Somewhat Near Normal Last Saturday: Some of My Favorite Things

As another month hurries by.  And, I mean HURRIES BY!!  Why does time go so fast when you're having fun, and even here in the "V" fun.

People asked me in the past why I don't travel much during the summer.  Why travel when you've got a travel destination right here in the area.  I mean, Illinois' Chain of Lakes (or Chain 'o Lakes) is as much fun as you can have and we haven't had a boat since last year.  But there is always stiff going on with weekly concerts in many local towns, car shows, parades, holidays, bars and bands.

But, this year has been different with so many things canceled.

But, last Saturday, I came as close as you can to a return to the good old days. 

I went on my longest road trip since March 3, a whopping 20.4 miles to Algonquin, Illinois.  Usually by now, we would have been to Missouri on Route 66 at least once and out to the the Mississippi River at least once, but since we can't just have the fun we want because of you-know-what,  might as well just hang around here.

However, this past Saturday I got to do a whole bunch of my favorite things.  First, we had our first meeting of the MCCWRT discussion group outside at Panera Bread with facemasks on, then to my favorite store, Half-Price Books and then to one of my favorite fast-food places called White castle.

Last two stops were to check out plants at Meijer and Home Depot, something else I really enjoy.

That night, closer to home in Johnsburg, Illinois, we had fresh Stade corn on the cob and a band outside of Stucky's.

I Was Smilin'.  --RoadGrin

JSS: Plants In-- Bears/Packers-- Halloween-- Burning

JSS-  Just Some Stuff

1.  PLANTS IN--  With the crashing temperatures and freeze warnings Friday and this weekend, I brought in the plants outside that I overwinter in the sunroom.

2.  BEARS/PACKERS--  This past weekend was one of those crummy times when neither the DaBears nor Packers were on TV Sunday.  In the past it was because they usually both had byes.  Da Bears had a bye this week, but the Packers played Monday night.  That left us with no football to watch since we only watch these two teams on TV unless we happen to be in a bar and another game is on.

3.  HALLOWEEN--  I've been putting up Halloween decorations outside and inside, because you-know-what is about here.  Of course, everybody knew about it as Halloween Creep set in early in September.

4.  BURNING--  We can only burn leaves on weekends in October and November and what I'd like to know is why we get the worst weather those two days most every month.  Last weekend was a prime example with it being too wet and windy on Saturday and way too windy, overcast and cold on Sunday.

Like, Boo.  --RoadDog

Every Blooming THing, Early June 2019

The yard is ablaze with color right now.  The wild tall phlox are all blooming purple.  The irises are purple and yellow.  Hundreds of daisies are white.  The creeping phlox is lavender and dianthus are blooming as well as some other perennials that I don't know the name.  The ajuga is purple as well.

Sadly, my mountain ash succumbed to ash borers and fell over so I have been cutting it up.  My burning bushes are just starting to leaf out and I will have to really trim the boxwoods and azaleas back because of winter kill.  That polar vortex really did a number on my yard.

I am still working on limbs from the apple tree and Bradford pear.  It is hard to keep up with the grass.  Between all the rain and cool temperatures, it is grass nirvana.  The sunburst honeylocusts are all golden right now as well.

Always Something Blooming in the Yard.  --RoadDog

JSS: Late Christmas-- Sox Can't Get No Respect-- Snow Day Opening Day

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  LATE CHRISTMAS--  I overwinter two poinsettias and have a giant Christmas cactus.  The cactus only had five blooms at Christmas, but right now is covered in blooms.  The poinsettias had no red leaves at Christmas, but a whole lot right now.

2.  SOX CAN'T GET NO RESPECT--  I am getting tired of going into bars and finding the White Sox game isn't on TV.  But I request it to be on TV.  Of course, if the Cubs are playing you can bet THAT will be on TV.

3.  SNOW DAY OPENING DAY--  The Chicago Cubs play their first home game this afternoon.  And, we have a couple inches of snow on the ground and right now, at 11:26, it is still snowing.  At least it isn't sticking to the roads and driveways.

Come On, Chicago HAS Two Baseball Teams.  --RoadDog

JSS: End of Round Lake Carnival Jinx?-- Everybody Out-- McHenry Gridlock-- Chaos at Menard's Nursery-- Dandelion Plot

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  END OF ROUND LAKE CARNIVAL JINX?--  Today is drop-dead, down-right gorgeous after the warm yesterday but really heavy winds.  Is it possible that this means the end of that bad-old Round Lake Spring carnivals reign of horrible weather.  I hope so.

2.  EVERYBODY OUT--  With all that great weather, I think everybody who has a car in the McHenry, Illinois, area is out and driving around.  Parking lots were almost full.  Spring Fever has bitten, bitten mighty hard.

