A weed by any other name...

(With apologies to Shakespeare)...this clump of dandelions burst forth on the south side of a building not too far from our neighborhood. Even though we can have snow and freezing temps into mid-May around these parts, their sunny faces can't help but make me smile and believe in the summer ahead.

Mad as March Hare

During my Saturday morning walk in La Crosse, I came across this rusty little rabbit watching over a mulched flower garden next to an old house. It seemed appropriate since Tim Burton's version of "Alice in Wonderland" is now playing in local theaters, and the Ides of March is coming up on the 15th.

Turns out that both hatters and hares can be mad.

Moonscape

...or is it?

It's actually the same image seen below, with the colors equalized in PhotoShop. During our walk this morning, we could see what looked to be a sunken pothole in the snow alongside a subdivision street. After kicking away some of the snow, the sewer cover "sunburst" design was visible underneath.

SkyWatch Friday: Obscurred by Clouds

The moon was racing in and out from under a blanket of clouds when I snapped this recent night-time photo. It's reminiscent of a star "nebula" image.

See all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

Playing Possum

Eerily similar to the previous post of Phoebe sleeping in the sun, Nik and I came across this possum "taking a nap" by the side of the Swan Road. Although it appeared to have been hit by a car, fortunately, it wasn't a gory scene. It was simply lying upside down next to the road in the leaves. It's little foot is what caught my eye. Sort of reminded me of a little leprechaun hand - that could use a manicure. Kinda spooky!

Cat Nap

Now that December is here, the winter weather has followed. No major snow yet, but the windchill has settled into the teens and it can get pretty bitter when taking Nik for her final walk of the evening. Phoebe, on the other hand, has the right idea: a litter box in the basement and basking in the sun whenever possible!

Kate's Cute Shoes

My daughter, Katelyn, has a super cute pair of funky purple-flowered heels that she loves to wear. She gets compliments on them all the time, and because of the variety of colors, they go with everything! (OK, maybe not plaid.) I told her that years from now, she'll remember these shoes and, of course, they'll probably be long gone. So, we've immortalized them with pictures!

Distraction

Meet the reason we've all been a little distracted around here lately: Harriet. She's my daughter Kate's new little CockaPoo, just about 15 weeks old. At 8.5 lbs, she looks a lot bigger than she is...& most of it is fluff! She lives with Kate at her apartment, but spent most of this past weekend at our house and got to know our dog, Nik (who loved her) and our cat, Phoebe (who did not!)

Ugly Kids Can't Spell

...or at least that's part of the message someone left on this graffiti-laden box car. I'm not sure what the main message is supposed to be, either. One of many train cars passing by the Duplainville Road crossing in the city of Pewaukee.

Happy Halloween: Haunted Carousel

No, not really. Just a negative of the image below. It's an antique wooden carousel zebra that Juli & Jim have in the corner of their living room, photographed through their front window.

Throw Back

Brett Favre, the Packers' famous (or infamous to some) number 4, is of course playing for the Minnesota Vikings this season, but many of the fans at last week's game up in Green Bay still sported the number 4 jersey. This version is the blue and gold "throw-back" issue from 1994. Those were the Packers' original colors when the team first formed back in the early 1920's. Green and gold was first introduced in the 1935-36 season. Standing next to "Favre" is fan favorite, "Donald Driver" - number 80.

Modern Stoneage

On the way out of Green Bay, we drove past this Subway/gas station dinosaur. Reminds me of the old Sinclair mascot from years ago.

Scarecrow

Another giant inflatable Halloween-themed yard decoration. This one is just down the block. More silly than scary, I'd say.

Ghostly Trio

In recent years, Halloween seems to rival Christmas for outdoor decorations in Pewaukee neighborhoods. Many are of the giant, inflatable variety. This ghostly trio, rising up out of a bubbling cauldron, is at the end of a nearby cul-de-sac. I'll be posting other 'spooky' examples during the days leading up to the 31st.

Congratulations!

We attended the wedding of Lauren and Matt last weekend. Our daughter, Kate, was the maid of honor and everyone looked beautiful and a great time was had by all. It was held at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, within the art gallery. A very classic and lovely setting. The gorgeous cake was provided by Simma's bakery in Wauwatosa. Each layer was a different flavor - delicious!

Geraniums

One of the many things I learned from my mom: overwinter your geraniums. One of the pots on our patio is still going strong with new blooms. [I love its rustic old clay pot.] After we have our first frost, which should be soon now that October is right around the corner, I will have to cut it back and take it down to the basement. I'll give it a good watering and place it under the dark stairwell along with my other geraniums until March. At that point, I'll bring them all up to the kitchen and set them in front of the patio doors. By the end of May, they will be leafed out and ready to set outside for their new life. Truly a rebirth of spring!

More of the Same

The fall roadside markets are in full force this season. Here is another display on Capital Drive. They're offering pumpkins, corn, gourds, squash, and apples for your autumn pleasure! Note the old fashioned tractor and wooden cut-out of a corn cob.

Pump House Heron

I was back in La Crosse for a few days again this past week. The "Pump House" herons are man-size sculptures strategically placed around town and painted in a variety of themes. There is apparently a geocaching project dedicated to them as well! This one was located in Riverside Park.

Milwaukee Harbor

During our visit to the lakefront on Labor Day weekend, we saw this bright red speed boat with a racing flag paint job heading out towards Lake Michigan for some fun in the sun. The moored boats below at the Milwaukee Yacht Club gave a peaceful look to the warm afternoon.

Horton Hears a Who

While in La Crosse a few weeks ago, there was a sand sculpture contest in Riverside Park open to local artists. The theme was "Going to the Movies." There were quite a few inspired entries, from the Wizard of Oz to Jaws to John Wayne westerns. But my favorite was this sweet rendition of Dr. Seuss' Horton.