McHenry County Blog

How warm is it?

The daffodils are coming up.

Daffodils coming up on January 6, 2012.

In December the average temperature was 29 degrees, according to NICOR.  My gas bill says it averaged 23 degrees last year.

It's been twenty-five years since ladies in Bull Valley started planting daffodils along the area's roads.

This is the time of year to take a leisurely drive in Bull Valley.

Obeying the speed limit, if in the village, of course, because traffic tickets are a main source of revenue for the municipality.   In fact Bull Valley is the Chicago metropolitan area’s number one speed trap, according to the Chicago Tribune.   Use your turn signals, too.

Having said that, during the summer I regularly drive up Cherry Valley Road to Wonder Lake.  Parts of it where the tree limbs cover the roadway remind me of stretches of the Talbot County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where I grew up.

And this time of year, it is worth a special drive in the area just to see the daffodils.

The following press release found in a McHenry County email explains a celebration being held Saturday afternoon by those who don’t want county government to turn Fleming Road into an eastern truck bypass for Woodstock.

Amongst the blooming daffodils on Fleming Road is a sign reading, "Daffodils NOT Asphalt."

The McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission will be dedicating Fleming Road in Bull Valley, IL as McHenry County’s 8th Scenic Road.

When:    Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

Where:   Near the intersection of Fleming and Bull Valley Roads.

Please park park along the shoulders of the road to avoid the grass and plants.

Oaks that would presumably be removed if the County Trasnporation Department's plan to widen Flrming Road is implemented.

Click here to view the dedication ceremony program!

Click here to learn more about McHenry County Scenic Roads and the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission!

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I am told that the owners of the Right-of-Way, that is the property owners along Fleming Road, have dedicated a conservation easement to a conservation organization.

"Cut Speed NOT Trees" says this partically obscrued yard sign.

But they have done something else, as well.

They have also dedicated the easement to the Village of Bull Valley.

I am told that one governmental unit cannot condemn land within the boundaries of another one.

If so, that would seem to checkmate any county government ambitions to seize property through eminent domain proceedings so as to turn Fleming Road into a thoroughfare wider than residents desire.

Spring had just begun to pop my daffodils when summer came.

It was delightful driving around my neighbor after attending the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake.  Newcomers call it “The Gates.”  That’s probably a real estate salesperson’s moniker for what is about a 400-home subdivision called Country Club Additions.

Taking home one of the two friends who slept over Saturday night, we found this toilet-papered home at the intersection of Broadway and Melrose Lane (Gate 10).

The flowering trees have not yet popped, but some teens gave two decorations of a different nature when they TPed them. Blowing in the wind.

Two fishermen were out trolling in front of CCAPOA’s Gate 7 Beach.

The swimming bouys are not yet up and boats are not anchored, so it was easy to fish this close to Crystal Lake's shoreline.

Two bicyclers had stopped to sun themselves on the beached raft.

Beats getting a sandy back and the view is hard to beat.

A power boat was being launched at the Gate 7 ramp.

"Keys Time " was being launched at the property owners' boat ramp. Any of the 400+ homeowners have the right to launh their boats at the ramp, if they join CCAPOA and buy a boat key.

Since my Class of 1960 high school classmate Mike Firth’s family lived at this home two lots from the boat launching, these scilla have probably been multiplying. I’m been trying to make the land next to Lake Avenue look like this. Maybe 50 years from now it will.

Scillia brighten this lawn on Lake Short Drive in Lakewood.

Both Gate 3 swings were filled with families enjoying the 87-degree day weather.

Gate 3 has a great view of the Crystal Lake Park District's Main Beach House.

Others were walking their dogs.

Gate 21 proven irresistable to this woman who was walking her dog.

Other neighbors were out raking leaves One said she really disliked having to put them in bags, a view I whole heartedly share.

This man has a higher tech solution to putting his leaves in bags. Guess when one lives in an oak-hickory forest, getting rid of leaves is a necessary evil.

This little pooch had just finished romping in Crystal Lake.

This little dog went swimming or at least wading at Gate 13 Beach.

Other dog walkers were at the Gate 13 Beach. In the background, a lake front property owner’s pier has been pulled from shore by the melting ice.

So, if you haven't taken your pier in before the lake froze, how do you retireve it when it ends up out in the lake?

My neighbor has drainage problems which he was trying to fix by digging a ditch toward the dry well in front of his home.

Hostas cover the corner every fall.

Some daffodils on Lake Avenue have made their appearance. The tree house can be seen behind the fence.

In the southeast nook next to the sun porch, the daffodils really made their presence known today. Last night there was only one blooming.

This is what happens when one does not divide and transplant daffodils.

The clouds are rolling in, so it’s time to plant those bulbs I didn’t get in last December that are sprouting the in garage. Maybe I can salvage them.

When we visited Eagle Ridge last spring break, the magnolia trees were blooming outside our room and it was warm enough for bare legs.

Having examined the plane fares to Florida, the three Skinners certainly are not flying south.

So, the question is where we can drive?

Should we go to a water park in the Wisconsin Dells, Rockford (as some Wisconsin State Senators did) or Gurnee?

Alternately, how about a return to Galena Territory, where we stayed at the Eagle Ridge inn as the magnolias were blooming?

