Lots of Light...

 ...and by afternoon enough sun and warmth to melt the slick and slush. 

Below, Katy helping to shape a template for the skeg.  She is good with tools, and a whiz at clamps.

Yesterday’s rain scoured a thick crust of salt off the truck; almost looks as if it went through a carwash. Less praiseworthy, the gutter extensions that run under the sidewalk on the south side of the garage remain frozen, and therefore roof runoff fritzles out the joint between the downspout and the extension. This ice clog is caused, of course, by the shoveling of snow off the sidewalk, thus allowing cold to penetrate deep enough to freeze the extension.

Have to admit, the extra light is creating a touch of spring fever, aggravated by a rather serious case of oyster deficiency anemia.

Dogged

Sole possession of three dogs all day. A coterie of canines forever underfoot. 

Rain, sometimes substantial, and nowhere for the water to go.  

Perfect day for watching some basketball.  

The Iron Grip...Released

Quite amazing how fine forty feels. 

And we have a little melt at last.

Of course, this wintry winter is not a release from global warming (it’s been warm elsewhere), but more of a symptom. Perhaps, as this article argues, it would be beneficial to think of climate change as aliens threatening invasion of Planet Earth.

One of Those Days...

...when not much of import besides grocery shopping. On the plus side, the wind has subsided and the temperature has risen almost to the point where melting might be a possibility—a few damp spots in evidence where salt lingers. Sue to Fox Point for a bit, and me to the basement when not out with Pax.

And, now there are three—Buddy and Pip have joined us for two days.

Tricky Bits...

 ...on both ongoing projects. 

The stern seat—multiple compound angles. How do you keep it square and level both for-and-aft, and athwartship?

The wall hanging—quarter-inch seams that match—as it is sewn together (bottom 2/3s done, upper 1/3 waiting for the needle).

Here’s an article I rather like, on the Good Enough Life.

Like Being Stabbed By Icicles

Relentless wind; dog walking not pleasant. 

Closing in on boat work. Interesting seat concept—rower can easily change position when a passenger occupies the stern seat (not yet installed).

Enough Already

Nine below last night and nine above today, with a wicked wind. We are into March, for heavens sake, and we have paid our dues. But then, look at Manitoulin where they are sending bulldozers into the woods to break trails as part of Operation Deer Save. (Kagawong photos courtesy of Don Lloyd, who snowshoed in.)

Should we grill out tonight?

Let’s go sailing.

On the way to and from Oconomowoc (where I went to take Maddie to gymnastics) I listened to an hour’s length interview with presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Whoa, and holy-moly. Here is a candidate I had immediately dismissed—but one I shouldn’t have. Pete is intelligent, knowledgeable, affable, funny, and engaging. He’s a fan and student of Bernie, but he far surpasses the master. His ideas, original ideas, on how to bring our country back make great sense to me. I’ve moved him up to the top of my list.

You can listen to the interview here: Pod Save America.

Dance Recital...

 ...in preparation for some competitive competition.

Katy front and center.

And, after the finale.

Big Ice...

 ...but not sailable. 

Lake Geneva from Fontana

If no snow there would be 100 iceboats in this photo. We made do with lunch at Gordy’s.

Still dinking around—but getting close to finishing. A bit more optional trim, seats, the skeg, paint, and that’s it.

Very strong and very light. Thinking about a trans-Atlantic crossing.

Every so often I come across a poem I like. Here’s one:

High Dangerous
Catherine Pierce

High Dangerous
is what my sons call the flowers—
purple, white, electric blue—
pom-pomming bushes all along
the beach town streets.
I can’t correct them into
hydrangeas, or I won’t.
Bees ricochet in and out
of the clustered petals,
and my sons panic and dash
and I tell them about good
insects, pollination, but the truth is
I want their fear-box full of bees.
This morning the radio
said tender age shelters.
This morning the glaciers
are retreating. How long now
until the space-print backpack
becomes district-policy clear?
We’re almost to the beach,
and High dangerous! my sons
yell again, their joy in having
spotted something beautiful,
and called it what it is.

