No Snow…

…except in a few places.

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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

I count about 40

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

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).

First Crane Sighting

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

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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.

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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).

A Little Bare Ground…

…perhaps enough to tide the early robins over.

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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.

Ice Checking…

…and bike riding.

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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.

Inching Forward…

…to spring and normalcy.

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Sometimes

Sheenagh Pugh

Sometimes things don’t go, after all, 
From bad to worse. Some years, muscadel 
Faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail,
Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes will step back from war;
Elect an honest man; decide they care
Enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go
Amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
That seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.

On The Straight and Narrow

Snow still too deep off the beaten path.

Nice restoration

Nice restoration

Whenever Pax would attempt leaving the trail and going cross country he would do fine as long as the crust held, but when it didn’t, he would bottom out. There were times when I thought I might have to attempt a rescue, and I found that worrisome because I had no idea how.

St several places up on the hill I had to leave the plowed road because of frozen sheets of meltwater (no creepers). Unlike Pax I had zero chance of staying on the crust, so had to slog forward slowly, stepping lightly and then crashing down—almost knee deep—with every step.

The melting continues, but there is a lot more to go.

Sue got her second shot this afternoon.

Afternoon Outing

Looking for rural scenery and rustic charm, up towards Watertown, but finding little. Sun broke through the clouds as we arrived home, however.

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Cushing’s disease is pressing Pax hard, and it is hard to watch.

“The old dog barks backward without getting up.
I can remember when he was a pup.”
—Robert Frost

Melting

Lots of melting, but lots more to go. Pax and I enjoyed two long walks today. We had to navigate puddles, but neither of us minded that.

Downloaded from FB recently. Up until seeing this, I was uncertain if Rachel had received the few books I sent by mail last fall.

And, here’s remembering Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the City Lights Bookstore.
And now, watching basketball for the first time in a long time. Thanks to Bri for reminding me. Illinois is ranked #5, and March Madness is right around the corner.