"You're Soaking In It."

On Thursday, the Forest Preserve/Park District did a controlled burn in the field out back to kill off the dead weeds and reeds, etc. They try to do it before any birds start nesting so as not to disturb the wildlife. Here are a couple of pictures of the burn... Whoa!! It sure looks like it might be getting a little out of control but it didn't. The fires went out pretty quickly. So now we have burnt grass, weeds, etc. out back except for the mowed trails that we like to walk on, well we used to just walk on the non-burnt trails. But now that the grass has been charred, "let's not listen to Mom as she calls me back to the yard and just run ALL OVER the nice burned grass"!

Burned grass and white Aussie paws do not mix. So of course a mani and pedi is in order. Do you ever wonder how dogs know by the tone of your voice that something is up...

Here is a little video clip of the escape. Roadie is running back to me but Holly took off the other way.

Giving Back

For the past 6 months or so I have been volunteering on Saturday mornings for a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program and I love it! This program provides Therapeutic horseback riding for physically and mentally challenged children and adults. I get to the barn around 8:00 am to help groom and lunge the horses before the first riders arrive at 9:00. Then, I help out for the next hour as either a horse walker or side walker. It's really amazing to see how this program really helps the riders become physically stronger, mentally able to better communicate emotions or emotionally improving self-confidence and self-esteem.

I also love spending time with the horses - and I get to "get my horse fix"; smell the smells of the barn and horses, brushing and tacking.

Here are a couple of the horses in the program. This is Big Shrek - he's a 14 year old Percheron, pretty sweet,sometimes stubborn but great with the riders!


This is Little Cloud ("Mini Shrek"). He's 17 and has been with the program for 14 years - what a doll baby!


Here is KC - she's a little moody in the morning but that attitude disappears when they put on the vaulting saddle. She's used for the therapeutic vaulting sessions - very interesting to watch the kids - they are fearless!


I hope to snap some pictures this spring - if it ever gets here! Thank goodness the barn and arena are somewhat heated.

Happy Anniversary!

One year ago we drove to Ohio (near Cleveland) to pick up little Roadie. He has become such a wonderful member of our family. He's quite a little love bug and a little stinker, too!



Just kidding! Here is our handsome little guy...

Catching Up

Since I have a few days off of work, I thought I would catch up on posting. We went to San Diego at Thanksgiving and we brought the cold rainy weather with us. During a break in the rain, we went to Balboa Park and walked around a bit.

This is a beautiful building with a Lily Pond in front of it.

This is the Casa del Prado Theatre. We didn't get inside but I heard that it isn't as nice as the outside. Oh, well.



Close-up...it might not be that grand inside, but this ornate facade is pretty amazing.




Here is the Botanical Building - very nice with lot's of Orchids, Christmas Cactus and Poinsettias.








More posts to come about our trip. We really had a lot of fun there and hope to go back this summer.

Christmas Gift

I have enjoyed reading Country Living for years now and was introduced to
"The Farm Chicks" through the magazine. I saw their exhibit at the Country Living Fair a few years ago when it was held at the Chicago Botanical Garden and purchased their first book last year. So, one of the items on my list this year was to get The Farm Chicks Christmas book - which I got! I can't wait to start some of the great projects and recipes. I'll let you know how they turn out. What did you get for Christmas?

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

We hope that you all have had a lovely Christmas! It was a great Christmas here - we opened our presents and then went over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. Lovely dinner - polish sausage, ham, scalloped potatoes, pigs in a blanket (my fav!) and pumpkin pie.

Driving back through the city was a bit hairy, lake effect snow hampered driving but it was nice to catch up with my brother, who met us at my MIL's house. He and I drove back together.

Even Holly and Roadie had a nice Christmas, a few new stuffed animals to tear apart. Time to call it a night...Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Halloween To All!

Well, the kids are all dressed in their costumes and ready to hit the neighborhood.

Michael is a Chicago Blackhawk Hockey Player, Holly is a "Queen Bee" and Roadie is a King...not "The King" but that gives me an idea for next year.



Holly - Miss Queen Bee. She was a trooper and the costume stayed on the whole time!


King Roadie and Holly. I had to bring Roadie home because he wasn't behaving well - little Brat.


