SUMMER’S BESTAre you a grammarian? That is, do you catch typographical errors while reading? Do you cringe when you see someone use “your” when “you’re” is actually the correct word? If so, I hope you enjoy the double meaning in this article’s title.The word “summer’s” in the title could be a contraction for “Summer is,” in which case the title would actually mean summer is best. Or “summer’s” could be the possessive form of summer and you might think a list of the best of the season is ahead.

For me, summer is the best season. When I was young, summer meant freedom. I could stay up late, sleep in, take almost daily bike rides to the local library annex, read piles of books and swim every day. During my teenage years summer meant extra money from babysitting neighbor kids and participating in summer youth theatre productions. But in addition to this quick list that made my past summers the best, there’s a long list summer attributes that makes the season the favorite of many folks. Hopefully, I‘ve included one of the reasons you’re a summer fan, too.Summer isn’t winter. Have you seen the humorous seasonal pie chart for just

about any Midwestern state? About 80 percent of the pie is devoted to winter, two tiny slivers to spring and autumn and a 15 percent slice to summer. Midwestern springs and autumns are breathtaking, but short. Our winters are long, calendar dates notwithstanding. We know how to appreciate summer in this part of the country and not a single lovely day is taken for granted. Even on the most blazing hot days, we tend to add, “But at least it’s not winter,” after a complaint about the heat.Asparagus, strawberries, black cherries, melons, tomatoes and the best corn in the world. If you eat seasonally, you know that fresh local produce offers a celebration of summer with every bite. And maybe you’ve had the opportunity to “U-pick” at some point in your life. Personally, I can do without the wide variety of spiders I encountered during strawberry picking with my mom and grandma every year, but I’m glad I had (and still have) the opportunity to get so up close and personal with my food. Summer is so authentic. Summer gives us the revitalizing scent of freshly cut grass. Our bare feet seem to naturally dig into warm sand or the springy softness of a well-tended lawn. In the summer, you can leave windows open and listen to rain work its way through trees or drift off to sleep with a chorus of crickets chirping your lullaby. cont. on page 2

Heirloom Market & Cafe

CHRONICLE2200 IL Rte. 84, Thomson, IL •TheHeirloomMarket.com

July Highlights

Independence DaySaturday, July 4

Open normal hours, 7am-4pm

Children’s Art Camp beginsMonday, July 6

See page 5 for more information

Art Uncorked Thursday, July 23

5:30-8pm See page 5 for more

information

Mini Monets Thursday, July 30

5:00-6:30pm See page 8 for more

information

July 2015

Summer’s Best cont. from page 1 But wait, there’s more! My list of favorite things about summer isn’t complete without laundry dried on the clothesline, the ice cream truck jingling through the neighborhood, county fairs, community festivals, outdoor concerts, employee picnics, family reunions, lying in a hammock, furious thunderstorms, family vacations, being invited to swim in your neighbor’s pool, fireflies, hot dogs from the grill that are burned just a little, campouts, sitting in a porch swing with a good friend.What have I missed? Share your favorite things about summer on our Facebook page!Tracie Davis Editor

GARDENING WITH CHILDRENIs there possibly a better activity to do with your kids than gardening? Dirt + water = mud, for one thing, and nobody appreciates the miracle of growth quite like a child.

The key to getting the most pleasure out of gardening with children is to accept that it is 100 percent, no exceptions, about the journey, not the destination. It’s possible nothing you plant with your child will thrive. Kids like to hoe and water - A LOT. Too much hoeing means many plants will be dug up before their roots take hold and too much water means your plants won’t have a chance to absorb nutrients from the soil.

But, by all means, let your kids hoe and water with abandon. Allow them to enjoy the experience to their fullest, not yours. Learn to enjoy their enjoyment. Keep a camera handy for cute muddy child photos and videos and make memories, even if you don’t make a true garden. There’s always next year or even next month to give it another try!

If the idea of a little garden chaos is too much for you, try these tips to keep everyone a little happier:

Designated gardens – Something along the lines of “This is mommy’s/daddy’s garden and this is your garden” encourages creative freedom for your kids and order for you.

