takes your breath away that after a long cold spell, this can pop out. Never ceases to amaze me. Each year.

CostCo Oakbrook Two

Back at CostCo in Oakbrook Illinois.

Again with the oh so rude - this time to the staff or just to the store in general.

I was at the back, looking through the coolers for premade sandwiches. They are really good by the way and you can feed a group of people. Once in a while they have roast beef, chicken and ham on croissants. Sauce on the side and they are big hit.

So, I'm ready to pick up a pack of 10 sandwiches when a women to the left of me is picking up the pre-made chicken salad in plastic containers. She picks one up, looks at it then throws it back into the cooler. I'm talking a slam dunk into the back of the cooler. She does this three times then walks away with a disgruntled look on her face. Because she threw them, the lids popped open and the chicken salad spilt out all over the other containers. Why would a person do that? What was the reason for her anger. Was it the Chicken in the salad? Was she looking for more chicken/less? Was she looking at the dates on the package? If I wouldn't of been in a hurry, I would of tracked her down and asked. Crazy.

The grocery carts are about as large as three regular sized carts. And really heavy too. Empty, the thing has got to weigh over 100 pounds. (I really don't know how much it weighs but its a brute) I am 5 foot 1 and peek over the top as I push the thing through the stores. It's a workout because my arms are up higher than usual.

I keep as close as I can to the sides of the isles where the merchandise is located. In the middle of the isles it's CRAZY. I'm talking, 25 Mario Andretti's are in CostCo and racing through. (Mario was a race car driver - Indy 500 I think back in the day)

So, I get through the entrance door with my big ass cart and move to the side of the isle to get out my list. I'm well out of the way of the racers. They have their mission. I know to keep out of their way. First one to the back of the store wins. Not sure what the prize is but they do race.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see an extremely tall women on the phone. She's ranting and raving about something to some poor person on the other end. Her arms are swinging and she's clearly agitated. Not sure what the conversation was about and with all the arm swinging and her red face, I didn't want to know.

While I am standing far away from the isle, I see her moving. She's heading directly towards me. The whole time she's pushing her cart, she's talking on the phone and then Bam! She pushes her cart right smack into mine. And I'm talking crash car derby style. In her mind, I wasn't there. She was so preoccupied that I was insignificant. Lucky I expected it and stepped back a bit or the handle would of hurt my hands.

I said to her - HEY! YOU JUST HIT ME!

 She looked at me and said "I'm on the Phone". I said  "What is wrong with you?" and walked away. Again, I walked away. All the while, I was thinking, what is wrong with these people?

Ok - more to come but this one was fresh on my mind.

Am I asking for this weird behavior from these ecostically challenged humans? Am I to blame or just too sensitive?

CostCo Oakbrook

I shop at the CostCo in Oak Brook for our office. We hold meetings that require snacks and stuff to drink so it's economical to go to the store and get everything in bulk. Cool concept and I like the store.

Anyway, the Clients that come to this store to shop are Unbelievable! They are the rudest, egotistically challenged, self entitled, aggressive, and just the about the cruelest shoppers you could run into during a shopping experience. I am not exaggerating.

This is in no way against this store and the wonderful employees they have. My heart aches for them and the abuse they endure everyday.

I'm going to timeline the events starting with today.  I'll need to check the receipts for the other dates.

March 22

I had to stop at the service desk for a copy of a receipt. It was early - 10:20am and not too busy. There was an elderly gentleman hopping around behind me. Moving and darting around while searching for an extra worker to wait on him.  He kept zooming in over my shoulder, not touching me but zipping over the right then the left. I could feel the air move. So I stepped back. Just to show him he was edging close to my space. He didn't care. I could feel his air closer.

When I finished my transaction, he jumped to the counter. Rushing in to make sure he was next. No one was behind him. I'm not a slow mover but he was pushy and arrogant. So - I said " Hey. Could you not push me?." And he said, "Are you starting something?" I said "Jesus". and left. Now. I've been coming up with beautiful come back lines all day. Like. "Hit Me". and "Dude, Really?" but what I really should of done is get the phone out and film him. Then put this angry eyed, RUDE old man on YouTube. Next time dude - next time.

Week before - I'll fill in the dates later - this is a good one. 

I'm gonna call it. "Rolls Royce and the one legged women"

The parking lot is absolutely nuts and you need to watch over your shoulder and ahead while walking at the same time. Apparently there isn't a speeding limit to park. They come in and race to find a spot up front.  Every day it's a zoo in the lot. Our offices look out over the parking lot and we can watch from up above.

So, I was walking back to my car and this man and women, I'm assuming Husband and Wife had just left and were in one of the ultimate spots. Right up front. Prime Real-estate in CostCo.  He was loading his car with the purchases while she was walking to the car. She was on two crutches wearing a skirt and had only one leg peaking out of her skirt. Poor thing. I wonder what happened? Anyway - a car. White Rolls Royce, grey pony tail wearing, elder person was waiting for the prime spot. The engine was revving and the car was moving forward. Almost rocking and revving. Loaded v8 engine in that big car. Dirty white. That's what the color was. It was like, trying to push the one legged women on two crutches to move faster. Impatient, Unbelievable RUDE, egotistically challenged person. There was only one leg peeking out of her skirt. How fast could she go? Good Lord.

Ok - here are two. I have a lot more. I just knew I needed to get this started. The world needs to know about CostCo Customers in Oakbrook.

Red Pepper Wreath

Mix Pepper Wreath

Gold Cayenne

Racoon Tracks

Italian Quick Bread

Winter Rye Ground Cover

Coyote

I had so many peppers this year. It was a bountiful year. But - you are left with "What to Do?"

I went on line and looked for how to make wreaths. The best idea was taking bobby pins and a straw wreath and pushing them through the pepper. The Pepper needed to be soft because if it was already dry, it would crumble.

The second batch was the golden cayenne. OMG - they were so hot that each time I poked the wire through, I would start coughing. They are currently in a paper bag and I need to wait until it's nice outside.

The Bread was so perfect and the recipe was found on the "Bread Flour" bag. Who knew? YUM.

The Coyote - found him dead in a creek - poor thing. He's been around here for years. :(

I've been traveling and working too much these past days so my apologies on the delay in my posts.