Lots of Last Minute...

Minutiae.  

While living in two places has its upside, it can also be a pain, mainly revolving around the question of what's where? The objective is to minimize the schlepping of stuff between locations, but there seems to be a whole lot of stuff that does need to travel—headphones, tooth brushes, eye vitamins, hand tools, knee pads, foot wear, etc. It's a lot to remember.

Things are piling up in the breezeway prior to loading.

It is a known known that we will be leaving green behind as we head north. But, it clearly is time to get out of Dodge. A dozen-siren parade this evening, celebrating some university championship. (Remember, this is siren city.) Major, major baseball tournament in Starin Park, starting tonight but peaking tomorrow. And the annual university drink-fest this weekend, too. The City of Whitewater has set up a huge perimeter of snow-fencing to keep the baseballers separate from the drinkers.

Remoteness becons.

It's Snowing

Apple blossoms and serviceberry blossoms, and almost something like real snow. A ball of petals bigger than a grapefruit off the end of a downspout. Also, a sharp reminder that summer is not here yet. Cold and windy, with many a passing shower. Beneath the "snow"—intense green. 

Boat Swap

Jet-ski out, iceboats in.  

Violas

At Roger's farm, south of Whitewater. But not the old, tried-and-true Roger, but the new Roger, whose farm backs up on the old Roger's farm, but on a different but parallel road about half a mile away.

The new Roger is a wealthy man—gorgeous farm, top quality equipment, spends his winters in Arizona. A spread that is immaculate—everything perfect: trimmed, mowed, and clipped.

Once we got the ski out of the barn and the iceboats in, we talked for about half an hour. And, lo and behold, I found that Roger is a really good guy, one who uses no-till farming, likes worms so doesn't' use pesticides or anhydrous ammonia, is opposed to mega dairies (CAFOs) and high capacity wells, and has no use for Scott Walker and D. Trump.

As a result of our congenial conversation he also gave me a discount on storage of the iceboats.

Scrub the Floor

And other maintenance items.  Pax and I did the big loop in shirtsleeves for the first time, but even lightly clad we arrived home sweaty. 

Sad to read of the passing of Robert Persig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a book we sold  a lot of, and a book included in my select list of essential reading.

For diversion, we are watching on Netflix "Death In Paradise" a murder mystery set on Martinique or similar island in the Caribbean, alternating with Shetland, a murder mystery set on the Shetland islands (off the north coast of Scotland). And then the question becomes, where would you like to live—Carribean or North Sea?

Getting Ready...

...to get ready.  

Trailer pulled out of the mud in the back yard. Truck washed. Dog washed. Various items starting to pile up in the garage in anticipation of being loaded. Some supplies purchased. Last round of yard and house work. And, somehow quite a few hours misplaced, so that supper was late.

Summery day, with no wind. 

Now For The Redbuds

Back to  Whitewater, via Fox Point (to pick up Pax). Mid 70s coming through Illinois. Forty-eight in FP (wind just coming off the Lake). Low 70s in Whitewater on arrival, but dropping fast with an east wind.

Where's Paxton?

Missy's Wedding

In Michigan City, Indiana  

Happy Seven, Katy

Fun times in Fox Point.  

Birthday girl.  

Holy guacamole.  

Bike ride with Will before Katy home from school. Over the bridge.  

View from the bridge down the ravine to Lake Michigan.  

Shadbush Time

Also known as serviceberry, saskatoon, and Amelanchier.

Another in our series of dinner with the neighbors, followed by Sequence.

Tulip Time

And beet planting.  

Twelve rows of beets, each about 10 feet long, so maybe a good crop come fall. But there are many variables. Did I plant too early? Will the galinsoga come back and choke the beets? Will an untended garden get enought rain?

The fabric-covered areas are for tomatoes and winter squash, to be planted later.

In the photo above I am using my recently invented, ancient European peasant seed planter. The earth is too wet to crawl on, and continuous bending is not part of the program, hence this device.

Magnolia Magnificence...

...and perfect weather, too.  

A significant portion of the prarie is now pond.

Out and About...

...to points south.  

