Thursday night:

Windy today! But what a beautiful day!

I feel like I've been ignoring you, dear Reader. But spring is here and the grass is growing. Not to mention I had a wonderful vacation in Door County, and now must get "with" it  - or the Land will be a jungle.

So I am mowing, mowing, mowing. If that sounds slightly different from burning, burning, burning, it really isn't. I manage to burn more brush even as I mow!  The first photo above shows evidence of  another fire on the newly mowed grass on the  south side of the lake. In fact, the next photos show the  March and April views from the chapel site. If you look hard at the 3rd photo, you can see the fire still smoldering,

How I love to mow! It is such a satisfying way to spend a beautiful morning or afternoon. Everything looks so unkempt and ragged, and then - poof! after mowing it looks neat and ...and serene. There is something relaxing about gazing at a large expanse of green. Even though environmentally speaking, it isn't so good to just mow, mow, mow.  But it IS so restful for the soul.

Today I took a photo on the north side of the lake, of the lower level by the old picnic table. It looks so green! I also took a photo of the run-off creek today and show it next to the winter view. What a difference! You can hardly see the creek for the foliage.

You will also see some photos of the moon coming up a few days ago. How gorgeous it was! The last photo shows the moon reflected in the lake. I only wish you had been here to see it for yourself. Pictures do not capture how breathtaking it was!

Perhaps it won't surprise you, dear Reader, to know I am tired and ready for bed. It doesn't help that I have been up since 4AM cleaning out my cupboards. I'm not quite sure why I felt I had to clean cupboards at that time in the morning, but I'm glad I got it done. No rest for the wicked! (So now you know how wicked I am!)

I think I told  you that I joined Facebook, so now I'm connected to many friends of  friends of friends...and family. I only have one question, and perhaps you, dear Reader, can help me with the answer. It's quite important to me to know the answer.  Here it is: If I were 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon before Facebook, what am I now? Only 4 or 5 degrees? Please give me your thoughts, dear Reader!

Nighty-night!

Friday noon:
I think I forgot to mention that David and Ken donated two windows, lattice, and some 1 x 4's for the chapel.
These were left over from their garage sale last week. Of course I'm thrilled to have them! Thanks, David and Ken!

I've taken some photos of a "dah-ling" chapel I found in an out-of-the-way place. JJ's chapel will be much less ornate, but I thought I would share some pictures of this gorgeous Norwegian chapel. The rounded part is at the back of the chapel (Apse). The little bear sits on the side of the church door in the front of the chapel. Such workmanship! Enjoy the photos, dear Reader!

Mom called and said it's raining in Davenport. The grass has grown so long, and still I haven't mowed. Dave will finish working on my mower and deliver it Sunday evening (hopefully) after the big downpours are expected. So...by the time I start mowing on Monday or Tuesday, my Land will look like a hayfield. Oh, well....'tis that time of year!

Happy rainstorms, dear Reader!

Last year Michael and I outlined a short story that takes place in the north woods of Wisconsin. Although the story is in its early stages, I will share the story with you, dear Reader.

Lake of Many Tears
by Berta Jane and M. Witless

Setting: An isolated hunting shack surrounded by a thick pine forest on Lake of Many Tears, which some natives call "Land of Lost Souls." There is a beach only 300 yards away from the hut.

George DeBouef and Britany Adams (nickname: Brite) are a retired couple. He's a world renown retired chef and she was a concierge at the finest hotels across the US and Europe. They met while quite young, fell in love instantly and married. They have been working together ever since. They grew tired of all the glitz and heavy traffic of people coming in and going out in their former life. Now retired to ye old hut, George loves his cooking.  Brite loves her organic vegetable gardens of squashes and herbs and her flower gardens.

George does all the cooking in a fireplace with cast iron pots hanging from trivets and a rotisserie. There are damask napkins upon the rough plank trestle table surface. The centerpiece is a pair of taxidermy rabbits sitting facing each other and surrounded by a bower of pine boughs. George cooks wild goose and wild duck, etc.

Brite loves working in her gardens and gazing out at the lake. The wavy old glass of the window causes distortions as she looks out.

George and Brite, while reminiscing of old times, often visualize the tycoons and society matrons from their past parading along the beach through the wavy glass windows of their shack. Imagine their surprise when they hear a sad moaning through the tall, dark pines and actually see someone else walking along the shore...an old man carrying a 3-legged stool with reindeer hide. The arms are made of antlers. He wears a coonskin cap. As he trudges along the shore, he's bent over deeply. The tail of his coonskin cap bobs erratically with each tremulous step. He sets his stool down several hundred yards in front of the shack on the shore and stares out at "Lake of Many Tears." His rheumy eyes turn out to the midlake as if seaching for something dear and lost.

