I insisted. Arianna was more than happy to oblige me. And so off we went to the park, where she showed me that she can 'do the monkey bars.' Whereas on July 4 she was only able to hold onto one rung, today she is able to traverse the entire 'ladder' -- a dozen or so rungs across.
She is very excited. And I am proud that she perservered.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Record Rain
The rain started Friday and by the time it stopped on Sunday, Chicagoland had set a record: nearly 7" of rain.
After Mass on Saturday, I walked around the house. Although water pooled in Bruno's vegetable garden and collected in the swales, the grading we'd hired Mr. Campobello to do in the Spring seems to have paid off.
The neighborhood is water logged. And, the number of street closing I encountered on this morning's commute was startling. It took me 2.5 hours to get to work this morning! The Des Plaines River is up and out of its banks. Milwaukee Avenue is closed here and there.
And this from only 7" of rain. Imagine the folks who contended with Hurricance Ike -- 22" of rain!
Since 2002 -- when we had water in the basement on Arianna's 2nd birthday -- we've endured a "500 year rain fall" every Summer. Every Summer.
Nothing we can do about the weather, though.
After Mass on Saturday, I walked around the house. Although water pooled in Bruno's vegetable garden and collected in the swales, the grading we'd hired Mr. Campobello to do in the Spring seems to have paid off.
The neighborhood is water logged. And, the number of street closing I encountered on this morning's commute was startling. It took me 2.5 hours to get to work this morning! The Des Plaines River is up and out of its banks. Milwaukee Avenue is closed here and there.
And this from only 7" of rain. Imagine the folks who contended with Hurricance Ike -- 22" of rain!
Since 2002 -- when we had water in the basement on Arianna's 2nd birthday -- we've endured a "500 year rain fall" every Summer. Every Summer.
Nothing we can do about the weather, though.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Upper Rockwall Completed
I finished the upper Rockwall bed yesterday afternoon. The ground was easy to work because of the rain this week, but each spadeful of sod and soil was also much heavier than, say, last week. This is the largest swathe of lawn I've turned using hand tools. I'm thankful I've still got sufficient strength to realize my ambition of "more beds, less lawn".
Now Sharon is coming down with a cold.
Now Sharon is coming down with a cold.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Sick (Already?)
Incomprehensible. Arianna has already cought a cold. Not in week a full week and she's sick. Perhaps the dramatic drop in the temperature combined with the rain caused this. And, of course, Bruno is complaining of being under the weather too.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sommer ist vorbei
Today Arianna started 3rd grade. As has been my habit, I took today off and escorted her to school. The first day of school is always emotional for me. Summer is over. Arianna is another year older.
Arianna was very enthusiastic about returning to St Catherine's. I told her I hoped that attitude would last for more than a week.
"Oh Daddy!"
This year will be a little bit different because nearly a half dozen of Arianna's classmates have left St. Catherine's. Most notably, Peyton J., Arianna's "best friend". Of course, from what I can gather, at this age children don't really cultivate relationships. So, maybe Arianna won't be as unhappy as she thought she'd be when she first heard the news about her friend's parents deciding to home school.
After we dropped Arianna off, Sharon asked me my plans for the rest of the morning. I'd not intended to "dig in the yard" but was easily convinced that I ought to take advantage of the fine weather. So, spent two hours in the upper Rockwall bed until it was time to clean up before picking up Arianna. What a deal . . . day one of the new school year is a half day!
As was expected Arianna was bubbling with excitement when we picked her up from school. She loves Mrs. Norman.
I pray she has a good year.
Arianna was very enthusiastic about returning to St Catherine's. I told her I hoped that attitude would last for more than a week.
"Oh Daddy!"
This year will be a little bit different because nearly a half dozen of Arianna's classmates have left St. Catherine's. Most notably, Peyton J., Arianna's "best friend". Of course, from what I can gather, at this age children don't really cultivate relationships. So, maybe Arianna won't be as unhappy as she thought she'd be when she first heard the news about her friend's parents deciding to home school.
After we dropped Arianna off, Sharon asked me my plans for the rest of the morning. I'd not intended to "dig in the yard" but was easily convinced that I ought to take advantage of the fine weather. So, spent two hours in the upper Rockwall bed until it was time to clean up before picking up Arianna. What a deal . . . day one of the new school year is a half day!
As was expected Arianna was bubbling with excitement when we picked her up from school. She loves Mrs. Norman.
I pray she has a good year.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor Day
A quiet, hot day. I recovered very nicely from "digging in the yard" and pounding the hot pavement at Brookfield zoo yesterday. Spent a couple hours this morning doing more fo the same: "digging in the yard." I'm driven to get this done so that I can begin installing plants in the space. I figure I've got a good 60 days until the season comes to a close.
Countryside advertised a sale in yesterday's Tribune, so I drove up to Crystal Lake to see if I could find any bargains. I was very focused and did not let my eye wander. The Karl Foerster was much too expensive. So, I bought nothing. Next weekend the Barn Nursery is having its end-of-season customer appreciation sale. Shortly thereafter The Natural Garden is having its end-of-season sale. Perhaps I'll be able to snag a deal. If not, I'll take advantage of the offer from Bluestone Perrenials. The plants will be smaller than if I bought them from a local nursery, but the price is right.
Countryside advertised a sale in yesterday's Tribune, so I drove up to Crystal Lake to see if I could find any bargains. I was very focused and did not let my eye wander. The Karl Foerster was much too expensive. So, I bought nothing. Next weekend the Barn Nursery is having its end-of-season customer appreciation sale. Shortly thereafter The Natural Garden is having its end-of-season sale. Perhaps I'll be able to snag a deal. If not, I'll take advantage of the offer from Bluestone Perrenials. The plants will be smaller than if I bought them from a local nursery, but the price is right.