Stick to started plants –Digging and playing in the dirt in order to put in started plants is an exciting gardening activity for kids and older plants have a better chance of surviving.

Choose hardy, quick growers – Sunflowers are an excellent choice for children’s gardens. The bigger the variety the better. The seeds can be toasted and eaten or saved until winter to offer to birds and squirrels.

Word Search WordsFIREFLIESFIREWORKSSWIMMINGINDEPENDENCE

BEACHCAMPINGSTARSMOSQUITOS

BONFIRECRICKETS

J H C Q T S R B O Q B J S I C J L A I O U R E Q O J O L G N T J M S F O A A N S T G Q P T A Z P K X E S F T I H C A E B Z O I R Y R I E U S T W P N W N U N O V R S Q I S A R T M M M Y G W E C S F U L E J U O S L N U E V O R V Q Y F D A Y S E B O R M Q G I N H M E W O W D C M I O T J N C E Z O R O F O G Q F B E C C V K O V M I G U A E C N E D N E P E D N I F M Q V P A L J E U W B T V B Q S W I M M I N G N H I H S H Y V O I O W W I A M K X F M B F

HEIRLOOM MARKET PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: CHARLES VIANCIN KITCHENWAREKitchenware designer Charles Viancin works from his company’s headquarters in the French Alps and creates innovative, yet practical products that are inspired by nature. The Heirloom Market carries several of Charles Viancin’s products, both in store and on our website (theheirloommarket.com). Charles Viancin’s silicone lids, available in a variety of sizes, are a perfect alternative for plastic wrap. Choose from one of his many playfully designed lids - banana leaf, cherry blossom, hibiscus, lily pad or sunflower - to create an airtight, watertight seal on any smooth rim. The lids are reusable and freezer, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe. Or how about a lily pad, sunflower or hibiscus wine bottle stopper? The Heirloom Market also carries a lily pad silicone chopping board and a lily pad tea infusion set. All of the Charles Viancin products available in the Heirloom Market are great for summer’s picnics and potlucks. With the product’s fresh designs and multiple uses, you’ll be the talk of every event!

CROSSWORD PUZZLE by Margie E. Burke

June 2015

ACROSS1 An arm and a

leg, e.g.6 Postgame

summary11 Curtain holder14 Heavenly food15 Give the slip16 Before, to bards17 Carpenter's joint18 Spanish

squiggle19 Navigational aid20 Miner's quest21 Skip a syllable23 Album insert25 Muse's strings27 With regard to29 At any time30 Prayer ender31 Stocking stuffer,

maybe32 Second to none33 Sampling

specialist 60 Popular dog 4 Wallet bill 34 Talent for music35 Swinelike animal breed 5 Filly's mom 36 Ind. neighbor37 Get on board 61 Tickle pink 6 Image receiver 38 Put on the ballot39 Medical setback 63 Blows a gasket 7 Plain to see 40 Foretells43 Strong suit? 65 Chemical ending 8 Bank freebie 41 Base runners,45 Acts the 66 Explosive stuff 9 Say further sometimes

coquette 67 Swears 10 Quick look 42 Trattoria order46 Foot ailment 68 Roulette bet 11 Get rid of 44 Akin (to)49 Tiny organism 69 Unsavory 12 Takes the 46 Wine place51 Move like 70 Painter's plaster podium 47 Poppy product

molasses 13 Send home, in a 48 Poked fun at52 Larger-than-life DOWN way 50 Croissant spot53 Fragrant bloom 1 Sacrifice 22 Tear-producing 56 Periscope part54 Romanov ruler 2 Purveyor of 24 Biblical language 58 Big bore55 Attack in print cheeses scholar 62 Fabrication57 Without a stitch 3 Borrower's 26 Captivate 64 GPS suggestion59 Pub pints burden 28 Courier, e.g.

by Margie E. Burke

Copyright 2015 by The Puzzle Syndicate

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The Crossword

BEACH HOUSEBY KATIE MURRAY-EMMONS

Our planning begins while the snowflakes are falling and we are snuggled up with mugs of hot cocoa. We scour the Internet and ask friends for recommendations. Choosing a beach house is no small feat. Half the fun is dreaming of hot summery days in the middle of February when one thinks spring may never come again.

