Thursday, August 18, 2011
Back-2-School
Here in Boone County, the kids are back to school. Some, who attend the new magnet school, started last week. They were spotted around town in their cute new uniforms, which includes Khaki shorts for this warm weather. This week, the rest of the area got down to business, once the Boone County Fair wrapped up.
The fair is something that we look forward to greatly every year. There are so many things to do, foods to taste, rides to ride, games to play, animals to admire (and some to pet, or if your timing was right like ours, to see born first-hand) and cool acts to watch, like the Kid Fiddlers and Galaxy Girl, to name a couple. The first were very talented and cute. The second was talented and funny, with a touch of scary thrown in for good measure!
Now that we're back into our pre-autumn groove, it's time to give thought to what you want to enjoy at this year's Harvest Festival. We have more music than last year, and hope to include the winners of the battle of the bands from fair week! We have more vendors with unique items that we did not see last year. True Colors Alpaca Farm will have a booth, and will be bringing some of their alpacas to meet you.
We have some favorites returning, like the popcorn guys, and Woodfire Brick Oven Pizzas. I can't say enough good things about either of them! Great food to say the least!
Also returning, we will have George Thomas giving guided tours of the Historic Baltic Mill. Downstairs in the mill, on the side facing the river, there will be a newcomer, Libbie Rodakowski. Libbie is providing kids, and those young-at-heart, with some scary stories and we can't wait to be entertained! And, for the grownups, there will again be a wine tasting area with many local wineries highlighted.
There will still be many family-friendly activities, including the pumpkin patch and build-a-scarecrow, which will again be no charge. There will also be many more activities for the kids, at a reasonable price, like face paintings, inflatables, crafts, and more.
And, we hope you already have something in the works, because the Scarecrow Walk will be bigger and better than EVER! We had so many wonderful entries last year. Some folks in the community were surprisingly creative, like the surveying scarecrows (I chuckled several times) and the Girl Scouts (just cute). We are looking forward to even more this year. Remember, entry is free, and the top three entries selected by the Boone County Arts Council will win cash prizes. There will also be a ribbon for the People's Choice Award. And, for the businesses, clubs, and organizations in the community who wish to partake in our special event, there is the TRAVELING TROPHY contest! Entry in this contest is $25 for original creations, and $50 for a scarecrow supplied by the Harvest Fest. (Don't worry, they're not judged on looks, only on the amount of money they can raise before the Harvest Fest for the Kishwaukee Riverfront Path development)
If you, or someone you know, is interested, please check out our website or pop into the Belvidere Park District offices for entry forms and information.
We will have more fun and entertainment lined up for the evening, as with last year, in the Conservation District at Spencer Pavilion. Bonfire, s'mores, hayrides, and more details to come... have to give you a reason to come back in a couple of weeks to find out more! Until then, take a deep breath (before the ragweed gets here) and enjoy the quiet of kids at school for a few minutes... before band practice, and football practice, and swimming practice, and soccer... oh, you get the idea!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Busy work
Plantings are done, or almost done. The summer heat is here, making the corn rise higher every day. Knee-high by the Fourth of July? I think so!
That doesn't mean the hard part of gardening is over. We still have months of tending, weeding, and watering to make sure our bounty is full. Thinking about canning already, and wondering, can set up a pressure cooker on the grill?
We had a successful foray into grill-baking with a skillet brownie. The verdict: a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, a grill with a thermometer and multiple adjustable burners, a watchful eye, and a few bittersweet chocolate chips thrown in make for an amazing dessert! And, when you haven't heated up the house cooking either supper or dessert, it is that much sweeter.
If you've had a grilling adventure, or grill-tastrophe, share your tale with us. When we laugh together, we know we're all OK, if not perfect.
That doesn't mean the hard part of gardening is over. We still have months of tending, weeding, and watering to make sure our bounty is full. Thinking about canning already, and wondering, can set up a pressure cooker on the grill?
We had a successful foray into grill-baking with a skillet brownie. The verdict: a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, a grill with a thermometer and multiple adjustable burners, a watchful eye, and a few bittersweet chocolate chips thrown in make for an amazing dessert! And, when you haven't heated up the house cooking either supper or dessert, it is that much sweeter.
If you've had a grilling adventure, or grill-tastrophe, share your tale with us. When we laugh together, we know we're all OK, if not perfect.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Summertime, here at last?
Summer is upon us, it seems with a sense of humor. We have boomeranged between hail and sweltering heat that could melt the paint off your car with wild abandon. We seemed to finally be in the grips of some hot and humid weather, when this cold front jumped up to remind us that, if anything is certain, it is that Mother Nature is unpredictable.
We sure found that out last October, when the rain poured and the wind whipped, just long enough to see who could stick it out, then as a reward for those of us who stayed, the sun burst through the clouds, and the remainder of the day was quite enjoyable. The scarecrows held up their end of the bargain, being "all-weather" materials, more or less. At least enough so to last out the day. The Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizza chef was in high gear, cranking out delicious pie after delicious pie.
