It has come to my attention that the Cass County Board is giving consideratin to bussing illegal immigrants in Chicago to locations here in Cass County. I am outraged and offended that they would even consider this to be any kind of option.
It was a wonderful weekend as Tarra and Mason came to spend a couple of days. But never fear, the woman with the magic fingers who can destroy phone settings basically by just breathing on it now has a new talent. Yep, and remember, you read it here first!
Can you hear them? Probably not yet, but soon, Illinois will be awash in the songs of periodical cicadas. This year is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, where Broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time for the first time since 1803. Despite some talk of an impending insect apocalypse, cicadas don’t pose a threat to humans (or pets).
Last week was a tough week for my family as we went from a five cat household down to three in a matter of days. We lost both of our male cats three days apart from each other. Over the course of two years and seven days, February has become a very depressing month for me.
I have yet to hear a parishioner say, “Lent is my favorite time of year.” I hear that sentiment about spring or fall or Christmastime and especially summer. Those rank among people’s favorite ‘times,’ but not Lent. At least it hasn’t been verbalized it to me.
I loved raising my kids, but like all parents, there are those moments when you wonder if you made the right decision.
One of the things I enjoyed most is the funny things they say. Many years ago, Art Linkletter hosted a comedy show called, “Kids Say the Darndest Things” from 1959-1967. Yes, I remember that show very well.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I want to share one of my great horticulture loves with you all…pruning. I love the idea of it, the exercise of pruning, the science of it, and the potential it has for significantly improving the health and longevity of woody plant material.
Since trees are large, long-lived plants in our landscape, pruning activities done throughout the life of a tree can have a significant impact on how that tree functions in the landscape and how long it survives. Proper pruning conducted while a tree is young can have exponentially advantageous results for overall tree health, maintenance requirements, and beauty.
I admire those who know their way around the kitchen and know what they’re doing when they’re cooking.
I was raised by one of the best cooks ever---my mom. Although she never learned how to cook while growing up, she was married at 16 and a mother at the age of 21. As a young bride, she knew she had a lot to learn in the area of cooking. The one person that took her under her wing was her mother-in-law, my dad’s mom, Grandma Rahn.
The average Christian is afraid of at least one book in the Bible: Revelation. The visions given to St. John of the Beast and the Dragon are startling, but really we are taken aback by the wholesale destruction of the earth. Plagues, stars falling, Death riding a pale horse. These images are a far cry from Jesus carrying a sheep in His arms or God helping us to mount up with wings like eagles. Nevertheless, I assure you, the book of Revelation wasn’t meant to scare or terrify us. It was written to do the exact opposite: comfort us.
Have you ever seen a lilac bush that only blooms at the very top, or maybe not at all? Perhaps you’ve seen or have a forsythia bush that doesn’t bloom nearly as prolifically as it once did. This often happens due to a lack of or improper pruning. When done correctly, pruning can help flowering shrubs thrive and produce a bounty of blooms.