Why I Oughta...

All three of the containers are up with flower stalks, but the Red Tiger and the Sunshine Nymph are well ahead of the Lemon Star.  In just two weeks since my last photo update on these Christmas flowers, the buds on these two have opened wide and the flowers are beginning to unfurl.  Pacing-wise, these two are ahead of last year's version, but the Lemon Star is noticeably behind AND also pretty skinny and lean.  I'm not expecting a H U G E flower explosion from the Lemon Star (based on the bud size), but we should get flowers well into January this way - so I suppose that's a win of sorts.   Also, a note for the diary here, I began to water them with a 10:1 water:rubbing alcohol (91%) when they were about six inches tall.  I'm unsure if it had any impact on them what-so-ever.  

We have this tiny, plastic replica of a Jungle Cruise boat that a special Dole Whip was served to us in on a trip to Disneyland in our living room.  And, I didn't want to get too far away from Christmas before I forget to post a photo of what Nat did to convert it to a Jingle Cruise boat.  She applied a little sign that is perfect for us (name blurred out) and is a nice touch for Christmastime.  IYKYK.  I suppose this is a bigtime #DisneyAdult post.  I'm embracing it. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, I posted a scorecard from my 2021 Yard and Garden To-Do List and ( after grading on a curve), gave myself a solid B on the report card .  Did I get everything done on the list?  Nope.  Just 17.5 of the 25 completed.  2 of the 25 semi-completed.  And 5.5 (more than 20%) incomplete. What were the 5.5 that didn't get done ? 1. Stain patio container (the half one) 2. Do more bonsai (combined) 3. Figure out small tool storage and build something (combined) 4. Keep going to mulch pit for wood chips and bio solids. So, let's call those the first four of potential 2022 to-do items. What could the other 21 look like?  A good place to start are the various posts that I've already tagged in my potential 2022 list  and my running list of 2022 plant 'wish list' items .  Those are full of quite a bit of random thoughts, ideas and concepts that I didn't want to lose based on this season's experience and garden diary.  There's way more than

In our backyard, we have a couple of mature (and a few smaller, understory) Catalpa trees .  I've posted about them from time-to-time and talked about how I've come around on them and have grown to really enjoy the species .  And how the Catalpa tree has become a sort-of gateway into the whole "Native Tree" world.  This Spring, we came across some Kentucky Coffee Tree seed pods at a Downers Grove park and successfully germinated them and grew some seedlings .   We're currently attempting to overwinter those tiny seedlings by digging their containers in the ground .  What I've learned from those seedlings was that the seeds required a winter rest.  Or...what they call stratification.  That means that they require a period of dormancy that comes along with the cold temperatures of Winter.  For the Kentucky Coffee tree, that happens with the seed pods hanging on the trees all Winter until Spring when they drop.   Based on that experience, I've decided to try

As is the tradition, Nat's family has secured a couple of six-packs of Anchor Brewing annual "Our Special Ale" - aka the Anchor Christmas Beer .  I've posted about this beer a number of times over the years, but my interest doesn't really lay in the subtleties of the flavors in the beer.  But, rather in the packaging - and in particular the trees that they feature on the bottle label and six-pack carrier.   The folks at Anchor Brewing typically put up a big holiday beer page each year, but I don't seem to be able find this year's version.  Here's the 2020 page and the full archive of the previous 46 labels over the years .  However, it seems that they've created a new Web experience at a new subdomain:   https://raiseanchor.anchorbrewing.com/ - which seems to totally omit any talk about the Christmas beer for this year and mostly celebrate a new packaging design. The Christmas beer page typically tells the story of the tree they selected, but sinc

Last year (2020) appears to be the high-water mark of Festivus being recognized in our household as an official part of the holiday season.    That's when Nat included the holiday on our Family Christmas card alongside Christmas, Hanukah and the new year .   This year, in the rush of the holiday season, our card went out without the inclusion of Frank Costanza's holiday - and that's a miss on my part.  Note to self:  during proof'ing next year, get Festivus back in there. As for celebrating today, we'll be skipping the pole (it will have to stay in the crawlspace), but I'll try to see if the kids can pin me in the Feats of Strength.  I think I can still take them, though.   One of the things that I am struck by is how little is known about Festivus from many of my coworkers.  Most of which...are far younger than me.  This December 23rd feels like an opportunity.  An opportunity to educate the Yutes about Festivus.  And why the belief system is fascinating.   Tha

This marks the second year in a row that we've booked a drive-thru Christmas lights experience.  Last year, we were up in Northbrook to do what - at the time - I thought was a COVID-specific experience of driving through a zig-zag of Christmas lights .  The whole need for social distancing coupled with the stir-crazy-ness of staying home provided a perfect combination to fall in love with the drive-thru light shows.  This year, the group up in Northbrook ( Let it Shine Lightshows ), expanded to put up a show at the Fox Valley Mall parking lot in Naperville/Aurora.  For my oldest's birthday party (Nat's family), we booked some tickets and went out there over the weekend. I don't know if it was the music or the lights or the fact that were were doing this thing again, but I'll tell you that I had a smile on my face the whole time.  Is it out-of-this-world?  No.  Is it a fun way to spend 30 minutes?  Sure is.