"Piney," murmurs George. "That's what we'll call him," he suggests as he stirs the onion, wild garlic and butter mix, adding in the wild cabbage. The scent of his latest creation flows softly on the candlelit room and enters Brite's sensitive nose making her eyelids lower as in a trance.

Just as suddenly as he appears, Piney's entire being slowly begins a shimmering dance turning into an evanescent mist. With a light plaintive sob, this tiny misty cloud goes far over the lake and disappears. Left behind as proof of his reality remains the reindeer hide stool.

Brite drops her fork. As she hears it clang to the floor, she and George slowly turn toward each other.

"He certainly doesn't fit into our apparitions of high tea ladies and...and..." she sputters.

Piney returns many times with the same sad eyes seeking something over the lake. Every time before Piney appears, George and Brite hear a soulful moan through the branches of the tall pine trees.

One day one of their old native friends comes by. George cautiously asks if there is any talk about an old man who stared out at the lake.

"Oh, yes," replies the native. "Some trapper who lived in this very hut. He lost his wife out there. One winter day while Samuel was scraping hides in the old shed, his lovely wife, Pretty Flower, was ice fishing. She accidently lost her balance and fell through the ice. Samuel was too far away to realize what was happening until it was too late. After he lost Pretty Flower, he used to sit out there on a 3-legged stool made of reindeer hide with arms of antlers. He'd gaze at the lake for hours on end. He died of a broken heart."

George and Brite nod quietly, but say nothing.

That very evening, near dusk, Piney returns. He gazes out across the lake. Suddenly his face lights up with love as he sees an apparition of his wife over the very place where she drowned. Piney's body shimmers as it turns into a cloud and he floats out to her.

George and Brite look out with awe on their faces. Their eyes search for the reindeer hide stool left behind...but this time...it is no longer there.

                                                                                        The End


Below is a partial list of George De Bouef's favorite "Wild Game Samplers:"

Moccasin Bisque and Lizard Tails as an appetiser.

Bootstrap Golash

Water moccasin pate served with cricket crisps

For dessert : Eye of Newt Tapioca


For a  light lunch, there's always French Cabbage soup with earthworm sausage with firefly croutons


Other entrees are:
Rattlesnake Medallions

Bullfrogs en croute

Wild duck with blueberries

Honey Bee Risotto

Quail frittata

Rattesnake Tongue Ratatouile

Tadpoles in Wine Sauce

Roast Porcupine

Breaded Beaver Tails stuffed with Apples

Wild Suspender Lasagna  (George's secret: "Remove all metal before serving."

                                                                               Bon Appetit, dear Reader, Bon Appetit!

Saturday morning:

It's cold and windy today, but that doesn't stop people from visiting the garage sales in Paw Paw. David took some of my things, and sold them! Bless his little heart! I will add the $240 for supplies to build JJ's chapel. Every little bit helps!

Smitty and Chris were out a few days ago to fish. They brought along their wives. Becky caught a huge catfish, and Smitty has a nice video of it. I don't know how to put it on my blog, but I hope to be able to put it on the home page of this website. Good job, Becky!

The seedlings are growing. Dear Reader, let's hope the cold winds subside and April continues on a warm note!

Monday afternoon:

"Ah, it's good to be queen!"

The above quote is a paraphrase  of "It's good to be king," from Mel Brooke's movie "History of the World." Michael says this all the time and I heard it again when Michael took me to Chef Amaury Saturday night. I have to share the menu with you, dear Reader, so you can drool like we did.

Course Number One started with Spanish Chorizo and Manchego Cheese. The sauces at Chef Amaury's are delicious and the apple ginger vinaigrette, candied lemon peel was suberb. The pistachios and mixed greens completed the dish.

Course Number Two was Asparagus Soup (oh, yum!) with Seared Sea Scallop with Chive Oil. The chive oil was a really nice touch.

Course Number Three: Macadamia Crusted Gulf Red Grouper with guava coulis, quinoa and sauteed ramps and wilted spinach. Need I tell you it was soooooo good?

Course Number Four: We chose the "Painted Hill" NY strip with goat cheese truffle potatoes and green beans. This was the only part of the meal that could have used some improvement. The steak was cooked perfectly, but the cut of the meat was not too tasty. In other words it was the supplier, not the cook, that made this less than perfect. The goat cheese truffle mashed potatoes were outstanding.

