Tag Archives: Illinois

Illinois

It just keeps blooming

3 Comments
My yellow sunset climbing rose refuses to believe winter is coming 
and continues to produce bloom after bloom.
complete with bee fly
I think it really loves the cooler weather.
My Armur Maple on the other hand, 
turned briliant red and dropped it’s leaves at the first hint of fall! 
I love its color!
Illinois, Starved Rock State Park, wild flowers

A Walk in the Park

1 Comment
Today was a beautiful day for a walk along the 
Illinois River in Starved Rock State Park….

Illinois, insect

Peek ~ A ~ Boo!

1 Comment
 I see you!
(do not adjust you monitor! the bug is upside down!)
This little praying mantis was getting a drink after I watered my plants on the porch.
Illinois, Starved Rock State Park

Listen Closely…

Leave a comment

There is always music amongst the trees,

but our hearts must be still to hear it
…author unknown
flowers, garden, Illinois

Well Worth the Wait…

1 Comment
Finally, the tomatoes are starting to ripen!
Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom, Vintage Wine, Cuore De Toro, Martino’s Roma
Despite my garden’s late start- end of June-
all the extra nurturing and care 
(and the new dog proof fence) is finally starting to pay off!
Here’s today’s bounty. In a few days there will be more. 
These are heirloom and open pollinated. Very sweet and yummy~
though a little cracked here and there but that was due to the hot dry weather and
 my uneven watering.
And here’s the second crop of red raspberries.
heritage raspberries ~ everberring
And my August Lily Hosta is right on cue
and my Zinnias are in full bloom~ this is the first time I’ve planted Zinnias from plants from the Garden Center and not seed. Not bad I think.
and finally, Daisy, waiting for me to drop some more grapes and raspberries.
No… I’m not begging….
garden, Illinois

Getting Excited!

2 Comments
Green tomatoes everywhere!
Vintage Wine
I can hardly wait until they turn red!
Cuore De Toro
Martino’s Roma
It’s been so long since I’ve had fresh tomatoes out of my garden….
Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom
Vintage Wine
Thanks to to my new welded wire Annie Repellant!
My Vegetable Garden Early On… right after the attack. Everything’s bigger now
For the last two years, no matter how I try to protect the garden, 
this dog, as innocent as she tries to appear, 
has bulldozed through all barriers and ate her self silly.
she’s eaten everything I’ve planted~ 
tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, strawberries, lettuce…
the list goes on.
the only thing I found she doesn’t like is Swiss Chard and Kale.
The Devourer of Gardens and Fresh Produce~ AKA Annie
birds, container gardening, garden, Illinois

White roses, Green tomatoes & an Uncooperative Chickadee

1 Comment
Last month I ‘rescued” a miniature white rose from my IGA store. You know, the little roses you find sitting among assorted house plants and such in the grocery store’s floral section. 
This little rose was sitting there all by it’s self, looking lonely, and loosing it’s blooms for lack of light~ 
so of course I had to take it home.
(Yes, this is an addiction….  and when they come out with the TV show, “Plant Hoarders Intervention”, I will probably be one of the featured guests!)
 Anyway, I gave it a new home with lots of organic compost and plenty of sunshine. 
It really loved this and was quickly covered in new growth and fat little buds!
Isn’t it pretty?
~~~~
And, I finally have green tomatoes! Yay!
I got my garden in late so I’m very happy to see these now. 
There’s nothing better than a garden grown tomato! These are Rutgers.
~~~~
And last, my garden has been made home by a family of Chickadees this year!
I’ve been trying to get pictures forever of these quick little guys 
but by the time I snap the picture, they’re off and flying again!
This is one of the babies and he’s not afraid of me at all. 
He’ll sit on the feeders right next to me as I work in the garden! 
He just didn’t want to hold still for the camera!
container gardening, Illinois

Bonsai! ~ sort of…..

3 Comments
You may remember in a previous post that I showed you this Red Japanese Maple in a nursery container.
Well, I decided to keep it in a pot until I can find the perfect place to plant it.
I found this really cool pot that is made from resin, fiberglass and rock dust. 
Not exactly a Bonsai container but I think it suites the tree.

Illinois Railway Museum

Illinois Railway Museum

3 Comments
4th of July at the Train Museum
Our family took a little trip to Union IL to see and ride restored antique trains and street cars.
(this is an annual event for us)
We had a lot of fun, got lots of pictures (lots and lots of pictures!) and a little sunburn as well~
so without further ado ( and little words), here’s our version of the vacation slide show….
E
~Oh, and we’d like to thank our son Chris for his Military discount! ~
E
(love that place!)
Here’s a link for more info about the Museum:
E
E
built 1948 ~ Chicago Transit Authority 4391 ~ aka “crowd swallower… people load in the back doors while people unload out the front…
Inside 4391~ very nice, I say we bring these back to the cities!
Hey Look! It’s the trolley from Mr. Rogers!
Electric street car’s power source… the conductor has to manually hang out the window and position this on the wire using the white rope ~ every time they change direction
Delaware Lackawanna & Western 567~ 1914 coach
E
hallway of tiny sleeping berths~ very tight!
one of the more luxurious booths
Can you imagine traveling crosscountry in this little booth? that chair opens up to a bed and that little purple seat is your toilet!
Happy diners of the era~ picture was taken in a similar dining car as below
dining car
view into a restored 1800’s dining car
early 1900’s electric street car
conductor’s station- when the car changes direction, so does the conductor
early advertising
E
O scale model railroad
This is cool! did I mention we also like model trains?
plenty of old railroad station signs everywhere
E
Yard engine moving an interurban
Lots and lots of train depot art (they just don’t put the detail into the buildings like they used to!
E
Illinois, Illinois Railway Museum, train

Barn # 9

Leave a comment

Out of all the barns and events at the Illinois Railway Museum, our favorite place to visit is Barn # 9.

Train of the Goddesses
 It houses all the Old Steam engines ~ waiting to be restored ~ a few Diesel, and electric engines and best of all, it is where the Nebraska Zephyr is housed.O

O

We can spend hours just perusing up and down the isles, 
looking and touching these now silent metal giants.
O
I took around 500 pictures on this visit.

O

So rather than fill this blog with all of them, here are few of my favorites….
O
Barn # 9 with the Zephyr in her stall

Can you imagine seeing and hearing this giant in operation?

Burlington Northern Diesel

among giants

a giant electric engine

collecting dust and cobwebs

the mechanic side kicking in….

O
The Nebraska Zephyr and her cars were not in operation this visit which was a little disappointing because we look forward to  riding it every year. 
O
But we found out she is going on a special trip soon. 
She’ll be joining America’s Railroad Celebration in Rock Island, IL.  
  O
these signs are posted on the barn wall about the Zephyr
O
 
O

O

O