Squarespace Sucks

The Squarespace iPhone app has been updated and now fails to work. Complete meltdown, totally unusable. Which I find unfortunate since that is how I have done this blog since 2014.

(One might think that the Squarespace engineers would test a revised app before releasing it, but apparently not.) Anyhow, to blog now is to use the computer, and that is considerably more bother. And that, combined with my limited mobility, along with a finite supply of wisdom, is making me think that the time has come to switch from daily posts to occasional posts, like two or three a week—whenever I come up with a great photo or something worth saying. Who knows. but this could be the last daily.

I spent a good bit of time today updating the Arboretum website (which I don’t mind doing on the computer). ArbAtStarin.org

Intimations of Winter

Chilly on the playground before the kids had to head home. Ice on the lake once there.
Photos by Ab

Big Family Gathering

MJ here from the east coast, so an excuse for a party. Ping pong, podcasting, pie, among other things.

First Birds, First Flakes

Occasional tiny snow shower. First birds: house finch, sparrow, downy woodpecker.

The feeder may be redundant, since so much food, as in the birch seeds above, is still available in the wild.

Bird Feeder Up…

…on another amazingly warm day. I think we all know winter’s right around the bend.

The ever bearing roses in neighbor’s yard haven’t given up yet either.

It’s all phenology.

Finishing The Pavilion

Walking better and better, but glad not to be up a ladder.

Errands and Appointments…

…and some dog sitting. Chilly day.

It being Election Day I am studiously avoiding all news, in every form—can’t face the ignorance and gullibility of the American voter, and the relentless attacks on democracy.

Clematis seeds

Back To The Beginning

The very first blog, way back when, had gutter cleaning as it’s topic. Today the gutters were cleaned again, and they badly needed it. During the recent rain event water was sheeting off the roof, as if the gutters were not really there.

Fun With The Family…

…Antler Circle and O’wock.

Another Arboretum Event

This time a talk on the geology and glaciation of this kettle moraine area. We had to move into a university classroom on account of wicked weather.

But here are photos of the school field trip of a few days ago.

Amazing Day…

…if a bit damp.

The pavilion kit donated by Generac was assembled today, in spite of the weather, largely by volunteers from Generac. Wonderful folks—friendly, fun, funny, talented, skilled, hard working. We would have been up a creek without their energy and effort.

Getting Windy…

…change is in the air.

Photos of school group not yet available. Sue up North.

I was able to get a sock on my right foot all by myself. After that, making a huge batch of Sloppy Joe (for Democratic canvassers on Saturday) was a piece of cake. Also prepared for tomorrow’s erection of the pavilion kit donated by Generac., on the pad pictured above.

Weather may not cooperate.

In The Arboretum…

…with 45 middle schoolers and high schoolers. Tree learning activities and then planting a dozen shrubs. Lots of help, great kids, good fun.

Photos to come tomorrow. Meanwhile, the backyard witch hazel is in bloom.

Mulch Happy

In trying to be environmentally friendly we are mulch mowing rather than raking. (But full disclosure, some of us did rake under the three big oaks and under the huge birch, where the carpet was getting thick.) The mulched leaves provide sustenance for a whole range of creatures, all the way up to our avian friends.

We are definitely letting things pile up under the shrubbery, as compost.

Happy Halloween

I’ve been inside (with the excuse of a bum leg) while quite a few Trick or Treaters have stopped by the display outside.

Photo by Sue

I did prepare dinner, though.

Storms, Leaves, and Trailer

The three remaining old-style windows had screens swapped for storms. Leaves got raked or mulched. Trailer got a new wiring harness. Most of the heavy lifting not done by me.

Great Arboretum Presentation

Small but engaged group, and fun and informative presentation by a real tree expert.

At Last

Big plans for erecting the donated pavilion kit today we’re dashed by the fact that the foundational concrete did not get poured. But today there was excavation, and the dozen volunteers have been notified that November 11 is the new date.

Phenology…

…is what this blog is largely about. Therefore, I intend to take the science more seriously, and to devote some space here to being a phenological calendar. Love the Phenology Wheels below, taken from the web, but I will probably seldom veer from photographs.

Squirrel Lake Visit

Brief visit, but long enough to include three games of Sequence. Cloudy morning, giving way to beautiful, chilly afternoon. Photos by Katy.