Chimney Tops - The Movie!

I stumbled across Movie Maker recently on my computer.  I'm still fighting Windows 8, everything takes twice as many steps and I'm still not using most of it, just going straight to "desktop" which looks more like the old version but takes twice as many clicks to do what you want.  I know, I'm repeating myself.  Much like all the extra steps I have to take to upload my photos.

Anyway, as I was saying, in Movie Maker there happens to be a few features that actually take care of my needs.  I bought that stupid Photoshop software and it's so complicated I never could figure any of it out.  I bought "The Missing Manual" for the Photoshop Elements 10....still haven't cracked it open and tried to figure that out either.  Of course the only way to find Movie Maker (that I know of yet) is to right click on the video in question and then "open with" Movie Maker.  The thing I noticed right away was an icon to rotate!  Sometimes I don't pay attention and forget that taking a movie isn't like taking a photo and I shouldn't turn the camera for the vertical angle I prefer.  Remember that sideways bike ride?

Also of use is a trim tool under "edit" that lets you set the start and end point.  Since I'm not looking to actually "make a movie" these two tools are really all I need.  I was able to snip off a portion I didn't like, rotate the section that I accidentally shot in vertical, and transition three short videos into one longer one.  Ta-da!  Here it finally is, "Chimney Tops - The Movie!"  Not the greatest image quality, but it'll give you an idea of what it's like as you near the summit.

I thought about adding music but I was feeling overwhelmed and tapped out technology-wise.  (I don't even know how to use a Smartphone, ya know)  Of course the music clips I had meticulously saved from my other attempt at movie making last year were on the other computer and I can't figure out what website I used last time.  Suggestions appreciated!

It's official - my blog has been noticed by the Fort Atkinson Historic Preservation Commission!  My post "More Fun Finds in Fort" from this exact day last year has been linked to their page.  I am honored and a little awed by the responsibility of representing historic landmarks in Wisconsin.  Someday I'll take that water tower tour, I'll have to put it on my spring to-do list!

Dysplasia Schmasia

When I realized yesterday that I hadn't gone for a single hike for the entire month of January I decided something had to be done about that.  With the temps in the low 30's I decided to make a break for it, even if the wind was still howling and snow was still falling.  I needed to meet my mother in Kenosha for an appointment with her cardiologist so I left a little early and stopped at Bristol Woods for a short walk.

sculpted snow

 I've never hiked there before, the trail system is not very extensive.  But, I was able to hike about 2 miles in under an hour.  Normally that wouldn't be a workout, but  the trail was snow over bumpy ice, and in some spots I crunched right on through a couple of inches of unbroken snow.

I wasn't the only one leaving footprints, but this guy didn't get down through the snow as far as I did.

There wasn't much to see, but it was nice to get some fresh air.

Things have been a little hectic and stressful around my home this past two weeks, it seems like everyone I know is having health problems.  So it was good to get out for a little bit and do something relaxing.

Yesterday I went chocolate-free.  Doesn't sound like much of a sacrifice until you realize I eat dark chocolate in small amounts all day long every day.  I finally decided it was probably a contributing factor in my digestive woes.  Chocolate (and coffee) relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and I've been suffering from heartburn symptoms even while faithfully taking my Omeprazole.  I noticed coffee made it worse and cut out that completely about a month ago, which was much easier since I only have a couple of cups of decaf a week.  I'm on the hunt for carob treats, but all I found at the store today was a bag of carob chips for baking that cost $6. I bought it in case I have a hard to ignore craving.

I hope Whole Foods has low sugar, no chocolate treats - how much can a girl give up, after all?  No dairy, low (I mean LOW) sugar, low gluten, and fruits and vegetables in small amounts...now no dark chocolate too.  I'm giving corn and tomatoes a rest as well but I'll try adding them in again later.  My latest upper GI indicated my Barrett's Esophagus has progressed and I'll be going in for a series of ablation treatments in February.  My pre-cancer cells (dysplasia) need destroying, and I need to make sure I've got a plan in place to keep my improved esophagus clean and healthy.  In case you're interested in what the treatment's all about, I found a link to a great video of the surgery here.  Just click on the picture under the "media in this article" section in the middle of the page.  It has a 90% success rate, gotta like those odds!

Grand Tetons Flashback - The Wildlife

See the baby in the grass in Oxbow Bend?  Bottom center

I thought it might be time for another Flashback post.  Right now the Grand Tetons are probably buried under mounds of snow, though today's forecast calls for highs of 31F and only 5 mph winds which is what they've had for the past week.  Sounds like pretty good winter hiking weather to me.  We hardly ever get days like that here.  Yesterday our high was 14 with fresh snow on the roads and nothing all week long but wind, wind, and more wind.   Is that the wind I hear outside my window right now?  You better believe it.  If I want to hike today I have to drive almost an hour to Kettle Moraine to duck into the woods and escape that wind.  I haven't gone for a walk outside yet for the month of January.

