Every Blooming THing: Mid-April 2023

As we shiver around here today.  Last week, we had four days with sun and temps in the 80s and higher.  This morning, woke up to about an inch of snow on the ground, snow flurries in the morning and temps in the upper 30s.  Like they say, if you don't like the weather around Chicago right now, wait a little bit.

Grass is green and I was smiling Saturday when the lawn tractor started right away.  Trees are budding out.

The Bradford pear trees are blooming big time white.  I have three of them.  The crabapples are budding out.

Plenty of twigs and limbs still to be moved from the ice storm a short time ago (we lost electricity for 17 hours).

Right now the daffodils and hyacinths are blooming and I have a lot of them.

--RoadFlower

Gas Gouge Getting Out of Control: May the Fourth Be With You, Donovan's Reef, Gas Gouge Shock

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4

How about this, 38 degrees this morning.  Welcome spring!  Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV on "May the Fourth Be With You" for some reason.  Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and played trivia with Uncle Jeffie and, of course, enjoyed those half price (plus 25 cents) drinks from 4 to 6 pm.

On the way home, I was shocked at the price of gasoline at Rock Corner at the intersection of Illinois 173 and Wilmot Road.  I think I saw it listed at $4.70.  We've got to do something with these GRBs at Big Oil.

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THURSDAY, MAY 5

I set two new records today.  I drove to Bristol, Wisconsin,, and met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner (it's on US Highway 45).  Gas on the way was $4.60 ($4.59.9) at Rock Corner, so I had made a mistake yesterday when I thought it was $4.70 (a whole ten cents cheaper).  My excuse is that I was shocked.  Gas at the three stations in Wisconsin was $4.20.

On the way home, I bought gas for the Dodge Dakota for $4.20.  This set a record for the highest I'd ever paid for gas.  Thanks GRBs.  Later, I cut the grass for the first time this year and unfortunately ran out of gas, so had to go to the Mobil station in Spring Grove and paid $4.60 for it.  A new record for highest gas for me.

Two Records in One Day!  Lucky Ol' Me.  --RoadDog

Gas Gouge Really Hits Home: Gas in Illinois to $4.60 and $4.20 in Wisconsin

Yesterday, the gas gouge really hit home in a big way.  Driving from home in Spring Grove, Illinois, to meet friends from my teaching days at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin (just over the border), I saw that gas at the Rock Corner gas station at the corner of Illinois Highway 173 and Wilmot Road was the highest I've ever seen it, at $4.60 (well $4.59.9).

Sadly, I then passed three stations in Wisconsin, who had been at $4, but now were at $4.20.  That's the highest I've ever seen gas prices in that state.

On the way home, I filled up at one of the Wisconsin stations, of course, saving 40 cents a gallon.  But this was a new high price for gas for me that I have ever paid.

Later, I was cutting the grass when I ran out of gas in the tractor (we have an acre) and I had to go to the Mobil station in Spring Grove where that new record high gas price I had paid was broken when I had to pay $4.60.

These are not really the records I want to break, you know.

GRBs and Their Gas Gouge.  OUCH!!!

--RoadBroke

Around Here: Good Things About Eliminations, Flu Shot, Raking Pine Straw and Lawn Tractor Problems

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

Well, one good thing about the Sox being eliminated from the playoffs (and the Brewers were also eliminated last night), I no longer have to make a special effort to watch any of the playoff games anymore.  I will watch parts of them as I get a chance to, but not all the games.  Plus, had the Sox gone to the World Series and won, there is a considerable savings on souvenirs of the event.

I got my regular flu shot for the second straight year,  I didn't get them for many years as I taught school and was around so many kids that I had built up quite an immunity, but the last several years I had been really sick with the flu for a couple weeks at a shot, so, hey, I'll take the shot.

Put up some more Halloween lights.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15

I did a lot of pine straw raking (free mulch) around the east and west pine islands and picked up a whole lot of limbs and sticks in the arboretum area in preparation of cutting the grass.  Sadly, I couldn't get the lawn tractor started and will have to have it worked on again.  It is now 28years old and perhaps even a John Deere doesn't run forever.  This is the third problem this year so it may be time to get another one.

