Central Illinois Life Round-up #18

CIRCA blog is a great compliment to the central Illinois blogosphere, the writers at CIRCA keep you up to date on art, music, and events with a Peoria nexus.

OMG folks, did you know Mocha Momma, THE fabulous, insightful Mocha Momma is a central Illinois blogger? I was shocked to find that out when my sister spent some time with her in Chicago. I had just read an article in Bitch magazine about her.

Find out what's up at the Urbana farmer's market at Urbana's Market at the Square blog.

Don't forget squirrel hunting! Um, yeah, I hear the squirrel ravioli is good.

You can find anything on the Internet, for example, a website to post water tower photos. Look kids, the Morton water tower. Although, when driving around the prairie I tend to use water towers as markers.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #17

Bloomington Farmers Market vendors Monkey in the Kitchen and I purchased from this morning included:

Twin Oak Meats - for brats and pork sticks.

Grand Prairie Food - green garlic. What do you think you do with a stalk of green garlic?

Ropp Jersey Cheese - various cheddars and a cheese spread.

Mackinaw Valley Apiary - yummy honey

A. Renee - wine, wine accessories, gifts, chocolate! The chocolate covered sunflower seeds were divine!

The farmer's market was hopping this morning, with a band and lots of folks admiring and purchasing radishes, turnips, and lettuces.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #16

Musings of a Minor Mennonite - ferrets out good youtube videos.

Just another blog - paints her daughter's room for a more grown up look.

Tom Wilson - works in Decatur during the filming of "The Informant."

McLean County Pundit covers Bloomington Normal politics from a cynical conservative perspective.

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.

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.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #13

Consumer culture can either control us, or we can have a say in it.

Last night we went to Decatur for salty big box steaks and cinnamon butter, but Greasy Spoons went to AJ's in Charleston. We had fun with friends and that's what counts.

The Champaign Chamber of Commerce is robust and flavorful, like the coffee at Aroma.

Bar Louie! Bar Louie! Bar Louie!

Central Illinois Life round-up #12

I'm only linking to one blog today in order to highlight the craziness of what is happening to law student and Illinois blogger, Lag Liv. DCFS has put her thru the ringer this week after her repeated attempts to seek medical attention for her son. Today they took Landon. I am sick in my heart for her. He is clearly a loved and cared for little boy and my thoughts are with her.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #11

Since I've joined BlogHer Ads they've classified me as a food blog. Central Illinois Life is not a food blog so much as a hyper local blog written by a blogger who likes to eat. But because of this classification I've been poking around food blogs more often and today I want to share some local food links.

Illinois Farm Direct is a fantastic tool for finding locally grown foods. Go put in your zip code and see all the farms near you. I found farms within 10 miles of my house that I did not know existed.

Shares for community supported agriculture programs are being put under contract now for next year. In Bloomington, Henry's Farm CSA and Mitchell Farms are an excellent source for fresh vegetables. In Champaign, look to both Moore Family Farm and Prairieland CSA. Two more Central Illinois CSA programs are Blue Schoolhouse Farm CSA (309.467.9228) in Congerville and White Oak Farm CSA (217.562.2573) in Pana.

For something herby, visit Mari-Mann Herb Farm just outside Decatur. And for everything lavender, go to Mackinaw to visit Lavender Creek Farm.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #10

A mom's life is having a tough time finding a hippy playgroup. Try yahoo groups! Or try the next blog, I don't think this New Yorker will judge your blue hair. While BelleNoelle is sulking in Illinois, she also seems to be making the best of the move and trying to find a playmate for her son.

Mrs. Chicken has new bloggy digs. I love her banner, it makes me giggle every visit.

Some drindle wearing fun at Oktoberfest. Some hummingbird photos as they migrate through Morton, Illinois.

Central Illinois Round-up #9

My dad took me to many, many high school and ISU football games as a child. And later when I marched in the band on Friday nights he was always there. Did you get out your sweatshirts last week and enjoy a little small town Friday night football? I did, and so did Chambana Fanna Fo Fanna. Put them away again this weekend.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are working on the Pinto with my dad. This photo is probably 1978, my dad was B's age. Analog Periphery writes a moving post on the automotive section and his father.

I also installed and sanded a lot of drywall with my dad.

My dad did his good grandpa deed of the year this summer by hosting my teenage nephew in Maine. I think he'd enjoy this poem from Hilton Hightower.

According to my dad, this is about how new houses are built in Indianapolis. That really tickles me.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #8

Wouldn't this emerald nugget necklace look awesome on a red head? Perhaps one who is having a baby any minute.

Speaking of green, Champaign has a new Green Party candidate for County Board.

