Despite best efforts

Despite diligent tulle-wrapping of my ginkgo and my redbud, a few little buggers sneaked in. Do you see this guy peering at me over the leaf? Something chewed through the netting on this tree, but I don't think it was the cicada- everything I've read says they don't chew. Hm. A mystery.
Henry found some sweet little yellow flowers in our lawn today, but he kept telling me not to photograph him. "No! Those are MY flowers!"
Here's one of my birthday gifts from Pete. It was so nice to be able to listen to music outside today. I love my ipod, but I rarely want to listen to it with headphones.
Here's the planting Henry and I did this morning. I spent quite a bit of time weeding this area this morning. I don't remember having such a time with weeds last year. I think I'm just going to have to give in and embrace the usefulness of wood chips...though I hate how they look when they get old and icky. I may also have to embrace my true nature and realize that things in my life just weren't meant to be neat and tidy. It was nice to get the dahlias and the dusty miller in the ground. Now I just need to plant the moss roses and alyssum. It's too hot now though (already at 10:44 AM!) so Henry and I are taking a Sesame Street break.
You can just barely see the NeverKink hose in the upper corner there, not kinking!

First Sighting!

I guess I can't put off covering that gingko any longer! This is actually not the first one I saw. The first one flew away when I went to get the camera. It had red eyes. So far I've seen about a half dozen shells and just a couple 'emerged' cicadas. Very exciting!

A pretty nice birthday

It was predicted that the cicadas might come out just in time for my birthday. It's the big year for this brood. They only come out every 17 years, and when they come they come in force. I've never experienced it before (having come from west of the Mississippi), but I've heard stories of people needing to sweep their sidewalks and not being able to sleep from the noise. I'm very excited! The one thing I still need to do is cover a few of my baby trees. They look for "pencil sized" limbs to slit open with their ovipositors and leave eggs behind. I planned to make my birthday cicada day at school. I wore a new cicada t-shirt. We watched a short video, read some cicada books and made cicada origami. I also played for them the sounds of the three different types that will emerge. Here are the cicada cupcakes I made:
Those are actually gummy spiders. It was the closest I could get to making it look like cicada nymphs coming out of the soil.
Here are some origami cicadas:
Here's what I found on my desk when I went in to school this morning. We have birthday buddies at school, so we don't have to take treats on our own birthday. My buddy left a bajillion mini candybars and banners across my desk and the white board at the front of the room. He also brought a cake for the lounge. I may have had two pieces of cake. I pretty much abstained from the candy, though....so far.
After school Mary stopped by for a bit (she's feeling much better, thanks to all who inquired) and brought a Crate and Barrel gift! Bamboo plates for barbecues and Ravinia! Then Pete, Henry and I went out for dinner at Oliverii's. Henry loves to watch the trains there.
At home I got this great NeverKink hose among other assorted nifty gifts.
Henry helped decorate my cake. Please pay extra close attention to the candle placement, especially the two yellow ones on the left.
Pete was brave enough to light almost all of them.
And they almost burned the house down....
Thanks, everyone, for the extra special birthday!!!

New Furniture

For months Pete has been scouring Craigslist and sending me photos of bedroom furniture, most of which I rejected upon first glance. We went to see one set, but turned it down after opening the drawers and seeing the cheap quality. Recently there have been a few we've both liked the looks of, which we were all set to see, but then the sellers sold before we were able to get there. Finally we found this set and called right away. They were right in Northbrook, which was perfect. We ended up really liking the couple who was selling it- but they're moving to Ireland. It took Pete and his dad 3 trips to bring it over yesterday. A bed, two night tables and a dresser with a mirror! We had to rearrange the room a bit to make room for the bedside tables. I'm not a fan of blocking a window, but it works out okay.


Henry was so excited to come sleep in the new bed that he was in our room by 3:30 this morning. Now we just have to paint these ugly beige walls. I love cream, but I can't tolerate beige! I found a color I was quite fond of, I think it's called river rock...? Maybe that will be a summer project. That, the bathrooms, and finally painting over Prince Kyle's room.

Lovely weekend...and there's still a whole day left!

Happy Graduation Day to Sandy!

