Valentines Day

A few years ago for Christmas, I gave each of my daughters a Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Martha autographed each of the books while at a book signing in Chicago.

On Valentines Day my Kiki, made the most wonderful Cherry Linzer cookies from a recipe from

Martha's book. I am trying to get Kiki to continue her education and attend Pastry School.

Winter and Chicago Cultural Events

Winter is fun if you take advantage of the wonderful indoor opportunities. My dear and adventurous friend and I, took the train into Chicago to an exhibit at the Cultural Center. The exhibit was of recent discovered photos from an unknown Street Photographer in

Chicago. Her name is Vivian Maier.

Recycle the Christmas Tree

I have a collection of wine bottles in my herb garden. I just can't stand the thought of throwing away glass that is cobalt blue. This year I couldn't wait for the holidays to be over so I could take down the tree and prune it to accommodate more wine bottles. When the ground thaws in spring, I will use our post hole digger and plant it firmly in the ground.

Doors for Salvage Hall

Salvage Hall has of course been built with reclaimed building material. Still missing was the doors. Doors are one think Doug and I have plenty of. The farm we purchased 3 years ago came with a barn filled with "stuff". In that stuff was over a dozen doors. We have brought a few home to donate to Salvage Hall.

Salvage Hall will soon be ready to hold classes and workshops.

Wedding

The wedding is just a little over a week away. Kat has asked me to help decorate. I am going to order Cream colored roses to add to the simple white branches and greens. There will be tons of candles and flameless candles all over the reception. There is a large fire place in the Library that we can also put candles is. I know it is going to be beautiful and very "Katie".

Council Ring

I spent a wonderful morning visiting Cherry Lane Farm and Trudi Temple. Trudi is having a field stone Council Ring built on her farm. The stone is being brought in from New York state on two trucks. The ring will be 30 feet in diameter. I was excited to be a small part of its beginning. I held the measuring tape while Trudi and her right hand, Gene, measured out the area for the council ring.

Dried arrangement

This August I cut flowers to dry in my shed. Some of the plants I used were Peony seed heads, Penstemon seeds heads, Lavender, Joe Pye Weed and Panicum. I tied them into small bundles and hung them up side down in my shed. The shed is a dry dark place. It is perfect for drying flowers. This is the first time I tried drying Joe Pye Weed. The trick is to cut it before the flowers open.

I used a white pumpkin to make my fall dried arrangement. I also added fresh Lavender and a small amount of fresh Golden Chamaecyparis. I am hosting a bridal shower this weekend and few dried arrangements will add an elegant touch.

Fall Window Box

Yep! It is time to change the planters and window box for Fall. One thing to keep in mind, do you want to water? This has been a dry Fall so, Mother Nature has not been much help in keeping things green or alive. By omitting live plants I have created a maintenance free window box. I trimmed a few Juniper branches and added them for something that appears alive. Then I added two small pumpkins and an old bird house. There was some ivy still growing so, I left it in place.

Fall Color

For a brief time each year the colors are amazing. As an artist, I would love to be able to save color in a bottle. I can imagine holding the intense red leaf of a Burning Bush and having it melt in your hand. I don't think there is a name for every color in my yard.

Fun Decorating for Fall

This year, like every year since 1988 I cut up one white sheet and create a large spider web. The first spider web was at our house in Lemont, Illinois some twenty years ago. We have made it at every home since. When we lived in Indiana, we made a large web with our neighbors and connected our two houses. It has become a Halloween tradition, along with our very cool pumpkin carving. I started carving pumpkins when the children were small. I would surprise them when they got home from school with some type of extreme jack-o-lantern. Vicky has done a great job of taking over the pumpkin carving. I can't wait to see what she surprises us with this year.