SECRET SPOT

These fish were caught at a secret spot on a secret lake somewhere in Wisconsin. The "bull" bluegills fought nice and, of course, are fun eating. This is the second 9" bluegill in as many days.

Why is it that they never look quite as big when they are away from the lake?

IRIS

 

Siberian iris

On beautiful Lake Jacqueline. We ended up with 14 nice bluegills.

On Lake Jacqueline, the legal size limit is 18" so this nice 15" largemouth bass needs to go back!

You'll enjoy this video. Luke, Joshua, and Megan, as directed by their grandmother, love to splash in the fresh puddles made by the sprinkler (which they just finished enjoying) on this hot day.

Karol enjoying time in a kayak on Lake Jacqueline

Andrew and Suzanne's new cottage on Lake Jacqueline

Suzanne and Karol taking a break from playing with the kids/grandkids

THE FARMER'S WORK BEGINS

When Spring comes, the farmer has to get hopping. Feed supplies from a long winter may be dwindling so the ground needs to be prepared for a new planting of crops that will make food for the next winter.

Some of the remainder of last years crop remains in what I call "ground silos," contrasted to what we call silo where the silage is contained in an upright cylinder. These ground silos seem to be the wave of the future since I don't see other silos being constructed.

It is not at all uncommon to see huge tractors pulling immense pieces of equipment on the road. This tractor is pulling a planter (it's crumpled up on itself in order to make it roadworthy. When open, it no doubt would fill both lanes of the highway.

Grandpa Mueller with his horses or small tractor would pull a much smaller version of this disc. Around here, this seems to be the most common implement. Perhaps plowing turns up too much soil that has no organic matter in it, while this discing only "mixes up" the top layer of the soil.

Here you can see how the disc simply stirs up the topmost layer of the soil.

In recent years, I've begun to notice more and more "tracks" on tractors instead of the customary wheels. The biggest tractors here have 8 giant wheels; two on each side of the front and two on each side of the rear. Perhaps these tracks do not crush down the soil as tightly as do wheels.

In these here parts of Wisconsin, we have lots of hills. Normally that means that we have some connection with the movement of glaciers years ago. The glaciers left lots of stones in some fields and few in other fields. Here a bobcat scoots around a field picking up the larger stones and then making a deposit in the dump truck.

Our largest crop in central Wisconsin is the potato. It grows well in loose sandy loam and with all the irrigation pins, there is never a lack of water. This tractor/planter will put the potatoes right in the ground and automatically make a hilled row for them to grow in.

In addition to potatoes, central Wisconsin produces lots of good sweet corn. Other crops include green beans and carrots. Regular farmers raise alfalfa, soy beans, field corn, and sometimes oats, rye, or barley. Along with tourism, farming ranks high in our central Wisconsin economy.

I'd still take a little calf over all of the big tractor farm work!

THE REALITY IS.....part two

While there are always problems and difficulties in the world, there is always much joy both to experience and to share. Some of that joy comes in the color, form, smell and texture of flowers. One day ago, I saw little evidence of the wild flowers. This morning, lo and behold, the 72 degree weather had made them pop. Here's the visual evidence.

Early this morning the blood root looked like this.

By lunchtime, they were in full bloom.

The mayapples look like soldiers right now, but by tomorrow, they will have placed umbrella-like leaves over their heads.

Another patch of blood root. The flower spreads and now that I walk around, I can see many of the places where the flower has seeded itself.

This beautiful clump by our back door decided to go from bud to flower overnight. What a wonderful surprise this morning when I walked outside.

And everyone likes the "All-American flower," the dandelion. They come up like clockwork with all of the rest of the spring beauties.

THE REALITY IS.....part one

While Spring is a wondrous time of year, there are also a few disadvantages (although not many). Note several minuses and then view the pluses.

The ever-present deer tick loves to come out in Spring (and every season except winter - that's why I love winter). Karol found one crawling on her arm yesterday evening. Today I went for a short walk to take a few pictures, and when I sat down at the computer, I spied this one crawling on my sleeve. But, never fear, this is not the worst thing that can ever happen to a person.

