Cozumel 2018 - a few photos

The weather turned a bit sour yesterday with major rain and wind on the afternoon through evening. Up to then, it has been pleasant with mostly sunny skies.

Haven't really done much which is fine by me. Snorkled and eaten seafood every day. The perfect island vacation.

Dave took the resort scuba class. I got a fantastic massage. Those are the most structured things that have happened.

Smiling fish

Dave learning to scuba

Sunset clouds

Vacation selfie

The new chapel

Annual ginko tree leaf drop - sort of

Annual ginko leaf drop after this  morning's cold temps. But for the first time only one of the three trees dropped its leaves.

The trees have gotten so large that the amount of leaves even with one tree drop is crazy!

Small kitchen update

The update is more of a throwback. Swapped out the upper cabinet knobs from brass to green glass. Wanted some sparkle in my small kitchen.

The new knobs are from  India. You can get anything on Amazon. It was, of course, more of an effort than just swapping knobs. There was one trio to the hardware store, drilling and metal cutting involved!

It doesn't seem possible but the kitchen remodel when the brass knobs were purchased was 2001! I still love my kitchen.

Glass knobs on pantry doors

Brass knobs on the pantry doors

Brass knobs cabinet over sink

Glass knobs cabinet over sink with back splash

First Snow

Well, it was bound to happen. We got our first snow of the season today. I don't recall the forecast saying it was going to stick or even last this long.

It has been snowing all morning. Really only sticking to the grass, bushes and trees. We haven't had a freeze in the city yet so the white is coating the Fall colors. It is actually quite pretty.

I was planning a walk and wasn't going to let the first snow stop me.

Lake of the Isles

the backyard

Not bridal veil spirea

Just a caretaker

I rescued this geranium and it's matching pair from my neighbor Irma's front steps.

She was well into her 90's when she passed away several years ago. These and other plants of hers were left out while no one took care of her house. She lived across the street from me. It has been several years since she passed away and the dead marigolds are still in the house's planter box!

Irma showed me you could keep geraniums over the winter. Something I never had considered was possible. I've had some of my own for many years and I don't know how long she had these.

I think of her and hear her Latvian accent when these are blooming. I'm just the caretaker. They will always be Irma's geraniums.

Wisconsin weekend

Another Spring Green, Wisconsin weekend. Photos in reverse order.
Happenings in reverse order.
9' tall corn.
Somehow avoided a speeding ticket.
Avoided washouts from Wisconsin's torrential  rain storms.

Fantastic production of 'Born Yesterday' at American Players Theater.
A delicious tart cherry beer.
Land's End photo shoot.
Bargains at the Bargain Nook
Mineral Point
Pendarvis

Bob's Bitchin' Barbecue

Dodgeville

Don Q Inn

BWCA - just photos

At Kiwishiwi ready to go

Clearest sky that we had

An old dragon fly still making its way

Portaging. A view from under the canoe.

Smoke on the water...

There was a lot of this going on

Beaver action. Very impressive dam.

BWCA Annual Trip

Starting with this photo because I think it is very nice but also it is quintessential BWCA. We did a lot of river paddling and portaging this year.

This happens to be the Phoebe River which we did on a day trip. The haze is smoke down from the Canadian fires.

Here we are all set to leave Jenny and Andrew' cabin. This is Thursday morning. We drove to Kiwishiwi Lake to put it...about an hour's drive.

Our map. We would be so screwed without the maps. The lakes with islands are the most confusing. The campsite markings make all the difference.

Here we are at our campsite on Lake Polly. This is a very staged photo. We had a very nice campsite thanks to Jenny's chiropractor's recommendation.

We had a nice rock front that jutted out into the lake. The tent pad was fantastic. We all agreed that we had our best sleeps on this trip ever.

This is portaging for those not familiar. We rent Kevlar canoes which are pretty light. This is Julie on canoe duty. We usually take turns on who takes the canoes. You cannot see much other than what is directly in front of you when you are carrying a canoe.

Jenny and Brian paddling. Since we did a lot of lake navigating, there were lots of lily pads. The blossoms were so beautiful.

There were also numerous beaver dams and lodges. What we refer to as "beaver action." The last photo is one of the dams. Beautifully arced and with fresh branches with leaves making the dam particularly lovely.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

I haven't written a vehicle review in a long time. I had the occasion to rent a vehicle last weekend while visiting my sister in Virginia.

I picked a Ford Fusion Hybrid from the National Car rental aisle at DCA National Airport. I like renting  from National because you get to pick your vehicle.

It was after midnight and I really just wanted to get to my hotel in Herndon, VA. I own a hybrid Escape so am accustomed to hybrids. However, right away I was a bit confused because there isn't a shifter. The normal drive, neutral and reverse are operated by a knob on the console between the front seats. Once I figured that out, the large rear camera screen with directional guides was very helpful getting out of the cramped parking garage.

On the highway I noticed that the Fusion Hybrid goes into electric mode at any speed. My 2011 Escape Hybrid will not go electric over 45 mph. The transition between electric, gas and combo in the Fusion is virtually undetectable.

The Fusion Hybrid has to be the most technologically advanced vehicle I have ever driven. There are lots of bells and whistles for sure but they don't interfere with enjoying the driving experience.

I had some difficulty understanding the radio but that ended up being because I thought all the controls were on the touch screen but they are not. Connecting my phone for handsfree communication was very simple. That is helpful when traveling.

Ford has announced they are ending automobile production in the United States. I find that very strange but I hope they take the technology in the Fusion Hybrid to the next generation of SUVs.

Little video of recent cabin trip

Had another enjoyable trip up north at Jenny and Andrew's cabin. I put together this little video of the trip.

Drove up Sunday in a driving rain. I kept thinking I would get ahead of the storm but never really did. But when I arrived at the cabin on Gust Lake, the rain finally stopped.

I had developed a cold so spent most of Monday lying in the couch falling in and out of naps. Andrew left on Monday so it was Jenny and me and all the cabin neighbors.

Tuesday we went for a bike ride and explored Little Cascade Lake. 

I finally got to go up to the cabin on the hill on Tuesday, July 3. There is a fantastic view from up there. Tuesday night the neighbors put on a fireworks show. There were some big fireworks.

Wednesday, July 4, the weather cleared enough to go canoeing. It was fantastic.

Sad sight

The giant elm tree at Lake and Emerson, a block from my house, is marked for removal. I suppose some people will blame it on the new hotel's construction. It might be, but it also might be that it has simply run out of room here in the city.

It is weird to say you've enjoyed a tree but this one has been impressive and graces the neighborhood. It will be missed.

Beauty to counter so much ugly

There has been so much ugliness in the news this week. I wanted to share some of the beauty in my backyard.

Most of these are repeats from years past. That is the beauty of a perennial garden.

I call this my abstract art. These are a type of geranium.

Coleus in the copper tub with morning glories climbing trellis made from lilac suckers.

Star Tiger Lily

Irma's geranium

Just one of the other geranium pots

Carlsbad Caverns, NM

Carlsbad Caverns is a national park in southeastern New Mexico. After driving through a desert canyon, there is a short drive up to the high point where the visitor center and entrance to the cavern are situated.

You enter the cavern through a natural entrance. It is quite spectacular. You descend 750 feet (75 stories) to reach the main "room" which is enormous. It took us an hour to descend and we spent another hour + circumnavigating the cathedral-sized room.

I wasn't about to ascend the way we came in so we took the elevator back to the surface. Hint on getting out quickly...be willing to split up. They take groups of 8 or 6. Dave and I were able to join odd-numbered groups and so jumped to the front of the line.

The natural entrance.