In The Barn

Iceboat in the barn at Roger’s.  Jetski out.

Summery day. Worked up a sweat working in the garden. Planting beets and squash tomorrow. (Might as well—Roger is planting corn and beens in the same timeframe.)

But here's an email from Murray and Elaine:

"We planned to head to Manitoulin about May 1, after our club boat launch day this weekend. 
However, I contacted Patrick for a report on how car-worthy the road is north of David Lloyds place.  Since you often come up in early May, I thought you may like this information. (below)
Also Joan Lloyd said that the lake ice is tight to the shore, so it may be a challenge to get the waterline out far enough. We plan to delay a week, hoping the road will be safe enough to bring the car into our place.
If we have to delay too long we will bail on coming up, because we would have to leave Kagawong before May 18 for concerts.
Hope we all can make it up to Serendipity..............Elaine & Murray............."

Face Full of Midges

Probably a good thing for the food chain but not so much fun for walkers—seeing as how midges have a remarkable ability to anticipate which way a person is walking—turn left and the cloud is already there; turn right, already there; turn back, already there. The only successful strategy is to walk backwards, but Pax doesn't cotton to that too much.

Spring peepers loud in every wet place. A robin (possibly the one who has done this previously) trying to make a nest on top of the kitchen garden window. And, as I believe I mentioned previously, the midges are out.

Back under a stationary high pressure, with cloudless skies and a cool NE wind. We could use a thunderstorm.

Pax To The Vet

For his annual, pre-Canada checkup. He is good to go.

And...a new water softener, to replace the twenty-something-year-old one which had begun to leak. The old machine was controlled by a complex gearbox stuffed with ratchets, cams, and levers. The new one has no moving parts. Furthermore, being high in efficiency, it may not need a salt refill for two years.

Continued sunny and warm, yet no blossoms on the apple or buds on the redbud. Actually starting to feel a bit dry.

Hello Summer

Sunny, warm, and still.

Garage vacuumed and flushed (Augean stable look-alike prior to the operation.) Then Sue got motivated, and the storms were replaced by screens. It is nice to air out and to hear unimpeded birdsong.

Excursion

Perfect Sunday weather—for an excursion to Mount Horeb; for a hike, a bit of luncheon, and just a little shopping. (Pretending we were characters in one of the effete British mysteries we have been reading lately.)

Groceries on the way home, and then less effete things, such as washing the the car, the truck, and the dog.

Katy Eight

A fun, bird-themed birthday. Followed by a family lunch at the Safe House. 

Thanks to Sue for photos.  

From White to Green

Quite amazing what sun and sixty can do—snow only in shadows or where shoveled.

Pax and I got back to biking. A verdant fuzz on the blackened prairie.

Let The Melt Begin

With the snow stopped, the sun shining, and the temperature above freezing we seem to be turning the corner into actual spring.

And, this evening, a fine concert by Maddie and classmates. And, after, dinner and ice cream with Maddie, Becca, and Ellie.

How Could It?

Another 2-3 inches so far, creating a winter wonderland of flocked tress and mounds of white. Pax loves bounding through it, occasionally scooping up a mouthful. But on our walk today we saw a dead bird and no daffodils. Isn't this the latter half or April?

Super White

Something about this snow, or perhaps the spring sunlight, that makes it incredibly white (the photo below doesn't do it justice). It reminds me of the actress on the TV ad who looks like she got a flashlight stuck in her throat or had her teeth replaced with LCDs. Luminous.

All the way up to 41 by afternoon, thanks to a bright sun. Some melting, causing icicles.

Here is a leaf debossing itself—alreay over an inch deep. Solar power in action.

And here is the original April fool.

Ain’t Gonna Sno No Mo...

 ...we might hope. 

The Nik/Der/Ru contingent were able to get away, amidst snow showers and after more shoveling, and make it back to Mpls/St.P.

On the back roads to and from Fort, hundreds of birds along the shoulders, drawn, I think, by a bit of bare ground. On little Cravath Lake in downtown Whitewater many waterfowl, including gulls, mergansers, a loon, and others I didn't recognize. I suspect that a great many birds, especially those on the move, got stalled by the storm. We might hope that the storm did not result in high levels of avian mortality (or in plain English, that it didn't kill too many birds). Worried about those sandhills that went north weeks ago.

Here's the reply from Therese to my question, "How are things on Manitoulin":

Bad.  But we are lucky to have power.  Ice storm yesterday and snowstorm today.  No going out on the roads.  May have to get driveway plouged again! Cra-zee! Solar panels coated in ice covered in snow.  Good thing we have lots of wood and propane!

Two weeks to our Manitoulin departure.

Snowbound

Nik, Der, and Ru unable to travel travel.

A day of heavy shoveling mixed with card playing (and reading, naps, and conversation).

The active front of this storm reaches, at the moment, from Havana, Cuba, to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and both Lake Huron and Lake Superior are completely obscured on radar by thick bands of mixed precipitation.

Big Family Party

at the Nies residence in Oconomowoc. 

Unlimited food and fun. Long, slow drive home through “historic” winter storm.  

Pre-party Party

Nik, Derek, and Ru here in advance of tomorrow’s big family picnic. 

Almost

Big warmup and a little rain last night. 

Vi’s daffodils almost ready to bloom. 

Some Warmth At Last

First spring peepers heard, first dandelions seen. Pax desirous of being outside all day. Nice evening, back-patio-sit in company with a multitude of robins.

Cover crop greening up one of the University gardens.

First Flower

Helping out a bit at Fox Point as Will got hit hard by flu and then dehydration.  

Weather moderating slightly.  

Looking Forward To Spring

No sign of it yet. 

Light snow this morning. No sign of green in the prairie. Cold. Indoor projects. 

Play Date...

 ...with Katy. 

Political

Good day for attending a “town hall” at the UAW hall in Janesville. 

Substantial crowd. Featured candidate Randy Bryce who is going after Paul Ryan's seat. Organized and run by high school students. Lots of other politicians and candidates in attendance. I took advantage of the opportunity to slip candidate Bryce several documents full of what I consider election-winning ideas / talking points. Go Randy. Ryan has not had a townhall in his district for 915 days. He is, I believe, the largest single recipient of NRA money. And he is a scumbag.