Out in the country (and this is not the worst either), the septic tank needs to be pumped every three years. In case you don't know about septic tanks, they hold the solid waste from sink and toilet, while the liquid runs off to be filtered and "lost" through the drain field. Every three years, the county mandate calls for us to have our tank pumped. So, a phone call to Budsburg Services, a check for $125, and wallah! we're set for another three years. (Perhaps this is all you wanted to know about life in the country - but it is reality)

The cover to our septic tank. It's located under the "bridge" that goes from our great room to a patio area. Normally, I have it covered with rocks to make it invisible. The first cover we had must have weighed more than 50 pounds, but three years ago, we purchased s "one man" cover.

For you guys who love to see trucks, tractors, and stuff.

Pulling out the hose.

Female rose-breasted grosbeak at our kitchen window feeder.

Orchard oriole on left, Baltimore oriole on right, blue jay in the background.

We had 10 orioles yesterday, so I decided to add more feeding stations. Three additional lids are filled with grape jelly.

The male rose-breasted grosbeak at our window feeder.

SPRING MIRACLES

Stand still on a dark night to hear the wonders of the frogs. You'll hear the spring peepers and another frog that I've not identified singing in chorus. Surely God's idea of beauty, not mine.

The field of dreams here at our home is the field of daffodils that lie south between our house and the pond. We look forward to this time each spring when the daffodils are in full bloom. And while they continue to multiply in their naturalized state, we add 50 or more bulbs to the area each fall. For us, it's a sure sign of spring.

A section of our naturalized daffodil area.

Our choice of varieties is King Alfred.

One of Karol's joys.

ALL.....very pretty!

The forsythias, blooming simultaneously, add to the arrangement.

Today we had five male and one female Baltimore orioles at our grape jelly. They seem to prefer the jelly over the oranges, although I believe that the orange color may attract them. Additionally, we had both male and female Rose-breasted grosbeaks.

The forsythia is now in full bloom on the southern side of our home.

IT'S FINALLY HERE! SPRING, THAT IS!

I think we've finally crossed over into the wonderful new season called Spring. Let me show you a few pictures and I think you'll agree. All the old timers in central Wisconsin have been moaning about the extremely long, wet winter (snow and rain), and, believe me, they are humming a new tune now that the days are in the low 50's. It's amazing how attitudes change.

Our pond was free of ice last week. Only shortly later, the pussy willows began to blossom.

Karol and Sarge (now OUR dog...with full time responsibilities) can now enjoy some rest on the pier.

AND THE BIRDS ARE BACK.....

 

As soon as I hear "flicka, flicka," I know that spring is surely here. When the ground has thawed, they search for grubs and bugs.

This year the white-throated sparrow came right up to our kitchen window. They have such a nice song with "old, Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody."

While the gray, black, and red squirrels are with us all winter, their behavior changes in the Spring perhaps because they've begun to raise their young ones.

Brogan Albers, graduate of UWSP, active participant at Peace, a year-long English teacher in China, stopped by to talk about his engagement to Jacskie from the Philippines. We enjoyed some good conversation over good, central Wisconsin pizza and beer.

This afternoon I stopped by Andrew and Suzanne's new cottage. No swimming yet, but kayaks and paddle boat and canoes were out in the water. Not pictured is Rachel who was out in a kayak.

Still another sign of Spring is new life - Black Angus calves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And perhaps the most obvious sign of Spring are the flowers. Yesterday the first daffodil opened.

The crocus are small, but very easy to see.

While the pansies are from the garden shop in town, when planted in hollow oak stumps, they become extremely attractive.

These forsythia will open their buds tomorrow.

And let's not forget the garden. The radishes have just popped their heads.

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Strong stalks of rhubarb are bursting out of the ground.

The garlic spent the winter underground, but now with the weather above freezing, the garlic quickly grows.

The onion sets, planted as soon as the frost left the ground, have developed a root system and are beginning to send out their shoots.

I hope too that you are enjoying Spring

Spring for me is a wondrous time of the year. As I watched the snow melt and the green begin to show, I was also blessed to celebrate Easter. Easter is the BEST as we remember Jesus bringing life to the world through His death and life.