Noxious Weeds In Our Midst

I forgot to post this last summer so it's kind of odd looking at these lush green vegetation pics when there's snow on the ground outside right now.

But who cares right?

We took a small group from Youth Conference and headed to the Buffalo Grove Forest preserve to offer whatever help they needed and our group was asked to cut thistle.

So here's my hub having fun working with weeds.

Canadian Thistle are quite invasive and seem to take over where ever they land.

















We were so happy, we cut all those thistles and then the guide asked us to go farther down the road to another patch.













Can you see the gazillion thistles?
The motherload of noxious weeds.
So are these thistles from Canada?
Ranger - No
Why are they called Canadian thistles?
Ranger - They just are and we don't like them.








Oh look what Bro. Dunn picked for his wife.


They really are kind of pretty, too bad they take over all the other native plants.

I love flowers - didn't always but now I do.

Yes I know what a lame statement but there was a time in our early married life where David would bring me flowers and I got mad because he spent money on something that only lasted a few days. You see I once was very practical but now well who cares? Here are some pics of flowers that have made my heart smile and lifted my spirits.

Birthday flowers from my friend Rita and one of my seminary students Kayla.
I love these crab apple trees We have one in our front yard one in the back too. I just wish they stayed this way for a few more weeks but alas the wind comes and off the blossoms go.
BTW, Cliff is buried under this tree, don't tell the neighbors.
Tulips are my favorite in my yard right now. (Doesn't it look like they are waving - they are so happy) :-) Give credit to Anna for capturing this pic.
I don't have to do anything, they just popped up (well I did plant them last fall) Kind of bummed that the daffodils missed their cue this year, not sure if my Kamikazee chipmunk or the bunnies ate them for dessert. I don't know. Maybe it was that last darn snowfall in April that confused them.
My friend Leslie posted all about her lovely flowers in AZ. I admire her cuz I never could get anything to grow there except weeds. When I moved here five years ago, this was one of those thrilling moments for me - I COULD GROW FLOWERS!!!! and with little effort, yep right up my alley. I love flowers now, especially after a long winter.

Whoooaaaaa Snowwwwwwww

Look what I woke up to. The tree eventually became so heavy it touched the patio table. I love the birds and this fat robin was just chillin.

Click on the pics to get a better view. amazing huh?



Eight hours later - The sun came out and look at my view now!! :) I'm so happy now.

I hope we're done with the snow now and lets get those daffodils up!!

Look what happens when you've been cooped up all winter and the sun comes out!

It was over 50 degrees today and the sun was shining bright all day so my 2 older daughters put on their shorts and made a boat out of inner tubes and a sled.



We really don't have a pond or lake in the backyard, it's just a retention area - hey but it was water and they wanted to float. Who cares if it's the snow run off.






Emi really needs to find a boy friend

I don't think we need a ground hog to tell us we will be having 6 more weeks of winter

Yep, it's 1 degree right now. As positive as I like to try and be in the winter I must state that I do not like the month of February here in the midwest and we are at day three, good thing it's the shortest month of the year. Yep all 189 days, well that's what it feels like.
When we first moved here I received a parent handbook from Anna's school and here is the district policy:

15 degrees or warmer unlimited time outside (what? My kid doesn't know what it's like below 40 and to think that she can play outside for an unlimited time when its 15 degrees, YIKES!!)

O degrees to 15 degrees 20 minutes outside (Are you kidding me? She can play outside when it's O degrees?

below O students remain indoors (Oh thank you, how kind of you)

Well looks like Anna will be playing outside today at recess. good thing she knows how to bundle up and run around.

Right before she left for school this morning, she took this picture of the cardinal that comes to visit ever so often. Now I don't comprehend how these birds can survive in this weather but they do. I'm glad God created such a beautiful bird that just stands out during this gloomy time of year. So yeah six more weeks then those daffodils will be poppin and I'll be hoppin happy. In the meantime I'll just enjoy the birds.

When is it too cold to run?

My hub loves running! He just went for his Sat. jog and I noticed it is 13 degrees with the windchill factor making it -2. He discovered a couple of years ago his limit is -16 with wind. That is when his eyeballs froze and he quickly ran home and had a major headache all day.

There are some days I think he is just nuts and today is one of them, but on the other hand I have to admire his dedication.

Here's a quote from Keli's friend Mike on her blog."At that temp you can't tell the difference between the placement of testes and ovaries in an x-ray." Heehee, I still laugh at that one.

Hey its warmer here than in Phoenix (At least for today)

Last night I went to bed and there was probably a foot of snow piled on my deck and this is what we woke up to this morning. A Lake in our back yard. Nothing like 20 degree up and downs around here.

We have the best Missionaries

After we shoveled on Friday it continued to snow and then the sweet hard working elders showed up, returning a tool box and grinning because they just bought a new double snow shovel and Elder Peterson and Larson went to work. Elder Peterson was so excited with his new toy.

They shoveled snow the rest of the day for other lucky families till 9 that night. What great guys. Thanks Elders.

It's not Winter Yet?

Received phone message at 3:45am - High School is canceled
Received phone message at 5:30am Elementary school is canceled
2 separate school districts- same house- Lame

Shoveled 6-8 inches of snow for an hour and half with David, then the neighbors came out with their snow blowers, which is pretty much the only time we see our neighbors this time of year. Ok I know I'm weird but I don't mind shoveling snow just yet. Very serene and I like the workout. The neighbors keep asking me if I wish I was back in Arizona now and I have to be honest and say nope. This is still novel and lovely, plus I'm mostly in my warm, cozy home drinking hot chocolate, looking out at my evergreen covered in white.

It dawned on me this morning that it is still fall and the first day of winter is on Sunday. Who made that rule? The calendar people? Cuz it sure didn't look like fall this morning.

Lil Critter

This lil chipmunk was in my bird feeder all day, scarfing the bird food.