Northern Lights, Ice Caves… Iceland

I had major doubts when I heard my brother was going to visit Iceland in the middle of the winter. After all, Iceland is located just a few degrees south of the Arctic Circle. But, while they did have warm coats, the weather was fortunately no worse than what we experienced in Del Webb this winter, and they could even bathe in hot springs to get warm, if necessary.

The root of the problem: whom to ask about plant health

Symptoms are generally better treated when there is a diagnosis. This is true whether there is a rash on your hand or brown spots on the leaves of a crab tree. While a dermatologist is the best person to contact regarding a rash, the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum is able to assist you with questions regarding crab trees. The Plant Clinic offers answers firmly based in science about flowers, shrubs and trees.

Ask an Angel: August 14, 2025

I’m writing as a husband, caregiver, and someone who’s starting to realize that I can’t keep doing it all on my own.

My wife was diagnosed with early-stage dementia last year. For now, we’re managing okay, but the days are getting more complicated. I’m still able to care for her, but I can feel the weight of it building. I’m 76, and while I’m in decent health, I know that I need to be realistic about what I can do on my own.

Bird, plane, rock, flame

Superheroes: they have been as old as time if you count Hercules and Perseus of Greek myth. Funny how my audience was treated to a teaser to Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey adaptation during one screening, but that is for next summer. Superman and Fantastic Four are the topics of the day. But rather than review them respectively, I want to take a moment to take the temperature of these two long-running franchises. DC and Marvel are the big dog on campus in the comics landscape. However, I think it is interesting to see them trot out their most squarest of characters.

Shame stood up and took a bow

For a few days, the Coldplay Jumbotron incident captured the spotlight in the headlines, much like the couple captured on camera encircled in each other’s arms, rocking blissfully back and forth to the smooth (and to some, romantic) crooning of frontman Chris Martin.

In the Before, they were like any typical couple, enjoying date night on warm July evening at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

It’s a wonder how critters make sense of those scents

My son’s Brittany spaniel is an olfactory wonder.

Whenever I go to visit, he dashes circles around my legs, praying to play fetch. (The dog, not my son. That would be creepy.)

The yard is filled with fetchable things — chewed up tennis balls, bones, sticks, rubber toys — and all I have to do is choose one of them and give it a toss. Cinder the spaniel dashes off and brings it back.

They’ve always loved summer, the botanical gardens in full bloom, music in the park, and strolls through the farmer’s market. These little outings have meant so much to all of us over the years. But recently, my parents had a bit of a health setback, and I’m realizing that even the simplest day out now takes a little more planning, patience, and flexibility.

Father of the groom

Our oldest son is getting married! He and his beautiful girlfriend announced to us earlier this month that they will be getting hitched in late October. We suspected they would tie the knot at some point, but for the past few years, they didn’t seem in any rush. This proved to be a challenge for my husband and me, Gen X-ers who were married at ages 21 and 22. More than a few times we’ve kicked each other under the table when one of us was about to ask, “So, are you two ever going to get married?”

“Stay cool,” we’d mouth to each other behind our water glasses. “Relax — It’s none of our business.”

Might the curse of quiet summer mornings be lifted?

At 8:23 a.m. on July 6, a warm, drizzly, Sunday morning, I realized that it was a red-letter day.

Not because of the Independence Day parade I had planned to visit later in the day. To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to that. Crowds, heat, and impending rain are not a red-letter recipe for a day well spent, in my opinion.

Eat where the locals go

Our son and his family were coming to visit us from Florida for the Fourth of July holiday. This traditionally is a day of parades, fireworks, and barbeques. In anticipation of this, we travelled to that well known sausage and butcher shop in Elburn. Now to stock up on hot dogs, bratwursts, and thuringers. The trick is to stop Jim from buying a shopping cart full of beef jerky and salami sticks. I have to admit, they have the best pre-cooked pork schnitzel you have ever tasted and we usually buy out the display. This shopping spree worked up quite an appetite for us. We decided to check out a nearby breakfast/lunch café that we heard about on social media that was only ten minutes away. Off we went to the Sugar Grove Café in, where else, Sugar Grove.

And when I’m back in Chicago…

City dwellers get agitated every time someone says you are from Chicago, and that person is really a suburbanite. Hostile would be the operative word for how they react. A friend of mine, who now lives in Jefferson Park, rolls his eyes at such notions. However, I think Gertrude Stein said it best that America was her country but Paris is her hometown. Having lived just a couple hours away, the city has become of part of my DNA. From going to museums as a child to partying in the various clubs and villages, there are too many memories to divorce myself from our major metropolis.

Ask an Angel: July 17, 2025

I’m in my late 40s and living with multiple sclerosis. I’ve had my diagnosis for over a decade, but in the last year or so, things have gotten harder. Some days, I wake up and my legs feel like they’re made of concrete. Other days, it’s the brain fog or the fatigue that knocks me off course. I try to balance work and my friendships, but honestly, I feel like I’m constantly letting people down.

In their defense: what you can do to support the environment

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Although this quote is attributed to Margaret Mead, it could very easily be the motto of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County. For over 50 years, they have worked diligently protecting our ecosystem and preserving our natural environment all while educating residents. They have successfully protected valuable areas such as Ryder’s Woods in Woodstock and the Volo Bog State Natural Area. They also assisted in the development of the Crystal Lake watershed protection ordinance and the McHenry County Stormwater ordinance.

