78:365 IWU Walk

When Laurie and I bought our home, we were very specific in locations we were looking... Near Illinois State University or near Illinois Wesleyan University. Eleven and a half years later we're thrilled that we bought just east of IWU... Because now one of my favorite things to do is walk around IWU's campus with the kids.

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77:365 Go Fly A Kite

Was doing a little cleanup today around my desk and came across a sketch tablet that belonged to my oldest sister... Her name was Caryl Beth. I had borrowed the tablet from my parents back several months ago to scan a few of Caryl's pieces, but my intentions were better than my actions, and I never got the pieces scanned. I remember so vividly sitting and watching her work on her drawings and watercolors... I always wanted to be artistic like her. Silly me... I'd be better off to just go fly a kite.


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Chicago Flower & Garden Show 2012

I ran my iPhone battery completely down to 0% while taking pictures at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show on Tuesday... Below are a few of my favorite pictures I took...































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My Garden Happenings

Here's a peek at what's happening in my gardens right now (and probably yours, too):

Daffodils are in full bloom

Garlic Chives (ornamental, non-edible)

Peony eyes are starting to show

Iris foliage of all types are growing like its the last half of April

My oriental poppies never really died back this winter... I'm hoping for a good show from them this year

I'm taking advantage of our out-of-the-ordinary high temps to start some of my summer bulbs (dahlias, non-hardy anemones, and brodiaea) outside in some nursery containers
Hydrangeas are also really leafing out ... A lot less dead stems this year on all of my hydrangeas.
If you haven't yet, walk through your perennial beds today and see what's happening... And make sure day lily and iris plants are uncovered and free of leaves and other debris.
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Visit my blog at http://strouthion.blogspot.com

76:365 Friday Bloomers

March 16th and there are some beautiful flowers, trees, and shrubs blooming here in Central Illinois. I can't remember when it's been this summer-like in mid-March... LOVE IT!!!

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Show Time

75:365 Making the Unnatural Natural

When I run, my natural tendency is to run (say for three miles) the first mile too fast, my second mile slower, and my third mile somewhere between my first and second. I've been trying to create a ladder with my mile splits, starting slower and more relaxed, faster my second mile, and third mile fastest. And although my first mile was slower than I wanted, I accomplished what I wanted. Now... To learn how to do this unnatural running naturally... And figure out what to do with a fourth, fifth, and sixth mile.

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74:365 Anemone Anyone?

Planted a few anemones today at a client's house... Can't remember when I've planted summer bulbs in mid-March and not been concerned about weather.

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Had to Share A Video

My brother-in-law emailed me a link to this YouTube video tonight... I just HAD to share it on my blog because it just cracked me up...

PG-21 Elevator

Sooooo... What would cause an elevator to be rated PG-21??? Or... Do I even want to know???

;-)


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73:365 Chicago Flower 2012

I made my annual trip to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show today... But, a detour to a Chevy dealership in Joliet delayed my arrival by about four hours. And can I just say KUDOS to Bill Jacobs Chevrolet... What an excellent service department!!! I can't say enough THANKS for their assistance and work. Oh... And the flower and garden show was pretty awesome, too :-)

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72:365 Happy 100th Birthday

My two girls celebrated the 100th birthday of the Girl Scouts by sporting t-shirts today - Savannah also wore her Girl Scout sash all day. What an amazing organization for girls.

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71:365 Toasting Spring

I'm toasting spring tonight... 60's & 70's all this next week ~ THAT'S SO AWESOME!!!

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70:365 Tanning Tray

Mister Tumnus misunderstood what we were calling the "TV tray" ... He thought we were calling it a "tanning tray" - He seemed very proud of himself for getting up there, too :-)

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69:365 Sky Watching

While at a customer's house at Lake Bloomington I took some time to walk through the forest. I love following the "deer trails" and seeing where they might lead. And of course I had lots of opportunities to watch my avian friends: chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers, sparrows, hawks, robins, cardinals... I'm so anxious for warblers and such to return!!!

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68:365 He's Dead, Jim

Another year, another pond pump dies... Ugh!!! I feel so bad for my customer... At least one of the three pumps in her pond dies every year. They're not cheap...

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67:365 Big Guns

I'm a gardener... I use shovels, hand trowels, pruners, rakes, wheelbarrow... No bobcats or other kind of large machinery. But, every once in awhile I like to have a little fun and pull out the big guns.

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66:365 It's A Good Day

What a beautiful spring day in Central Illinois!!! Installed pansy containers for four clients today... So nice to see color at the front of their houses/business.

Laurie & Alexis Play A Duet

Today our cat Alexis decided to join Laurie on the piano (literally) and make her recital piece a duet. She's so talented :-P

65:365 James 4:7

I took time this morning to sit quietly and pray, deeply pray, for friends... Their marriage, their family, their restoration, their faith in God, their humility, their ministries, their friendships. They have touched so many lives locally, nationally, and even internationally... Now it's time for others to "touch" them.

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64:365 If These Bleachers Could Talk

As I sat watching an ISU gymnastics meet at Horton Fieldhouse today, I stared down at the bleacher in front of me... scratched, chipped, discolored, pitted... Fans, athletes, parents, coaches have sat here and observed basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track, baseball practices, softball practices, football practices, and pickup games of all sorts.

It's the "other" indoor athletic facility now, but once was "the" indoor athletic facility.

If these bleachers could talk...

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63:365 I'm Too Sexy For My Cage

"I'm too sexy for my cage, too sexy for my cage... Too sexy... Give me a stage"
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62:365 Gardening To-Do

I started making my to-do lists today as I visit my gardening clients... So happy to be back outside working again!



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61:365 Here They Come!!!

Bulbs I saw growing today: hyacinths, aliums, and (early) tulips


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Reach For The Sky

SPRING ~ SPRING ~ SPRING