Food Family Finds | Illinois Mom Blogger and Foodie
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After days and days of chilly temperatures it finally warmed up enough for the family to venture outside. I couldn't help but "stop and smell the roses" so to speak, noticing all of the pretty things that have grown since I was last outside. For starters, my 6 year old hosta came back bigger than ever. I filled in some more rock around the mailbox garden which is blooming quite nicely. The phlox aren't near as pretty as they were … [Read more...]
Despite my husbands hatred of dandelion weeds, I happen to adore these flowers. Yes, to me, they are gorgeous spring flowers, you'll never convince me otherwise. But I do see how miserable the poor guy gets with all the little seeds pop up, especially when I'm out there blowing them all over the yard. Just across the street from our neighborhood is a huge area of undeveloped land that has the most amazing display of dandelions. The kids … [Read more...]
Late last week I walked outside and noticed the little flower pods on my magnolia tree had cracked open to reveal the gorgeous blossoms to come. 48 hours layer the brilliant blooms opened to reveal themselves. A day later the entire tree was in full bloom. And then they started to fade ... .... and fall. Until they were no more. … [Read more...]
One of my favorite hobbies is looking at the world around me ... the flowers, the trees, the animals and most often, the sky. Which probably explains why I'm such a klutz tripping over stuff all of the time. When I'm not chasing down thunderstorms trying to capture pictures of lightning, I'm taking snapshots of the beautiful cloud formations and colors. … [Read more...]
Central Illinois residents now have an amazing new store to visit, shop and even stop for a unique lunch. Inside the new Scheels Sporting Goods store located at 3801 South MacArthur Blvd in Springfield, IL, you'll will be able to experience and shop one of the most comprehensive sporting goods stores in the area. Parents can also entertain the kids with a NASCAR simulator, giant Ferris Wheel, shooting gallery and even a jungle gym. (photo by … [Read more...]
There are a few things each spring that get me excited ... thunderstorms, flowers, warm rays of sun on my toes in the morning and my favorite, fresh strawberries. And let me tell you, Illinois grows some of the best strawberries around. They may not be big, but they're packed with juice and leave you craving more all year long. Since I was a little girl my mom has been taking me to Jeffry's Orchard, a local family owned farm that produces … [Read more...]
Pelicans aren't a typical sight in Springfield, IL, in fact, I've lived here for over 25 years and have never seen one. After reading in the local paper that hundreds of American White Pelicans had stopped by Lake Springfield during their Spring migration, I just had to go see. Unfortunately, these elusive birds were said to be hanging out in an area of the lake that isn't accessible to the public and my camera lacked the zoom power to get a … [Read more...]
It's just after 10 am and this is what I woke up to ... After two days of snow and sleet the city plows finally showed up to leave us with a MOUNTAIN of snow in our cul-de-sac. In the process, they also blocked us in our driveway with no means of digging out but a snow shovel. The private plow services are overwhelmed with business, not accepting new appointments and the few that are have doubled and tripled their rates. While I don't … [Read more...]
Last weekend we made our annual trip to the Henson Robinson Zoo for the Zoolie Ghoulie Trick-or-Treating event in Springfield, IL where kids can walk the zoo dressed in costumes and stop at 20 stations where they get a little candy treat and other goodies. It's not only fun for the kids but each station has advertisers set up that introduces parents to area businesses. It's the perfect event for children of all ages, but especially nice … [Read more...]
There's a very short list of reasons I have for enjoying living in the small town of Chatham, Illinois. One of those reasons at the very top of said list ... Apple Barn. It's a small, family owned country store just a few blocks from our home. In fact, the family orchard is less than a block from our backyard. Over the course of the three years we've been living here, we've probably made a visit to the Apple Barn at least a couple dozen times. … [Read more...]