Some sobering thoughts on a festive holiday

This July 4th, take a quiet moment in the morning to thank our Founding Fathers (and Mothers) for their sacrifices in gaining our nation’s independence.

And then stay home. Fire up the grill. Char those burgers and brats. Lay into that potato salad and coleslaw with a vengeance, as if it offended you somehow.

Embracing my inner Mrs. Roper

I saw it hanging on a hanger at the store. I’d only gone in to grab a bottle of shampoo, but somehow I meandered aimlessly through housewares, then electronics, and finally women’s clothing. Before me hung a caftan, a flowy, flowery, dress that set off the sound of harps in my head. It was so fabulous, so indulgent, so … not me. I was pulled to it like a moth to flame.

Ask the Woodchucks: July 3, 2025

A neighbor asked me a short time ago what she should do with her clothes dryer. It takes much longer to dry clothes than it used to. She didn’t know whether to call a repair man or to just replace it.

Ask an Angel: July 3, 2025

I’m writing to you with a heavy heart, and some worry about my future. I’m in my early 60s, and I’ve been reflecting on my father’s health as I approach the age when I first noticed signs of memory loss in him. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his late 60s, and over time, I watched his mind deteriorate. It was painful, especially since I was very close to him.

Feels over reals

With June drawing to a close, the theatrical fireworks are just getting started. But sometimes, you are looking for something more emotional. Counter-programing has always been a part of the studios’ business model. While the empty calories play on screen, the healthier options play next door. And never the same audience shall meet, or at least they thought. After Barbenheimer, the idea of mutually exclusive filmgoing experiences were a thing of the past. Savvy viewers note that this is just another case of the pendulum swinging back. I remember the late nineties and early two-thousands were chalked full of this mid-budget scrappy fare.

Now You Know: July 3, 2025

Why is there a difference between homeowner use and community use concerning the outdoor water restrictions?

A loser’s lunch

Jim is not known for his athletic ability. He is equally horrible at all sports. This includes the relatively simple game of bocce ball. In his defense, he is improving. Now he is keeping the ball in the court and not throwing it into the bushes. He is so bad, that as of this writing, we have not won a single game. It has gotten to the point that our teammates drive past him when he is walking Rosie, they roll down the car window, and laughingly yell, “YOU SUCK”!!! To soften the pain of our losing streak, we decided to try a new restaurant in Algonquin. With our heads bowed in shame, we ventured off to Casa Tequilas Mexican Grill.

Repelling rabbits: how to keep the bunnies at bay

Over the past 48 years, time and time again, our family has enjoyed going to the same restaurant. We have enjoyed hundreds of dinners, thousands of hours of laughter, and copious amounts of delicious food. El Niagara in Woodstock has firmly established itself as our go to place when dining out. Over the past almost five decades, nothing has stopped us from enjoying delicious carne asada, fajitas and chimichangas from their menu. Even when the restaurant burnt down, we waited patiently for it to be rebuilt and then went back.

Where time stands still

Our recent trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was a rare just-the-two-of-us vacation that I expect will become more common, as our adult children are establishing their own lives and their own traditions. So off we went, my Gentleman Friend and I, with our trusty teardrop camper in tow up to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan.

Our campsite turned out to be mere steps from the shore of Lake Superior, and if it weren’t for the 40-degree temps, I would’ve been tempted to wade into the crystalline blues and greens of the water. Instead, we sat as close as we could to the frigid waves that lapped the shore, reading, napping, and occasionally commenting on cloud formations or seagull antics.

A morning spent counting rings — and other things

I spent a chunk of this morning counting rings.

No, not the jewelry kind of rings. It wouldn’t take me long to do that, because I only own one — my wedding ring, which I haven’t worn in seven years, since I lost my wife of 48 years.

And not the rings of wood on the front of my guitar, which has a sort of tiger-swirl pattern that defies count.

Roses are red: how to handle thorny plants

Roses. It seems gardeners either love them or hate them. There is often no in between. The people who hate them have typically tried to grow them, but have become frustrated because they didn’t perform up to their expectations. Ensuring roses live up to expectations involves choosing wisely what rose to plant and knowing how and when to care for the roses that have been planted. In recognition of June being National Rose Month, this column delves into the different categories of roses, suggested plant installation techniques and best practices when it comes to rose care.

Ask an Angel: June 19, 2025

I’m a 68-year-old recently retired teacher, and for most of my adult life, I’ve battled high blood pressure. My readings have fluctuated over the years due to factors like stress, diet, and how consistently I’ve exercised. Now that I’m retired, I want to finally get it under control for good.

CAUTION: MAY BE HABIT FORMING

Nancy has been experiencing a slow leak for months now. No, it is not what you think. We have one of those “numbers” beds that is pumped up with air to the firmness of your liking. Every few days it must be pumped up, and since Nancy is not known for suffering in silence, it’s time for a new mattress after 16 years. On to the nearest store where we were treated to more videos than a timeshare sales meeting. This mattress even has an app to tell you how well you are sleeping. Seriously??? You need an app for that?

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