Any Color But White

How about tulip red or hyacinth grape or redbud pink? 

But, anyway, we rose above the freezing point for a while, and the sky was only partially cloudy. (I don’t think I will mention that snow is in the forecast for tonight, and then another deep plunge into below zero territory.)

The squirrels seem to have had it too. They’ve resorted to nipping the tips of the back yard red pine (I assume for the buds). (Tamia does her harvesting in the fall…assuming there is food to harvest.)

And, what’s this? Hint—the back yard is rather full of it, and it’s the end result of squirrel metabolism.

Science Fair

With some pre-fair entertainment.  

Video by Mimi

Seventy Degrees and Sunny...

...in the UK.  But not here. The sunny part, yes, but not the seventy part—more like the middle teens, with a biting breeze. Walking tricky, too, in that creepers are not necessary 98.7 percent of the way.

Watched a few minutes of the House Michael Cohen hearing. Quite something to hear Republican members working to discredit Cohen and defend Trump. What sick and twisted thinking (if you can call it that).

Cræft

By Alexander Langlands, an archeologist and one of the “re-enacters” on the BBC series “Tales From The Green Valley” (farming in 1620) and “Victorian Farm” (farming in 1850). Picked the book up in St. Paul, when visiting Niki, a few days before we stumbled across the tv series. (How odd is that?)

One essential tool from the medieval period, right up the the present, is the billhook, and I can’t imagine living without one (though I have for quite some time). Brush clearing, the making of hedges and wattle hurdles, kindling and faggots, the manufacture (manu means by hand) of strong and lightweight woven wood baskets—and, the like.

The last line in the book reads as follows: “To be cræfty is all about resourceful living and about going back to the basics: a mindful life achieved through beautiful simplicity.”

AND, speaking of cræfty: Abby is the first person in my acquaintance to be written up in Forbes.

Back From Ulima Thule

With four-wheel drive in low gear, and a good head of steam, we made it out the long, long driveway! Road from Flambeau to south of Stevens Point not good. But, at least, we were not part of Sunday’s 141 car pileup.

Stop for gas in Merrill. Snow there, too.

Saturday the Nies family came over to the Janowiec place for a visit. The two north woods cottages are just a bit more than an hour apart.

Becca is well versed in cottage living.

Photo by Katy

Photo (and caption) by Katy.

By Katy

By Katy

Weathering The Storm

Blizzard in effect all day. Deep, deep snow. But Bruce and Sharon got out (the very long drive).  

Wind still roaring in the pines and temp dropping below zero. We are snug with coals glowing in the grate.  

Cabin Resussitation

Coming back from having been frozen solid and buried in snow. Enough snow off the roof to stanch the leaks and enough snow off the chimney to permit a fire in the fireplace.  

And, thanks to Bruce all the burst pipes repaired.  

North Woods Idyll

Helping the Janowiec family move into and thaw out their new, fabulous, 100 year-old log cottage in Lac du Flambeau. Snow in some places almost waist deep. Melting snow to flush toilet.  

What Do Icicles Indicate?

In the first place, previous weather of the snowy kind. And then, current weather of the indeterminate kind—neither here nor there, neither this nor that—but in between—with the temperature just below the freezing point of water but close enough to it that the sun can exert its influence.

I have to say that everyone around here is pretty much done with icicles, and all their antecedent causes, as well as the factors contributing to their generation.

Amongst The Democrats

Communications Committee. 

I did a demo on SLACK, the team collaboration software.

It is interesting how, when you drop yourself into a new group, they mostly seem like oddballs, but when you get to know the people a little they turn out to be quite likable.

Time for Gunwales

Still cold, and walking still difficult, so good time for boat work. 

The gunwales, or rub strakes, or rub-rails, consisting of three-quarter by one-and-a-half oak, were dry fit. It’s a hard and difficult two-directional bend, but doable, without steaming. Glueing them in will be a two-person job, however.

Then, time for a little decoration. The boat will be painted white, with varnished trim.