All Hallow's Eve 2013

Wet and rainy throughout most of the day. But, that didn't deter Arianna from joining her friend Peyton J. and his 5 years old brother from making the rounds. After Arianna and Peyton finished escorting John around their grandparent's neighborhood, the girls decided the drizzle and mist weren't sufficient reason to neglect Arianna's neighbors.

Overall it was a pretty dismal night. On the drive home, I noted very few children haunting the neighborhoods through which I drive. While eating supper, one group of children came to the door: Arianna and Peyton, along with two classmates, who also live in Sleepy Hollow.

Arianna at St. Catherine's

Peyton J. and Arianna

Although Arianna received enough candy for more than her share of tooth aches, I think she was more excited at having been given permission to wander through the neighborhood unescorted by her Dad.

Last Minute Preparations

In years past, Arianna began thinking about what she wanted to dress up as on Halloween almost as soon as the school year began.

Sharon has made some memorably costumes . . . 2009's princess costume and 2010's 'Autumn Fairy' come immediately to mind, as do some of the critters she went out as when she was still a wee one.

This year Arianna wasn't sure she was going trick or treating at all. So, at the last minute she decided on repeating 2008's 50's girl. Of course, last minute mending was required of . . . who else?

Open House

Today Sharon, Arianna, and I attended St. Ed's Open House. God willing this is where we'll send Arianna next year. We've all been a little at sea about the decision to commit to St. Ed's. The cost is a challenge. The Elgin neighborhood might be considered questionable (really . . . let's be reasonable). 

Today's event was structured and well planned. When we arrived we were greeted at the door by the principal, Mr. Thomas and the Fr. Finn, the Superintendent. Two sophomores guided three families around the school, where we were introduced to department heads, who were more than willing to field any number of questions. School administrators introduced themselves and inquired about Arianna's grade, where she went to school, and so forth. Very welcoming.

The tour ended in the cafeteria, where a number of students representing clubs were ready and willing to speak to us. Before we let our tour guides go we asked them a variety of questions. Did they like St. Ed's? (Of course.) Did they receive a lot of homework? (It depends.) Did they come to St. Ed's with a lot of other kids from their elementary school? (They happened to . . . 80% of their elementary class graduated to St. Ed's, whereas most of Arianna's girl friends are going elsewhere. But the guides assured us that St. Ed's was very friendly and that Arianna would easily make new friends.)

And, this was underscored when we looked at the club tables: German Club, School Newspaper, Student Council, Debate, Cheer. Each student underscored the value of joining a club as a freshman as being two-fold: the experience of the club and its mission, but also the opportunity to make new friends -- and in some cases friends with kids who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Before we were on our way, we tracked down the registrar and chatted about a couple concerns we had, met with a couple of the instructors, and found our way back to the chapel, where Fr. Finn was greeting people as they left.

On the way home Sharon and I asked Arianna if she felt like St. Ed's might be okay and she affirmed that any hesitation she had about it was diminished.

In the next couple of weeks she and her classmates will be testing for the area Catholic High Schools -- St. Ed's and Marian (in Woodstock). It's an exciting time and a bit daunting for each of us. I think we're all a little afraid at what the future holds, but after today's visit to St. Ed's I am confident that Arianna would not only succeed there but establish life-long friends with whom she'll journey to understand herself and her place in the world.   

Date night

Just as at ECC, Sharon recommends plays for her WCC students. And tonight she and I drove into Chicago to see Raisin in the Sun at Timeline Theatre. Friday commutes being Friday commutes, I worked from home and suggested that we leave Sleepy Hollow no later than 4 pm. Arianna and Bruno could order pizza and eat without us; we could get into town earlier enough for the show and grab a bite near the theater.

We did get out of the house shortly after 4, and it still took us 90 minutes. Then, after we had parked the car, while paying to leave in the lot, the machine failed to provide us a receipt -- proof that we weren't illegally parked. Suddenly I began to feel like Jack Lemmon in The Out-of-Towners. A telephone number was provided for mishaps such as this and we confirmed our credit card number, but throughout dinner I kidded that on the way to the theater, when we walked past the parking lot, we better be certain the car is still there.

