Sparta Conquered

Well, we've arrived at McMullen Memorial County Park in lovely Warrens, Wisconsin, the cranberry capital of our grand state.  But we'll delve into the cranberry industry and review the campground another day.  Today I want to introduce you to the delights to be found in Sparta, just 15 miles from Warren.

When we were driving to Sparta we passed Fort McCoy, a U.S. Army base that we didn't know existed.  There were signs for tank crossing....we want to see that so we're gonna ask around.  Is it like when the kids get out of school and the road is suddenly full of school buses?

I've been wanting to visit Sparta because they have a fiberglass statues facility called F.A.S.T. Corporation and the public is free to wander their "graveyard".  We had a good time, and I even ran across my old friend the Pink Elephant of DeForest...sans glasses.

There were lots of creatures around, here were a few of our favorites.  More adventure tomorrow!

Good boy!

Did you hear the one about the pink elephant?

Sometimes the little guy wins

I've got to admit I've got a small crush on Big Boy

Will someone please help me find my head?

Whoever is living in the "old shoe" better watch out for the angry bull

FBI Visit Richmond for Mother's Day Weekend

On Friday the FBI were less than 2 miles from my house.  You can catch the story here.

Kind of threw off my plans to deposit my paycheck at the bank...in Richmond.

But Saturday morning I headed over to Richmond for something a tad more delicious than local drama while depositing my paycheck.

I purchased a variety of goodies at Sweet Angeline's and drove them over to my mother's house in Zion.  My birthday and Mother's Day gifts to her this year involved helping her clean out her closet and buy some new clothes that were more appropriate to her new retired lifestyle.  Since retiring a few years ago she still has a tendency to shop for "work" clothes that are much too dressy for everyday life.   We started last weekend with a trip to the Premium Outlets in Pleasant Prairie and yesterday we hit a few more stores at Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall.

Speaking of Mother's Day, I don't consider myself a card maker, but every once in a while I dig out a few of my scrapbooking odds and ends and toss together a card.  This year I made Mother's Day cards for both my mother and my mother-in-law. The one I put one together for my mom was inspired by her love of anything tea related.  I've done the tea theme a few times for her now, so next year I'll have to get a little more inventive I think!  I also like to photocopy old photos onto cards if I can find an appropriate image.

 I had to get my mother-in-law's card in the mail a week ahead of the holiday in hopes it would get to Newfoundland in time, hopefully she got it yesterday, we'll call soon and chat with her.

 At Sweet Angeline's yesterday they asked how I would be spending my Mother's Day.  I will be spending the day cleaning...but it will be a labor of love!

Tuesday morning we leave for a week in central Wisconsin on our first RV outing of the season.  I'll be hunting the tiny Karner blue butterfly at the Necedah NWR and in the Black River State Forest.  It's probably too early for the butterfly itself, but maybe I'll spot its chrysalis.  Perhaps a return solo trip in a few weeks or in July when they hatch again will net me a glimpse of the butterfly itself.  My camp cot is out of the basement and ready to go!

What are you doing for Mother's Day today?  Have a great time, whatever it is!

Fontana on Lake Geneva - The Shore Path Part 2

It took a long time, but spring has finally arrived in southeastern Wisconsin, or should I say summer?  We jumped right from 30-40 degree days to highs in the 70's.  A patient mentioned to me the other day that she had just taken a walk on the Fontana section of the Lake Shore Path so it was fresh in my mind when I was looking for something to do after my doctor appointment in Lake Geneva today.  Last summer I walked the Shore Path from the Geneva Inn to Fontana, and today I added another 2 miles onto my 21 mile trip around the lake by walking from the Fontana public piers to George Williams College in Williams Bay. 

As a reminder, parking in the area during peak season isn't free in most spots, but since this was a weekday before the full swing of summer I snagged one of the dozen or so 2 hour free spots down by the pier in Fontana.  If you're not interested in the full walk around the lake, make plans to be picked up somewhere en route or plan to double back like I usually do. Today the 4 mile round trip took me about 1.5 hours with all there was to stop and look at. To start off with there was an interesting bronze sculpture of a wind surfer that was created and donated to the village by Barb and Jay Brost.  I'm sure there is a better time of day to photograph it than at noon (bad planning on my part, as usual) but I made do by walking around it and shooting it with Lake Geneva behind it.  

 I followed along the marina for a bit and found the path in no time. It wasn't as fancy as on the other side of the lake, but the birds were singing, the trees were busy making leaves, and it was 77 degrees out without a cloud in the sky.

I had to scramble in quite a few places along the path as most piers are still piled up along the shoreline.  The Pier Docktors were busy at work and happily agreed to being photographed.

