Sleepover
Ellie, Maddie, and Becca for lunch, cooking, hiking, magic spells, dinner, and reading.
Ben and James here for a while at lunchtime.
Brunch With The Easter Bunny
At Milwaukee Athletic Club. Also with Tony, Abby, Katy, and Will. (And thanks to them for inviting us.) Scrumptious.
On top of that, the past week's two canine visitors have been returned to their rightful owners.
Big Wind
After some morning rain mixed with snow.
Squill at last.
In the woods to avoid the wind.
Basketball tonight.
Fire
And ice.
Fire on the prairie.
Ice on the iceboat trailer.
By rights, the iceboat should be tucked away in a barn, but with this spring's weather, sailing in May might be a possibility. The first ever (I do believe) Easter regatta is scheduled for this weekend.
Mostly cloudy, breezy, and chilly—and that's better than what the forecast holds.
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Fire and Ice
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
--Robert Frost
Birdsong
Loud and lots of it. So it must be spring. Began turning compost bin number one into compost bin number two but hit hard frost about two thirds of the way down. Mimi raked out most the the garden beds, while I removed the maple glaze coating the truck.
The dogs have been busy.
Chives
Apparently rabbits don’t fancy them.
And rhubarb.
These two, along with maple syrup, might be the earliest (non animal) foods available to pioneers. But not on tonight's menu.
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FLOW (For Love Of Water) has launched a new campaign (Don't worry they are still working on Enbridge Live 5.) called "Get Off The Bottle". Very interesting, and the video is a lot of fun.
Overnight Rain...
...softening the hard, cold ground and bringing up earthworms, much to the delight of all the many robins who were wondering why they got here so early in the season.
But still...rather cold and gray. All the many dogs (especially Buddy) not minding the breezeway instead of the patio this evening, and that's probably a good thing since a brace of rabbits has been frolicking across the yards. It's hard to imagine what would happen if all three terriers were out back when rabbits ran by.
March Winds
Relentless, from the east.
Adding a bit of difficulty to my bike around Whitewater, at least on the easterly segments. Overall, the weather is boringly blah. A vague, halfhearted attempt at rain this evening.
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?
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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.