March Winds…

…in fact, rather extreme March winds, dropping branches here and there.

Blowing in the wind

Meanwhile, iceboats to the barn for their long summer’s nap.

Moving Iceboats…

…toward their summer home on a chilly, rainy day.

Photo above by a fellow named Baumgarten and sent by Murray and Elaine.
NCAA tournament brackets filled out.

Home Again…

…to snow on the driveway. On the up side, we missed the snowfall, and it will be gone tomorrow.

Hellebore does not mind a little setback, either.

Big Bertha…

…as the giant white pine is affectionately known. And then, 3 big red pines proving that some trees enjoy close company.

Sal and Glenn off this morning after world famous waffles, and with vivid memory of last night’s Sequence match in which one gender failed miserably.

Riddled With Bullets

At the Little Bohemia Lodge, where the Dillinger gang met the FBI, in Manitowish Waters.

And this evening a couple of pizzas from the Flame restaurant around the flame here in the cabin.

Conversation…

…something fun after a year of its lack. Sally and Glenn here in Flambeau for a few days.

Up North…

…among the big trees at the Janowiec cabin. Cool, calm, and quiet. Pax and I had a long walk in the woods.

And, what do you do as dusk descends across hill and hollow? Watch basketball. Go Illini.

A Year Later

First time in a year!

Breakfast at Natalie’s Park View Restaurant.

Rain In The Forecast…

… but none hitting the ground. A wash down would be welcome—but still a pleasant early spring day.

No Snow…

…except in a few places.

A little outdoor spring cleaning, a few walks, and a bike ride. High in the 60s. Still lots of cranes overhead.

Creek swollen and moving fast, but still within its banks. The melt has been slow, and no rain since the thaw.

Multitudes On High

Lots of humans and canines out too. Temps in the mid 50s, and snow going fast.

I count about 40

Not sure I can count this high. Might have to zoom in. Not really visible on a small screen.

The cranes seem to move in the morning. By afternoon, their calls no longer rattle the heavens. I assume they have settled down to glean grain fields before moving farther north, or are staking a claim to a wetland around here.

In appreciation of the weather, we fired up the Green Egg, and did a slow cook of of a St. Paddy’s brisket (in the more Texan than Irish style).

Nite Nationals

On Green Lake. Five races today on rough but decent ice and a good breeze. Better than yesterday, when there was no wind and therefore much standing around. The family syndicate’s comportment was exemplary.

Now Cranes Abundant

A steady stream overhead all morning, announcing the arrival of spring with their penetrating calls.

In the afternoon, a long bike ride with Kate and Will who, along with Ab, are here for dinner and are spending the night. First time in a year.

First Crane Sighting

Sandhills overhead, but still plenty of snow on the ground.

A friend of mine in Whitewater, whom I never expected to be an iceboater, loaned me this book today. It was published in 1974, about when I was getting interested in the sport. Oddly enough, I’ve never come across the book. Also today, Bri and Tony are up at Green Lake getting ready for the 2021 Nite class iceboat national regatta.

Power Outage…

…just as I popped a couple of slices of bread in the toaster. Neighbors out, neighborhood out, much of town out, apparently. But, about an hour later, as I was thinking of Manitoulin hydro, and then of the cold snap in Texas, my toast resumed toasting. Interesting to note that even without electricity we always have heat in the house; our little gas-fired fake wood stove in the breezeway, though controlled by a thermostat, uses only micro-volts generated by a thermocouple, and thus functions whatever the state of the grid.

And then there are the “Tree Posts” I do every Sunday for members of the Starin Park Arboretum Committee. So far, twenty-eight of them. Thinking it might be worthwhile to keep track, I’ve uploaded them all to the IntoNaturalWorld website, under the “Ecological Empathy” tab (down a ways).

Signs of Spring

Some snow melt. Redwing blackbirds. Evening sit on the back patio for the first time this year.

Looks to me like a hawk got a jay

Up Twenty

The day started out at 18 degrees, but by evening we were at a melting 38. And it looks to be all up in coming days.
With weather like this it made sense to head for a car wash.

Meatloaf and basketball on the agenda for tonight.

A Little Bare Ground…

…perhaps enough to tide the early robins over.

A day below freezing, with a moderate north wind—but, sunny, and with a hint of spring in the air and light. (actually a perfect day for iceboating, of course.)

Pax felt like walking today, which was nice, although always hunting. He can find a tiny morsel of discarded protein in a vast field, under a foot of crusty snow. While he finds hunting enjoyable, I frown on it and try to discourage the behavior. Plenty food at home.

A Different Kind Of Iceboating

Once on the ice discretion discretion proved to be the better part of valor and plans were changed accordingly.

Ice Checking…

…and bike riding.

Clear ice (with boats on it) about half a mile out. The crud in between is sailable with a good breeze, and is melting. Tomorrow’s forecast—45 degrees with a stiff breeze. With luck, three of the four family iceboats will be sailing (and taking kids for rides, too.) (Nota bene, boat #4 is out on loan.)

On the way home we picked up Chicago-style hotdogs from Daddy Maxwell’s in Williams Bay and ate them in the car, overlooking ice. (Slightly less that half of mine ended up on my shirt, which I though was an accomplishment (given the nature of a Chicago dog).

Once back home my assistant helped me bring the E-bike up from the basement. And then I went for a ride, trying to avoid puddles and salt deposits, but enjoying it immensely.