Play Date...
...with Katy.
Political
Good day for attending a “town hall” at the UAW hall in Janesville.
Substantial crowd. Featured candidate Randy Bryce who is going after Paul Ryan's seat. Organized and run by high school students. Lots of other politicians and candidates in attendance. I took advantage of the opportunity to slip candidate Bryce several documents full of what I consider election-winning ideas / talking points. Go Randy. Ryan has not had a townhall in his district for 915 days. He is, I believe, the largest single recipient of NRA money. And he is a scumbag.
Wind Walking
Pretty much blown around our big Whitewater loop, Pax and me. The upwind legs were, as Pax would say, ruff.
And, speaking of poetry, here is something well worth watching, IMHO. (Okay, leave out the H.)
I think this particular program, and the whole series, is absolutely great.
Pure Wisconsin
After a day spent watching snow evaporate we decided it was time to go for a Rick Burger at Rick's Eastside Tap.
Doesn't get much more Wisconsin than this. Or this: Getting Smart.
March Winds and April Snows...
...bring forth...who knows?
Manitoulin got clobbered. Kagawong web cam above. Mudge Bay is still frozen solid. And we are going there in a few weeks?
Foul Weather
A chilling, misty drizzle riding an insistent east wind. Just enough above freezing to keep the moisture fluid. Snow, however, possible here...and certain farther north.
But this morning, a heartwarming assemblage of sausage, bacon, eggs, and world famous waffles. I'm about to pass the "world famous" torch to Ellie seeing as how I had little to do with today's scrumptious batch. Of course, we prepped by practicing "mise en place."
Also on today's menu—voting, and the three girls accompanied us to the polling place, helped us make our candidate selections, and slid the ballots into scanner.
(Thanks to Mimi for some of the shots below, from yesterday.)
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.