Water in the Watershed

The land is saturated, from southern Wisconsin to the Straits of Mackinac. Puddles, pools, and ponds; the rivers high and fast. Drove through rain most of the day, and Pax seems to have adapted, since he had little choice. Nice, fresh whitefish dinner in St. Ignace—sometimes it is good to know the route—where to dine and where to stay.

Solid ice cover on Green Bay and Big and Little Bay de Noc. The Straits mostly open, but with icebergs. According to reports, ferries to M. Island began running just two days ago, and it look like service is still limited.

Green Bay

Ferries on the hard

Mackinac Island in the distance (left)

Could this be Florida?

Pack It In

Two cars and a trailer and we are still having trouble packing it all in. Nothing of consequence except for our Christmas present, but things like a chaise longue, and three tomato cages, and a kid's plastic kitchen set—take room. Of course, there is also dog stuff and dog food, and winter coats (really?), and nerve tonic, and paper towels. You pretty much need a trailer just for paper towels and toilet paper.

Tulips are up around town in very sheltered spots...

 ...but not at our house. This is what things look like today, April 30, 2014 at 275 N. Esterly.

We will not see our tulips this year (except maybe the remnants in June) , nor the redbud, nor Vi's magnificent flowering crab. We will have to be content with hellebore, and daffodil. 

Happy 4th Birthday Ellie

East Wind

Another chilly, east-windy day, followed by an evening thunderstorm, coming out of nowhere—and over in a few minutes, but not before Pax headed to the basement. Treated the ash tree on the property line between us and the back neighbors, just in case they don't, although they said they would.

Spring Haiku

 'Tis the season for wedding showers, along with the other kind, so Sue, Abby, Renee (+ Becca) in Algonquin, along with Sally and MaryJo, getting Gary's Kelli initiated into the family. For me, breakfast with Bri, Ellie, and Maddie, and then braving the elements to swing in the back yard and ride bikes to Ivy Street park, where we climbed, slided, and raced around the tennis courts. Lunch consisted of (off the record) Old MacDonalds. Later in the afternoon Tony, Katy and Will rolled in. As supper was being prepped I headed for home, wearing the many bandages applied by Drs. Ellie and Maddie duing my stay at the hospitable. 

Pax and I arrive home minutes before a thunderstorm. 

Trailer back because it's time to pack.

................. 

Clouds, some sun. 
A fierce and chilly wind.
Then, back home, noisy thunderstorm!

One of Your Nicer Spring Saturdays

More hellebore...

More daffodil...

Some chives...

 ...and the end of the road for a lot of stuff—compost bin #1.

Sunny and mild until late afternoon when the wind switched to the east (off the Lake) and the temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees.

Several perfectly worthwhile Saturday projects—sharpening the  mower blade and changing the oil; setting  up the router table and making a frame for the commissioned oil painting.

Then, once the mower was springterized (as opposed to winterized),  cutting some grass, or—as they say in the old country, mowing the lawn. (Unkie-ism here.)

Also, of course, several dog walks, and a bike ride to the priaire, where Pax is, in a big way,  into digging. Why, you may  ask? Because, I must tell you, in spite of the cold winter or perhaps because of it, gophers have proliferated, and Pax thinks he can dig faster than they can.

And to top it off, discoverd while cutting the lawn, a gopher in the front yared. Pax, what's up buddy?  What about your home turf?

It turns out that our new neighbors, who are very nice people in spite of their boxer dogs, are fans of country-western music. That, of course, is far better than typicall student heavy metal fare.

Crazy Drivers, Sandhill Cranes

Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Cloudy, with a little light rain. Cool, but warming. MaryJo is here. Abby, Katy, and Will stopped by for some play time and dinner.

Slow Spring in Rural Wisconsin

Morning frost. Warm noon sun. Chilly evening clouds.

And from Therese in Kagawong... 

Subject: Serendipity news

The road is free from snow until just past Tyson's! Am surprised it melted as it has not been warm until today.  You can still cross country ski past Tyson's though.  I went down to their shore and there is about 10 feet of water between the snow and where the ice starts - quite a change since Monday! Bridal Veil sounds like Niagra Falls and there was a rainbow in the mist at the bottom.  I know, send photos.  

Last Year's Fruit

When the new leaves unfurl, the old fruit falls. (Is this metaphorical?)

And here is last year's big bluestem, which basically needs burning.

One of those bright, cool, windy days, where if you could find a sheltered spot, it was possible to bask in spring.