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.

Tuesday night rehearsals have become a sacred space for me. During these evenings, nothing else gets scheduled, and I often trudge into rehearsal still carrying the burdens from the day. As I climb the steps to the second-floor choir room, the day’s headlines swirl around in my head, bumping into family worries, missed deadlines, and things I wish I hadn’t said. But as soon as 7 p.m. hits, our director plays a full chord on the piano and we begin our vocal warmups. For the next two and a half hours, my entire focus is on deep breaths, reading notes, and counting rests.

Enough with the improvements already

I rode my bike in the rain today.

Oh, that wasn’t my intention, I assure you. When I started out, it was a cool and cloudy day, perfect for a bike ride of 12 miles or so. But the drizzle began by the time I hit mile four, so I turned around. By the time I got home, I was pretty wet.

DIY dining

Most weeks Nancy cooks six out of seven days. I’m very lucky to be married to a great cook. She can be fancy (beef bourguignon), comforting (homemade chicken noodle soup), and old school (German rouladens). What better way to show my appreciation for all of her hard work than to take her to a restaurant where you have to cook your own food. This DIY restaurant is the Melting Pot in Schaumburg.

Now You Know: June 5, 2025

Anonymous asks “Will the mile markers be repainted along the Wildflower pathways?’

Experimental jet set and no star

Well, we are here again on the brink of another summer season and left with more questions than answers. Not that there are ever any certainties in this world at large, let alone in the world of entertainment. With the state of the world being what it is, maybe it would be fun to jump on a plane for any destination. Films have a way of making travel always seem glamorous, even as the characters and situations become unpleasant or divisive. And then there are some movies which leave such little impression that you can’t even be mad at them. Must be yet another streaming movie.

A season of lasts

The graduation gown is hanging in the closet, patiently waiting for its one day in the sun. In a few days, my youngest child will walk across the stage and officially end her years in school. As she receives her diploma, she will be tipping the scales, closing a chapter and beginning a new one.

The scale tips for me, too. I’m far removed from my season of firsts: First apartment, first home, first pet, first job. From now on, there will still be firsts, but they will slow considerably. From now on, I will have to seek out new experiences intentionally, because they will no longer be coming at me like water from a firehose.

No ‘loafing’ around

Horror of horrors!!! Jim’s worst nightmare has become a reality. The only TV in our house finally broke after ten years. He will be missing his favorite shows: My 600 Pound Life, Hoarders, and Dr. Pimple Popper. I prefer more intellectual shows like the soap opera The Young and the Restless. With nothing to occupy our time, we would have to actually talk to each other, meaning we would wind-up in a big argument. So, the decision was unanimous, we had to get a new TV and we had to get it now!!! No “loafing” around. Into the Mini-Mobile we went and sped off to that large appliance store in Glenview. After finalizing our purchase, we were hungry and broke. We remembered a nearby restaurant that has been in business for 85 years. They were known for their burgers and the ever popular “loaf” of onion rings. Can you guess which venue we are talking about? If you think it’s Hackney’s, you are correct.

A recipe for gardening success

Hosting family gatherings is something that I truly love to do. The more the merrier. Yes, it can be exhausting, but creating those family memories is so important. The part of hosting for which I need the most help is preparing the food. Cooking does not come naturally to me. For each family gathering I have a stack of recipes that I follow explicitly. Whether I am cooking for two or twenty, I cannot make anything without a piece of paper by my side that leads me through the process.

We are all…

Well, that was weird what happened within the religious world in the last few weeks. I was surreptitiously drawn into it last month when I met a friend of my uncle at a party, who grew up with a certain pontiff. At the time of this conversation, Robert Provost was just a cardinal. But while watching television on Thursday May 8th, my mother and I watched as Pope Leo XIV was ushered in as the new leader of the papacy. It got me thinking about holiness and its counterpart; and the tenuous relationship between them. This, of course, leads me into the movie Sinners.

Ask an Angel: May 22, 2025

I’m writing with a heavy heart and a lot of uncertainty. My sister and I recently had to step in to care for our dad after our mom was unexpectedly hospitalized. It all happened so fast, and honestly, we were unprepared.

In just a few days, we began to see how exhausting it must have been for our mom. Dad is showing signs of memory loss. He’s confused, repeats himself, and can’t seem to complete basic tasks. It’s clear now that she’s been holding it all together longer than we realized.

Instead of criticizing my driving, just zip it

Many years ago, while driving home from a Canada fishing trip, my buddy Jim and I ran into some road construction in Minnesota.

“Right lane closed 3 miles ahead,” the sign said. Car after car politely pulled into the crowded left lane—and because I was the one driving at the time, I zipped past in the now-much-faster right lane.

“This lane is closing,” Jim said.

“Right,” I confirmed. “In three miles.”