Music drifted through the air with the sounds of guitar and banjo keeping an up tempo while patrons visited the wine tasting area. Visitors listened to interesting tales of the history of our Baltic Mill and Boone County from local historian George Thomas. Shoppers picked up nifty items from our vendors and local artisans, including the wildly popular Socks-That-Rock, from our own Joelene Chinn (her work can be found locally at The Brick Cafe and Art Gallery, as well as the Rockford Art Museum gift shop).
Children and families had fun "shopping" at our Pumpkin Patch, building their own scarecrow, and other make-and-take crafts provided. The inflatable rides for the kiddies had to be scrapped due to the windy weather, but we hope to get a "do-over" this year!
As the daylight began to turn to gold, folks moved over to the Spencer Pavilion where s'mores were waiting to be made around our campfire, Fireside Music entertained with great sing-a-long tunes, and a storyteller shared "spooky" stories that were safe for children's ears! The Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizza chef moved into the pavilion, despite a trickle of rain, and sold desert pizzas like peach pie and s'mores, which were so tasty and delightful!
Mother Nature brought us back to reality, with a splendid display of her own brand of fireworks, and the sparks nearly got us... thank goodness for that large and sturdy pavilion, we were all safe! With a boom, a crack, and a flash we knew it was time to bid farewell to our friends and to the harvest season with gratitude in our hearts.
We sure found that out last October, when the rain poured and the wind whipped, just long enough to see who could stick it out, then as a reward for those of us who stayed, the sun burst through the clouds, and the remainder of the day was quite enjoyable. The scarecrows held up their end of the bargain, being "all-weather" materials, more or less. At least enough so to last out the day. The Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizza chef was in high gear, cranking out delicious pie after delicious pie.
Music drifted through the air with the sounds of guitar and banjo keeping an up tempo while patrons visited the wine tasting area. Visitors listened to interesting tales of the history of our Baltic Mill and Boone County from local historian George Thomas. Shoppers picked up nifty items from our vendors and local artisans, including the wildly popular Socks-That-Rock, from our own Joelene Chinn (her work can be found locally at The Brick Cafe and Art Gallery, as well as the Rockford Art Museum gift shop).
Children and families had fun "shopping" at our Pumpkin Patch, building their own scarecrow, and other make-and-take crafts provided. The inflatable rides for the kiddies had to be scrapped due to the windy weather, but we hope to get a "do-over" this year!
As the daylight began to turn to gold, folks moved over to the Spencer Pavilion where s'mores were waiting to be made around our campfire, Fireside Music entertained with great sing-a-long tunes, and a storyteller shared "spooky" stories that were safe for children's ears! The Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizza chef moved into the pavilion, despite a trickle of rain, and sold desert pizzas like peach pie and s'mores, which were so tasty and delightful!
Mother Nature brought us back to reality, with a splendid display of her own brand of fireworks, and the sparks nearly got us... thank goodness for that large and sturdy pavilion, we were all safe! With a boom, a crack, and a flash we knew it was time to bid farewell to our friends and to the harvest season with gratitude in our hearts.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Scarecrow: Step 2, Submit Your Entry
This part is the EASY part! Once you know what kind of design you want to make, have found a few cute clothes or fabrics to use for the body, and have at least an idea of where to start, get your entry submitted. We would like to be able to promote the entries in our media alerts, but we need entries to do that. While this contest is not until the morning of October 23rd, as far as assembly is concerned, we need entries ahead of time to block out space and bales of hay for the perimeter.
Plus, if we have enough entries submitted early, we may be able to set up space on the float for the Halloween Parade the following weekend. In order to do that, we need to know how many we may have to include. We will still have the winners displayed, but if we know how many to expect, we can decide how big to go on the float so that more can be included.
You can get your entry form at http://www.boonecountyharvestfest.com/ and bring or mail it to the Belvidere Park District offices, as noted on the website. If you have any questions about your entry, or are not clear about the rules, please let us know. We are happy to help in any way we can!
Plus, if we have enough entries submitted early, we may be able to set up space on the float for the Halloween Parade the following weekend. In order to do that, we need to know how many we may have to include. We will still have the winners displayed, but if we know how many to expect, we can decide how big to go on the float so that more can be included.
You can get your entry form at http://www.boonecountyharvestfest.com/ and bring or mail it to the Belvidere Park District offices, as noted on the website. If you have any questions about your entry, or are not clear about the rules, please let us know. We are happy to help in any way we can!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Scarecrow: Step 1, Pick a Category
As promised on our FB page, we are going to start a list of steps and supplies you should look for in preparation for making a scarecrow for the Harvest Fest in October. Feel like you have a scarecrow-block and can't get any good ideas? Worry not, we will help! Leave comments here and we can brainstorm.