To Crystal Lake for a visit with 'Trina, and to drop off a few things sent from Aunt Janet.

Lucky for us, Trina gave us a brand new, still-in-the-box rodent trap, with a mesh fine enough to hold gophers, or chipmunks, or whatever the heck has honeycombed our little patio garden.

Perhaps this trap will contribute to the reduction of our wildlife woes: last year raccoons, last month the groundhog, now chipmunks or gophers. (Of course, always the squirrels, thought lately they have been leaving the house alone and not overly destroying other things.)

But then what about rabbits? Well, yes, we have rabbits, and this year in spades. But we also have Pax. Tonight, after he finished his chewy treat, he obligingly dispatched at least one member of this spring's latest litter.

Happy Easter

Egg hunt, walk, fabulous brunch.  On the down side, Will was a bit sick so he and Katy and Abby and Tony could not be here.

First Day of Summer...

...at least it feels that way.  High near 80. Grass growing, buds popping. And our daffodils, under the redbud tree, (not the photo below) wimping out. We have deduced the reason—gopher. Lots of gopher holes all around the patio garden, and a gopher actually sighted several times. Quite sure the gopher is gnawing the bulbs and sapping their strength.

The groundhog trap, previously used, has a wire mesh far too coarse for gophers, so we have ordered a finer trap.

Poison has been ruled out, although a "host of golden daffodils" badly damaged makes one think revenge would be sweet.

Manitowoc and Fox Point

Visit with Aunt Janet and then rollerblading with Katy and Will. also great dinner prepared by Tony and a stirring rendition by Katy of How Far I'll Go, from Moana. 

Gasbag

Pontificating blow-hard.  Pompous ass. You name it. That's my U.S. House of Representatives rep. Jim Senselessbrenner, who today held a "town hall" at the fire hall in the little, run-down, fly-blown, poverty- stricken, has-been of a town called Helenville, about 15 minutes north of Whitewater.

 Less than a dozen "constituents" in attendance. All but one, including my neighbor Phil and me, in opposition. I guess it was a "listening session" if you figure those of us in the peanut gallery were the listeners. Our representative preferred to talk, using threadbare talking points, at high speed in a flat monotone, making sure he was never interrupted.

As he frequently said, "Who's next?"

Buttermilk Grill-Fried Chicken

A first.  

Marinated in buttermilk. Then dredged in seasoned flour and fried in a cast iron pan on the Big Green Egg. Rather high up on the goodness scale.

     NB: Buttermilk is becoming my secret ingredient—it's a key component of my World Famous Waffles, and now of fried chicken. However, I will never, under any circumstances, eat a waffle-clad chicken sandwich.

Lovely day. Pax and I did the big loop in bright sun, and I was carrying my hat and vest on the homeward leg. The two of us also got in a good bike ride to the prairie, and after that I got in a good solo bike ride, hither and yon, at high speed.

By the time the grill was fired up. clouds had moved in, a wind had come up, and the temperature had dropped. Rain in the forecast again.

Put The Storms Back On

Not really, but it does seem silly to be running the furnace with screens on some of the windows.

Cloudy and chilly. Pax and I took our loop walk in a steady light rain. Damp it all.

On the upside, lots of moisture has descended on the Michigan/Huron basin, and reports are coming in of flooding at various places. Great Lakes water levels must be on the upswing.

Spring Springs Eternal

Warm and summery morning, with conditions actually, and surprisingly, seeming a bit dry. But then, by late afternoon, Pax got antsy, eventually heading to the basement. And then the clouds burst (un-forecast and unexpected). Classic cold front. On the upside, rain following warmth means everything is greening greatly.

The summery forenoon inspired us to swap some storms for screens and to turn off the pilot light on the breezeway stove. Got it all done just in time. And, we are now open to new ideas.

And here is a photo of Abby's front yard. Apparently Fox Point was hit even harder than Whitewater.

Three Dog Nite...

...or rather Three Nite Wackos. In other words, a third Nite has been added to the stable. Now we will have two competitive boats and a tender, all part of a go-fast team.

Afternoon picnic at Victoria Lane, making the most of non-iceboat weather.