Magpie

Speaking of hiking, when we arrived at the Colter Bay Campground in the Tetons I had Wayne drop me off for a hike at the Hermitage Point trailhead while he set up our campsite and relaxed.  (We have different ways to relax, obviously!)  There are a lot of different spurs to take on this trail, so be cautious at trail junctions and know which way you want to go.  When I went in 2009 the markers weren't that great, but perhaps they've made improvements since then.  I chose to keep it simple and make a 3 mile loop past Heron Pond and Swan Lake instead of going all the way out to Hermitage Point.  When I got to Heron Pond I came upon 3 deer grazing in the middle of the trail.

They were pretty accepting of my presence, and when one split off and went down to the pond I followed her.  Make sure to click on the pictures, for some reason they look grainy on the blog to me today, but super sharp when you click on them.

The rest of the hike was uneventful in comparison, but beautiful landscapes were around every turn.  I would definitely explore that trail over and over again.

Another day we checked out the National Park map and decided to get off the main road and took the dirt road to Cattleman's Bridge Site.  We didn't want to access the Snake River for rafting, we wanted to get a look at the wildlife.

mergansers

bald eagle

There was only a handful of people back there, and we were all treated to a great show by a river otter.

There is also plenty of elk to be seen, usually right from the main road.  This bull elk was keeping an eye out for a couple of his ladies to return.  They had scampered across the road but the rest of the herd hung back because of all the traffic stalking them and making it hard for them to cross.  Rangers are are hand to keep the crowds back, but this poor herd kept moving along and trying to cross unsuccessfully so I got my shot and we moved on.

Watch out for the golden mantled ground squirrels, they're pesky about looking for handouts on the trails.  But, due to their familiarity with people I was able to get this great shot!

Antelope Flats Road is a great spot to see bison.  When we took a drive over there we also got to see a rainbow.  It was hard to know where to look!

When visiting the Tetons, May and September is best to avoid the crowds.  We were there in September 2009 and the weather was great, and traffic light.  Maybe next time May would be a good time to visit.  Lots of baby animals and spring flowers on the trails!  Anyone who's been there chime in with your suggestions in the comments section.

The Dreamkeepers

When we went to the Capitol we happened to drive by a thirty foot metal sculpture while searching for a chocolate shop, commissioned by Don Warren, designed by Doc Evermore (Tom Every). The sculpture was originally called The Love Birds because of the shape of their necks from the right angle forms a heart. This was great to find, because Gail Ambrosia's chocolate shop was closed much to my disappointment.

It's made from materials from Madison businesses, including Warren Heating and Air Conditioning (tin snips that form the beaks, blowers that are the bodies of the birds and still turn on a windy day), The Badger Drive-in (the legs that held up the drive in movie screen), and Fiskers (the wings made of hedge clipper blades).  What do you think they talk about to each other all day?  Perhaps, "why do we never fly south for the winter?"

The Senate Chamber

The Senate meets in this room to discuss and vote on bills that may be passed into law.  In order for a bill to become a law in Wisconsin, it must be passed by both the Senate and the Assembly.  Any changes in the bill, called amendments, must be approved by both houses.  Once the bill is passed by both houses, it goes to the governor for signature or veto.  A veto may be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the legislature.  About 1600 bills are introduced during each two-year session of the legislature, but only about 20% of them (roughly 300) are passed into law.

There are thirty-three senators, each elected to a four-year term.  The majority party traditionally sits in the outer circle of desks and the minority party sits in the inner circle.  The Senate president is elected by a majority vote of the senators.  He or she sits at the large desk at the front of the room and presides over the floor sessions.  We found their chairs to be the most comfy of all the ones we sat in.  It was like being Goldilocks, trying all those chairs out!

The walls in this room are Italian Tavernelle marble and the columns are Escalette marble from France.  Original furnishings in this room include the president's desk, the clerk's desk, the round table and the senators’ desks, all hand-carved walnut.  This room contained the fourth skylight we saw.  How to pick a favorite, they were all so beautiful!

The mural at the front of the room was painted by Kenyon Cox and is called "The Marriage of the Atlantic and the Pacific" and it commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal.  The groom represents the Atlantic Ocean and the bride represents the Pacific Ocean.  The figure in the center presiding over the wedding is America.  On the right side of the painting the goddess of peace welcomes to the wedding the Atlantic nations of Germany, France and Great Britain, while on the left the god of commerce welcomes the Pacific nations of China, Japan, Polynesia and the Semitic nations.

