Here Comes the Sun

The bare branches were coated in sparkling frost this morning, but thanks to bright sunshine and a clear blue sky, all that had melted by the afternoon when the temperature nearly hit 50 degrees! Hope does indeed 'spring' eternal.

Of course, we still have a half-foot of snow covering the ground, but 'this too shall pass.'

Deer Tracking

Another snowy afternoon at Balmer Park. The only visitors to the playground these days are the deer! (Notice all the tracks in the foreground going back and forth.)

People on the Street: CDP Theme for March

The frigid winter of 2014 has been testing even the most hardy of Wisconsin's souls. Yesterday's high temp was only 6 degrees and the windchill kept it feeling below zero most of the day.  With weather like that, there are very few "people on the street" in these parts! The best I could do was this bundled up gentleman dashing into the neighborhood Walgreen's.

Check out more City Daily Photo theme day entries here.

What's for Breakfast?

Decided to try a new recipe from Martha Stewart for "Sugar Buns," or as we call them here in Wisconsin, "Morning Buns" ...bundles of cinnamon-sugary goodness! The featured image above shows them rising in my grandmother's vintage muffin tins.  Below are a few photos of the process, followed by the final product. I must say, they turned out pretty scrumptious. :-)

I even had a a little dough left over to make a mini "Monkey Bread" - a pull-apart loaf that's fun to eat. I'll freeze the little pan below and bake it up some cold Sunday morning in the future.

Frozen

Just like the Disney movie of the same name, much of Lake Superior is 'Frozen.' As of Tuesday, Feb. 11th, it was 87.1% frozen and experts say that due to the brutal winter, it may freeze almost completely over for the first time this century.  A few weeks back, our good friend, Dana, drove up to Ashland, Wisconsin, to visit his daughter, Laura. She's a student at Northland College, which features a curriculum focused on the environment and sustainability. 

They carefully hiked along the shore and spent most of the day exploring the ice caves that are formed by water, wind, and frigid weather. It's been years since winter ice has been thick and secure enough for visitors to walk out to the islands that dot the area. The dramatic wall of ice below is ever-growing and shifting. As more water filters down through the rocks, segments are constantly being created and broken off. 

It's interesting to note that where the "ice falls" meet the frozen lake, there is a horizontal gap of several inches or more.  This gap rises and falls with the movement of the lake, and can be seen at the bottom of the rock formation below.

I also love Laura's cozy warm "Spirit Hood"-style hat, which is perfect for Wisconsin's below-zero windchill!

Photo credits for this post: Dana L. French (c) 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!

Motif, a local Pewaukee gift shop, has an array of paper-mache gold hearts hanging in their window display. Here's wishing you all a lovely day with your special someone!

Winter Afternoon

The sun is positioned low in the southwest sky as it begins its decent over Balmer Park during a wintery January afternoon.

New Year, New Outlook

This little re-purposed silo is a small chapel that's accessible 24/7 at the nearby Fox River UCC.  I think I've posted it before, a long time ago - but it seemed so lovely against the stark, snowy gray day that I had to take another look.

The outside stained glass window is new. Inside it's a bit chilly, but homey. A little stone bench gives one a place to sit and contemplate or pray. There is a mini-alter that even has a velvet padded kneeler for comfort. And of course, the simple wooden cross to remind us of the chapel's purpose. There is a small, red eternal flame lantern that is suspended below a tiny stained glass window in the corner as well.  The scene shows a dove carrying an olive branch, the symbol of peace.

Thatched Roof

An ornamental thatched roof gazebo with a goat weathervane at the International Gardens in La Crosse.  I'll have to come back in the summer to take another photo when the grass is green and the flowers are in bloom. You can see more of the real thing here.

Garden Arch

The welcoming entrance arch to the "International Friendship Gardens" in La Crosse's Riverside Park.

A Norwegian Leprechaun?

We are visiting relatives in La Crosse this weekend and during our morning walk down by the river we wandered through the "Friendship Gardens."  With the long winter coming to an end, it's still quite stark and gray this time of year - very different from the bright flowers and blue skies of summer.  This part of Wisconsin has a prominent Scandinavian heritage, and tucked among the evergreen shrubs and bare branches are several Norwegian "trolls" guarding the grounds. It's the closest I can get to an Irish Leprechaun. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Romp in the Park

Winter can't keep Nik down.  She loves the snow and loves to hike, so off to Balmer Park we go! Beyond the playground are the woods and bare cornfields, where her nose will be on the trail of deer and rabbits, and other critters.

Remember the Night

One of my new favorite Christmas movies is called "Remember the Night" starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray from 1940.  It was a largely overlooked film until Turner Classic Movies (TCM) introduced it into their holiday schedule a few years ago.  A feel-good relationship story with a few tears and a great historical peek into the past, it includes a lovely performance by Beulah Bondi (George Bailey's mother in "It's a Wonderful Life") and a whimsical turn by character actor Sterling Holloway. Stanwyck, as usual, plays a bad girl with a good heart like no one else.

I recently purchased the video from Amazon for my personal collection, and curled up with a cup of steaming hot coffee and piece of home-made Blueberry Crumble Pie to watch it.

Happy Anniversary!

This month we'll celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary. I just love the smiles on our faces in this vintage photo as we walk down the aisle as Mr. & Mrs. As with any relationship, there have been many ups and downs, and we don't always see eye-to-eye. But it's been said that a good marriage is not based on how much you agree, but how you manage things when you don't.

In Like a Lion

Ok - technically this was March 2nd, but the snows came overnight and made our rural community a winter wonderland! However, today's near 60 degree temps melted just about all of it. Let's hope that March's weather continues to be gentle as a lamb. :-)

Winter River Sunrise

During a quiet walk on a recent frosty morning, I took this photo looking south towards the Mississippi River bridge in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Wrestlemania

Looks like the Pewaukee High School wrestling team has gone to state for the third year in a row. Go, Pirates!!

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.

Twisted Fork Brunch

I had brunch with my daughter at the Twisted Fork last Sunday, although we eschewed the "booze" part of it. An omelet with bacon and cheese, rye toast and a bitty bowl of fruit was only $7. Such a deal. They also serve great Alterra coffee.

For those of you who might be familiar with Milwaukee's east side, it's in the same location as the old "Oriental Drugs." You can see a favorite old-time local tee-shirt here.

Casablanca

"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world...she walks into mine."

This Middle-Eastern style restaurant is located on Brady Street in Milwaukee. Not exactly Morocco, although, they do offer elaborate hookah pipes and flavored tobacco, just like Sydney Greenstreet smoked in the movie. Plus belly dancers on Friday nights...yowza! Read more about Casablanca (the restaurant) here.