Time to Plant

We decided that it was time to brighten the plantable areas around the townhouse here in Wauconda, while the weather is still cool.

Look here on the side entry...there was apparently something here a year or two ago that was nice but it didn't make it through the harsh winter of 2007-2008. Now there is only a weedy ground cover. That had to go for something better.




Then in the front, there just wasn't any color. Now all that has changed. It looks like we have created a nice welcome to spring.



Now, bring us some warmer weather!!!! Please!

Scroggin...aka: GORP

So I am mentally getting ready for our trip to the southwest this year. It will entail lots of camping and as a result I am researching GORP and related topics.


I found Scroggin and the following Wikipedia definition...I can hardly wait to make my own!


Scroggin is a nickname for a mixture of nuts and dried fruit, (and sometimes chocolate) usually carried by bushwalkers. It has been suggested that the name scroggin is an acronym, taken from the first letter of eight ingredients:

• Sultanas
• Chocolate (Usually M&M's or chocolate chunks)
• Raisins
• Orange peel (candied)
• Ginger (crystallised)
• Glucose (generic lollies, such as barley sugars)((candies for us Americans!))
  
• Improvisation or imagination (i.e. the chef is supposed to add a favorite ingredient)
• Nuts (any kind, so long as they are not salted)

However, this could be a backronym, and the assumption that "scroggin" is an actual acronym may be a folk etymology (as is likely the case with gorp).

These ingredients can be anything desired, but traditionally they must have chocolate, raisins, and nuts. Dried fruit, such as dried apricots, dried apples and banana chips, plus sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are very popular inclusions in these mixes.

The idea behind Scroggin is to have an energy-packed mix of anything you want, kept in a waterproof bag which the consumer dips into when in need of an energy boost.

Also, colloquially, a small marsupial...but that is another story!

Chuck has his own opinion about gorp:



He says: Just get the individual items that you like and take it from there. What a nutty guy.

Never Give Up...It's Never too Late

CALUMET, Mich. (AP) - Police in this Upper Peninsula town had forgotten about the $1 parking ticket written on Sept. 1, 1976. But the woman who had found it on her windshield hadn't.

The ticket, a $20 bill and a note arrived at police headquarters last month in a plain white envelope with no return address.

The note read: "I always had good intentions of paying it. I put it aside and every once in a while I would come across it and said 'someday I'm going to pay it.' Now I think it's time."

The fine for an unpaid meter violation increased to $5 after 72 hours, said Police Chief David Outinen, but it hadn't increased beyond that. He told The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton that he couldn't remember someone making good on an unpaid ticket after so much time.

The woman apparently hopes her payment closes the matter. "Please don't try and track me down. I am a respectable lady," she wrote.

51st Des Plaines Canoe Marathon

The Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon, founded in 1957 by Ralph Frese, (see picture below)this year he was providing canoes for the paddlers instead of participating in the marathon.


It is the second oldest continual canoe race in the United States. The race is 18½ miles on the beautiful and historic Des Plaines River. There are numerous classes to accommodate people of all ages and levels. Everyone is welcome to participate. First time participants, repeat paddlers, and serious competitors can all enjoy the excitement, challenge, and camaraderie that this historic event provides.

Chuck and I participated in the marathon this year; not in any particular class we just did it for fun. I wasn't too worried about the mileage, since I have spent more than a few days in the last year paddling more than twenty miles in a day and felt pretty good about my ability.
Here is Chuck and Hugh, a fellow we met during our February-March trip to Florida this year
Here is Chuck trying to do a good imitation of patience among the widespread chaos prior to our launch.

At the three quarter mark I began to realize that this particular river has very little current, which means one literally has to paddle to go forward..that was something I was not quite ready for. We did complete the entire route, but I was more tired than I expected. There was a fellow at the final take out (which entailed a steep bank) who grabbed the canoe from me and said he would bring it up topside. I normally would have protested but gave quiet thanks for this very special gift!

It was the first time I had ever done anything like this. So a few things caught my eye. Like the many different types of canoes and clothing




and the chaos at the beginning was really something to behold




Things got much better once we got under way and the crowd thinned out. Here is a shot I got of Chuck by just turning the camera backwards and aiming towards the back of the canoe...not back for not being able to see anything.


Here we are at the second portage; we had to carry our canoe around two dams in the river. We went over two others..both without capsizing!
This was a very happy sight to see! Another great day on the river!

Moraine Hills State Park

Today was simply gorgeous...72 degrees, light breeze and bright sunshine. So we met Len at Moraine Hills and biked 12 miles around the loops and to the dam. Everything is so alive and fresh, it just makes you glad to be alive.

I managed to get a nice picture of Len and Chuck coming down one of the hilly areas but Chuck insisted that I send it to him so he could post. He said he wouldn't have anything to post if I didn't help him out...since he did not have his camera with him today. Ok, I gave in and sent it to him.

I got a few pictures of some swans, but they were fuzzy; ditto for a turtle shot.

So here I am with only one other shot that turned out clear and identifiable. It is Chuck's bicycle seat. For those relatives who may be wondering what he might like for Christmas.....well.....

Oberweis, Bischoff's and Braum's...it's all good!

Tuesday was a first for me. I went to Oberweis for ice cream. When it comes to food addictions, ice cream is pretty high on my list. So you can imagine how delighted I was to indulge in yet another delicious ice cream creation by yet another high quality provider.


Here are some shots of our biking group indulging in the creamy wonderment...





Originally a New Jersey girl, my favorite ice cream place there was Bischoff's.
Having relocated, you can bet I lost no time at all finding a comparable place in Arkansas either. They have Braum's. Generally it was the ice cream that I've been after, but Braum's has great steaks, dairy products and emergency produce you can buy and take home, as well. Pretty much all you need in one place!

Mother's Day Reward

I cooked for the gang at Chuck's this past Mother' s Day. Afterwards, Chuck's niece thought of a good idea for part of her photo project at college.
Here is the final product of my little baby! What a great shot! Good luck Suzie and thanks!