Peace on Google Earth

[For the record, the two images in this post are taken from Google Maps to illustrate a point.]

For Memorial Day I am planning to drive up to where my grandparents are buried in rural western Wisconsin to plant flowers around their graves - just as my mother always did. While reviewing Google Maps for directions, I noticed an interesting oddity.  The map above shows the general area of where the church is located (B), in Vernon County, which is about 25 miles southeast of La Crosse.  But as I zoomed in closer to follow the exact route to take, I noticed this:

A peace sign is etched into the grassy field just to the right of the church cemetery!

Certain pockets of rural Vernon County used to be frequented by the hippies of the 60s and 70s, and so this could be a throw-back to those days. But now there is a growing and respectable progressive culture, with a very active co-op scene in Viroqua and the excellent Westby Creamery. In any event, this certainly seems like a "wink-and-a-nod" from someone, since it is obviously meant to be seen from the sky.

Grazing in the Grass

The sun has finally come out and the grass is starting to grow - ever so slightly!  Driving by one of the local farms on my way to work the other day, I noticed a group of horses grazing in the field.

As I drove closer, I rolled down my window to snap a few shots. But no matter how much I cooed and begged, the guy below would NOT look up at me!  There must have been something quite delicious at the corner of that fence post. : -)

Constantine & Helen

The City of Wauwatosa is sometimes called the "City of Churches" because there are over a dozen within the old village area alone.  Set amidst a pleasant neighborhood of stately vintage homes, Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthadox church stands out as a divergent bit of architecture.

Reservoir Pond Sunset: SkyWatch Friday

This reservoir pond sits in the midst of our nearby shopping center.  Beyond the far edge is a little subdivision of houses and the Simmons Woods trails.

See more entries in SkyWatch Friday here.

Dog-Gone

This old house in the Village of Pewaukee is currently used as a dog grooming facility.  Rumor has it that this - and several of the neighboring homes - will soon be razed to make way for a Kwik-Trip.

Really Neat Stuff

Kroner's True Value Hardware on Pearl Street is one of the few original businesses remaining in downtown La Crosse. It has that old-fashioned feel with creaking wooden floors and tall ceilings. The original tile sign above the door also has great Art Deco typography typical of the 1930s. It carries just about every type of hardware, paint, or tool you might need, along with lots of great cookware for the gourmet chef.

Since La Crosse is a cradle of Norwegian heritage, they also carry some wonderful Scandinavian cooking supplies. (See window display below.) Lefse is a very popular soft Norwegian flat bread made from potatoes -quite similar to a flour tortilla- and you must have very specific items to make it. Kroner's is the local go-to place to buy the required potato ricer, lefse iron, rolling mat, and flat "turning stick" needed to create this tasty staple found on dinner tables from Thanksgiving through Easter. We are purists and just roll it up with butter and use it in place of dinner rolls, but some people enjoy rolling it up with cinnamon-sugar for breakfast or dessert.

It's April, yet note the poor little gold Christmas ornament forgotten at the bottom of the display in this photo? (Hey! I think I actually want that stainless colander!)

April Showers Bring Spring Flowers

Well, we've had lots of April showers (and hail and snow and sleet!) - but no sign of any greenery, much less flowers, outside of our doors up here in Pewaukee.  So, to brighten the mood, I'm posting a photo of a bouquet I bought recently for our dining table. COLOR! My heart lightens a bit just looking at it. :-)

Hoo-Who?

While waiting at an intersection the other day, I had to do a double-take at the utility pole across the way.  Upon closer inspection, I realized it was merely an owl decoy placed to keep other birds from congregating in the area.  I'm not sure why there are no wires attached to the pole itself, unless it's just a throw-back to the "olden days."

Shivering Oaks: SkyWatch Friday

The setting sun on a blustery day as seen from Highway 16 in Waukesha County.

You can see more SkyWatch Friday photos here.

Whoosh! SkyWatch Friday

Near my work there is a small shopping area with a few restaurants, shops, and a hotel.  Driving over there for lunch one day I noticed the clouds appeared to be "whooshing" across the sky, leaving a trail behind.

See more SkyWatch Friday photos here.

Dam the Lake!

These photos were taken last weekend, during our very chilly walk by the Pewaukee lakefront. As you can see from the ice and wind-rippled water, it looks more like Thanksgiving than Easter. The particular area below is an inlet dam that flows under the street from the lake into the Pewaukee River on the other side. 

Heart Rock Tree

During our walk up Lindsay Road the other day we saw a little asphalt heart-shaped rock tucked into the base of this tree.  Sweet!

Pedestrians Crossing - Theme Day, April 2013

This snow-covered road winds up a hill from the Simmons Woods boardwalk area to the street above.  The sign on the chain across the road is a warning that cars cannot enter this section of the park. While no one is in sight, the two sets of footprints tell the story of a couple who had been there and gone before me.

See other "City Daily Photo" Theme Day entries here.