No Clue

Discovered these paper mache birds at The Magic Hedge/Montrose Harbor.  

Getting Ready

The new 31st Street Harbor -- almost ready for the start of the boating season.

A Spring Thing

Ramps are in season.  It's a short season so get them while you can.  Make pesto and pasta sauce, omelets and pizza, pickle them, freeze ramp butter.  So many options, so little time!  

What are ramps, you say?    Allium Tricoccum.  Wild leeks.  And, a few sources say, the reason for the name "Chicago".  The Potawatami word for Wild Onions (also skunk, but I choose to ignore that variation) is Checagou.  Apparently, ramps were plentiful and the are had a distinct - but pleasantly garlicky oniony 'aroma'.

Askew

Sparkly

Blustery Spring

I actually took this photo about a week and a half ago. Then we had some beautiful sunny days so it just seemed out of place to post it. But we're back to foggy, rainy, unseasonably cold Spring so here it is. (You know it's bad when the television meteorologist and traffic person both say "Oh just stay home today.")

Watercolor Sunrise

Technicolor Tulips

Technicolor Tulips popped up in Milennium Park. Perhaps Spring has finally arrived ;)

April Sunset

A sunset from the other side of the Lake.

Ramp-a-liciously Spring

OK. Forget what the weather is like, now it is really Spring because Ramps are in season. Ramps are a wonderfully earthy cross between garlic and an onion and are the first green edible item to emerge after the long dark winter days of root vegetables (really, how many ways can you make potatoes, carrots, and onions). Seasonal eaters REJOICE!

Ramps may also be responsible for the name of this city. You see, the Potawatami word for wild onion (also skunk, but we choose to ignore that translation) is Checagou. Apparently the area had a lively crop of ramps "back in the day", giving the area a distinctive fragrance.

Happy Spring!

Practicing to Get Ready

You don't just get a boat and then start sailing it. Well, you can but it isn't really a good idea. There's a whole book written about the results.

But these smart folks were doing it right: taking a class before the boating season starts so they are prepared when (if?) the Spring weather decides to finally make an appearance and stick around for a few days.

Stre-e-e-e-tching to Get Ready

Caught these workers maneuvering some new docks into place in Burnham Harbor. Spring may actually be on the way.

A Little Late

So, for the past two years in early March, there's been a sunrise with vibrant blue, pink and orange colors (here's proof from 2009 and from 2010).

But I hadn't seen that sunrise yet this year.

I've decided that I didn't oversleep and miss it earlier this month. I've decided it's just a little late in showing up this year (as Spring is a little late settling into Chicago this year).

Shades of Blue

There's really nothing all THAT interesting about this photo except that the Chicago River is a deep blue, the water in the harbor is an aqua blue and Lake Michigan is a light blue. I was struck by the variation in the color of each section of water. It's not usually so pronounced. This photo is from Friday March 11. By the time you read this part of the Chicago River will be a shade of green that does not exist in nature ;)

March Winds

Seems like a few people were taking advantage of the March winds and doing some precision kite-flying routines over on Northerly Island.

Smudgy Sun

Today's post is brought to you by the letter "S": A Spring* Smudgy Sun Setting in the Sky by Sears.

*As of yesterday, it is now meteorological Spring ;)

Playing Hooky?

Since the schools aren't out yet, these kids must be playing hooky to enjoy a nice day.

A Day Only a Boater Would Love

No, my camera lens does not need a good cleaning. ;)

This photo was one of the early bridge runs (when the Chicago Bridges are raised to allow the sailboats to get to the harbors from their winter storage homes) this year. However, since the

weather today looked almost exactly like this, I figured it was OK to post a slightly older (really only two weeks) photo.

What's In Season?

Ramps! Although the season is almost over as it only lasts a few short weeks. Ramps are a cross between onions and garlic. They are the first "green" produce item that grows in the Spring -and all seasonal eaters rejoice because it means the dark days of onions and potatoes are over. Also, ramps may have give the city of Chicago its name. The Potawatami Indian word for Ramps (or wild onions) is Checagou. Apparently the area was rather "fragrant" with the aroma of wild onions back in the day.

Anyway, the season is short so enjoy them while you can or make them into pesto (as the ingredients in this photo are about to become) and enjoy them in the winter --- when all us seasonal eaters have available is potatoes, onions, root vegetables and anything we were lucky to have frozen during farmers market season.

Pseudo-Symmetry

Close but not quite.