That's the last post on my tour of the Capitol, until I go back again, that is.  I really do want to get out onto the balcony and get closer to that ceiling mural in the summer.  Check out more murals on Monday Mural!

Chilling in Racine Again

The temperatures finally have picked up around here, but so has the wind.  So while it wasn't ideal weather for the Big Chill Racine Ice & Snow Sculpture event, it was better than the deep freeze we experienced earlier this week.

Last year when I attended I brought Cory and his girlfriend along with me, this year I dragged Katrina along since she was visiting for the weekend.  I like the ice sculptures better than the snow ones, but there were fewer of them it seemed this year.

Not really the kind of coffee we were looking for

The temperatures were so warm that most of the ice sculptures were looking a little too melted, but you'd never know it when you were standing in a spot where that icy wind off Lake Michigan blasted you.

It was a quick dash up and down Main Street, but we took in the sights as best we could while wishing there was a Starbuck's or some other coffee shop nearby to help warm us up.

But, back to the snow sculptures.  The Big Chill on Monument Square brought 16 two person teams to compete for the title of Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Champion.  Winners will advance to the 2015 National Championships in Lake Geneva.  

My favorite, "The Dragon and the Phoenix"

Katrina's favorite, the "sexy triceratops"

What else did we do on our afternoon out?  Met grandma for lunch at Noodles and Company, stopped for a raspberry Kringle to take home, and of course grabbed some mochas at Starbucks to warm our hands up after our chilly adventure.

Katrina and her short mom take on Old Man Winter

Katrina sent me a link about some ice caves up near Munising, Michigan, which is only 2 hours from Marinette where she lives.  It's probable that I'll head up in early February and we'll go check it out together. So glad I keep finding ways to break up the boredom of winter around here!

The Assembly Chamber

The Assembly Chamber features New York and Italian marble, Wisconsin oak furniture, a thirty-foot skylight and an Edwin Blashfield mural symbolizing Wisconsin's past, present and future. There are 99 Representatives of the Assembly, each elected to a two-year term.  Traditionally the Republican members sit on the side of the room by the windows, the Democrats sit on the side by the doors and the Speaker of the Assembly sits at the desk at the front of the room.

The Assembly meets in this room to debate and vote on bills just as the Senate does.  Wisconsin had the first electric voting machine in the world, which was installed in the Assembly Chamber in 1917.  The system has been upgraded several times since then.  The members vote by pushing buttons on their desks that turn on red or green lights by each representative’s name on the voting board.  The vote is counted electronically and the result is ready in seconds.

The original furnishings in this room are made of Wisconsin oak, the walls are South Dover marble from New York, the doors are covered in Spanish leather and the columns are Italian Breche Violette.

 The skylight in this room is the largest of the four skylights in the Capitol.

The "Wisconsin" mural was painted by Edwin Blashfield at a cost of $15,000.  It illustrates the past, present and future of our state.  The woman seated on the rock is Wisconsin; she is surrounded by three women representing the bodies of water bordering our state: the Mississippi River, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan.  The woman in the green robe symbolizes the present.  The people in the foreground are farmers, loggers, miners and families as they appeared in the early 1900's when this painting was completed.  Wisconsin's past is illustrated by the Native Americans and Civil War soldiers on the right.  In the far left corner you see Conservation pointing to the tree asking Future to preserve Wisconsin's natural resources.  On the rock by the soldier with the United States flag, you see our state animal, the badger.  There was a "hidden" soldier in the painting whose ghost image was uncovered when they did a restoration.  We had to move around and look hard but eventually I saw the outline of his hat.  If you visit maybe you'll see him better than I did.

The eagle on the ledge in front of the mural is Old Abe, named after President Abraham Lincoln.  Old Abe was a mascot during the Civil War to the 8th Infantry Regiment from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  After the war was over, Old Abe returned to Wisconsin where he lived in the basement of the Capitol.  Old Abe died in 1881 and his body was mounted and displayed in the second Madison Capitol.  The original Old Abe was lost when that building burned in 1904.  This eagle is a replica of Old Abe they display to honor him.

One more post on the Capitol and I'm done, I swear!  I was so impressed with our tour that I'm really looking forward to a day trip to Carson City while in Reno to check out their Capitol building.  Wonder if there are any art deco Capitol buildings across the country?  I was catching up on episodes of the Michael J Fox show and they made a reference to the art deco doors of New York walk.  Hmmm......