Wild Things

Violets were my Mom's favorite flower. This year, we seem to have an abundance, particularly where they shouldn't be. But they can be transplanted and work very well between tree roots.

I also read somewhere that someone (the French?) dip these first in lemon juice, dust them with superfine sugar and use them to decorate cakes. And they are completely edible.

Think we'll stick with the Morels.

The Morel of the Story

Besides an abundance of garlic mustard, guess what Dave, our ace landscape guy, found in our backyard? Morel mushrooms! Who knew one could be a gourmande, albeit unintentionally?

According to Amazon, a pound of dried Morels costs $192. Zoikes, that's a lot of dough for really scary-looking mushrooms.

I am going to attempt to saute some of these tonight. Dave has recommended a milieu of butter and olive oil.

If you don't hear from Naperville Now for a few days, you'll know its because Dave misidentified these or we have embarked upon new careers as professional fungus purveyors.

RSVP

I'm co-hosting a bridal shower this Sunday for a dear friend's daughter. It's been a lot of fun planning the menu (sushi and quiche, in keeping with an international theme), the favors (Joyce, did I have favors in 1980?) and the flowers (Anyone know if hydrangea are in season yet?).

At the risk of sounding like a "Get Off My Lawn" kind of gal, I was a bit miffed that we hadn't heard from a couple of people on the guest list. Gosh, how hard is it to pick up the phone and call? How can one plan on the proper number of wrapped eels? How many quarts of pear sorbet are enough for parfaits? More importantly, how much champagne will be needed for the Mimosas? (Okay, that was a trick question. One can never have too much champagne, but you get my drift.)

As we sat down to dinner early last week with our golfing friends, I was about to start pontificating about the tardy non-RSVPers when my friend Betsy leaned in and whispered, "So, will you be joining us for Stacia's baby shower this Saturday?"

It Happens

The enterprising duo of Michael and Kevin left quite the flyer in my mailbox yesterday. They are advertising their services to clean and polish surfaces covered in bird poop -- rocks, cars, stones, concrete, tile "and much more. We like to save you money!"

Here are the cleaning prices:

A little rock costs $0.25.

A medium rock will run you $0.50.

A large or larger rock is $1.00 plus, with a $0.25 "extra fee for more than 4 square inches of mess per a object."

Luckily, polishing said items is only a little bit more.

"Our deals are a a lot cheaper than other companies or wasting gallons of water with power washers.**

** Don't worry we supply the water!"

My interest was definitely piqued by their choice of artwork, which is featured above.

I must say that anyone who starts a summer job in April is to be lauded, if not hired.  (Then decontaminated, of course.)

Nice work, Michael and Kevin.

Mirror Mirror Part Deux

Successsssss!

Thanks to vigilant Nancy, a hardware store aficionado who inspired me to buy my own electric drill 15 years ago, I have found two reasonably-priced mirrors for the guest bathroom. Lowe's in Bolingbrook just got a shipment in on Thursday. After I'm done celebrating, I will take some Advil, dust off my drill and start hanging.

(And no, my bathroom doesn't look like this. But it could.)

More reno stories, thanks to dad and son duo Charlie and Jason Jump, later.

Oh Those Lit Chix

Airtastic Play Land

Mother of 1-year-old to visiting sister: "Want to go to Airtastic with Zachary and me?"

Sister replies,"What's Airtastic?"

"An indoor jumping around place. Like Leaps and Bounds."

"Is it loud and sticky?"

"Maybe."

"Let's just take him to Buffalo Wild Wings instead."
"Okay."

1001 Knobs

These mini bathroom renos have required steely determination. For the life of me, I can't find mirrors that will work in the gray bathroom, never mind the rose one (yes, I have a rose-colored bathroom. Don't ask the color theme of the powder room). So if you need me to tell you what mirrors are available to the buying public in the western suburbs, I'm your gal.

However, in the midst of all that driving all over creation,  I have found a store to gladden your heart: Bemmco Hardware in Lisle (on Ogden at Yackley), which bills itself as the "House of 1001 Knobs."

Need nickel hinges to replace the corroded brass hinges of the 1980s? Here you go!

Hardware that will cover the faded wood from the old pulls? Voila!

Need a little help getting the doors to close? Well, I'm working on that.

I have never seen so many hinges, pulls, knobs and hardware in one place. If there's a hardware heaven, honey, Bemmco's it.

Come and Gone

The warmer weather has fooled Mother Nature into thinking it's June, not April, witness what I saw outside the laundry room:

We poked around, hoping to find the little devils in order to enroll them in the federal witness protection program. Too late.

Yummy yummy.

How can something so cute be so destructive?

Picture Perfect

Glancing in Oswald's window today, I saw several Naperville postcards (89 cents each) and couldn't resist.

There was also this:

I like living in a town small and large enough to have its own postcards.

Architectural Digest

Isle Have One

You're welcome.

Calling All Proofers

Easter (?)

Yes, the bus stops in Chicago are wearing Easter bonnets.

Brand Spanky New

Ever had an inexplicable odor? One that emanated from the backseat of your car? And got stronger with each hot day until driving the vee-hicle was pretty much impossible? Me, too. My advice? Don't loan your car to a sippee-cup user. Milk can become rancid in even 65 degrees of weather. Dang, that is one really bad, all-encompassing, nose-blasting smell from hell.

The solution? Brighton Car Wash on 75th Street. Now this is in no way a cheap remedy, but it was either pay a whole lotta money to wash it within an inch of its life or leave the car on the side of the road.

Two young men detailed the interior with odor-eating microbes or microns or millipedes or something. And six hours later, THEY GOT THE SMELL OUT. At least, the smell of shampoo/microbia is so strong, it has overpowered the rancidness.

And you know those disgusting crumbs that build up in the cup holders? Gone. Clean as a whistle. Brand spanky new.

A girl could get used to such an interior.