Some Wisconsin days develop soothingly, like a deep breath, a sweet segue from the staccato pace of summer, though hints of winter hover on the edges of the trees. Sunday felt like that for us and we unwrapped her slowly; tea on the front porch of our cabin, church in town, a stroll through the [...]
Tag: outdoors
On Lake Flies and Reality TV
Imagine, if you will, the celebrated life and inglorious death of the Wisconsin Lake Fly. Born merely to breed, they burst forth like waves of Kardashians and spend their whole, uninspired lives in pursuit of babies and buzz. Wave them off and they'll return in greater numbers. Question their validity in life's tender ecosystem, and [...]
I love a rainy night
A schizophrenic crossroad on the way to our family cabin fascinates me each time we pass it -- to the left, Happy Lane, to the right Old Dump Road. A divine sense of humor or retribution led to these two very different descriptions of the same street. The sign offers a perfect example of perspective. Would [...]
Postcards from the edge of spring
I would have turned back when the sleet hit my face on my traditional Easter constitutional but a stiff wind and a stiffer upper lip propelled me forward in an optimistic search for spring. Two hours later I limped home, frozen right hand clutching my Twittering cell phone (#thegroundhoglied), post-brunch yoga pants soggy with snow [...]
The winter’s (campfire) tale
The fresh air-grilled chicken-crackling campfire smell of summer greeted us last Saturday night as we made our way through tall snow banks to our friends’ house across town. We clumped toward the fire in our thick winter boots and held wool mittened hands up to its glow. Inside the house grew a neighborhood party with [...]