Walk, 20 August 2026

Mushrooms are in full bloom down the street.

Nature cares not for the bike path.

Evidence of autumn '26.

Enjoy the flowers while they're still around.

There are a few walnut trees along E. Washington by Highway 30.

The trees of Washington Manor Park.

You can't paint the blues without Primer*

It had been a while since I'd seen John Primer perform but didn't realize that the last time I did was way back in 2009. Where does the time go?

There really isn't a bad seat in the house at The North Street Cabaret and I was up front stage left.

Primer is one of few remaining Chicago blues connections to all the greats that had so much influence on rock music. In his 80s now, he came to Chicago in the early 1960s and got his start at the Maxwell Street Market before getting a regular gig at the legendary Theresa's Lounge where he played with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and on and on.

Just after 8 the band stepped onto the stage. The harp player, Steve Bell, strapped on his ammo belt of harmonicas, drummer Lenny Media took a seat behind his kit, and bassist Melvin Smith strapped on his 5-string. And, of course, Primer grabbed one of his guitars and they started playing the blues.

Speaking of blues, someone needs to write a song for Willow who is at my feet meowing. Something like the "Got No Churu Blues".

The treats are gone, Skippy

And kibble just won't do

That little dish is empty

I've got the no Churu blues

Poor cat.

I just found out that Bell is the son of the legendary Corey Bell. No wonder he was so effin' good. Everyone was great, truth be told. I really loved Media's playing. He knew exactly when to throw in these perfect, short fills. Just wonderful. Sorry I didn't get a good photo of him in action.

The night was a mix of classics such as "Mannish Boy" and "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and newer tunes - "Chicago" and "Tough Times" come to mind, the latter having been (co-?)written by his daughter. I am not very familiar with Primer's catalogue and am struggling to recall song names but can tell you that there were more than a couple times when the band just hit a groove and it was absolutely sublime. Primer and Bell traded solos while the rhythm section held things down for them. Simply fantastic.

A woman behind me was dancing and, although the rest of us weren't quite so animated, everyone was having a good time. I even saw a smattering of folks younger than me.

Ooh! They played "Across the Universe" as the opener of the second set. Neat! Also for the second set I sat next to Primer's granddaughter. I chatted with her a little bit and she was such a nice woman. And, improbably, she lives in the Madison area. She told me that she had gone to college and was a poet but that she was looking to go back to school. Best of luck to her.

The show ended with a spirited "Got My Mojo Working" which was awesome.

It was a great night and I see that Primer returns to The North Street Cabaret on 27 February. I plan to be there.

*I stole this from his website.

More shrooms

My neighbor's yard continues to impress with its mycological bounty.

Goodbye my sylvan neighbor

On Friday evening as I walking down my block I noticed a sandwich board thingy and stopped to read it.

I was touched by the impending loss of this sylvan friend. Judging by its size, I'd guess that it is original to the neighborhood - probably planted in 1946 or '47. Perhaps it has succumbed to disease. Sad.

I felt it really neat that the owners created the sign and publicly acknowledged the tree's fate. Rather than being an isolated action of the property owner, it was cast as a communal loss.

Shrooms

A neighbor's yard is home to a plethora of mushrooms, real and simulacra. Just look at that big Arecibo dish shroom.

My ladyfriend says these are pleated inkcaps.

Walk, 26 Juni 2026

Walking out my front door, I immediately saw a bunny on the lawn.

Scenes from Eken Park

Just a couple snaps from my walks to the bus stop this week.

Scenes, 21 Mai 2026

My morning walk was filled with lots of bunny sightings. Alas, not all the photos were in focus but a fair few were.

I managed to get some decent photos of birds too.

I saw a wood duck! The first I've seen here in Madison in ages. Sadly, I wasn't able to get a good snap.

Scenes from a walk, 20 Mai 2026

My walk this morning began with squirrels in the tree next door looking down upon me. "Hooman!"

The trail along Starkweather Creek was just wonderful. Everything was so verdant and it smelled like summer.

Birds were everywhere. Even if I couldn't see them, I could hear them as the air was rife with song, calls, chirrups, and trilling which was a nice contrast to the morning commuters. I managed to get a few photos of our feathered friends that were in focus.

I am taking some tentative steps checking out the Carpenter-Ridgeway neighborhood. Today I found this lovely willow tree. Since none of my photos were quite what I was hoping they be, I intend to return. This is my favorite of today's bunch.

A couple closer to home on the home stretch.