Back to class

Another year of CCD has already started.

Tonight was our second meeting.

This year the students are shorter, quieter -- although not entirely without moments of outbursts.



These photos would never have been possible with last year's class. Working quietly at their desks?

Arianna the Chemist

Arianna can be curious to observe.

Last year she "secretly" made Mommy a gift of soap by combining drips and drabs of this and that soap product together in a single bottle.

Yesterday afternoon I discovered her at it again. Although this year she's not being secretive about it.



Note the food coloring . . . she's trying to get just the right shade of green.

More Progress . . .

Lifting day lilies is one of the least enjoyable gardening tasks I can think of. We inherited a mass of these flowers. And, over the years I've never been happy with where they resided. I think this is in part because they spread so dramatically. --What look fine one year, three years later looks over whelming. Still, I haven't the heart to throw them away.

Yesterday I finished removing the sod. Also, I put in a line at the street. Next week I'll remove the rest of the flowers at the mail box.

Arianna the Spy

A few shots of me working outside by Arianna.







When she approached me, Arianna had her hands behind her back. I asked her what she was up to and she took another picture.

Day of quiet . . . here and there

Grey, cool day. After Mass I remembered to harvest some broccoli for breakfast and cooked for Sharon. Arianna? Grandpa? Wouldn't have anything to do with it.



After the morning dishes I took the cameras outside (digital and film). A bit or broccoli that's in flower. No wonder. Arianna and Grandpa won't have anything to do with it.



Despite the weather, the New England Asters attract bees of several varieties.



They pay me no mind. And, are more sedentary than butterflies. Or so it seems.



Asters and Goldenrod aren't the only flowers still in bloom, but they are the most abundant this time of year.



Cones are spent. Even the Goldfinches seem disinterested.



Later in the day, we all went downtown to the Heritage Days Festival. For the most part we walked along the Fox River, which was dedicated to crafts.

A few folks were out fishing today. On the shore, but also on the river.



Arianna was keen to spend her allowance. She lingered at a booth filled with hand made glass pinky rings, but ultimately settled on a hand knit hat. She and Mommy probably spend 20 minutes deciding on which hat to buy. Arianna has become (too) discerning when it comes to clothes.



After a stop at the Grafelman Park, where antiques could be had, we ended up at China Palace for a bite to eat.

Progress . . .

After 2 1/2 hours . . .



When I came in the house for lunch, Bruno said he watched from the window with his hand on the telephone . . . just in case I fell over.

Here I go again . . .

The "mailbox" bed . . .

Scavengers!

I took these photos on August 25. I'd been hoping for better shots. But, since the weather has turned cool, I'm not certain I'll get another chance.

Another benefit of planting native is the extraordinary give and take that you can witness between the animals.

I'd read that in September the goldfinches go for cone flower seed. And here they are!

So even though the blooms are spent, there's still a lot to enjoy in the garden.

Chasing Butterflies

Autumn blooms

Although many of the flowers have lost their bloom, a few keep at it.

As I took my garden walk, a neighbor observed me from a chink in the retaining wall. . . .




One oddity this Summer. . .



Here, where I planted heirloom tomatoes last year, two plants sprang up as the result of self sown seeds. They appeared after Independence Day. So, the fruit is small.


Similarly, the bachelor buttons . . . I sowed the seeds at the front of the rock garden in May. Although their companions -- pot marigolds and zinnias -- took off, these fellows showed no sign of ever germinating. Then, in July,, they appeared.



Not as many as I expected. However, experience shows that even one plant that'll self seed in Autumn can become a dynamic force in the garden.

The pot marigolds are a case in point. The seed originally came from Uncle Lester, while he was still living in Northbrook. I sowed a handful in a poor location and all but three reappeared. Now they're in a variety of places.


Last year I was astonished to find New England asters in the Rock Wall bed.



How did they get there? The bed was a very deliberate planting. Asters were not included.

The most plausible theory: wind born seedlings. This was the case for the establishment of a mass of black eyed susan at the south west corner of the house this year and last year. And, as been the cause for my plucking mallow seedlings out of the front Cottage Garden bed for the past four or five years.



I suppose "native" is dull on balance. But, for me, a good deal of the fun is witnessing the process. From an established design, the beds take on a life of their own. Sometimes it "works", sometimes it doesn't. Regardless of the outcome, I'm always engaged.

Day of Welcoming

We collected Sharon from O'Hare around 8:30 this morning. We? Well, Arianna begged off to stay at home and greet Mommy in her own way.


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After Sharon napped, I planted a couple shrubs (Aronia prunifolia 'Viking' and european variegated dogwood), Arianna and I biked a couple miles, Sharon and I took Arianna to Walton Island. Izaak Walton Island -- named for the 16th century English author of The Compleat Angler -- was a destination on Arianna's list of Summer activities.

To be clear, Walton Island is only an island in the strictest sense. A mud pile in the middle of the Fox River at Elgin, community boosters built it up, fortified it, and built a bridge to the eastern shore of the river. As well, they planted it with native flowers and ornamental grasses.

As it's name might suggest, Walton Island is a fisherman's haven. Throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall it's common to see folks at its edge.



I. Fisherman who a caught a sheep's head




II. Arianna and Sharon at water's edge




III. A view of Izaak Walton Island




I. Arianna and Sharon, Labor Day, 2010




IV. Carl, boring a man stiff

Dance Lessons

Last month, Sharon urged Arianna to "do something" this school year. I had hoped she'd want to follow-up on her efforts learning to play recorder and join the St. Catherine band. But, Arianna was adamant: "No way!"

Arianna entertained volley ball. A peculiar choice, given that she's not the least bit athletic. After a couple weeks of talking about joining the volleyball team Arianna admitted to Sharon that she was only considering it because Sharon wanted her to get involved in something extracurricular.

Learning this, we nixed volley ball.

Arianna proposed an alternative: tap dance lessons.

We've gone down this road before. A few years ago Arianna wanted ballet lessons.

Well, Friday evening Arianna had her first lesson. The hour long class is small. She seemed to enjoy it.

Time'll tell.




I. Just a hint of a smile in the mirror.




II. A view of class




III. Arianna hoofin' it

Out of town

This morning I drove Sharon to O'Hare, where she caught a flight to New York City. She's away from home this weekend, attending an Epoch Times conference. Sharon has volunteered as the Arts editor for ET for more years than I care to recall. She spends a lot of time on her product and presumably this meeting will enable her to continue to succeed in her role.



I. Arianna misses Mommy already




II. "Good bye and good luck"




III. "So long . . . see ya Monday!"

Question: Why is Arianna not at school? Because minutes before she was to be driven over to St. Catherine's her teacher telephoned to say that due to there being no water available to students, school would be closed for the day.

We wonder what became of the kids who had already boarded the school bus.

Art Club

What a difference a day makes!

Today Arianna was excited at having the opportunity to join the "art club" -- a once a month (!), after school gathering of similarly interested boys and girls, who want Mrs. O. to coach them in their drawing and painting.

As well, because the temperature was not as high today and because Arianna got enough sleep last night, home work was a breeze.

Up and down, all around, life's a roller-coaster.