Alash @ The Bur Oak

Last weekend I went to see the Alash Ensemble down at The Bur Oak. It was a wonderful show with lots of songs about horses and mountain ranges. Someone captured a bit of it on their phone and has posted it.

Grackles, grackles everywhere!

Some scenes from spring '25.

While working one day, a Mourning dove decided to hang out on my neighbor's roof. Since I have a window seat when I work from home, I was able to get a photo.

On a rainy day our neighbor's trees were full of grackles and had strong vibes of The Birds. They took turns zooming down to our feeder for a nosh.

A Leaning Tower of Pisa tree down at the park.

On a recent walk along Starkweather Creek, I found that the trees were full of grackles. 

The gardens on Hargrove Str. looked ready for sowing. Mostly.

Also seen on my recent stroll along Starkweather Creek: mallards.

As a muskrat was truckin' along, some painted turtles took in the sun.

A sandhill crane at the Voit Farm.

TA-Day!

Madison, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't have a broadcaster with an instantly recognizable catchphrase. When you hear "Good night and good luck" you know you're listening to Edward R. Murrow; when you hear a guy yell "Holy cow!" you know you're listening to Harry Caray. "Good night and may your god go with you"? Dave Allen.

Well, Madison didn't have such a broadcaster - until recently.

Bianca Martin is the host of City Cast Madison and, although I don't listen to it very often, her opening "TA-day!" is always a Midwestern comfort to my ears. It is becoming, if it is not already, iconic in these parts. Well, to my ears, anyway.

One word for craft brewers

CORIANDER

Leipziger Gose is such a tasty beer. Let it warm a bit and the coriander really shines.

Locally, outside of Delta Beer Lab, it's nigh on impossible to find a non-fruited gose. Skip the lime and let the spice flow!

Another imperial pilsner

The imperial pilsner is having a micro-moment, it seems.

New Glarus recently released one and now Lake Louie has their own take.

A bit less potent than New Glarus', a rich, biscuity malt foundation sounds tasty.

Coming soon: 29 March 2025

Trailers seen at a screening of Mickey 17 at Point.

Sinners looks like it could be fun but otherwise some pretty lackluster trailers.

 

 

 

 

The Wolf Has Survived

For reasons unknown, a few days ago I just got the urge to listen to Los Lobos, specifically "Reva's House". Kiko is a great album, Los Lobos are underappreciated geniuses of American music, and I am pissed that I keep forgetting to buy tickets early to their shows at the Stoughton Opera House and so keep missing them.

They'll be at the Big Top Chautauqua up in Bayfield on 23 August.

"Two Janes" is such a beautiful song. 

You can hear me scream on this.

Orange Man threatens Ice Age Trail

The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the Federal government are threatening Ice Age Trail projects. The Wisconsin State Journal has an article about this but it's behind a paywall.

It apparently notes that the National Park Service office for the Ice Age Trail has had its staff reduced from 7 to 4 and that the Ice Age Trail Alliance hasn't gotten $600,000 that the National Park Service had earmarked for them.

To find out more, I asked a co-worker who is a member of the IATA, at least I think he is. He gives them money and volunteers for them, at any rate.

He said that, generally speaking, money from the NPS goes to infrastructury things like boardwalks and porta potties while a small amount is used to provide a modicum of food for volunteers working on the trail. In addition, he noted that volunteers who go out to clear the trail with chainsaws do so while covered by an NPS insurance policy and now volunteers are unsure if that's still the case.

It's a hardball world. We've gotta keep our heads until this DOGE craze blows over. In the meantime, donate to the Ice Age Trail Alliance, if you can.