--RoadDog

Every Blooming THing: Mid October

This has been a strange fall so far.  It has not gotten very cold at all (That is, until now.  We had to turn the furnace on today.)  The  trees haven't really started to change much. My honey locusts, got gold, but he  lost their leaves quickly as usual.  Usually by now several of my crabapple trees lose their leaves by the end of August, but this year we had a drier spring, so they kept their leaves.

The birch trees are starting to turn yellow.  The burning bushes are just starting to turn their blazing red a little bit.

Unfortunately, the lawn tractor broke down for the third time this season nd is in a shop.  But, that isn't stopping the grass from growing.  Hope I get that back soon or it may be too late.

All Halloween decorations are up.

The asters are a deep purple and several hundred mums of varying hues are blooming as well as the reddish sedum heads.

--RoadGreen

Good Times Last Week: No Q But Stucky's, Donovan's Reef, Perennials, Gas Gouge, Nothin' Runs Like a Deer and Best Dog Ever

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31

We were going to meet Kevin and Kelly, Glenn and Barb at BB*Q in Spring Grove, but they weren't open and we fear are closed for good.  Fall-back plan was Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and their great half-price burger and $2 domestic cans special on Tuesdays.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

FP (Front Porch) which I do every day for breakfast and coffee.  The FP chipmunk has me trained so well as his or her food requirements.  I had to help the guy from Buck Brothers push the lawn tractor across the yard and up a small hill to get it on the trailer so he could take it back to Wauconda to have them find out why it stopped running last week.  I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.

As usual, met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin for trivia and drinks.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Drove to McHenry, Illinois, where gas had jumped to $3.46 for Labor Day and Hurricane Ida.  Big Oil needs to make their profit, you know.  Sad to see that Meijer is now requiring face masks, but at least they had three bricks of cassette recording tapes.  Bought three hostas and two red perennials at Meijer as well for $4 apiece.  Then  bought five small mum plants for $1.25 each and two $4 gladidora perennials at Home Depot.

Found out the lawn tractor would cost $380 to fix and was happy to hear it as I was figuring that I'd have to replace my 27-year-old John Deere and that would be over $3,000.  So, I was happy about that.

Later went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsbirg and had probably the best hot dog ever for $2 and a dollar extra forb tater tots.

Eatin' and Drinkin' Cheap in the Neighborhood.  --RoadDog

JSS: Classic Cinemas Reopens-- Lawn Tractor Comes Home (Hopefully)-- Dandelions Anyone

JSS:  Just Some Stuff

1.  CLASSIC CINEMAS REOPENS--  Well, some good news today.  I received an e-mail from my main movie theater chain, Classic Cinemas, that all locations are reopen today, Thursday, April 15.  With the exception f one restart back last summer that was short-lived, they've been closed since March 2020.

I most often go to the theater in Fox Lake, Illinois, but also the one in Woodstock.  Most years I see between 40 and 80 movies at the theater and sure do miss it.  

The last one I saw was "Birds of Prey" back on February 28, 2020.

2.  LAWN TRACTOR COMES HOME (Hopefully)--  Hopefully my John Deere tractor/mower comes back home on Friday.  It is at the John Deere place getting summerized.  That grass is REALLY, REALLY growing fast.  Sure can't get behind on the grass in the spring growing season.

3.  DANDELIONS ANYONE--  Of course, along with the grass greening up, certain yellow objects have begun making their appearance.  The annual dandelion attack is underway.  Oh well, think of it this way, it is flowers in the yard.  I don't mind the yellow part of their lives, but don't particularly like the dried, tall, parachute phase.

Spring Has Sprung and Theaters Are Opening.  --RoadLion

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  No matter what you do for them, it is not enough.  Indeed. all human efforts are barely adequate to compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.