Ah, but Course Number Five:  The Goat Cheese Black Walnut Cheesecake with mixed berry cognac sauce was out of this world! Such a blend of interesting tastes! This was not a typical cheesecake...it was round and so smooth and creamy sitting in a (fried?) shell of black walnut something or other which can not be described.

All this, and champagne, too. I truly have the greatest friends in the world!

Speaking of good friends, Dave was over again to start the clean up of the fallen old willow, planted as a wee thing in 1974 by Jack and me. (I think of all the years I watered that tree before it's roots grew long enough to tap into the lake water underneath it's little feet. I think of all the years I gave it "hair cuts" to keep it from weeping right to the ground...) We started the fire in the nearby stone pit that Dave made for me in 2000. (See photos above) Most of the top part of the tree was so dead that it burned readily. Some of the larger, more green parts were tranported to the burn pile across the lake, and now we are left with the largest part of the trunk. We will work on that in good time. It does look so much better now.

I took some photos of the pink tulips growing by  the back door to share with you. Spring is such a sweet season!

Did I tell you that I joined Facebook? Oh, my, I can see it will take lots of time...and I'm not so sure I will be able to add more time in my schedule...but I will try. It is SO good to talk with friends across the United States - and some I haven't talked with since college in the late '60's!

I enjoy talking with you, too, dear Reader. I hope you enjoy the goings-on at the Land!

Early, early Thursday morning (in the wee hours)

The rains come and give life-enhancing water to the seeds recently planted in the ground.  Such is the way inherent to the growing season. Although it is hard to give up that wonderful sunny warm weather we just had, the rain is vital to growth.

The Land is coming alive! More water fowl (although the black-and-white duck is gone), more buds on trees and green, green everywhere. It is the beginning of one of the most beautiful seasons here in Paradise. (see photo of Blue Heron above)

Things are moving along as they should be. I temper my impatience with the thought that all the chores (how can we call such exhilerating work a "chore?"), will get done...that there is always time enough. Always time enough...

Yesterday I helped Alana at Junene's farm one last time. Dave was there,too. It was good we were all together. Dave found some felt paper that will be used underneath the roof of  JJ's chapel. Everything helps!

Again we see the world though different eyes as the brown barrenness of winter gives way to vibrant pink and white blossoms and the green grass of spring. (see photo taken of blossoming tree outside of Rochelle in a small town.)

Welcome Rains! Welcome Spring!

May you, dear Reader, be experiencing the same joy of spring!

Happy Easter to you, dear Reader!
What a lovely day it was even with the  thunderstorm late this afternoon. It's been a long time since we've had so much thunder and lightning! It is neat to listen to!

Lots happening lately...I checked my bees to see where the queen was, and if she's laying eggs. She is in the hive body, and definitely laying eggs. The upper "super"(box)  is amazingly filled with honey. There is so much honey that I could hardly lift it. So, after cleaning out the entire bee hive, I added another super on top.  Looking at the photo above, you can tell the bees were really upset that I was looking through their home. My veil and bee suit really helped. I didn't get so much as one sting, which is good as they were all over me (in a not-so-friendly mood).

Dave came over on Saturday. We left for Sandwich, IL to see Bruno's windows. We bought 4 windows, all of which will be used in JJ's chapel. (see photo) Thanks, Bruno!

When we returned from Sandwich, 2 weirdos...ooops! I mean two men were relaxing by the pond, doing a little fishing. (See photo above and see if you can identify the weirdos.) Chris and Smitty (geez, I gave it away!) didn't have too much luck until they went to the other side of the pond. Then, Smitty started reeling in some big crappies! (See photo that Chris took). He was so busy fishing that he didn't join Chris and Dave by the burn pile until later. And we know how much Smitty loves fires!

It was a wonderful day yesterday. I worked until dark again. It's so hard to quit when the fire is going and every stick or branch I pick up is burned up quickly. It saves so much additional work when the fire keeps going!

Today - on Easter - it is the end of an era on the Land. The first of the willow trees Jack and I planted around the pond in 1974, succumbed to the high winds. This particular tree was never the same after the 1983 gravel work that was done to build the overpass on Beemerville Road (over I-39). The crew left a huge pile of gravel for us when they left the job for good. The gravel pile, near the pond, surrounded the willow that fell over today. The willow still has a bank of gravel around it, which we will have to remove now that the entire trunk has keeled over.

