Set In Stone

The beauty of concrete, in lots of unexpected places.

Masquerade

To the ophthalmologist for final eye check, wearing mask and gloves. Only one person in the facility at a time, and a temperature check prior to admittance. The doctor is difficult to understand at the best of times, but almost indecipherable behind an n95 and face shield. On the up side, I got a prescription for glasses. On the down side, the optical department is closed. But then, somewhere in the middle, I was able to order cheap glasses online. Hard to imagine a pandemic without internet.

Inside the bark of the felled ash, showing the artwork of emerald ash borer

All’s Quiet in Noisy Village

Little traffic noise, no carousing, no robocalls, and nary a siren. There are some some upsides to carona.

Mask making and bug box building. (Of course the bug box could be called a turtle tote, snake satchel, grasshopper grip, toad toter, or frog hopper.)
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Hold That Thought

In the midst of writing
something quite profound,
the jarring chirp, repeated,
of the texting sound,
then timer on the oven gives a buzz,
incoming email dings,
the dog bangs on his empty water bowl
and, of course, the phone begins to ring.

Is that the neighbor knocking on the door?
Yes—and thought profound now’s gone forevermore.
—JBN

Big Warmup…

… bigger wind. Loud roar from the southwest.

Nonetheless, a 7.5 mile bike ride with Becca, Ellie, and Bri on the Glacial Drumlin Trail. Almost got blown off the trail a few times, but still good.

Morning Snow

…but a little afternoon sun.

Make yourself to home, why don’t you, after eating my hazelnuts

Spring postponed until tomorrow.

We ran a few errands to Oconomowoc, and, along the way, stopped in to see Bri’s new office (distancing all the while). Very nice—bright, breezy if need be, with lots of memorabilia, and a big aquarium full of fish (in addition to all the computer stuff).

Chill, Still…

…and a wind that won’t unwind.

A few dandelions are braving the cold, and maybe some of the incarcerated kids desperately in need of recess, but otherwise not at all the kind of day you’d hope for on the 16 of April (in the midst of a pandemic).

Lacking any other pressing business, I spent a big chunk of time on two wheels, gloved and hatted and inured to the cold.

Mother Nature’s Being Stingy

Spring hopes dashed by clouds and cold, but, then, hope springs eternal, and tomorrow’s another day.

Narcissus jonquillua

Coots, coming back from the south. Fulica amaricana

Met up with Sally and Glenn in Fontana for an arm’s length exchange of items.

Winter, cont.

Ferocious, cold wind, with snow squalls. Quite unnecessary at this time of year.

The pause button has been pushed

Wood duck nest box. But a close look may indicate that a wood duck is not the current occupant.

Spring Blown Back…

…to where it came from.

Photo by Sue

Cold and windy, and on top of that, a squirrel got into my planted, but un-sprouted, hazel seeds. The thief found them edible, which may mean that they are viable, but if he got them all, I’ll never know. Rats, is all I can say.

Pax to the vet today for his annual checkup. Pax does not like veterinary services, and when we get within half a mile of this practice he begins to freak out. But, the virus has improved things in this regard, and now we’ve got something like drive-thru medicine. Park in the lot, call in, tech comes out with a calming kerchief for the dog, tech takes dog in, tech brings dog back out, vet calls with with report, and then secretary takes down credit card info. This is better than the old way.

Snow Falling on Water…

…not here, but at Flambeau.
Here, sun falling on leaves, then shadows falling on sidewalks, and tonight, quite likely, rain falling on everything.

Some of us are climbing the walls.

Others, masking madly. (of course nothing like the the professional quality items being manufactured by Mimi).

Meanwhile, other wastrels are riding bikes, though in a rather slow and meandering manner.

But, there is actually snow falling on water. This morning Abby sent a clip of snow falling on Tototom Lake. I, with permission, looped the clip and added some audio,

Reset, Rethink

Standing still occasionally. Taking time to stop and look. Why hurry, nothing’s happening. Not even an airplane in the sky.

Leopold benches, ready for delivery

Things will be different after this. Government will seem necessary. Competence will be appreciated. School will seem heavenly. Generations will reconnect. Healthcare for everyone, and even universal basic income will seem patently obvious. The prophets of hate (you know who I mean) will be relegated to the dustbin. So, sometimes, bad things bring good.

Some Bunny

Mailed out a few Easter cards, dropped off a few baskets, but the bunny is operating under restrictions this year.

Snowbow?

Sunny with snow squalls. Vast amounts of cool, clear air rushing by. And then snow. Followed by sun.

Mask factory in the basement.

While, above ground, Leopold benches being assembled.

April Showers

Perfect April showers.

Right amount of rain, at the right time. No duck-drownder, but plenty of moisture to really green things up. I can sit here on the back patio and watch grass grow, as it turns greener by the minute.
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”The hand lens and the snowflake were an awakening, the beginning of seeing. It’s the time when I first had an inkling that the already gorgeous world becomes even more beautiful the closer you look.”

—Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gathering Moss.

Could Be Summer

Warm, humid, and windy. Feels like thunderstorm weather.

Morning devoted to a grocery shop—decked out in gloves and masks, with detailed shopping lists. Followed by back patio de-bagging and sanitizing before re-transportation into the house.

Meanwhile thanks to the Republican junta, Wisconsinites are forced to vote in person, which means Milwaukee can’t really vote, which means a tea-party judge will be elected to the Wisconsin supreme court, which means gerrymandering and voter suppression will continue and increase, which means tRump has a chance of winning Wisconsin again. Pure banana republic, and utterly disgusting.

Meanwhile, on a happier note: Pastel de Elote for dinner (along with ribs).

Around The House

Didn’t go far today. Morning walk through campus, afternoon walk on the east side trail.

Hellebores

Back of house—photo by Sue

More mini iris under the redbud—photo by Sue

Signs of Spring

Perfect day—warm in the sun, chilly in the shade.

Ducks At The Birdfeeder…

…and other stories.

After extensive research, half a dozen prototypes developed. Construction in earnest on the winner tomorrow.

Meanwhile, about a hundred hazel seeds, after 6 weeks of stratification, were planted. If these sprout as hoped, I hope to plant them hither and yon, and distribute to anyone partial to hazel (Corylus avellana), which in my book is a fabulous big shrub or small tree. Nuts attractive to wildlife (including humans who sometimes call them filberts), and the best tree for coppicing (and thus making wattle hurdles).

Hearts are everywhere around town (and all towns I do believe) as kids who are are cooped up have to cope. Surprised to find them in front of several cacti in the greenhouse on the UWW campus.

Freight Delivery

Delivery (and exchange) of items to Oconomowoc, and then to a meeting place (a county park) half way between Whitewater and Flambeau.

Through the screen discussion.

The lizard known as Jumpy.

Back To The Barn

Nite 300 has been returned to Roger’s barn for summer hibernation—to sleep away the months until next November, most likely. And to think she never sailed once all this past winter.
Next winter—high speeds on lots of black ice, and a victory or two.