Happy New Year 2019!

Good things to come this year. I feel it.

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.