The Nutcracker
Katy’s dance recital.
All Decked Out
Sue put up Christmas. I helped—by gluing a few dough ornaments back together.
Wind from the south; chilly, but warm enough for a bike ride to the prairie.
December Morning In The Desert
— Alberto Rios
The morning is clouded and the birds are hunched,
More cold than hungry, more numb than loud,
This crisp, Arizona shore, where desert meets
The coming edge of the winter world.
It is a cold news in stark announcement,
The myriad stars making bright the black,
As if the sky itself had been snowed upon.
But the stars—all those stars,
Where does the sure noise of their hard work go?
These plugs sparking the motor of an otherwise quiet sky,
Their flickering work everywhere in a white vastness:
We should hear the stars as a great roar
Gathered from the moving of their billion parts, this great
Hot rod skid of the Milky Way across the asphalt night,
The assembled, moving glints and far-floating embers
Risen from the hearth-fires of so many other worlds.
Where does the noise of it all go
If not into the ears, then hearts of the birds all around us,
Their hearts beating so fast and their equally fast
Wings and high songs,
And the bees, too, with their lumbering hum,
And the wasps and moths, the bats, and the dragonflies—
None of them sure if any of this is going to work,
This universe—we humans oblivious,
Drinking coffee, not quite awake, calm and moving
Into the slippers of our Monday mornings,
Shivering because, we think,
It’s a little cold out there.
Fine Fall Day
Little wind, and warm enough for a walk to the post office, and then back the long way, as well as a loop around the prairie just before sunset.
A little workshop work (Christmas is coming), erection of prototype anti-starling bird-feeder, Aerophone practice (11 different instruments for the church gig), and new wipers and an oil change on the truck, which, surprisingly, is coming up on 5 years old.
Email from the Ice Yacht Club commodore, however, letting everyone know that some real ice-forming cold is coming, and to be prepared.
Monkey Business
Lawyers and bankers related to Kagawong lot.
Perfect Day For a Big Loop
Bright sun and a brisk cool breeze. Pax has been so charged up lately his mohawk is standing on end, so a long walk was just what he needed.
Below some Whitewater sights along the way.
In the afternoon, to Oconomowoc to help out a bit, where Mimi had been filling in most of the day. Below, Mimi and the boys devouring some takeout.
Making Music
To Irene’s to practice for our upcoming church gig. Forgot to take photos, but great fun, and we actually sound pretty good.
Also got to play with her new rav drum and didgeridoo.
Peanut Brittle…
the irresistible confection. Every year about this time tubs of the stuff appear on endcaps at the grocery store, and that’s all it takes. Super sweet and salty, but containing a legume, so ever so good for you.
Who needs pie?
So It’s Sunday
Semi-soggy and somewhat uninspiring. Drizzle turning to light snow.
A walk around a deserted campus, a little elfish workshopping, groceries. And now, looking forward to dinner, an episode, and reading.
Dusting Marilyn Nelson Thank you for these tiny particles of ocean salt, pearl-necklace viruses, winged protozoans: for the infinite, intricate shapes of submicroscopic living things. For algae spores and fungus spores, bonded by vital mutual genetic cooperation, spreading their inseparable lives from equator to pole. My hand, my arm, make sweeping circles. Dust climbs the ladder of light. For this infernal, endless chore, for these eternal seeds of rain: Thank you. For dust.
With The Kids in Oconomowoc
An evening of fun.
Back Tracked
Snow only a memory south of Stevens Point.
Grass and leaves, here, instead of snow. Rumors of another foot or so tomorrow in Flambeau. Maybe a little rain here. And now time to unwrap some delectable leftovers.
Happy Thanksgiving
Good company, good food.
Let It Snow
Nice place to be almost snowed in.
Red Sky At Morning…
…providing incentive to head north to Flambeau ahead of the blizzard.
Once here, Chinese checkers, poker, solitaire, and lots of other fun. Wind blustering now and snow just beginning to fly.
Fine Day For…
…walking in a bit of state forest, filling water jugs at the ever flowing well, washing the truck, Texas green chili, and a bit of Xmas elfin.
Bright and Beautiful Morning…
…fading to dim afternoon, and then still-unanticipated dark. The solstice is approaching. On the up side, all snow is gone, and throughout the neighborhood leaves continue to be raked.
According to an article I read today, Mr. Rogers’ (of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood) favorite saying is this:
“L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.” (From The Little Prince.)
Sloppy Joes and Sequence…
…with the neighbors. Visit to indoor farmer’s market in the morning. Bike ride in the afternoon. Sunny and cool—pleasant.
And below, grass doing an impersonation of Pip.
Sun!
A welcome sight after a week of gray.
Over to Shorewood on an errand, so a chance for brunch with Abby at the Blue Egg; and if you have any interest in brunch, the Blue Egg menu is globally inspired. Quite a place, actually. (And fun discussion.)
And quite a breath of fresh air after chain smoking the impeachment hearings. My big takeaway from the hearings is that the United States has been under attack by Russia since at least the 2016 election, is still under attack (and we have 2020 on the horizon), and that the Republican party doesn’t care. The current political climate of conspiracy theories, alternative facts, Twitter trolling, etc. is right out of Russia’s playbook. It’s Pearl Harbor in digital form, and the current administration has surrendered to the enemy because they think the enemy will help them win elections.
Where Did Today Go?
Today’s main accomplishment was…grocery shopping.
Substantial rain last night, fog this morning, and a damp and chilling wind this afternoon. Pax and I did get in two decent walks, however. (These impeachment hearings, though fascinating, are taking up big chunks of time.)
Awash In Politicos
Hearings, Democratic Party meeting, Debates. Not all that interesting to Pax.
More Testimony
More hours devoted to watching impeachment proceedings. A pivotal point in the history of this country, I believe. Will we continue be (more or less) a representative democracy or will we devolve into a strong-man led, Russian-style oligarchy?
Swamp white oak, which holds its leaves long after they have finished their primary work
Another day of dull, gray nondescript weather.