[Magdalen] Spring has Sprung.

[Scott Knitter]

I had a strong case of inertia today and found it hard to make the
necessary preparations to go out anywhere, but eventually I made a short
list of some supplies we need and headed downtown via 'L' [that's the
official way of typing the name of our elevated-but-not-always railway
system...I wish it were just the letter and not the inverted commas] to
CityTarget, the two-level version of Target that occupies much of Louis
Sullivan's former Carson Pirie Scott flagship store. Very cold wind, and I
had dressed for something warmer, with just a black T-shirt and windbreaker
jacket. Oh, trousers, socks, undies, and shoes as well, needless to say.

Made a point of noticing architectural details. I have to say that Target
did a fine job of making their store fit well into Sullivan's building, and
it's splendid that there's now such a useful store in the heart of
downtown, especially with the large population of university students who
now live down there. One need not rent a car anymore just to get
significant stocks of groceries and household essentials. But I noticed
Sullivan's intricate carvings at the tops of columns throughout the store
and in beautiful wood in the atrium. Still impressive, and truth be told,
Carson's was definitely looking forlorn for years before it closed. So not
only do I not regard a Target in the Carson's building as a sort of
desecration; I welcome it as something that the community needs and that
has a great chance of surviving. I also like that it has a Pret-a-Manger
shop near the entrance. I was able to fortify myself with two warm cookies
and a black coffee before starting my shop.

But NO KOSHER SALT to be found! For shame! The item remains on my list.

I enjoyed the ride home on an express bus that uses Lake Shore Drive. We
were all mesmerized by the crashing waves along the empty (brrr!) beaches
to our right.

On Sat, Apr 18, 2015 at 5:24 PM, Charles Wohlers <
charles.wohlers at verizon.net> wrote:

> Started out gorgeous here, but then the front came through and it's cooled
> off. The good news is - the snow's almost gone! Several largish patches
> here & there, but mostly it's bare ground, for the first time since
> December. The disappearing snow, of course, reveals many things - I found a
> shovel I forgot I had, and, in a tiny pond I found, of all things, a
> 20-dollar bill! One of use must have dropped it long ago.
>
> The ground has even dried out enough for planting. I moved two little
> apple trees which I had grafted a few years ago, and started turning over
> part of the garden to plant peas & lettuce tomorrow. No vole damage to my
> trees, TBTG.
>
> The phoebe arrived a few days ago and Lee saw a robin today, so that means
> spring is truly here.
>
> Chad Wohlers
> Woodbury, VT USA
> chadwohl at satucket.com
>
>


-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA