Losing the Virtue of Patience

Why the impatience with President Obama? Sure, he promised change, but he never indicated it could happen overnight. Small steps for sure, but these steps are progress. If we turn on the best thing we have going right now, we'll end up regressing to the Bush years and beyond. Got tea? I have my disappointments like the rest of you. Where is our universal health care? That's right, Congress made sure we didn't get that one. Is this entirely Obama's fault? Why are we still at war? This one makes me edgy as well. If you think Obama's so bad, just imagine your life with the likes of Christine O'Donnell or in Wisconsin, the likes of wealthy elitists Ron Johnson and Scott Walker. Stop whining and become informed ... then get out and make a difference.

Fighting Bob Fest 9/ Photos

A Country of Mediocrity

I love this country but have taken a long time to allow myself to come to the conclusion that this is a country of mediocrity. The informed citizenry exists only on a small scale. Rather than truly delving into the back story of political candidates and recognizing the smoke-and-mirrors trickery raining down upon them, numerous citizens either don't vote, vote based on liking names or the person with the most and largest political signs, or vote with the most superficial information tossed at them by the faux news channels. Why do so many persist on voting against their own good or that of the greater good? Why do they allow manufactured fear to guide them?

Sigh

So we just celebrated my parents' 55th wedding anniversary and Dad's 80th birthday. Who is together 55 years?! The gala was held at my home and started at 2 p.m. with dinner at 5. By 5, no parents. They don't have a cell phone so we couldn't find out where they'd gone. Both are stubborn people. I called Mom on Thursday to insist they follow my brother because they were lost for over an hour trying to find my place at Thanksgiving. Of course they just knew they could find it. A little after 5, my sister's cell rings. Dad remembered he had her number in his wallet. They were given directions and arrived in 15 minutes. Mom's eyes were red so I knew she'd been crying. She's a bit hysterical but probably also felt guilty for not listening to me. I hugged her hard. They'd somehow ended up in Janesville which is quite a distance from my home. Lost for two hours, they were. Mom thought I lived on L.L. Bean Road. Say what? Dad hugged me hard. His usually rapid speech was kicked up ten notches as he told the tale of their adventure. Mom mentioned an urgent stop by a corn field but Dad didn't. Guess who had to use it? The party was terrific with food, drink, laughter and family. I'd love to see 60 years for them. I'm sending a chauffeur.

Elton John I Thee Love

If I were one of those people who thought a bucket list was cool, I'd have to say seeing Elton John and touching his hand is right on top of the list. He was at the Chicago opening of "Billy Elliott the Musical" and I was lucky enough not only to see him and snap some photos, but also to grab his hand. Heaven is a trite word to describe the moment. Suffice it to say I'm still wafting on the high of seeing this magnificent icon.

No Frickin' Blog Since June!

I have no excuse other than I truly need a new computer to go along with my new house. I think I'd be more consistent with blogging if I had the proper apparatus to use during my leisure time. We'll see...

Moved into the new house and loving country life! The views are breath-taking and rooms bathed in natural light are uplifting. Some day we'll be unpacked but for now, adjusting and simply being is all I need.

New House

Our cottage construction is finally underway! I can hardly believe that I'll be a Sun Prairie Township resident after spending a lifetime as a Cross Plains citizen. The commute will be hard to take after walking to work for 28 years. However, returning home to acres and acres of nature and a view to-die-for will be worth it. Growing up, living and working in a small town feels a bit like the poor bug scrutinized under the microscope. Privacy will be a luxury.

In Avian Heaven

I decided to spend a solitary afternoon at Mystic Marsh this past Saturday, and was not disappointed by the plethora of winged friends. As I sat in the old adirondak chair eating my alfresco lunch, I was greeted by the sight of eight tree swallows jockeying for the myriad bluebird houses on site. So spirited and friendly was this bunch, that my pate almost became a temporary perch. After a while, they dispersed and I was contented with the twittering blackbirds, pipping robins and two wayward sparrows. Later I strolled down to the picnic table and viewed a fanning turkey, (with no takers), in the distance and heard the raucous call of the resident pheasants. A couple of mallards flew overhead and my beloved Sandhills circled a few times before landing near a distant pond.

As shadows grew long and the afternoon was waning, I headed back to the cabin porch for a nice glass of vino and opera. I'd no sooner started the music, when I caught a flash of blue to my right. Could it be? Yes, it was a bluebird -- the elusive bluebird who I've been trying to lure in for three years. He checked out the houses and actually stuck around for at least 45 minutes. It must have been Renata Tibaldi's voice that appealed to this vibrant little guy. I was enthralled and highly entertained.

The next morning I began gathering my things for my short trek home, when a familiar melodic blend entered the air. A wee male wren had shown up just before my departure. I sat for a bit and reveled in a solo even Caruso would have envied. Giving the trees one last scan, I noticed a rather large bird sitting atop a limb. I didn't immediately recognize the bird, so I grabbed the bird book for a look-see. It was a brown thrasher. This is only the second time I've seen a brown thrasher, the last time being two years ago. I was duly excited and jotted a small note in the book. I hope he sticks around for a while. Ah...two days in aviary heaven--what bliss.

