No Spring In This Step

Still a little too cold and windy to sit out on the back patio, although we tried.

The resurrection lilies are braving the elements, but so far no squill or snowdrop or crocus. Bri reports from his cabin up by Rhinelander that the snow there is still knee deep and the ice still thick enough for heavy trucks.

O WESTERN wind, when wilt thou blow
That the small rain down shall rain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No shortage of dogs, at any rate, here in Whitewater, and this morning we braved the elements and took them all for a good long walk on campus. (It being Sunday, and spring break, we had the whole place completely to ourselves.)

Cold East Wind

Not nice out.  Therefore—a dog break, and visit with the Oconomowoc kids.

All for one and one for all.

Multi-purpose room.

K'Nex challenge.

Story time with Ellie and Ben.

Innovative reading method.

Working through a gnarly problem.

Chill, Still

Spring continues to keep its distance. 

We are now home to three dogs and one fish,  while the Janowiec family heads to Colorado. 

Good time to watch some basketball.  

Snow Shadows

Warming up from early cold. Puddles of sap on the truck and driveway beneath the old sugar maple.  

Still a few remnants of snow in sheltered places. Bird feeders down and stowed away. Pax very much enjoying the retracing of familiar routes—fully engaged in some kind of aroma therapy.

Back...

 ...below freezing—and a little birthday party at the home of the airport pickup team. 

Three cars and two airplanes, but we made it. 

Basking in the Sunshine

Bright, intense sun, but cooler with little humidity.  

Morning walk along Tule Creek

Minnows in Tule Creek

Fulton pier, awaiting repair. 

Oyster and shrimp po’boys, without having to go out. 

To The Beach...

...at Mustang Island.  Almost no wait for the ferry now that the Texas spring break is over. Sunny and very warm. Light wind.

On the way back, a view of the high-rise boat-barn being slowly deconstructed.

And in the last photo, two roofers getting their car keys off the roof of the restaurant in Port A where we, and they, had lunch. The fellow on the ground was a little too enthusiastic in flippin the car keys to his partner. Luckily they had a ladder.

Big Tree Still Stands

What’s a direct hit by a hurricane to a thousand-year old live-oak? 

Sunny and warm. St. Pat’s dinner just a day late—including my first attempt at Irish soda bread. 

Wonderful Weather...

...fabulous food.  

Breakfast at Rosita's. Hors d'oeuvre (oysters Rockefeller) by Mary Ellen. Dinner at Los Comales. All good.

Winds of Change

Rockport is recovering. 

Previously

Currently  

Currently  

134 Palm St. has been brought back into full compliance—even significantly upgraded from pre-Harvey condition. And while a great deal of devastation is still visible around Rockport, it is obvious that a great deal of effort has gone into restoration and recovery. Quite an inspiring example of government, organizations and indivuals working together to accomplish the impossible.

San Antonio

Walked the walk. Dined on the Range (quail and snapper), now some baseball in our lovely hotel room. 

Pre-flight Checklist

Wind backing west to south. Warming. 

How is it possible to get tangled up in a bunch of loose ends? Answer unknown, but we will be ready for an early morning departure, no matter what.

Sad at the news of Steven Hawkings passage. Proud of high school students in this country. And delighted about the win in Pennsylvania.

Snow Squalls...

 ...some heavy, interrupted by an occasional burst of sunshine. Pax and I got thoroughly pelted in one squall, but we made it home without permanent damage.

Culinary Vocab Quiz
       (If you can define each term without looking, let me know.)

Basic Culinary Terms:

mirepoix
amuse bouche
charcuterie
chèvre
aioli
crudités
hibachi
falafel
sou vide
escargot
remoulade

kringle

deglaze 

risoto

soufflé 

kalochky
lefse
schnitzel
tagine
ramekin
tahini
umami
canapé 
prosciutto
mandoline
roux
jardiniere
sriracha
spaetzle
bouquet garni
en papillote
chiffonade
ghee
mise en place
gnocchi
foie gras
pho
en brochette
béchamel
beignets
paella
arroz
al dente
antipasto
serviette

March Skies...

...and March weather.  (Actually probably better than normal)

One of those days where the hurrier we went, the behinder we got. But then we went to an interesting climate change (global warming) roundtable discussion at the University featuring two quite capable professors and the democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives for our 5th district.

Slow Motion Sunday

Perhaps due to slight time-shift disorientation. The weather teasing—unexpectedly chillier than appearances would suggest. But a good few robins in the garden and back yard—hoping, I think, for something more than faux spring.

We had a fire in the chiminea—accumulated pine cones and birch twigs—and had our traditional sit out on the back patio—until we got too chilled (and a car alarm went off).

Out and About

Great day to be out of doors. And that's where Pax and I spent a good deal of time. Sunny and windless—slowly warming after a frosty morn.

KWiL's Launch Party

and debut of the company's first title, Hide & Go Seek-A-Saurus. Large and enthusiastic crowd, good fun for both adults and kids, and, of course, pizza.

Ellie’s Concert

Second grade, but first rate. And, prior to the the concert a little time helping out with the boys.

A little dancing

And some narrataion

Ben

James

Both

Visitors and Vittles

In other words, lunch with Sally and Glenn and the twins. And on top of that, Renee dressed the boys in identical outfits, just adding to the merriment.

Cloudy, with a cold north wind. Pax and I decided to do a bike/run late in the afternoon and I was about froze solid by the time we made it back home.

Sun Wins...

...snow loses. The March sun is quite high in the sky and hanging around for a long time. Bad news for snow. Heavy shoveling this morning, but much of last night's accumulation already melted away.

Above is woodpecker shrapnel, chipped out of a sickly maple, just since the snowfall.

In-house projects today, mostly, although conditions outside were pleasant and the walking was not bad.