No trouble with the car.

Or with getting a good seat at the theater. So early were we, we had to sit and wait until the house opened. 

The play was extraordinarily good. A 2:50 production (with a 10 minute intermission) the time went by without notice, so engaging was the story and the acting. The characterizations were very well done -- believable.

Although there was a small tribe of DePaul University students in the audience, none of Sharon's students showed up on Friday. 

Their loss. 

First Frost

Tuesday is work-from-home day. Since Sharon has to be down at WCC early, I drive Arianna to school.

While waiting for her, I couldn't resist snapping a couple photos.

I. Frosty crane's bill geraniums . . .

II. A couple leaves on a frosty lawn . . .

III. Frosty salvia . . .

On the way home from St. Catherine I espied the Blue Heron in Lake Sharon. I want a good picture of the heron and since I had the camera in my pocket I pulled off the road and opened the window.

I knew I was too far away to get a good photo.

So, I pulled back onto Hillcrest and and pulled into the driveway and hoofed it over to Lake Sharon. Remember, there's just our neighbor between us and the lake. So, I cut across M's front lawn and approached the lake. As I got into the trees at the lake's edge, the heron turned around. I snapped a shot. Still too far away.

A few more steps and . . . swoosh . . . had I anticipated the birds flight . . . now that would make an exciting picture . . . with those long legs and that wingspan . . . .

Better luck next time.

Turning . . .

Weather has begun to turn. Chilly days . . . cold nights . . . .

After yesterday's five hours of hauling wood chips to the north border, today's hour was a breeze. I'm stiff to be sure. But, with snow showers forecast for Tuesday, I needed to get the pile off the driveway.

To break the boredom of shoveling a load of wood chips into the wheelbarrow, pushing it up the yard to the bed, dumping it, and spreading it around, I harvested the Winter squash.

I can't comment on whether 16 squash is a good yield or not. It's an easy crop to plant -- not labor intensive. I'm happy with what the good Lord's provided.

Showed Sharon the mums in the backyard. When rounding the corner from the walk up the side yard they startled me. The photo doesn't do them justice.

 

Memorable daytrip

The weather cooperated. Everybody was feeling well and in a pleasant mood.

Sharon had planned for us to spend a day in Wisconsin in August. She'd planned for us to visit the Angel Museum in Beloit and then the Rotary Botanical Garden in Janesville (about 20 minutes north). Unfortunately, life got in the way. We never made it.

In recent years, Columbus Day has been a day off. So, I suggested we try again. We almost didn't go . . . . I'm glad we did.

We lunched in Beloit -- Nelie's Diner. And, we had the garden almost entirely to outselves. Granted October isn't the "high season" but there was still plant to see and a lot to enjoy. Sharon and I were impressed. Our expectations were surpassed. At 20 acres the Janesville garden is an easy stroll and today even Bruno was able to keep up.

Arianna was today's photographer. By and large. I took a couple pictures now and again, but she really enjoyed herself. So much so that the camera's (fresh) battery died on us. Luckily we were near the end of the day.

Little commentary below. And certainly not all the pictures Arianna took. But, a nice taste of a beautiful spot that's probably not too well known outside the Fox River Valley.

The garden is reclaimed land. It used to be a gravel pit. Sitting back and enjoying the view across the lake one would be hard pressed to guess the history of the landscape.

Nice contrast . . .

Alpine garden: juniper . . .

Shady view of the Japanese Garden's footbridge . . .

Traditional statuary in the Japanese garden . . .

Lone water lily . . .

Japanese forest grass . . .

Mushrooms under a tree peony . . .

Bubbles . . .

Pine needles blanket sculpted junipers . . .

Zen Garden . . .

Eggplant . . .

Ornamental kale . . .

A variety of Elm that has been trained to "climb" the arch . . .

There's one Elm on each side of the arch . . .

Water flows over the top and down the side of the vase . . .

Rose hips a plenty . . .