THANKS FOR THE E AWARD

Inga of Taste Memory has generously given me the E for Excellent Award. Thanks so much, Inga, I deeply appreciate it.

Inga and I have some things in common : We are both from the South. She's from South Korea and I am from the South . Actually Inga was born in Seoul but grew up in Southern California. She's Korean married to an American and I am American married to a Korean. She's a foodie and while I'm not I do love to cook, both soul and Seoul food.

I'm so happy to have made a new friend in Inga and she is the first non-garden blogger that I've added to my blogroll. Go and visit her blog. You'll be delighted as I was.

I now get to pass the E award on to 10 0ther bloggers. Here are some of them :

Carol at Maydreamsgardens
Gina at Myskinnygarden
Joyce at Muumsmusings
Phillip at Dirt Therapy
Ki at Mucknmire
Val at the Illustrated Gardener
David at Leave me Alone I'm Digging

TULIPS AND DAFFODILS, OH MY !

Cast in Stone : The Resident Rabbit at Sweet Garden Chicago

and the only kind I like.

My pet goldfish have awakened from their long Winter's nap

My new chair cushions have arrived and are installed

Magnolia Betty is once again ready to put on a show

Spring has finally arrived in the form of tulips, daffodils and Scilla. But I'm cautiously optimistic because I've read the long range forecast for Chicago : Frost or freeze warnings early next week so I won't be planting annuals until after then.

LIVING THE GREEN LIFE 24/7

Solar Powered Homes in Stelle

Today is Earth Day and much has been written and shown in the Media about how we can be greener. I think we gardeners are among the most environmentally aware people on earth but the story that impressed me the most is about the little town of Stelle, Illinois that is only one and a half hours drive from Chicago.

Back in the early'70's being green wasn't a big priority and was looked on as something odd. That's when some Chicago ex-pats decided to create their own sustainable living community in Stelle with solar panels and bales of straw. They also went native with the plants and grew their own food. Imagine that. Pretty amazing to most people in this day and time but it was a lot like the life I had growing up.

Stelle is having it's own Earth Day Open House because people have become curious and wanted to visit the self-sustaining community. They'll have tours of their orchard, sheep farm and straw-bale houses, hands-on workshops, and a l restaurant's menu will feature food from local farmers and growers.

You can visit these real eco-pioneers at centerforsustainablecommunity.org.