Wabash Depot

Do you like to browse? Do you like antiques and rummage sales?

There is a special place in Decatur where I love to meander while considering the merit of this beautiful or that strange item. It's the Wabash Depot just north of Eldorado. As you shop you might be lucky enough to see a train rumble past.

I especially love to look at the china and silverware. I've seen gorgeous old dishes available that would be right at home on a design blog. I've also been tempted by the unusual Decatur and railroad memorabilia.

The building itself is worth the trip. It has been refurbished and the many historic details are preserved.

Head West Sub Stop

I indulged my hidden hippie today by getting lunch at Head West in Springfield. Head West is a sub shop with a twist that the bread is very soft and slightly sweet. The toppings are really good too, including yummy thickly cut pickles.

I love the vibe at Head West. Today they had advertisements up for Central Illinois Life's favorite local band, 56 Hope Road, who have a big gig coming up this weekend in Chillicothe. Dave Matthews was on the radio coving Neil Young. Head West is brightly painted with geometric prints (for sale, $10) on the wall.

The guys working behind the counter are quick, nice, and act like they give a damn that you are there. Head West is a great alternative for downtown workers who miss Breadstretchers. Hey Springfieldians, what's your favorite sandwich combination at Head West?

Pat's Garden Shop

I married into a gardening family and am probably an intermediate gardener since this is our fourth summer with a large garden. Late winter and spring holidays aren't celebrated with potlucks or cookouts, they are garden preparation markers. Tomato and pepper seeds are planted inside on Superbowl Sunday. There is a planting schedule for Easter, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day. My mother-in-law uses a watercolor paintbrush to pollinate her heirloom plants.

Having a curious three year old in the house we skipped starting seeds inside because we're generally messy enough without potting soil in the mix. Last weekend I was itching to plant peppers and tomatoes. Instead of heading to a big box garden center I decided to try a home based business near Le Roy. I went to Pat's Garden shop and found nice healthy plants for a good price. I picked out eight peppers, sixteen tomatoes, and four allysum for a total of $12. There was a good variety of vegetables. I found cayenne, jalapeno, habanero, bell, sweet, and yellow peppers. There were probably ten varieties of tomatoes.

I planted my choices as soon as I got home and a week later they are in the best shape my transplants have ever been in. They are perky and growing with good color.

Check the Google Map for directions to Pat's Garden Shop.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #15

My goodness, has it really been a month you guys? If only I could blog while I drive, then I could keep you up to date. Let's take a spin around the central Illinois blog-o-sphere and see who is new on the block!

Great mama Emilie is blogging about living la vida verde at Normal~ish. She takes beautiful pictures too.

Summer Knobloc's photography blog is amazing. Summer is in demand and it's clear why. Her photos are special and every mama should be so lucky to have a portrait by Summer. Support a talented and local mama by scheduling your photos for fall and winter.

A college friend has moved her writing to good old blogspot and I'm digging hearing her thoughts on motherhood. Check out Looseyfur.

Just a Mom in Urbana writes about living the simple life and touches on tough topics like shaken baby syndrome.

I'm gonna make a better effort to spruce up the place and get back in the loop. Big stuff will be happening this summer and I've got to keep CIL is tip-top condition. Today we're going to Rochelle to check out the train park! I expect big fun for little H.

Rockford Children's Discovery Center

Trip to Rockford

Last week we took a long weekend in Rockford. As members of the Normal Children's Discovery Museum we get reciprocal benefits at the Rockford Discovery Museum and so our entrance fee was waived. The Rockford Discovery Center Museum was so much fun. The exhibits are far more science focused than the Normal museum. We put our hands in a tornado, made a giant metal ring jump from magnet to magnet, and measured the speed of our pitching.

While we had heard complaints that the museum was not well kept, we found all the exhibits in working order and the building was really clean.

The best part of the Discovery Center was the playground. I'll have to update with photographs because it will be hard to do it justice. It is a dense wooden playscape with lots of pullies and ball runs and even a cave. There was a huge sandbox with dinosaur bones to dig out.

Magic Kitchen

Another super-fantastic lunch place near my work is Magic Kitchen (Thai). I go once a week whether I have a lunch buddy or not. I adore the asparagus and chicken dish and rarely stray. Last week I got the green curry and it wasn't as saucy as Thai House in Bloomington but it was hot hot hot.

If you are new to Magic Kitchen here's the 411 because it's not intuitive. If you are dining there, someone will seat you. There's no sign to let you know. If you want to drink something other than water you'll have to tell the waitstaff. They put a carafe of water on the table and I have never been asked for a drink order (but they do have wine). If you are carrying out, walk to the back of the restaurant to the cash register to give your order. Better yet, call ahead. First time I called ahead they said 15 minutes, I arrived in 10, and my food was already bagged up and ready to go. That kitchen moves quick!

The veggies are so fresh at Magic Kitchen that I definitely suggest a vegetable laden meal. Yum yum.

Accidentally Delicious!

When I need a 15 minute lunch near the Capitol I tend to drive through the Maid Rite off Jefferson. They claim to have the first drive-thru in the nation and they certainly have one of the fastest. Yesterday I meant to order a large ice tea, because theirs is always fresh tasting, but instead root beer must have slipped. Yum-o. What a surprise! It was so delicious and creamy and cold. I'll have to go back for a root beer float.

Central Illinois Life Round-Up #14

There are so many new area blogs since my last round-up many months ago.

I love, love, love Tumbling Blocks, even her photos of yarn are beautiful.

Long time fav Catch Her in the Wry has just started Style in the Heartland and it looks promising.

Seven Miles to Nowhere is an academic and a parent writing thoughtful content.

As a beginning gardener I appreciate Wordy Diva's gardening posts.

Take a look at these nifty native prairie garden and bird garden mixes. We're ordering one of each to border our vegetable garden and reduce our lawn a little more this summer.

Sunday Five

I've been tagged by A Mom's Life to do the five unusual/interesting things about me. I'm gonna do my best to keep with the central Illinois theme.

1. In 1997, B and I got completely lost in the woods at Moraine View State Park after dark and had to figure out a way to a road, then hitchhike back to the park and the truck. It was October and got dark much faster then we anticipated. Luckily, we were wearing jeans and nice sweaters and not all hippied out.
2. Before we left Decatur I discovered a house for sale on 5 wooded acres right in the middle of the near west side - like halfway between downtown and Millikin and slightly south of Wood St. I was sitting in the long driveway thinking how magical it would be to live there when a whitetail deer walked right up to my car.
3. Millikin only charges $100 for alumni weddings at the chapel. We were probably one of the first weddings there and we put down a $25 deposit and Millikin never tried to collect the remaining $75.
4. On Phish's summer tour in 1997 or 1998 B and I did the midwest leg going to Indy, Chicago, and Wisconsin. We camped one night in Kickapoo State Park near Danville. We couldn't find firewood to buy any where and ended up burning some wood that made a huge black cloud of smoke. Oops.
5. On campaign in 2000 and 2002 on the Fourth of July I walked in 3-4 parades on each day. In 2002 the Fourth of July march of heat and concrete sealed my resolve to never do another campaign.