Pete had the day off work yesterday, so we were able to spend a whole perfect day together! The weather was lovely. We went to Evanston for Wiggleworms and a haircut, some walking about in the nice weather...and after being home for lunch and a nap we went back so we could have dinner at Dave's. Man we miss being close to that place. Here's Henry enjoying some pre-dinner bread. And me with my new haircut and sauce-drenched ravioli.
I took advantage of the nice weather today to plant my impatiens. I tucked them in amongst the hostas near our front door. This spot has always looked messy and unfinished.
I put a few more in front of our weird little fence and ugly rose bush. I also potted the begonias in a big painted pot that a kindergarten class gave me about 5 years ago.
It made the front of the house look a little nicer, but we do still need to rip out the horrid yew bushes. Pete started in on one today and broke his bow saw. They will be quite a challenge and we're secretly hoping for some help from some of the male members of my family.
Tomorrow: photos of our new bedroom furniture!

Henry's Socks

My Funny Columbine

Some great things are popping up in my messy garden. Here's a flourishing Columbine that mom brought me last year. I wasn't sure whether it would survive, but it has come out with beautiful purple blooms this year.
I plan to add a couple new Columbines to the same area. Yesterday Peter and Mary picked Henry and I up early in the morning and took us to the high school's plant sale. I filled up two boxes with bunches of exciting things all for just $29! I'm not sure you can see them in this photo, but I found a very pretty red and a lavender and white Columbine. There are also dusty miller, impatiens, begonias, dahlias, sweet allysum and some moss roses. They'll go into the ground by the end of the weekend.
Here's a shot of my messy vegetable garden spot. You can see the peas coming up on the right. Will and Sandy are probably right that I'll need something more substantial-or higher- to support the peas. The carrots are popping up on the left. I'll need to thin them, but I'm a little afraid of how much to do.
This is my ginkgo, planted last year from the IC Project Green sale. It's leafing out quite well!
And here's my new frog prince. He was sort of a self-purchased mother's day gift. I bought him a while ago but told Pete to wrap him up and give him to me for mother's day. Not sure where his final home in the garden will be. I love his crown! We do have a little toad friend that lives in the yard too...maybe they'll be pals.

Hello?

Is anyone else having problems loading pictures?

Windy Saturday

We didn't want to go to the grocery on mother's day, so Pete's out picking up Chinese. Can't wait! Henry is napping because due to being way off schedule yesterday and Saturday he wouldn't go down for much of a nap earlier today. So here are my few precious moments to bloggity blog blog.
On Saturday we bundled up and headed downtown to the beach. The plan is to try to get together with this group of friends for a monthly beach day. We didn't want to wimp out on the first outing- even though the temperatures weren't supposed to get much out of the 50's. Heck- it was a sunny day!
Once we got down to that lakefront though, and away from the protection of the buildings- the wind hit us hard. "Hold onto your hat, Henry!" was a comment frequently heard.

I sat huddled in my windbreaker with my hood up, getting up just once for a game of bocce. Not that I wasn't social- but it was a challenge to carry on a conversation. This video isn't the greatest, but if you turn up the volume you'll really get an idea of how windy it was. And do take note of Bolo the Boston Terrier. He's all of about 7 months old.



One couple brought their stunt kite out, which made for some pretty exciting times, but then one of their poles broke- maybe from dive-bombing straight into the sand? I'm sorry I don't have video of that though. The speed of the kite, combined with the wind created a really cool humming sound, but the person whose job it was to toss the kite in the air really had to watch out and run in serpentine patterns to make sure they didn't get pegged.
Here's hoping the weather is nicer when our June outing rolls around!

Happy Mama's Day!

We've had a very nice day! I got to sleep in a bit while Henry and Pete went to the bakery. Henry came back with chocolate on his face "I ate some of my donut in the car"! He also brought me a Snoopy card and told me all about the flowers that were waiting for me in the kitchen. I spent a nice morning snacking on donuts and reading the paper in bed.
Later we went to Deerfield for some burgers and salad made by Pete, Peter Sr. and Liz. When we came home Henry had a much overdue nap....Pete and I may have conked out too. It was actually sort of a championship level naptime.
When we awoke it was time for ice cream. I don't know how I've lived in this area for 7-8+ years and have never been to Homer's! Henry wanted "M&M ice cream!" but the closest we could get was chocolate chip.
I had a mother's day hot fudge sundae! Check out the olde tyme look of this place. It's been there since 1935! Story goes that Al Capone used to hang out there.
Henry was fascinated by the gumball machines.
I was fascinated by this lady behind him. She clearly had a wig on, with a sparkly headband, glitter butterfly clip and two pairs of glasses. She appeared to be there with her son, who was probably 50 or 60 himself. I wish I had a better shot! She was a classy dame. I can only hope that some day, when I'm as old, Henry still wants to take me out for ice cream on mother's day.
Happy Mother's Day to all Classy Moms out there!