The willow needed to be taken down, as it was mostly dead. I am grateful it fell over completely - including all of the trunk. Now I need Dave to come back again! It will look very barren there, when we finish cutting it up and removing it.

To end this entry today, I am adding some photos below of the view from JJ's chapel BEFORE the bonfire, followed by the photo I took this evening after most of the fire had burned down.

The next photo is of the silly ducks who visit from the neighboring farm. I think they were having a gossip session! And last, but not least, Mr. Racoon early yesterday morning, is looking for something to eat in Willow Creek. Enjoy, dear Reader!

On another note, my son, Jeff, had eye surgery to correct his vision on Friday. It went very well, but he was in quite a bit of pain for a few days. He says he feels much better now. I'm sure your warm thoughts sent to him will help, too!

I'm listening to the thunder as I sign off. Dear Reader, enjoy a great sleep during this storm!

Thursday evening:
Dear Reader, please hold my hand and listen to me vent.

It was a day that...well...just didn't work.

I dropped off my Nissan in North Aurora for the 5th time to fix the same problems I've had all along. (Sun and moon roof problems.) The service department had supposedly fixed the sunshade last time, only to have the moon shade break. The moon shade part just came in, only to have the mechanics determine I need a new sunshade. Because the parts have to be ordered, I will have to come back again (6th time!).

There are more things happening to my car (which I LOVE), but I will spare  you all the tiny details.

After Nissan I went to Kirkland to have crowns put on my two front teeth, and Oh! they look so good! But my gum has repaired well and now the new crown goes up too much into the gum, so my dentist suggested we get a new shorter crown. I concurred and am thankful she is such a perfectionist. But after 3 hours in the dentist chair and the same old temporary  teeth, plus the Nissan problems, I was feeling a little low.

Nissan calls while I'm at the dentist and informs me they are flying the parts in, so I won't have to come back for the 6th time. That cheers me a little bit.

I drive home and my garage door will not open. Therefore I can not get into my house. I immediately drive pell-mell into Casey's in  Paw Paw to buy a new battery for the garage door opener. Only thing is...I can't get my garage door opener - opened. I struggle with it. Two employees at Casey's struggle with it. A young man in a pick up drives up and I accost him (yes, I do believe accost is a good word to use. Wait, maybe "badger" would be more apt...)

He finally cracks open the garage door opener enough for us to see that Casey's doesn't carry the little round button-like battery.

I go out to my rental car, only to find that my door is locked. Back I go to ask Casey's employees if they can get into my car. I think they are a little sick of me by now. I find that the passenger door is unlocked (go figure), and everyone at Casey's is relieved. Me, too.

Dave calls and reminds me that I better check to see if the electricity is off to my house. Oops, in my sorry state, I didn't even think of this possibility.

I come back home and yes, the electricity IS off.

Michael happens to call in and I blurt out all my problems. After he hears me out, he assures me all will turn out okay. I apologize for dumping on him, but he gently reminds me as a doctor, he is used to listening to people. How true!

Meanwhile, Dave has called back with ComEd's number to report the outage. I find out it has been reported, and will be fixed in about an hour.

So, what to do? It's actually hot, so I kick off my shoes and nylons, roll up my slacks, and walk barefoot to the ...
PURPLE PICNIC TABLE.

I'm still out of sorts (to put it mildly!) but I sit down and begin to peruse a magzine. Perhaps 15 or 20 mintues go by, and all of a sudden I realize all my cares and worries have vanished. The view overlooking Willow Creek, listening to the chortling water as it falls over stones in the creek, hearing the birds chirping happily in the background, and feeling the warmth of an 80 degree day - all of these things take my problems away. I feel so much lighter.

Thanks to my friends and the magic of the Land, I am soothed. How could I ask for more? The Land - always the Land, heals me. What an enchanting place to be!

I try the garage door again, and it opens....

Once again, I hope, someday, all my readers (all 5 of you?) - will meet out here at the purple picnic table on the Land, or up at JJ's Chapel, or in the screened-in porch on the house-on-the-hill and have a wonderful time enjoying the Land, as I do. This is my wish for you.

With my difficult day in mind, I add Rascal Flatts wish for you, dear Reader - that...
           "You never need to carry 
           more than you can hold,
           And while you're out there gettin'
           where you're gettin' to,
          I hope you know somebody loves you
          and wants the same thing, too."
Oh, yeah, this is my wish for you....

May you have the best evening, dear Reader!