Breakfast in Oak Park (and nearby)

A friend just asked me for Oak Park breakfast recommendations, here is what I said (slightly edited from the email):

Buzz Cafe: not a huge menu compared to the next two restaurants menu but really execllent food, my wife's friend owns it - 905 South Lombard

Original Pancake House - more regular breakfast joint, big portions, my wife likes it alot

and a little drive down Harlem:  Yia Yia's - pretty good Greek-style old-lady/family place

H1N1 Flu Shots in Oak Park

Full disclosure:  Emergency Response Manager Chris Shields is my neighbor on our awesome block in Oak Park.

I was amazed at how smooth the H1N1 vaccinations took place in Oak Park over the last few weeks.  Both my kids received the vaccination and the booster with no problems at all.  Not only did Oak Park seem to have the best supply of vaccine in the entire nation, but the process of receiving information and the vaccination process was quite easy.  Good Job Village of Oak Park!!!

Freaky Toe Shoes (Vibram Five Fingers)

I have recently started wearing some freaky-looking shoes that have created quite a stir at home and at work. The Vibram Five Fingers shoes are essentially a foot-cover that allows me to walk around as if I'm not wearing any shoes at all while protecting the soles of my feet from the nasties on the ground. My kids are of the age where they are easily embarrassed by parental silliness, and these shoes are about a 9 out of 10 on the silly scale. Work colleagues have harangued me thoroughly as well, but again, I'm soldiering on with them. I have been trying to figure out a way to wear them more inconspicuously at work, I have even tried on some bike shoe covers. They didn't look great over the toe shoes.

Here Fishy, Fishy (or something smells fishy in here)

I just bought this FISH EMULSION for the garden. Every book I've been reading has been talking about this and I hope it helps my veggies get fruit and grow large. It is kind of brown and soupy and has pungent odor, but the container said it should be "odorless". Maybe after applying it. Hopefully. It says it is 5-1-1 NPK which is shorthand chemical speak for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, all good things your plants want and need to grow.

And HERE is a link to how Alaska Fish Fertilizer is created.

Container Gardening

I was asked this weekend by a cousin about starting some vegetable gardening at her townhouse and found some great information from Texas A&M

I was pretty happy with the information, and the best part is this site doesn't overwhelm with too much useless chatter.

Peas and Beans are Up

My Peas and Beans are up! Very exciting.

Raised Garden day - whatever

I finished off the beds with the boy and had the soil delivered. Just started planting yesterday in the new beds (before the cold and rain today).

Raised Garden - Day 2 or so

Here is the before shot (the tarp is to try to kill the grass)




And the after shot: