Category Archives: The Great Outdoors
Around the Ville: Trains, Bikes and Atom Smashers
I’ve been tooling around the ‘Ville on my bepetalled cruiser, congratulating myself that I had the brains to insist on a bike with no gears to shift, a coaster break, and a saddle and handlebars that allow me to keep … Continue reading
Filed under Body, Free, Growing things, History, Home, The 'Ville, The Great Outdoors
My New Wheels!
Ain’t she a beauty! Lou asked me what I wanted my my birthday. You know, that’s getting harder as I get older. When I was fifteen years younger and a little better off, my answer was “Go to the silver … Continue reading
Filed under Body, Machines, On the Street Where I Live, The 'Ville, The Great Outdoors, Worth it anyway
It’s Bloomin’ Wet
I think I’ve mentioned that our back yard is the low water place in the neighborhood. Here’s a pic after yesterday’s storm: But all that rain after all that heat made my roses bloom like crazy! The tall red boy … Continue reading
In the Weeds
For the first time today I recognized, deep down, what restaurant cooks mean when they say they’re “in the weeds” or “weeded.” I mean, I’ve known for years that it means being so behind on your orders that it feels … Continue reading
Filed under Free, Growing things, On the Street Where I Live, The 'Ville, The Great Outdoors
Spring in the ‘Ville. Again.
Spring in northern Illinois is a warmer version of spring in Quebec — three weeks earlier but just as maddening. We hit 84 one day, and a terrifying nighttime prairie thunderstorm later be were back in the thirties. T.S. knew what he … Continue reading
Filed under Free, Growing things, History, Home, Into the Mystic, On the Street Where I Live, The 'Ville, The Great Outdoors
Colors and Flavors
The maple leaf is the graphic emblem of Canada, the centerpiece of its flag, and the glory of its Octobers. (It’s also the name of a certain NHL hockey franchise that’s loathed by people born in Quebec, like me. Boo!) … Continue reading
Filed under Food, History, Home, The Great Outdoors
A Free Planter: The Big Red Can
I’m going to take advantage of my fatigue and eyestrain today to bring Cheap and Cheerful back to its roots — a shortish post about a cool cheap thing to make or do. (A short night’s sleep, the new Laurie … Continue reading
Filed under Free, Growing things, Home, The Great Outdoors
In the Garden: August Annuals and a Swell Book
The day lilies are almost over. The roses are pondering if they want to give me that great second bloom — possible, but not certain. The larkspur is so over, and my front garden is bleak: it features a weed, Queen Anne’s … Continue reading
Filed under A Couple of Bucks, Growing things, Home, The Great Outdoors
Petunias Win
I’ve always thought petunias are a pathetic excuse for a flower — ubiquitous, obvious and scentless. During my childhood I could walk around the block and see no other bedding plant but petunias — they became a sort of real … Continue reading
Up in the UP
We’ve spent the last week in my late father-in-law Joe Rovai’s house on Lake Au Train, which lies about three miles from Lake Superior between Marquette and Munising. The rest of our family unit included Mary and Patty, Lou’s sisters, Patty’s husband John, my … Continue reading
Filed under Into the Mystic, The Great Outdoors, Travel, Worth it anyway