Tree Swallows are Back

Nebraska & Sandhill Cranes

Jan and I did make our annual sojourn to Nebraska and were not disappointed. Estimates put the Sandhill Crane migration at 50,000. By mid-March, there will be about 500,000. We saw one Whooper - a breathtaking observance even at a great distance. From Nebraska through Iowa, we counted 20 eagles. Meadowlarks and blackbirds are also in Nebraska. Shouldn't be long before they make their way to Wisconsin. I plan to upload some crane photos and will post one or two here when I finally get to it.

Spring Harbingers

Yesterday I heard a cardinal sing. Dare I hope Spring will return with zephyrs softly breathed? (I remember that line from a long-ago song sung by my high school madrigal group.) Now I wait for the return of the blackbirds. This truly is my Spring thing, besides the return of Sandhills. I think Jan and I will be heading out to Nebraska next week-end to see the crane migration. The beauty of organized chaos in motion.

Hopefully we're saying a final farewell to the polluted, frozen concoction of salt, car effluent and garbage as it melts under the warming sun. Another harbinger, albeit, unsightly one, of Spring. I adore snow (when not on the roadways) but abhor it's unnatural shade of sludge.

Bistro Table & Geraniums

This photo makes me long for summer. The table is now buried under snow and ice.

Time Goes By

Egads! Has it really been almost three months since I visited my own blog? Time to get back to it and learn how to type my stream of consciousness.

My incredible son, Jason, is embarking for Washington D.C. in March to take a grant-funded job with the National Association for Independent Living. He's a social worker for people with disabilities and now has a chance to affect change through writing policy and lobbying. He's a bit of a political nut like the rest of the family so he should be in his element. What a stupendous time to be in D.C. The only down-side is that he will be away from his family for a year. The other potential down-side is that he may get a permanent job which would mean a bit of a sob fest for me. I can't imagine being parted from my beloved Ella Enchanting. Of course I'm being selfish and truly am thrilled my son has this fab opportunity.

My other incredible son, Jeremy, was just elected secretary of his union. Did I mention my sons are both progressive liberals bent on creating change for the greater good? Fortunately Jeremy's job doesn't require re-location so he and his lovely wife, Michelle, will remain in the Madison area. (Hope another grandchild is in the future. Now I am sounding like Raymond's mother, Marie!:))

More to come, stay tuned..........

Transformation

Ella Enchanted

Mystic Marsh 5:30 a.m. in July

Incredible Edible Egg

I thought it would be a good time to showcase those incredible eggs I mentioned yesterday. Of course these are merely the remnants of the brilliant ova that hold beauty as illustrated in colors only Mother Nature can create.

New Camera, Lotsa Pics

I've wanted a camera with a zoom lens for ages. Right time, right place, we bought a Canon Rebel for less than half-price. I've already gone a bit nuts clicking on a whim. This, my first photo of barn cats, with said camera, was taken at a farm where we buy the most magnificent eggs.

Tree of Infinite Sorrows

A number of years ago, I read a children's book entitled: Because of Winn Dixie. The story was charming but a part of the book that continued to resonate with me involved a tree filled with dangling glass bottles. The bottles were intended to keep the ghosts away. I loved this image and knew I'd probably start my own hanging bottle tree someday. That day has arrived. My tree is called the "tree of infinite sorrows." For every bottle of "spirits" we empty at Mystic Marsh, we fill it up with all our sorrows and hang it on a tree limb where it appears in gentle sway and clink. There is something soothing about loosing oneself of pent-up sorrows and sending those bottled-up woes into a literal bottle that glints and glows as it swings those damning feelings into oblivion.

Always on the Edge of Reason

Is it any wonder a somewhat sane person often finds themselves teetering on the edge of reason when Murphy's Law is the only constant in life? Take for example, our seemingly jinxed work abode. Two days ago, our shared printer ran amok spewing out scads and scads of paper bordered with what can only be described as some ancient script dating back to the inception of the PC printer. For over an hour, we booted, unplugged, disconnected, re-fed, reset, shook, dismantled and flung a few vexing words at this seemingly innocuous machine. Even the best damned troubleshooting from our brilliant tech. folks, couldn't foil the monster in the machine. Finally we left that pugnacious piece of plastic alone to stew. By morning the tantrum was over and (knock wood), all systems go. Okay, so that was two days ago. Yesterday morning I thought I'd do a nice turn and wash staff dishes. Flip went the faucet handle and -- you guessed it -- no water! Never having enough patience to leave anything alone, I monkeyed with it and then had a nice little shower. I flung a towel over the offending appendage and stalked off to find some real work. Should have thought to warn staff who all turned the faucet on and were met with a squealing leak. What we didn't notice was the rivulet running behind the sink, saturating the carpet. I received my second washing that day while tucked under the sink in an attempt to turn the water off. Success was sweet but now I need to suck it up and call a plumber. Maybe I need to first look at one of our do-it-yourself plumbing manuals. Hmmm ... I'll let you know how it turns out!