3. McHENRY GRIDLOCK--  Unfortunately, with all those folks out driving, downtown McHenry is undergoing a much-needed construction project and roads are torn up and down to two lanes all over, causing some major backups.

4.  CHAOS AT MENARD'S NURSERY--  I've seen Menard's in Fox Lake busy before, but not like today.  And, the inside wasn't too bad.  But just try to get near the nursery area.  The checkout lines were both open and backed up ten deep, made even farther by the carts and shopping carts.  Everyone's in the planting mood.

5.  DANDELION PLOT--  I don't know, but I've seen the multitude of dandelions in my yard seemingly bending over to whisper amongst themselves.  I thinking they're plotting overthrow.  Just to be safe, I'm getting my spade.  Hey guys, think SALAD!!!

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

Bringing the Plants In: Fun With the Dragon

It just made my night yesterday, to have to move in all my over-winter plants from the front porch and back deck because of a frost advisory. I had to do this after getting back from NIU homecoming yesterday (at 9 PM, after "The Walking Dead"). I wasn't much in the mood, but knew I would have to do the move, if not last night, then sometime this week as that lousy winter is approaching.

And, I have had most of those over-winter plants a long time. We've had Dragon Plant (as we call it) at least 28 years and the hibiscus plants are 18 years old.

Moving wasn't bad except for one of the hibiscus which is in a real heavy pot and, of course, dear old Dragon Plant (so-named because its leaves are pretty sharp at the ends and, it is a really big old plant now).

One stem stands about seven feet and it is probably five feet across on one section. That kept me quite busy maneuvering it to fit it in the door. I was wearing safety glasses so didn't get poked in the eye, thankfully.

Here, Nice Dragon. Here, Nice Dragon. --RoadDog

Every Blooming THing: Early July

This has to be considered prime time for the yard. The flowers are a-bloomin' big time. Right now, the clematis. potentillas, Missouri primrose, yellow loosestrife, and stella d'oro daylillies are blooming.

Also, the other daylillies and Asiatic daylillies are about to bloom (some already have). Mums that weren't cut back are blooming as is the lavendar.

In addition, I have wild daisies, and all three sizes of daisies (tall, medium and short) going to town. Marguerites as well.

In addition, I have a bunch of plants that I don't know the name of blooming. One is orange, others have purple and blue spikes.

A Pretty Tard Time of the Year.    --RoadDog

Cruising McHenry

Earlier today, I went to McHenry, hitting the various stores looking for flowers and perennials.  I figure that now that I will be here awhile, I can go ahead and start planting.

I bought dianthus, hostas, wave petunias, caladiums, an Asiatic lily, blanket flowers, sedum and two blue flower perennials (delphinums?) I can't remember the name of right now.

***  Don't parents with kids look before crossing streets by the stores any more?  I saw two different adults walk in front of me without ever looking.  That is very trusting of them, but mighty stupid.  One was even carrying a baby.  Thank goodness I was watching out for them.

***  Wandering around Meijer's, I found cassette tapes for sale!!!  I thought they had dropped them as have most every other store except Walgreen's.  And, their five-pack bricks are just $4.67 (Walgreen's charges $7.99).  Well, I just had to buy two packs.

***  Going through the Wal-Mart $5 CD bin (that's right, I still buy CDs), I found two Doors albums: The Soft Parade and Morrison Hotel and bought them.  The Soft Parade especially reminds me of Lincoln Hall at NIU back freshman year, 1969-70.

**   I was shocked at checkout at Meijer's in the nursery section when the clerk, a guy I'd guess to be in his mid-twenties, said he was glad to see someone still buying cassette tapes and that he prefers to record on them to downloading like all the young folk do (and a lot of old folk as well).  You might say that made my day as it gets mighty lonely being the only one I know of still using cassttes.

***  While looking at some plants at Meijer's, I felt something whoosh by my head and then a plop.  I looked down at the concrete floor to see a baby bird which must have fallen out of its nest about twenty feet above me.  It was barely breathing.  I told the cassette clerk about it and by the time I got back, that little bird had righted itself and was moving around.  It had just gotten some of its feathers so its life prognosis isn't very good, but I'm pulling for it.

A Day Out Shopping.  --RoadDog

Don't Eat These!!

From the March 21st List Universe.

Ten Common Plants You Didn't Know Were Toxic

For pictures and text, see Listverse.

10. Poinsettia
9. English Ivy
8. Easter Lily

7. Lockspur
6. aloe vera
5. azalea

4. dumb cane
3. oleander
2. foxglove

1. detura stramonium

Fortunately for me, I never had any intention of eating any of these.

Also, Don't Drink the Water. --RoadDog