Tradition

Dundee cakes.

And, this evening, virtual cocktails with Tom (Tig artist) and his wife Mary, and some discussion about how to market the book.

Boring TV…

…but reassuring outcome.

Using WisconsinEye, I watched the Wisconsin delegation of the Electoral College cast their ballots this morning. Ten or more minutes of nothing but a dozen or so people sitting spaced out and barely moving, along with an audio track of an occasional piece of paper being shuffled. Boring stuff for sure, but the result of the exercise, when it was finally announced by Governor Evers, was reassuring. It looked like nothing happened, but actually, democracy did.

Close To Home

All transportation on foot, and never more than a quarter mile from base camp.

Sue sewed bears, while I crafted cards. Among other things. Quiet, covid Sunday.

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Ask Wally
Walworth County’s Certified Wiseass

Dear Wally,

I heard that Tom Tiffany, the Rep from some place in northern Wisconsin, joined with Texas in trying to get  the Wisconsin vote thrown out. Does Tiffany own oil wells in Texas or something?
—Lonely Star

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Dear Lonely,

As far as I know Tiffany does not own oil wells in Texas, though he is or was in the oil business. I’m with you—thinking Longhorns are smarter than us Cheeseheads is like being for the Vikings.

No doubt Tiffany hitched a ride with the cowboys because he didn’t like the results of the last election. Also, because the legislature hasn’t met since April and hasn’t helped us with any Covid relief, he probably thought he had to do something to earn his pay.

Tiffany no doubt figures the votes he got in some election qualify him to be a state representative. But now that’s he’s in there, he’s had enough of Wisconsin voting nonsense. And who needs democracy when we’ve got Tiffany?

I kinda wish he’d move to Texas though. Or better yet, maybe we could try to vote him out. What do you think?

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

—Wally

Winter?

Maybe just a preview, maybe the real thing. In any case, about 3 inches needing the attention of a shovel (after quite a bit of rain).

On the Covid front, it appears that the vaccine is in delivery. Unfortunately, just a small quantity. But then, the Moderna version should be along soon. Considering all the factors, I am going to predict a personal vaccination on Valentine’s Day. (And then a quick trip to the Minocqua Brewing Company for a beer and a burger in a pub [to celebrate vaccines and an anniversary].)

On the Star Spangled Banner front, the more than 100 Republicans who signed on to the the suit attempting to dissolve our democracy need to be pilloried, tarred-and-feathered, and removed from office at the earliest possible opportunity. Although these ( turds, scumballs, douche bags, Quizlings, ???) hold their position of power as a result of votes, they now think voters don’t matter. They think that a tiny group of them—old, white, rural men should have the power to decide who is president of the US—instead of us.
I highly recommend this article in which Senator Chris Murphy explains: Chris Murphy’s floor speech.

Bike To The Basement…

…in light of snow falling outside. I figure an e-bike, with battery and electronics, will do better if not frozen solid.

Snow yes, but nothing like the forecast. Anticipating the worst, I got the big snowblower started up, lubricated, and inflated (tires at least), but it is now becoming clear that my advance preparations were not really necessary.

Busy day at the bird feeder, regardless.

Enjoy It While It Lasts

Hard frost last night, but to the mid 50s by afternoon. Perfect for prairie walk and long bike ride.

Here, half of a wild black cherry tree, along a path at the prairie edge, likely brough down in our most recent wind event.

And here, part of a crowd of kids taking advantage of the weather at the roller park.

But today could be the last of it. Forecast looking wintery.

Wide Detours…

…on walks and bike ride. Sun and warmth and lack of wind brought people out. Pax and I took wide detours to avoid them—social distancing writ large.

Here’s a bell choir practicing for something, possibly a Christmas performance, somehow, somewhere.

We had lunch with neighbors Phil and Jane, spaced out, on the back patio.

Still trying to figure out why Republicans are trying to end American democracy.

Mostly About Food

Early morning shop. A real pain, but done infrequently nowadays. Some writing for the GroCo. And for dinner, home made squash soup, along with cornmeal, cheddar, scallion, jalapeño waffles.

Another chilly, gray day. …Also…
The second person to get the vaccine today in England was named William Shakespeare. If the first person was patient 1A, was he 2B, or nor 2B?

Some Assembly Required

A little early season Santa help here today just to get a jump on things, especially since the assembly instructions, minimal as they were, gave priority to the German language (which, at any rate is easier that Chinese) .

