Carla and Blue Hydrangeas

Signy Celebrates her 9th Birthday at our House

Oompa went down to Arlington to bring Signy, Roslyn and Liesl back here for a few days with Laurie and Tim arriving just in time for birthday cake. 

Midwest Institute of Opera - MIO

Last year we hosted three Midwest Institute of Opera performers and this year we are doing the same.  Last year the opera was was Don Giovani and this year, the Marriage of Figaro.  Even though these singers are in their 30's, we treat them as our babies!  They pay tuition to be a part of MIO.   Jenny Beauregard and her fiance Kyle (stage name Vincent) Conner both have starring roles.  Joe Welch, a pianist who now has is doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota stayed with us last year and another pianist, Ben Nadel, another pianist will be arriving tomorrow evening.  They will be with us for ten days. 

In a Pantagraph article about MIO, one of the lead characters wore my 47 year old wedding dress!

Kyle just finished performing Elixer of Love

 

Jenny  and Kyle

Peas, Peas, Peas

Our friends, Joan and Max Banks, share their bounty of peas with us so we may enjoy them throughout the winter. Joan's family has a large farm up in Mendota where vegetables are produced for Del Monte.  These peas are so delicious we prefer to eat them uncooked.  

Betty Tudor 1909 - 2013

Betty Tudor at UU reception on her 100th birthday. 

I have always liked old ladies.  Thirty years ago at UU I befriended Betty Tudor, a UU leader who held many positions in the Church and who at one time was president of our YWCA.  As part of a luncheon program at the "Y" she was honored when she turned 100.  The then president of the "Y" had a video created about Betty which was presented at the luncheon.  

Betty lived with her son, Richard, who for many years cared for her with dignity and grace.  He is an amazing gardener!  

Last night she passed away.  

Daylilies in the Patio Garden

The blooms last only a day. 

'Ruby Throat'

'Big Bird'

'Joan Senior'

'Nile Crane'

'Catherine Neal'

The Pit

Where we live there are no restrictions against burning brush like there are in the city, and therefore about twice a year Ed enjoys setting the debris on fire.  Various plants take root in the pit so before the flames encompass everything, we say goodbye to those plants that had a brief life there. Ed is very careful.  He connects about 100' of hose should a gust of wind make the situation dangerous.  

A gift the pit presents to us is the ash which we 'till into the vegetable garden the fall before spring planting.  
 

Sadnesses

Several friends have passed away this month, too many in a short span of time.  All from cancer. 

Becky Lockett, long-time friend, Principal of TriValley Elementary School, Master Gardener was married to Michael who is also a long-time friend.  Rev. Rosie Rimrodt needed a Pysanky egg for an RE class and I knew Becky was a talented Pysanky egg painter.  She loaned me one and insisted I keep it.  Her gardens are astounding.  A group of MGs went over this past Tuesday to do a cutback and weed.  Tomorrow I'm meeting Michael and we will visit Becky's grave.  I did not have any idea her cancer returned.  When we were at Colgate with Daad's Reunion Singers, the people who takc care of our plants left a note about her death. 

Our Ginkgo

Distinctive shaped leaves.

The oldest botanical specimen on the planet.

The Mojito

Several years ago our daughter Laurie described a drink called a "mojito" comprised of rum, lime juice, mint, simple syrup over ice and shaken well and then topped off with club soda.  Shaw's Crab House in Chicago is where I sipped my first mojito and immediately decided this was the best libation ever.  I learned this is the drink Ernest Hemingway enjoyed at the Mojito Bar when he resided in Cuba.

With our bountiful supply of fresh mint, making a mojito is easy except for the simple syrup.  But I enjoyed the drink so much a supply of simple syrup was kept on hand in the refrig.  

Last year or maybe the year before,  the Bacardi Rum company came out with a mojito mix -- all one had to do was add the fresh mint and the club soda.   Delicious!  

The mint is now young and lush.  For the past several evenings, I've had my mojito and Ed his beer.  I became tipsy.  Surprised as I was, I chalked this up to drinking the mojito on an empty stomach.  Wrong!  

I WAS DRINKING THE BACARDI MIX STRAIGHT WITHOUT ANY CLUB SODA!