My favorite thing about the path is the variety of forms the path takes as it passes through the different properties, and I especially like crossing over all the little bridges.

The Fontana side doesn't have as many fancy boathouses, but I did like the stonework on this newer looking one.

As I said, most of the homes are a little more modest in this section, but this charmer is for sale.  Give Bob Webster at Keefe Realty a jingle if you're interested and you have at least a million dollars to invest in some Lake Geneva lakefront property.

Me, I'll just stroll along the Shore Path and enjoy everyone's back yard landscaping and the breeze off the lake for free. If you want to see some more glamorous Shore Path photos, check out my first post from last summer.

Flours for Mural Monday

Yes, I spelled that right.  I know it's spring, but these shots are about flours, not flowers.

When I was leaving work in Lake Geneva the other night I was passing a building I've taken note of before because of its fading painted advertisement.   I gave the steering wheel a yank and pulled in for a quicker look.

As I was snapping the picture and admiring the Washburn Crosby's Gold Medal Flour image I noticed the other side of the building said something about Pillsbury's Best.

A quick search on the internet indicates that Gold Medal Flour originated in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the 1880's. In 1880 Washburn Crosby Co. entered the millers' exhibition in Cincinnati with their best flour and won the gold medal, which is how they got the name.   Gold Medal Flour was acquired by General Mills in the 1920's.



So why the competing ads?  Probably this building is all that's left of Lake Geneva's history of milling.  Most don't know that the town was actually founded as a milling town, first for lumber, then flour and wool carding mills followed.



The property belongs to Dunn Lumber across the street, and a quick call today to the owner offered up the information that at one time it was called Douglas & Dunn Lumber, Coal & Feed. He added that the mural was quite stunning back in the day before it got so faded.

I'm linking up to Mural Monday as usual, head on over and see what everyone else found.

Time for a Quick Walk?

The weather was beautiful the other night, and a look at the clock told me I had time for a quick walk so I hopped in the car and drove a few miles down the road to Genoa City's section of the Grand Illinois Trail.

They've done a prairie restoration project there, and not much was growing yet, but things are finally getting started around here.



Of course, in the days since things are busting out all over, trees leafing out and blossoms everywhere.  But, on this early evening I was keeping an eye out for a hawk or some other birds since green was hard to come by.   I didn't expect to find such a bonanza of wildlife on my little 2 mile round trip hike so close to home.

 Some identification help on this little diver who kept me entertained at the bridge before I turned back would be appreciated!

The birdhouses they've placed along the trail were busy with swallows chasing each other back and forth.  I love the shape they make against the sky, but they are too quick to capture in motion!

I scared off the one herd of deer when I came upon them, but these two were hanging out close to the trailhead when I made my way back to the parking lot.

Make time for that quick walk, it just might pay off!

The Birds Say Spring Has Finally Arrived

A walk around the neighborhood the other day found me hanging around the bird feeder, along with some  feathered fellows.  The pan of that bird feeder looks like it's seen better days!

 There were more feathered friends a little further along at Lake Elizabeth.  The American Coot moved around  a lot and did not cooperate as a subject, though he got closer than any of his one hundred friends spread out over our lake.  When I looked it up online I discovered that the American Coot is more closely related to Sandhill Cranes than to Mallards, which I thought was interesting.

When my arms got tired I gave up and walked back home, swinging by another bird feeder to see what might be hanging around and found some ducks.  I liked the sunlight peeking out on the female Mallard, who was much more cooperative!  Her mate kept giving me his backside though.  I  keep going to that same spot because I saw a big group of juvenile grouse heading off into the brush a while back, but haven't spotted them again since.

Eyes Like a Hawk

When Cory was little we used to say he had eyes like a hawk because he was always spotting things before we did.  Today I had eyes like a hawk, and spotted this red tailed hawk on the side of the road.

The first time I stopped to try to get a shot I thought it flew off, but when I turned around the car it was back in the same spot again.  I parked across the road and it fluttered off again, but this time I paid closer attention and noticed it just moved down into the ditch out of sight.

I waited a bit to see if it would reappear, and when it didn't I took a chance and crossed the road on foot to try to get a shot.  At this I point I figured it was either guarding supper or maybe injured.

When I got across the road, there it was, and it let me get as close as 20 feet and shoot away.

Eventually I left the poor red-tailed hawk in peace.  If it's injured, hope it heals up soon so it can get up in the air and put those hawk's eyes to good use.  Great short article on why a hawk's vision is so sharp here. As an eye care professional I found it especially enlightening.  But let's not forget that hooked beak... that's a serious hunting tool as well!