Every Bloomin' THing: Early April 2021

Just like almost overnight, the green wave has hit the grass.  Boom, green.  Working in the flower beds, I have seen several small dandelions, of course.  I have been working on clearing out other people's leaves from my flowerbeds and I have a great supply of their extras.

I had the lawn tractor/mower picked up in the middle of March and it is not back yet.  I am hoping I get it back before that grass starts growing.

The jonquils, or do you call them daffodils are blooming and are the hyacinths.

Trees are budding out.  I noticed that our subdivision has a whole lot of redbud trees.  I planted one a couple years ago and am hoping it makes a go of it.  Two others that I've had in the past didn't make it.  I just don't have any luck with  them.

Rained off and on all day, but the last three days before that had temps in the upper 70s and plenty of sunshine so I got to have some breakfasts and coffee out on the front porch (FP) and a couple lunches on the deck (OD).  Eating outside means you know what is nearly here.

--RoadBud

QUESTIONABLE HEADLINES:  "Enraged Cow Injured Farmer With Ax"

JSS: John Deere Green Tractor in Driveway-- First Chipmunk-- First Day OD-- Goodbye "Hawaii Five-O"

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  JOHN DEERE GREEN IN DRIVEWAY--  Today, I got a sure sign of spring in that my 1994 lawn tractor was delivered by Buck Brothers in Wauconda.  All washed up, tuned up and ready to go.

2.  FIRST CHIPMUNK--  Yesterday, I saw my first chipmunk scampering across the deck.  Since they hibernate in the winter, does this mean spring?  However, they are going to be greatly disappointed as I am about out of safflower seed (their favorite) and don't intend to restock till all this stuff is over.  Sorry Chippers!

3.  FIRST DAY OD--  And, we had a mighty fine day today with sun and temps in the mid 60s.  So, I went out an sat OD (On Deck), read the Chicago Tribune, ate peanuts and had a coupla beers.  Now, that is a way to enjoy yourself anytime, but especially in these days.

4.  GOODBYE "HAWAII FIVE-O"--  Tonight is the series finale of one of my favorite shows.    Loved the cast, but not so much Dan-O's current haircut.  And that beautiful scenery.  Have some shrimp for me guys.

All this reminds you that there is another world.

Now, Once We get Rid of the "V" Ain't Things Gonna Be Better!  --RoadSpring

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  "For me to stop touching my face, I'm gonna need one of those dog cones."

Every Blooming THing-- Late April

Believe it or not, it seems that Spring has finally arrived after one of the coldest Aprils in Chicago area history.

The grass has greened up and it won't be long before it will have to be cut.  I finally was able to get the flat tire off the '85 Firebird and then get the battery jumped so now I will be able to get the lawn tractor out (it was blocked in by the Firebird).  I was so glad when it started.

Quite a few branches were blown down over the winter and of late, so will have to pick those up.

The daffodils are blooming as are the hyacinths.  I have some other small bulb flowers that I don't know the name that are also blooming.

Oh, yes.  I should also mention that the dear old dandelions are doing their yellow thing.  What would spring be without those little fellers?

Good to Have Spring Finally Arrive.  --RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  Old age is coming at a really bad time.  When i was a child I thought "Nap Time" was a punishment.  Now, as a grownup (and an old one at that), it feels like a small vacation.

McHenry County Annual Tractor Trek

I just got back from the bank here in Spring Grove after being delayed by lots and lots of old farm tractors going down Meyer Road toward Horse Fair Park, I imagine.  The police had traffic on US-12 stopped and it eventually became one huge line, probably a couple miles long.  It was the McHenry County Annual Tractor Trek.

I wasn't in it, fortunately, but couldn't proceed to a couple other places I wanted to go to, so just parked the '85 Firebird, got out and watched the procession.

How often do you get to see a whole lot of antique tractors go by.  Of course, McHenry County, Illinois, is known for its farms and agriculture, so this is of special importance.  Every year, there are a lot of tractors in the Spring Grove 4th of July parade as well.

Had I known about it earlier, I would have been there for the whole parade, as I figure I only caught the tail end of it.

One of Those Unexpected Pleasures.  --RoadDog