Socks, fabulous socks!

As an early birthday present from Joyce I got these awesome hand knit socks! I love them! I keep meaning to post about them, along with some photos of the socks she made Henry, but I've been a bit of a slacker, so this is all you get for now. I think the name of the pattern is BFF, right Joyce? Which I also love (the pattern and the name). If you look closely you'll see the cabling. They feel very very good on my feet and I love the colors. I have to be judicious about wearing them, though, because I think they're hand-wash and dryer free. Franklin likes them too.
Thanks Joyce! If it's chilly on my birthday I'll definitely wear them then.

Warming up...

The weather has been a little iffy. For example, Sunday was pretty warm, but very windy. We went to the park for a picnic anyway. Henry has a love of picnics because Sharon takes him to meet the girls for lunch and they eat out on the school lawn. Last time he came to school a few of my students spotted him and tried to get Henry involved in a game of tag.
The park we went to has a great play area that looks like a big castle. It has all sorts of fun little spots, like these crocodile benches...
...and this little jail.
And here, as promised, is Henry playing tee-ball. Check out his madd skillz.

Did I mention...

...that when we were at the Children's Museum Henry decided to name his baby doll SpongeBob? He doesn't even watch SpongeBob. We have a SpongeBob foamy soap dispenser....I guess that's where he's picked it up. Anyway. He was very good with diapering and feeding little baby SpongeBob.

Busy times at the Children's museum

Henry was very indulgent at the Children's museum this morning. He let me visit all of my favorite spots and let me take lots of photos too!
We seem to discover something new in the Japan exhibit each time we're there. I hadn't seen this drum before. Henry found it like a heat-seeking missle.
He loves the Henry-sized sinks.
The pet vet is one of my favorites. We took Franklin to the vet last week and when Henry woke up this morning he said he wanted to go to the "Pet Doctor Shop". Here he is using the stethoscope on a kitty's hind leg.
We've been watching the chicks hatch and grow. They seem to mysteriously disappear after they get much larger than this. Henry is very gentle around the chicks. I wish he were so gentle with Franklin.
Henry also wanted to visit the "Baby Shop" this morning. He's very careful about putting the diapers on the babies and feeding and rocking them. I'm glad the baby nursery is usually less crowded. I love to watch him play in there. I also appreciate that they have babies of different colors and with natural anatomy.
I'm hoping all of this imaginative play is leading us up to a good nap. I could use the time for some laundry and computer work....or for a nap myself.....

Happy May Day!

Happy May Day! As no one rang my doorbell and left a May basket on my step, I had to make a bouquet for myself. It's sad, when I started at Greenbriar there was a great tradition where the 2nd grade classes would bring flowers in (from their gardens or the store) and make May baskets then secretly deliver them to all of the classroom doorknobs on May Day. After one teacher retired and another left the district, the tradition hasn't been upheld. Now I teach 2nd grade and every year I mean to bring the tradition back! Sadly, I never remember in time.
So, I don't really have much to post about, but I'm doing it on a new computer. My hard drive crapped out over the weekend. It's very sad. Pete has taken it to a guy at work to see if he can do some magic on it and recover some of my photos and files.
It is exciting to have a brand-new computer again, though! Franklin also likes it.
Here's how I found Henry sleeping the other night when I went to check on him. It wasn't this light in his room, I used a flash. I figured I'd probably wake him when I scooched him back on to the bed anyway. Turns out he didn't awake from the flash or the scooching! (Pete and I had watched Volver that night- highly recommended. )
We had some really nice weather this weekend, so Pete hacked a bunch of buckthorn out of our bushes.
And Henry got a new whiffle bat. He really needs a fat bat, but when Pete ran to Walgreen's this was all they had. He now has a jimmied-up whiffle bat tee, made out of the birdbath base and an upside-down tupperware cup. He loves it. Maybe I'll get a video of that soon.
Okay...I've got some beef short ribs in the oven and some Gilmore Girls to watch tonight. Hope this tides you over for a while Amber!
Also....a happy happy birthdays to two May Day Gentlemen...

Brent

and Uncle Jim.