For security reasons, photos of the project have been redacted.

Not Long After…

…the frost is on the pumpkin, the boats come out of the barn. And this year, there was lots of help at Roger’s farm.

After the farming, we all went over to the Natureland park at the south end of Whitewater Lake for some refreshment (including splashing round in a creek, picking and tasting watercress, and treats prepared by Mimi.) Thanks to Mimi for most of the good photos in this blog.

The Hunting of the Tree

Assisting, or at least attempting to, if playing tag and hide-and-go-seek with the little guys counts.

Conversion…

…from utility trailer to Santa sleigh. In other words, trailer to Cedarburg to assist with elf work.

And, waiting on the doorstep when we got home, proof copies of the book. It will be interesting to see if this thing can fly (in other words, will it be accepted by the scientific community and the birding community, or will it be laughed out of town.) Here’s hoping.

No Contact

No going anywhere or seeing other people. Very little virtual. Quite a day.

Modern, airborne art

Photo opportunities limited as well.

However, finished Carlo Rovelli’s The Order of Time. Summation: “At the fundamental level, the world is a collection of events not ordered in time.” (In other words time as we know it doesn’t really exist.) “You got to deep-six your wristwatch, you got to try and understand/The time is seems to capture is just the movement of it hands…” And, “traces of the past exist, and not traces of the future, only because entropy was low in the past.”

I would recommend the book only if you have a lot of spare time.

So Negative…

…in the positive way.

To the volleyball court at the University this morning (just minutes from here) for Covid tests. Well set up, well organized, helpful, efficient, and quick. No cost to the person being tested. An impressive example of government in action, of what government can do. If 80% of the U.S. population could and would do this, and then those testing positive would quarantine for 10 days, the virus would be knocked back to a nuisance. Even without the vaccines.

But the vaccines are coming!
• This month,—health care workers and nursing home residents,
• January and February—essential workers, like those in education, food, transportation and law enforcement,
• March and April—old people!
• April, May, and June—everyone else.

I’m feeling quite positive. Thinking I might even see the Kagawong cottage again. Just have to stay negative for a few more months.

Surprisingly Cold…

…in spite of which Pax and I did the big loop. Later, without him, I rode my bike to a haircut. Than again, it is December. Better gloves are going on my Santa list.

I leant upon a coppice gate,
When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter’s dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires…

—Thomas Hardy

Wintery

Cold. Irascible north wind. Even a trace of snow. This takes a little getting used to.

Century building on campus of long defunct Milton College, where we walked today. Also got a coffee in a unique little shop hidden away in the old library building (1909) mostly paid for by Andrew Carnegie.

And here’s a photo from yesterday provided by Abby.

Aztalan Outing

One way to see family in these troubled times.

After hike and exploration, tailgate picnic with all the trimmings.
As we say when parting, “Have a poopy pandemic.”

Dog Walks and…

bike rides.

Combo moon lamp and bird feeder.

Unfortunately, when we sit out back at dusk we inconvenience the neighborhood cardinals, who seem to prefer evening for visits to the feeder.

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Over weeks, months, and years, young men in drab-olive uniforms began clearing trails, planting trees, building visitor centers and campgrounds, and completing countless other improvement projects across the country. In just the first five months of the CCCs program’s life, it reached its maximum enrollment of 300,000 young men. And in 1935, when Congress renewed it, the quota was increased to over 350,000. In its nine years of existence, it’s said that the Civilian Conservation Corps planted between two and three billion trees, cleared thirteen thousand miles of hiking trails, built more than forty thousand bridges and three thousand fire towers, helped establish more than seven hundred new state parks, made improvements in ninety-four national parks or monument areas, and developed fifty-two thousand acres of public campgrounds. And while all the work happened nearly a century ago, many CCC projects are still used today; in fact, much of the signage and architecture seen in national forests and parks even now harks back to original CCC designs.

Irene and Zoey

For un-Thanksgiving dinner. Squash soup and grilled shrimp. (We did have to finish with pies, however.)(The dogs got whipped-cream pup cups.)

Long walk across the empty campus prior to dinner.

Oddest Thanksgiving

Take out dinner around campfire in neighbor’s back yard.

Good food, good conversation, chilly temperatures. Whatever the circumstances, happy T’giving everyone.