As we progressed, Michael shed most of his Costume and I ended up carrying his gloves, his roller blades and then his helmet. Next year, he's on his own! But it is a beautiful afternoon here - we've had worse Halloweens. It seems like it was always raining and cold when I was young. Then again, we got to go begging for candy on the actual Halloween day, not matter what day of the week and it was at night too.


I hope all of your little goblins have a safe and Happy Halloween!

It's all happening at the zoo

Just a few photos of our trip to the Brookfield Zoo. We especially enjoyed the butterfly house.

For about a week, these lovelies hung out back...aren't they beautiful?


There were 3 bucks and a doe. They were eating the leaves from the maple trees.


Michael named the two that were the bravest and came the closest to our back yard. This is Frank.


And this is Rudy, coming in to munch from the salad bar.

Be Still My Heart...

Rick Bayless Book Signing

Last night, I went with some friends Anita, Linda to our Village's Cultural and Civic center to see Award-winning chef-restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality - Rick Bayless - it was awesome!



The place was hoppin'. We went an hour early for a wine and cheese reception and dined on excellent hors'dourves - especially the Salmon Risotto. This reception was not catered by Rick Bayless, but everything they served was wonderful.

This is Chris (a friend who works with Anita), me, Anita and Linda enjoying the event!


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Chef Bayless talking about how he wanted to become a Chef after falling in love with the sights, sounds and flavor of Mexico. His family had restaurants in Oklahoma, where he grew up. He seems very down to earth and humble, relaxed, not like some of the other crazy chefs that you see on TV. There were a few glitches with the sound system but he couldn't have been nicer about it and improvised with a regular mic, the sound system problem did get fixed.



He talked about his Frontera Farmer Foundation which he established in 2003 to attract support for small Midwestern farms. Rick and Deann Bayless, along with the restaurants’ staff, created the Foundation out of their concern for struggling farmers and the importance of local produce to the vitality of Chicago’s culinary culture. It was very interesting to hear where he buys his produce locally.


We waited about an hour to have him sign our books and take a few photos with him, it was well worth it. Then we headed over to The Vine in Grayslake to have a few dessert martini's - I had the Mudslide Martini and it was delicious.





I now have my cookbook proudly displayed on top of my cookbook cabinet and cannot wait to whip up some authentic Mexican cuisine!

Jbien Provecho everyone!

Carnage out my backdoor

Well, in my earlier post about the critters we have seen this spring, I wrote about the coyotes who have made themselves heard and seen. This morning Roadie was making a ruckus, so I looked out to see if our neighbors were out in their backyard and I saw this critter chomping down on something.



I grabbed my little point and shoot and managed to get a couple of pictures of it after I had interrupted its breakfast.

There was a mama duck in the pond going crazy so I though that it might have eaten papa duck. Carlos & Anita came over and Carlos found 3 dead baby ducklings..sniff, sniff...mama duck is still flying around looking for them, it is quite sad to see. Anita and I had Carlos bury them so the coyote couldn't get them again.

I know that nature is not always pleasant and I am a huge animal lover but the coyotes are really worrying me. I think this one could easily take down Roadie, heaven forbid. Would it be horrible to get a b-b gun to scare it off if I ever see it again?

So Excited - Going to a book signing tonight...

for a famous Chef/Author. Stay tuned...

Spring Critters Out My Backdoor

Here is a little photo essay of the animals that we've seen this spring just out our backdoor.

One of the male mallards. He and his mate were in our backyard looking for a nesting place but with our two dogs, who love to chase birds, they decided to move in down the street.



"There arose such a clatter". On May 1st, I heard this loud clacking noise and saw these two Sandhills out on the park grounds. I sent Ron out with his new camera to get some shots. Aren't they cool?



More clattering, but this was from the Canada Geese - one late afternoon they were just honking and carrying on, it was quite annoying. I decided to see what was going on when I saw these two out back. This scrawny yearling...


and it's Mama. Love it!!!


We've also had a lot of coyotes out back but I can never take their picture because it's too dark. They have been very active and noisy this spring. Our next-door neighbor saw one jump our 4' fence from his yard to ours. Kind of scary actually so we have to watch Roadie and Holly when we let them out at night.