Six Degrees of Separation

Ok...after Dirt Digger of ONG tossed out the 6 Degrees of Separation challenge (you tie any subject with gardening in 6 steps), I've contemplated various topics but hadn't really committed. This morning, while resting my much overworked knee injury, I read Kyna's Crystal Coast Gardening 6 Degrees post as she fearlessly stepped up to the plate and took the challenge.  Admittedly, I slightly criticized both of my friends stating that their entries were a bit of a stretch, but still acceptable (I do hope Kyna and John know me well enough to know that I'd never seriously criticize them...I really like them both, appreciate their creativity and fantastic sense of crooked humor!!).  Then I got irritated with myself...I mean, who am I to criticize anything or anyone, especially when I haven't participated.  This was the kick in the pants I needed to conduct some research and throw out my own 6 degree post to be scrutinized and stomped on.  (My facts have been drived from Wikipedia as well as other noted sources)  So here goes...

1st Degree: Chicago Blackhawks
I begin as my cohorts started...with a professional sports team.  Saluting my hometown of 20+ years, my first degree begins with the mighty BLACKHAWKS, the current reigning Stanley Cup Champions!!!

The Blackhawks joined the NHL in 1926 and were part of the original 6 NHL teams including the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.  They've won 4 Stanley Cup Championships and 14 division titles.  The Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers this season to claim the current Stanley Cup title!!  Here's a photo of the Chicago skyline in support of the phenominal win.

If you look closely, you can see the CNA Center showing the Blackhawks logo, the Smurfit Stone Building saying "Go Hawks" and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower saying "Hawks win" the night after the 2009–10 Chicago Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, viewed from the Petrillo Music Shell lawn in Grant Park.

The Blackhawk's first owner was Frederic McLaughlin who was, interestingly enough, a coffee tycoon. 

2nd Degree: Coffee
Coffee is a beverage that I came to appreciate late in life.  It's only become a part of my life in the last 5 years.  Previously, I couldn't even tolerate the smell of coffee.  I never liked coffee anything...even icecream or candy.  Many things changed when I moved to Florida, though, and one of those things was my sudden appreciation for coffee.  Perhaps it's because wild coffee is a lovely native Floridian plant. 

Photo courtesy of www.sfrc.ufl.edu

I prefer my coffee on the strong side with vanilla soy milk and sugar.  I think I'll get another cup right now.  Excuse me for a moment.

3rd Degree: Sugar
Since I like my coffee with soy and sugar, my mind naturally migrated to sweet sugar, another Florida mainstay.  Sugar cane is readily grown in Florida and has been a major part of the state's agricultural industry. 

Photo courtesy of www.landcoalition.org

Today, the world's largest sugar provider is Brazil.  Some interesting facts about sugar...Sugar cane products include table sugar, Falernum, molasses, rum, cachaça (the national spirit of Brazil), and ethanol. The bagasse that remains after sugar cane crushing may be burned to provide heat and electricity. It may also, because of its high cellulose content, serve as raw material for paper, cardboard, and eating utensils that, because they are by-products, may be branded as "environmentally friendly".

So, as you can see, sugar is actually quite good...not just a cavity creating enemy.  Just ask Willy Wonka.

4th Degree: Willy Wonka
How in the world can you speak of sugar without thinking of Willy Wonka?  The 1971 film featuring the amazing Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum is still a favorite in my house.  The hope of the golden ticket, the magical everlasting gobstopper, the strange and otherworldly Oompa Loompas, the sweet, endearing Charlie and the crazy, outrageous Willy Wonka himself...who can refuse such a flick?!  Imagine the amount of SUGAR and CHOCOLATE in Wonka's factory!  Oh Sweet Heaven!!!

Courtesty of www.chalkrichmond.edu

The wildly popular film was remade in staring the talented but wierd Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. 

Courtesy of www.candymag.com

I personally think this version is creepy. Johnny Depp gives me the willys...no pun intended. I think he stars in strange movies for a reason. I've had my doubts about him ever since I watched The Secret Window. SHIVERS! 

Courtesy of People Magazine

Johnny is currently working on a film called "The Tourist" in Venice, Italy where he shot the "Green" photo.

5th Degree: Julia Roberts

Johnny Depp leads my train of thought to Julia Roberts, a known knitter.  Julia reportedly once knitted sweaters for Depp's two children, Lily-Rose and Jack, per Celebitchy magazine.  She apparently wanted to work with him and felt a gift for his children may warm him up to the suggestion. 

Courtesy PR Photos

Regardless of how that turned out, Julia is very much into gardening, composting and teaching her children all about organic gardening.  You can read about it at Ecorazzi.com. 

6th Degree: Composting

Composting naturally brings us to GARDENING!!!  Composting is on my list of garden projects...I do not have a composter yet, and am hoping to obtain one before the end of the year.  I'm also exploring other ways of composting.  Friends of mine use recycled plastic salad bins they get from Costco to load their scraps in.  They leave the bins out in the garden underneath bushes or similar hiding places until the compost is ready to use.  I'm interested in this method although I still have lots of questions. You can learn more about composting here.

So, how did I do?!  If you'd like to participate, check out the rules and Dirt Digger's post at An Obsessive Neurotic Gardener.  Good luck!!