Truth be told, out of all the trips we have taken to theme parks and national parks, nothing beats the trips where we load up the minivan and head out to be beach bums. We pack swimsuits, sunscreen, pajamas, a sweatshirt and maybe one “real” outfit. At the beach house our hot summer days are spent by the lake. We read, swim and build epic sand castles. We look for minnows and smooth driftwood. We run wild through woods and sea grass. There is no need for makeup or real clothes. This is summer. Freckles are the only accessory we need. Our evenings are spent eating popcorn and watermelon while we play board games. We are not a T.V. family but the week we are at the beach house we soak up all the cable stations. Late night is for talking and star gazing. Dreaming.

As tourists we wander small beach towns. There are mom & pop ice cream shops to sample and unfamiliar pizza parlors to frequent. The kids love to look at the gift shops. On rainy days we tour small town museums. If I can slip away I like to find second hand bookstores and antique markets. We take our time. There is no need to rush.

We bring our cell phones and computers but they never get turned on. It is such a freeing feeling to be untethered from the world. We are in our own bubble. Our time is not directed by a to-do list. We have all the time in the world, because we are on beach house time. Each year we come home sun-kissed and filled with tales from our summer experiences. We lock these bits of sunshine in our hearts because all too soon it will be February again. Then someone will smile with a twinkle in their eye and say, “Remember last year at the beach house?”

Happy summer.

Visit

www.ThomsonIllinois.com • Mississippi River, parallel to State Route 84, Thomson, Illinois

VIOLET, THE AUTHOR’S DAUGHTER, LIVING THE BEACH HOUSE LIFE.

The Great River Hike & Bike Trail

PUZZLE KEY

Not valid with any other offers. Expiration date: June 30, 2015 Promo code: CHRON07

Buy one 16 oz. Millstream Root Beer and get a second 16 oz. Millstream Root Beer FREE!

Millstream Root Beer Buy 1 Mug, Get 1 Mug FREE!

June 2015

Solution to Crossword:

I D I O M R E C A P R O DM A N N A E V A D E E R EM I T E R T I L D E M A PO R E E L I D E P H O T OL Y R E A N E N T E V E RA M E N C A N D Y B E S TT A S T E R T A P I RE N T R A I N R E L A P S E

A R M O R F L I R T SC O R N A M E B A S E E PE P I C L I L A C T S A RL I B E L N A K E D A L EL A B E L A T E R A G E SA T E N I T E R A V E R SR E D S E E D Y G E S S O

HOMEMADE ROOT BEER FLOAT POPSICLESEasy as can be and just in time for summer: homemade root beer float popsicles. Here’s all you’ll need:•Smallpapercups •Smallcraft/popsiclesticks •Aluminumfoil •Rootbeer(whynottrythe Heirloom Café’s Millstream Old-Time Root Beer?) •Vanillaicecream

Allow ice cream to soften at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Fill the bottom third of paper cup with softened ice cream, middle third with root beer. Place in freezer for about 2 hours. Also return ice cream to freezer and remove about 10 minutes before removing partially completed floats.Remove floats from freezer and carefully fill the remaining third of the cup with softened ice cream. Cover the cup with foil and cut a slit in foil. Slide craft stick through the slit and into float. Return to freezer for at least another 2 hours.To serve, remove foil and carefully peel away paper cup (rinsed foil and paper cup can be recycled). Also delicious with orange soda instead of root beer!

HEIRLOOM CAFÉ PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: MILLSTREAM OLD-TIME ROOT BEERMillstream says they brew their root beer to satisfy the most discriminating root beer connoisseur. Whether you’re a diehard root beer fan or you just enjoy an occasional taste, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t try a Millstream Old-Time root beer on tap at the Heirloom Café. Fresh brewed in Amana, Iowa, Millstream root beer features a thick, creamy head, lots of aroma and real sugar for plenty of good old-fashioned taste.