Jake could best be described as my closest friend and good food soulmate here in America. He has his own huge gardens selling vegetables and eggs to Chicago, is developing a farm to table restaurant and also, above the restaurant ,has an airbnb.
Last night we had a wee pretend party and I dusted (literally dusted ) off my tripod and packed Camera house, loaves of fresh bread, a few of my white platters and went out to a party for the first time in years. Jake had the beef and chicken and a range of vegetables from his garden already. We were on a mission to showcase our own homegrown food in pictures and collect some images for his promotional package.
Here are a very few of those shots – I look forward to unpacking the rest today after chores.
The apartment sleeps six and is opposite the courthouse in Pontiac, Illinois. (Just in case you are doing Route 66 and want a lovely central place to stay). Airbnb of course! It is called Acres Inn. It is spacious and light. Beautiful.
Jake cooked.
c
And we ate.
The courthouse tower was lit in pink for Cancer Awareness week or month or something. I have always hated this campaign. I know no one who has not been affected by breast cancer. We are all fully aware of it already thank you very much. So are the big boy pharmaceutical companies. Breast cancer is big business. What more can we be aware of except to be asked to donate money?
Frankly, at the risk of making myself extremely un-popular, I think the breast cancer awareness promotion is a big racket- (The CEO’s are some of the best paid ‘charity/non-profit’ heads in the world). They feed off grief and guilt and fear and fly First Class to boot.
If they spent this amount of money on ‘good food awareness’ or ‘chemicals in your environment to avoid because they CAUSE cancer’ awareness, it would benefit so many more people including the women. But the chemical companies would not allow it nor would the politicians. As usual breasts are sexier than food. I don’t see them giving this money directly to the poor young mothers struggling with breast cancer who have had to mortgage (and sometimes sell ) their houses to pay for the thievery treatments and are left alone throwing up into their basins while making lunch for the kids.
The chemicals they are pushing and ‘researching’ are not free to the sick here you know. Anyway – this is where my support goes – straight to the Mums, and Aunties and Grans. Not into the pockets of the pink people.
Woops there I go again. Trying to show you a nice wee party then going off on a tangent!
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
Monday 10/30 20% / 0 in
Cloudy early then partly cloudy and windy this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 50F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph.
Monday Night 10/30 0% / 0 in
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Sun
7:21 am 5:50 pm
Moon
Waxing Gibbous, 74% visible 3:41 pm 2:02 am
The Kitchen's Garden 
63 responses to “A PRETEND PARTY AT JAKES”
Being a math minor from my college days, I have to admit I like tangents.
There was a brief moment of recognition when I saw the courthouse in the sliver of the window in your first picture. I live in Pontiac for 4 yrs in the early 70s. It was never pink in those days.
‘touching but not intersecting’ if memory serves me correctly. It is a beautiful courthouse and has been lovingly restored, I love the inside.. c
That looks like a fantastic apartment and food!
I’m quite cynical about charities in general (though I’m sure some do work miracles) – there has been much said here lately about charities repeatedly calling pensioners and guilting them out of their life savings.
They do it here too – the old codger would field three or four A DAY – he could not understand that these were ne’re do wells – just after his money. He would say well i am an old man on a pension I don’t have much in his querulous voice but still they would persevere. Then he would patiently tell them that he did not have a credit card but could send them a check – some would hang up after that. All they wanted was the card number. Horrible. I felt like taking the phone off him and shouting at the sales person. c
That’s it exactly! It’s just the same here and quite disgraceful.
Amen Celi ~ I agree with you 100% on some of these “so called” “charities” ~~ before writing the check out to the cancer fund and many more groups ~ people should absolutely look at the list that shows how much goes to the administration of that group and the amount that goes to the “needy” ~ those who are suffering. I give straight to the family ~ then I know it is being used where needed. So I’m with ya ~ probably a few more glasses of wine to extend the tangent a bit!!!
One of the things we have lost in this busy life is the old saying “Charity begins at home.” c
I echo your sentiments about charities … I worked for a couple of charities for some years … when people asked what job I did they inevitably came with the “oh how wonderful” as if I were a saint or something … I like to think of myself as a kindly person but let’s get it clear, I am no saint and it was a job … a reasonably well paid job I enjoyed doing and hopefully at least some of my clients found useful
charities are businesses and the people running them are (have to be) business minded … I just wish they could stop getting people on guilt trips, but let’s face it, they wouldn’t get much money if they did
governments and local authorities find charities useful, they get services provided at reduced cost
I honestly know nothing of the workings of any of the other charities. But I have made it a mission to investigate the Pink People. They keyed straight into a terrible scourge that affects so many people then proceeded to milk the cow – making money directly off the backs of suffering and struggling and strong-willed women who are often fighting on ALONE. Notice it is called AWARENESS. As though we are all stupid and NOT aware. I have found cases where they have SUED smaller charities who might be using anything pink to promote their causes. I understand the business side of it – yes I do see your point – maybe it is the very clever campaign they run that irks me. The slickness of it. c
Pink days are big here too including our rugby and cricket national teams. I spy a doggy on the couch :), Jakes airb&b is lovely but definitely seems citified in contrast to cozy, homey Coop on the farmy 🙂 Laura
Both of which should be running Testicular cancer days frankly!