All the googlers love festivals, so check out these Peoria area Oktoberfests and also head to Morton the Pumpkin Capital for the Pumpkin Festival this weekend and go again next weekend for Punkin Chuckin. People will not stop telling me about the Punkin Chuckin. B has mentioned like 10 times to tell ya'll about the punkin chuckin (they go 2 miles!).

And start thinking about your Illinois roadtrip adventures because next week I'll share a contest with you where you can win this.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #7

Victor is . . . sure to be a double domer.

Mulch, mulch, mulch, mulch. Charge!

A mostly red take on a mostly blue state.

The eyebrows are the window dressing of the . . . keys?

Tantrums and beer, sounds like a fun house.

Central Illinois Life Round-up #6

I love the portraits at Penning Photography Daily and sometimes I see people I know. Groovy!

Picbot actually visits and photographs the places I post about. See. What a thrill!

Monkey in the Kitchen introduced B as "the husband of Central Illinois Life" today. And she freely shares recipes and google/blogspot tips and tricks. Love her banner.

You can get all kinds of Champaign Urbana info over at Little Blog on the Prairie. Love her banner too.

And just because I like little boys who have long hair and families that garden, The Sandwich Life.

Central Illinois Round Up #5

What Central Illinois bloggers do you enjoy reading? Leave a comment and help me discover more great blogs. Or leave a comment to plug your own Central Illinois blog!

She may not like mybana, but Mrs. Chicken has a goodly following of readers and there's a reason. Her writing is top notch.

I linked to him last week, but it's worth doing again. Anonymous Communist keeps his blog rolling with lighthearted fun. I verily enjoy his lists of band names.

It hasn't been updated in 4 long months, but I just discovered Global Heartland and find it a fascinating project.

Political junkies can't just rely on Capitol Fax, that why I like Bethany's reporting at Illinois Issues.

B and I used to DIY all the time at our Decatur house, now I live vicariously thru gotshoo?

Thanks to Will at Where there's a Will, there's a way for blogrolling Central Illinois Life this week.

Central Illinois Life round-up #4

Cha cha cha cha CHANGES,

Lots of changes around the central Illinois blogosphere.

Gone Completely Feral moves to the left coast. I hope her raunchy humor stays put.

Soy is the New Black returns to work after maternity leave while simultaneously holding down the fort as a temporary single parent AND getting ready for the One Week Boutique.

Dear friends are making their way to Ethiopia to bring home their son, Mamush. I'm still wearing my wrist binding from her Mother Blessing ceremony.

Thanks for blogrolling Central Illinois Life this week!
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Central Illinois Life Round-Up #3

Wow, Fridays come around quick. My son and I took advantage of the nice, somewhat cooler weather, to play at the Tipton sprinkler park at College and Airport Road today with ~50 other small children. We had a super HUGE fun time and so did everyone else.

I want to highlight a fundraiser this weekend in Champaign. If you aren't at the state fair, swing by the Esquire Lounge for a spagetti dinner to support Toys for Troops.

I've had the McLean County windfarm of my list of topics since starting this blog. At IlliniPundit, there's a post about how awesome the windfarm is to drive through. I'll put it on the google map.

The Frog Blog of Central Illinois is an incredibly small niche blog and a really cool concept.

Steam Room Quantum Mechanics has a short guide to what's blooming in Central Illinois.

And Lucas says what many are thinking. Please, please get a state budget finalized. Thank you senate and house staff for all the long hours you've put in this summer.

Central Illinois Life Round-Up #2

Every one has to eat and these folks will tell you where.

Peoria Peepers seems to stick mainly to restaurants in the Peoria area. Peoria is the one town I don't visit in Central Illinois. Not for any reason in particular, but I think I've been there three times in the twelve years I've lived round these parts.

But after reading this review of River Station, I may make a date with B in Peoria. Central Illinois Gourmand writes about Peoria and Macomb.

For food photography, try Champaign Taste. I was so sad to learn how good the food is at Seaboat II after I spent all summer trying to find good places to eat around Neal and Kirby.

You have got to eat in a lot of restaurants in Springfield to be able to meet the "Name that Restaurant" photo challenge at Springfield Photos.

Central Illinois Life blog round-up

On Fridays I'll link to blogs or posts about Central Illinois that have caught my eye this week.

Gnightgirl went to WGLT's annual Nothing But the Blues Festival in downtown Bloomington. This is a great event where you can dance in the streets and enjoy all downtown has to offer.

Mrs. Kat went home to Decatur and gives a tour of some of the great architectural details around town.

Walkable Neighborhoods is a really interesting blog and here is an old post on how much Champaign has improved (and continues to improve) it's walkability.

Will Reynolds has excellent coverage of green issues in and around Springfield.

I'm just back from a few days in Chicago and am really excited to share more events and activities with you. Tomorrow I'll begin a series of posts about my favorite parks in Central Illinois.