The shed was built for dreaming

The little shed in my backyard was built for me, back when “She Sheds” were featured in magazines and Pinterest boards. I wanted to give it a cute name, something that made it sound like a sprawling estate instead of an 80 square-foot shed kit we bought from Costco. I played around with calling it “Daisy Hill” or “Western Prairie,” but none of those stuck; ultimately it settled into its unassuming identity as “The Writing Shed” or “The Thinking Hut.”

I don’t spend a lot of time out there during the coldest winter months. It’s not too great spending time in there when it’s blisteringly hot, either.

Throwing shade: gardening away from the sun

Change is perhaps the only constant as humans mature and age. While this natural process can bring many unwanted or unwelcomed consequences there are also numerous benefits. Developing a healthy routine, creating stability, and reducing life conflicts are often part of the maturation process. With age comes wisdom is an adage that is actively demonstrated time and time again. Mature adults often have more time to explore interests or hobbies than their younger counterparts. The daily activities of a 70-year-old are often very different than a 30-year-old, and that is a good thing!

Now You Know: May 8, 2025

Please help with a disagreement my husband and I have. Recently, while walking around Wildflower Lake, we noticed a few rectangular picnic tables. I don’t remember seeing them last year, but my husband claims they have been there ‘forever.’ Who’s right?

Hilarious and fabulous

As we get our first whiff of summer with eighty degrees (too early I might say), it is hard to determine what the season has in store for us. No Brat Summer this year, unless you count the state of politics. After watching Coachella from the confines of my home, one thing became abundantly clear. Well, besides live entertainment being way too expensive and overrated for what you are paying for at times, that would make it three things. And that last one is that impending humidity will be oppressive. Watching all the concertgoers sweltering in the heat made me think, I bet they wish they had a pool.

Never assume

When we pulled into the strip mall parking lot and we finally located the restaurant, Jim seemed less than excited. It looked like a very small venue and Jim pooh-poohed it and didn’t want to go in. I, not being a pompous moron, dragged him in kicking and screaming. When I opened the door, we were surprised to see a restaurant that seemed to go on forever with no less than 22 tables. Now his attitude changed and like I always told him, never assume because we all know what happens when we assume…

Hot to go: the kind of coffee shops this world needs

The Mom & Pop coffee and tea shop is where it’s at, if you want my opinion.

Maybe the song is right: What the world needs now / is love, sweet love. Love is wonderful. I’m a huge fan of love. But hear me out: Love can be complicated and fraught. Love can bring us together, then turn right around and tear us apart. There’s a song about love for almost any situation, and they’re not all good.

Easter egg mystery solved with a bang

“There’s one missing,” we said, and Jenny, the oldest of the kids, started counting the eggs.

“No, see,” we said, interrupting her, “there were two dozen eggs — 24 — and there’s one missing from these cartons. That makes 23 eggs. There’s one missing.”

Livia and learn

There comes a time in every married man’s life when he has to endure the most diabolical torture ever devised. I am referring to the dreaded time when his wife asks him to accompany her to a quaint suburban town and wander aimlessly through old homes that have been transformed into stores filled with useless dust collecting tchotchke. Such was the case recently when Nancy asked me to go to downtown Geneva for an afternoon of fun-filled shopping. After several hours of my grumbling and pouting, Nancy decided to ease my suffering and take me to an Italian restaurant nearby. This oasis in the sea of shopping was Livia Italian Eatery in Geneva.

Ask an Angel: April 24, 2025

I’m a recently retired widow in my late sixties, and I want to make some positive changes this spring. Now that the warmer weather is here, I feel a renewed sense of energy and a real desire to become more social, especially after a lonely winter.

Wilting flowers

To paraphrase Mother Monster, move or die. The same seems to be happening to Mike White’s series The White Lotus.

Not all classrooms have four walls: Life lessons from the garden

Formal education, while important, doesn’t always translate to success or happiness in life. Education, whether it is at the primary, secondary, or post-secondary level offers us a chance to interact with peers, learn from teachers and create lifelong memories. True education, though, I would argue comes outside of the four walls of a classroom. While I absolutely loved my time at Texas A & M University, I can honestly say that I only use a small portion of what I learned from my professors. In the decades since graduation, it is what I learned from gardeners and gardening that has been my true enlightenment.

Who you gonna call?

The phone rang in the middle of the night and jolted us awake.

Okay, it wasn’t really the middle of the night — but it was late, considering that my husband and I have recently decided that, unlike Cinderella’s carriage, which returns to its original pumpkin state at midnight, we turn into pumpkins much earlier, somewhere between 8:30 and 9.

Out of habit, because bedtime was always such a ritual when the kids were little: bath, jammies, teeth, story, my husband and I have developed our own routine, and even our own vernacular concerning the end of the day.

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