Recyclersa – thanks for pointing out the ;hidden’ doggy on the couch! Good eye! Like Ceci’s – always sneaking into the picture somehow! – Sunny
I agree with you Celi and everyone above so I’ll cut off in another direction: Your photos are LOVELY, the apartment looks cozy and oh-so-American, and the food looks DELISH! Well done!!
I love the brick walls – so warm..
You are so right about the whole pink ribbon campaign. It’s all fluff and money making. There have been cures for breast cancer for years but carefully suppressed and hidden from the public. And it IS being caused by the chemicals and toxins being fed to us. So, you go girl and help where it actually does some good!
Exactly. The AWARENESS should be about the shit they put in the hot dogs that they feed you after the event. But Eat your Carrots just does not sell. Though a freshly dug carrot after a frost is divine! c
I rather adored both your parties. The one in pictures And the one in words.
I had a lovely time hanging out with all these young men – all foodies and growers.perfect really
You are right on about pink-washing and the need to turn awareness/fundraising to policy change that would actually benefit women. You are also right about corporate money and the legislative favors it buys being the main obstacle. Some of the companies underwriting the October campaign and pushing the “cure” meme are the same companies producing products containing chemicals identified as cancer-causing. Here’s a good website that talks about the systemic change that would be required to focus on prevention. bcaction.org
At the same time, it’s unwise to dismiss all charities as dishonest, opportunistic, and ineffective. That was good advice about checking a charity’s administrative/program cost ratio, and finding out as much about their results as possible before contributing. But there are many hard-working, dedicated, effective charities that are trying desperately to plug the holes in our social safety net that become wider every day. When government turns its back on people who are struggling, they often have no where else to turn for help.
Oh yes – I am not talking about charities in general. Absolutely not. Look at the food pantry. Our local food pantry feeds piles of people – many of them fighting cancer. Many of them have no help at all otherwise. We have high unemployment around here. I support the food pantry it feeds people. It is the Pink People campaign I don’t like. Plus, as well as making millions a year they are a non profit – tax exempt. It is ridiculously easy to become a non profit tax exempt company in the US. c
What kills me is when you do give to a charity they sell your name to another charity!
YES! And then (if it is by phone) your phone number is sold – this happened to the old codger I am sure.
Especially when cancerous tumors can be dissolved by drinking Caisse’s tea… not expensive to make your own.
I have read about this tea.
The tea is called Essiac which is the last name of Registered Nurse, Renée Caisse written in reverse. (RN Caisse was taught about the herbal anti-tumour combination by the First Nations people she lived & worked with in Northern Québec).
I absolutely loved your comments or tangent if you will! It is so true and I’ve been trying to tell people the same thing for years. But they act like I’m against the poor women who do get the cancer.. you expressed it beautifully.. love your blog and your photographs… absolutely wonderful
Oh Claudette – yes – that is exactly how they are successful. PLaying on our fear of being misunderstood. Have a lovely day.. c
I flat don’t give to charities, no matter how long they blather on from every angle, even the guilt trips. I worked hard for my retirement monies and just don’t fritter it to every ‘needy’ phone call or piece of mail that comes along! Smoothing my hackles now……..that airbnb is gorgeous! The floors glow and the food looks divine! Thank you for the party and pics! – Sunny
I think you’re referring to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I once knew the founder and CEO, Susan’s sister Nancy Brinker who became Ambassador to Hungary. Here are some facts and figures, including the controversies but also positive impacts including financial assistance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_G._Komen_for_the_Cure
How does one become an ambassador – I have always wondered.
I am very wary of awareness weeks. When I was on the board of the Wellington Cancer Society they had so much money saved but they were apalled when I suggested we fund a chair of radiology at the university. Apparently, “that’s not the money is for”. Well if not that, then what. Needless to say, my resignation quickly followed.
Merciful heavens.. they should have funded babysitters for all the sick mums too .. c
I agree with you and so many others here regarding the pink ribbon crapola. Unfortunately, many people fall for and are drawn into this web of lies and deceit. I wish more people were willing to look at the root cause of cancers – toxins in our food, toiletries, cleaning chemicals, and environment. It is brave to be the voice of reason.
Jake’s place is lovely. The food looks delicious!
how do we make good clean living more fashionable without looking like a crackpot.