First things first, pick a category for your submission, that will give you some direction.
CATEGORIES:
Children's - open to groups or individuals 12 years old and younger. Adult assistance is allowed for safety, but please let the child or children be creative and make the scarecrow their own. This could be a family of children, or any club or organization that has young children (4H, scouts, etc.).
Traditional - think your classic overalls and flannel shirt with a straw hat.
Fantasy - this can be any kind of fantasy creature or make-believe character, it does not have to look like a scarecrow. You could make a dragon, a unicorn, an elf, a smurf... anything. Think of your kid's favorite cartoon, movie, or book.
Automated - this category can have moving parts, and can be traditional or fantasy themed. You must supply a 100 ft. outdoor extension cord to run power to your space.
These categories are all FREE to enter, and you would be surprised how far you can go. Although the automated is the only one to receive power, the other categories may have lighted elements, but they must be battery-powered, you must supply the batteries, and try to make sure it's weather proof.
SUPPLIES:
Start with the basics, you need longs sleeves and pants to form arms and legs. You may layer skin-toned fabrics for the base layer so that you can put a short-sleeved shirt or a dress on your scarecrow, but you have to form the 'mannequin' to get started.
You should get an old pillow case to stuff the head, or something small and round that is the shape of a head. You will want to find some old worn gloves to make hands and socks to form feet. Shoes are up to you.
I find that the best place to get these clothes, if you don't have the kind you need or the size you want to make your scarecrow at home, is to head to a resale shop or local Salvation Army or Goodwill stores. Salvation Army has weekly deals on their color-tag of the week, and every Tuesday you can get 5 items for $5. They are also a good source for old shoes and boots. Goodwill has a special sale day about twice a month. If you don't have any old garden or work gloves that have been worn out, you can probably still find some cheap garden gloves at the dollar store until the end of summer... they still had some last weekend when I went in to look.
If you are making a fantasy creature, look for old table cloths or curtains with unique patterns that could be used for skin. Depending upon the kind of creature you are making, you may need to do a little sewing. I recommend talking to the ladies at the craft or fabric store. Getting the right kind of needle and some strong thread, and maybe a thimble to save your fingertips, is a good idea!
If you have no ideas but want to create a scarecrow, give us a shout here. If you have an idea but are stumped on where to start, we can help. We want to see a line of scarecrows as far as the eye can see on the Kishwaukee Riverfront Path... people will want to come from miles away every year to see our scarecrow contest and walk our path!
First things first, pick a category for your submission, that will give you some direction.
CATEGORIES:
Children's - open to groups or individuals 12 years old and younger. Adult assistance is allowed for safety, but please let the child or children be creative and make the scarecrow their own. This could be a family of children, or any club or organization that has young children (4H, scouts, etc.).
Traditional - think your classic overalls and flannel shirt with a straw hat.
Fantasy - this can be any kind of fantasy creature or make-believe character, it does not have to look like a scarecrow. You could make a dragon, a unicorn, an elf, a smurf... anything. Think of your kid's favorite cartoon, movie, or book.
Automated - this category can have moving parts, and can be traditional or fantasy themed. You must supply a 100 ft. outdoor extension cord to run power to your space.
These categories are all FREE to enter, and you would be surprised how far you can go. Although the automated is the only one to receive power, the other categories may have lighted elements, but they must be battery-powered, you must supply the batteries, and try to make sure it's weather proof.
SUPPLIES:
Start with the basics, you need longs sleeves and pants to form arms and legs. You may layer skin-toned fabrics for the base layer so that you can put a short-sleeved shirt or a dress on your scarecrow, but you have to form the 'mannequin' to get started.
You should get an old pillow case to stuff the head, or something small and round that is the shape of a head. You will want to find some old worn gloves to make hands and socks to form feet. Shoes are up to you.
I find that the best place to get these clothes, if you don't have the kind you need or the size you want to make your scarecrow at home, is to head to a resale shop or local Salvation Army or Goodwill stores. Salvation Army has weekly deals on their color-tag of the week, and every Tuesday you can get 5 items for $5. They are also a good source for old shoes and boots. Goodwill has a special sale day about twice a month. If you don't have any old garden or work gloves that have been worn out, you can probably still find some cheap garden gloves at the dollar store until the end of summer... they still had some last weekend when I went in to look.
If you are making a fantasy creature, look for old table cloths or curtains with unique patterns that could be used for skin. Depending upon the kind of creature you are making, you may need to do a little sewing. I recommend talking to the ladies at the craft or fabric store. Getting the right kind of needle and some strong thread, and maybe a thimble to save your fingertips, is a good idea!
If you have no ideas but want to create a scarecrow, give us a shout here. If you have an idea but are stumped on where to start, we can help. We want to see a line of scarecrows as far as the eye can see on the Kishwaukee Riverfront Path... people will want to come from miles away every year to see our scarecrow contest and walk our path!
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