Fleeting Spring and Other Things

I believe it's time to lament the lack of Spring. Just when we're lulled into thinking the warmth is here to stay, in blows the wind intent on shivering me timbers and reminding me how fickle Wisconsin weather is. I suspect summer will hurry in on little pig's feet and blow like a furnace without reprieve now that it's June. Weather is always a good contribution to life analogies.

Though Spring continues it's dodge and dart game, it didn't prevent the return of our lovely winged friends. The tree swallows are back and mating up a storm. We have a number of bird houses on our land (Mystic Marsh), but the chickadees and swallows decided they want the same digs. Quite a fuss ensues as they charge and flap at each other. We're pretty sure the chickadees won, however, the swallows continue their barrage, poor losers that they are. The orioles are back and we believe there are two pairs. Rose-breasted grossbeaks, cowbirds, catbirds, common yellow-throats, indigo buntings, bluebirds, and my beloved cranes have all made an appearance. The cacophony on some mornings is beautifully maddening. Did I mention the wacky male pheasants and their incessant crowing? Calling, calling for a mate from sun-up to set. I can't get enough of any of them.

We discovered a small pond not too far from our cabin. It was rife with tadpoles one week and now they're gone. We kicked up a few lingering tree frogs as we circled the pond. Then a bullfrog voiced his opinion so I carried on a conversation with him as Alden looked on in indulgent amusement. I would be perfectly content to spend my days exploring every nook and cranny of our marsh.

Hiddenite

So on our return trip from Colonial Williamsburg, Jannie & I decided to take a different return route. I'd never been to North Carolina so we decided to make this our general direction. Our friend Jude, whose Pop lives in NC, had mentioned a gemstone mine where one can sluice, creek or dig for flashy rocks. Apparently this is the only mine of it's kind in the whole U.S. of A. We were game so we went in search of the Hiddenite Mines.

We located the place, parked on a steep, red clay drive and hiked down to the permit shop. A permit to mine cost $5 and a bucket full of sand and hopefully gems, an additional $5. We really wanted to get back on the road so we decided sluicing was for us. We trekked over to the sluicing shelter and checked in with this gruff old geezer who didn't appear too happy to deal with we tourists. He told us there would at least be an hour wait because this was the time of year when they accomodated class field trips. We were a bit perturbed to say the least because we'd already paid and weren't apprised of this little item. (Of course now I know why the old fella was cranky!) We wandered around in indecisive fashion and I overheard another tourist cranking about paying and not being told about the invasion of the kiddos. After a bit of back and forth, we decided we'd pay a few dollars more and pan in the creek. I wasn't exactly equipped for this venture but my excitement and curiosity wouldn't allow me to back out. I hiked back to the car, donned my tennies, rolled up my jeans and trudged back to Jannie. (She's always prepared. Had on hiking boots, a great hat and rugged jeans.) We rented a pan and tool and set out for the creek. We were not disappointed. The setting was beautiful, the weather gorgeous and there weren't too many people around. Three very Zen hours later, we'd pocketed quite a few awesome gems. I had a pocket full of adventurine, rose and white quartz, jasper, amethyst and a few yet to be identified stones. Though I'm still finding clay and sand in the weirdest spots, I love it because it reminds me of a fab adventure with a dearest friend.

Tickling the Keyboard

It's been a while since I've posted so thought I'd at least write a sentence or two. The class is finis but why not continue to blog?

My friend Jannie and I returned a couple of weeks ago from a fabulous trip to Colonial Williamsburg. We also visited the Jamestown Settlement, Mt. Vernon and Monticello. There is no way to describe the aura that settles upon you when you step into the houses of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Walking the rooms they walked, seeing a semblance of the views they saw -- awesome to say the least. At the same time you steep yourself in the history of these historical men's lives, you are also conflicted about the fact they were both slave owners. Washington freed his slaves upon his death, not so for Jefferson. Of course we all know about his relationship with Sally Hemmings. One fact I didn't know about Washington was that he really was a proponent of peace. The weather vane on top of his house has a dove with olive branch perched atop the directions. I want that weather vane! I did know that Washington abhorred torture and set the precedence for abolishing torture as a way to illustrate to the world how a truly free country conducts itself in terms of human rights. Sadly we are now on the reverse path.

More about the trip to come later!

Bloglines

Yikers! I Forgot a Week

Here I am again. Just when I thought I'd actually finished on time and on budget!

I signed up for Jott! Hey, does anyone remember the fake M&M candies called Jots? Not as tasty as M&Ms but cheaper. Anyway, I talked to myself and said " hello world, peace-out." It was actually pretty cool. My voice sounded a little muffled but what a cool technology. Maybe I've found a way to remind myself about all I need to accomplish in a day at work. I can't seem to manage post-its and scrap notes very well and far be it for me to actually check my weekly planner. Oh, I did add something to the milk list long ago. I think it was about the god-awful snow. Usually I love snow but enough was enough already.

Did I make it Stef????!!!!!

Huhhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh

In case you didn't guess, that huhuh...is me panting in my haste to finish up before 4/7. I didn't know how to make a panting sound using letters so just go along with me, okay?

Am I curious? Are nosy and curious the same thing? Then yes! I was the kid who stealthily unwrapped all the xmas gifts to see what I was getting then carefully replaced the wrapping so the gig wasn't up. I remember when my parents wised up and hid the prezies in the car trunk. I managed to sneak the keys too. I used to read the end of books when only a few chapters in because I needed the answers and outcomes right away. Once I tried walking across a frozen pond because I wasn't convinced it was unsafe. Good thing the water only went up to my neck.

I love trying new things but often am too impatient to read the instructions. I dive right in though the results aren't always stellar. Projectplay elicited a sense of childhood excitement. I couldn't wait to try and explore everything thrown our way. Wow! It's overwhelming, exhilirating and terrific fun. Currently I'm moderating an online librarians eco-course through the U.W. and during the programming week, I'm asking the participants how they think using web 2.0 could further our mission as environmental activists. It's nice to know some of the vehicles and to actually know the term web 2.0.

Projectplay is one of the best learning experiences I've had in some time. Thanks for releasing my pent-up inner child and for connecting us to the "curiosity" video. And here all this time I thought my parents were right when, annoyed with my curiosity, they said one day I'd cut off my nose to spite my face. Nose and curiosity are still intact. I'm ready for my close-up, Pinocchio!

Mashups - Mmmmmm

Wouldn't Mashups be a super name for a babyfood company? Yum yum.

I wouldn't say I had the best experience on mapbuilder.net. My first foray produced only the corner of a map that didn't allow me to scroll to find CP. The second time produced no map at all. Our library name is in the location box, however, so some success was achieved. (I like logobama too!)

I'm rolling around the idea of somehow working up a mashup that combines environmental issues and libraries. Today my creative drive is taking a nap, so I'll give this more thought when motivation repays a visit.