Author Archives: canoelover

I started cleaning up the gear.  This is about a third of it.  Things I noted immediately: I have too many throwbags.  But you can never have too many throw bags. I have too many dry bags.  But you can … Continue reading →

The Crazy Goat says you must eat chevre. The Piccolo Man.  Fall mums. Simple and direct marketing. Veggies.  The Hmong farmers are masterful merchandisers. Good banjo music from a nice, friendly kid. Weston Antique Apples.  Varieties seldom seen. Stephanie cozies … Continue reading →

I could probably hollow this out and move in.  This was three feet from the bikepath.  Hundreds of middle school kids probably walk past this thing every day: it’s a miracle it survived. Puffballs (Calvatia gigantea) are actually decent eating … Continue reading →

It seems like in the canoe world there’s nothing new under the sun.  Pointy at both ends…check.   Other than that, canoes don’t change much, and that’s not such a bad thing.  Otherwise you get this. Anyway, Jon found a guy … Continue reading →

So a few days ago I wrote about Pink Soup.  Just this morning I get a giant postcard at work from Quill, the super-cheap office supply place.  Hey, it’s pink time at Quill.  Pink everything.  How about a breast cancer awareness … Continue reading →

Okay, so strictly speaking it’s not insectapolooza, as arachnids aren’t insects, and arachnoinsectopolooza is enough to turn off even the most persistent reader of my ramblings.  As it is I will be persecuted (mostly by my daughter) for my attention to crawling things.   For … Continue reading →

Many of you know of my involvement with breast cancer in a former career.  I was the Surveillance Coordinator (epidemiologist) for the Wisconsin Women’s Cancer Control Program, I am completely supportive of all attempts to find better treatments for breast … Continue reading →

Mary is the Minister of Finance at our fine emporium.  Accountant doesn’t do her justice.  She’s a master of spreadsheets and numbers, but more than that, she speaks English.  She can explain financial things to non-financial brains, and she’s able … Continue reading →

Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) are quite common on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. They are big birds, with six to seven foot wingspans, and they are quite a racket in the morning.  You can see they have big feet…or maybe you … Continue reading →

We stop frequently when we paddle the OWL Trip so as to make it last longer.  One stop just east of Spring Green was a small island separated from the mainland by a shallow muddy slough.  This Eastern Comma (Polygonia … Continue reading →