This couple was enjoying a round of golf as we were off to Downtown Galena.

My wife and I have never golfed together, but if she could get a girl friend to go with her, she’d be up for a round, I’ll bet.

Others were playing tennis, but that’s not my game either.

People were enjoying the tennis courts.

And, if you go to The Atomic Toy Company (owned by Crystal Laker Dave Rokusek), your son and his buddy might pick up some liquid sting and he invent their own competition.

As this liquid string fight was going on, I was wondering what the grounds people might think when they next mowed the grass.

The Atomic Toy Company is chockful of toys from days gone past. There are enough toys priced under $1 that anyone can find something worth buying. It really is the one store Downtown that should not be missed.

That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to keep one busy on the grounds.

My idea of a vacation is being able to sit down and read a book (although I also stand in long Disney World lines and read). From the balcony of our room at Eagle Ridge, I could watch the action on the path below and keep an eye out for the resort's namesake bird.

There’s a path running around Galena Lake. Whether it’s walking a dog or with one’s family, it’s a way to commune with nature.

Not only were the magnolias out while we visited last spring, but daffodils were blooming near the parth.

There's a clear view of the lake before the leaves come out.

I’m pretty sure the path goes all the way around the lake. There’s such a great view of it from the Eagle Inn dining room and upper walkways.

If renting a boat is too ambitious for vacationers, they can just sit on a bench as the couple below is. Actually, it was warm enough to take a boat out on the lake the week we were in Galena Territory, but they were in winter storage.

From the docks I sighted below the high deck, it appears that visitors can rent boats when it is warmer.

The dining room at Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena.

Inside is a wonderful dining room.  Get a table by the window at sunset.

Sunset from the Eagle Ridge Resort dining room.

The view is remarkable.  And there’s people watching, too, because a walkway is between the dining area and the view.

If you don’t want to dine so formally, there is a deli.

The staff at Pizanos Deli is so fast, my digital camera could only catch a blur. (Look in the lower left hand side of the photo.)

There’s plenty of seating.  I see five tables indoors and there more outside.

Look at all the tables in the deli.

If the woman of the family manages to find the shops…

The shops are on the right, just as one comes in the main door.

There are comfortable chairs just beyond in front of the dining room.

If your wife goes shopping, I'd advise bringing a novel to spend the time along.

Of course, you could just go into the bar and watch some game on TV.

The Eagle Ridge bar is right acorss a hall from the deli. I imagine one could eat deli food there, too.

One day while my son and his friend were in the pool, I went exploring.

The spring days were so moderate that the pools room was rolled back so fresh air could come in.

I walked down a long hall and admired the paintings that were for sale.

It appears that the old lead mining town of Galena is home to a lot of artists.

As I walked down the hall, I discovered that Eagle Ridge is not only a resort, it is a conference center.

The tables were set for some big affair in the conference dining room. People in attendance probably hope they get near the windows.

My immediate inspiration for writing this article was an email that I just got from Eagle Ridge about a “Wine Lovers Weekend.” I’m not a fan of wine, but one whom I love is.  Come to think of it, I don’t even know if March 24-27 is during Crystal Lake’s spring break.  No matter, we’d bring wine and buy it at meals.

Eagle Ridge Resort's private label red.

Eagle Ridge has its own label, which my wife likes.  My guess is there will be wine from many vineyards.

Galena Cellars is just inside the flood gate off Route 20.

We always visit Galena Cellars.

Almost forgot.  I didn’t get any pictures, but my wife loves the spa.

It’s that time of year when yellow enters our yard.

Daffodils, tulips, forsythia.

The ones you see are along Lake Avenue in Lakewood, Illinois.

Other ‘yellow” posts:

4-17-6

3-17-7

3-28-7

3-31-7

3-21-8

4-17-8

4-25-8

4-28-8

5-8-8

3-17-9

Click to enlarge photos.

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The yellow violet above was a volunteer in my back yard last year. This year I have seen two plants.

Seventy degrees and the daffodils popped.

I opened the screen door and Keely Cat immediately left a closed window for the open air.

Like Ferdinand, the Bull, he wanted to play in the flowers.

But that screen was in the way.

Why is Keely licking his chops?

Maybe he sees a chip monk or a squirrel outside.

“Phooey,” Catkins said.

“Maybe those yellow things are good to eat.”

All imasges can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Seventy degrees and the daffodils popped.

I opened the screen door and Keely Cat immediately left a closed window for the open air.

Like Ferdinand, the Bull, he wanted to play in the flowers.

But that screen was in the way.

Why is Keely licking his chops?

Maybe he sees a chip monk or a squirrel outside.

“Phooey,” Catkins said.

“Maybe those yellow things are good to eat.”

All imasges can be enlarged by clicking on them.

These daffodils were noticed Monday, the day before the snow descended…still again.

They are on a sheltered southeast corner of our house.

They got blanketed but good Monday night.

Last year we had daffodils pushing leaves up the first week of January.

These daffodils were noticed Monday, the day before the snow descended…still again.

They are on a sheltered southeast corner of our house.

They got blanketed but good Monday night.

Last year we had daffodils pushing leaves up the first week of January.