Beep-beep

Around 1906, a family began farming on a large tract of land just north of the Monroe city limits, just over 50 years after the state of WI was admitted to the Union.   Corn, soybeans, and dairy cows were the main cash crop of the day and today acres upon acres of corn grows as far as the eye can see ready for the fall harvest.    An amazing and colorful barn quilt also graces the machine shed that is on the property but that is not going to be the subject of this entry today.    Located around the borders of the fields are numerous mechanical structures made from scrap metal, but serve as artistic structures either displayed as statues or elaborate Rube-Goldberg devices.   The Waelti family has built these pieces of art for as long as anyone I know here can remember and tend to add to the collection every now and then.   When we first moved to Monroe, it would be a game for our family to find all the structures during a trip to the store or whatnot.

I went out this morning, as I wanted to find some good shots of the changing leaves that we are enjoying right now, and drove past the place I wanted to stop initially.   I drove down the road a little bit to look for a place to turn around and came up on the Waelti farm with all of the structures taking their place alongside the road.   This structure is a road runner built as an airplane looking like it can take flight at any time.   I took the photo and was pleasantly surprised to see that the sky had a very vibrant shade of blue which served as a great backdrop to the colors of the bird's head.    Looks like Wile-e-coyote missed out on another chance of catching his dinner.

Bye bye, birdie

I wrote in an earlier blog about how the city of Monroe decided to make an attraction on our town square that would be a focal point for tourists coming through and a conversation piece for our fellow neighbors.   The aptly entitled "Zoo on the Square" proved to be a giant hit in both the aesthetic use of art and a great meeting place for kids and adults alike.   All of the animals represented were fashioned out of single trunks of wood by our local artist/celebrity Zoli the Woodcarver and each one was financially adopted by local businesses and residents.   Unfortunately, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.   This weekend will mark the last one that the "zoo" will be up and running as all the animals will be removed to prepare for the upcoming winter season.

This morning, I wanted to try and capture some interesting moments through the eyes of a child as they would walk around the square.   I used the animals as more of a frame than the actual subject and attempted to get a shot of the square and things on it.   Using my earlier challenge of the courthouse, it only made sense as I sat on the sidewalk and saw the building through the heart shape of the affectionate flamingos.   The rising sun allowed me to match the colors of the animals, the changing hues of the trees on the square, and the warm tones of the brick building in the background.   I will definitely miss the animals along with the excitement of attempting to find the elusive wood owl that constantly moved from perch to perch, playing hide and seek with kids of all ages.

Quilt it!

Driving through Green County, you would probably look at the farms as just another part of the landscape, only noting the vast stretches of soybeans, corn, and pumpkin patches that continue well past the horizon.   Situated on those same farms are the barns that house everything from apples to livestock, built from timber, concrete, or even some sheet metal structures for farm implements.   While they may be part of the scenery, 50 or so have a bit of extra decoration on them to set them apart and tell a story about what farm you are on.   Barn quilts have been a part of our heritage for many decades with some of the earliest examples coming from the back country Appalachian families who placed them on their barns so a wayward traveler would know where they were and who the family was.   They are found throughout the midwest, some in Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and other places as well, and now serve more as a personalized "license plate" of the homestead.   There is actually a tour that has been initiated so you can drive around Green County and see all of the unique quilts that have been erected on barns and buildings throughout.

I took this photo at the Green County Fairgrounds this morning actually quite by accident.   I wanted to take some pictures of the livestock shed, as it has always intrigued me, but since the sun was finally coming out after a couple days of rainy, overcast days, it shone on the brilliant colors of this particular quilt, entitled "County Fair".   I really enjoy the geometric patterns that it has along with the alternating warm and cool hues that leave a treat for the senses.  

Pause and ponder

So, I am going to be probably the first person to openly admit that I am plagiarizing.   I am lifting a part of a quote I saw today for my blog entry title, so if the copyright police are reading, you can pronounce me "guilty as charged".   In all seriousness, I decided to drive out to the city's cemetery today to capture some poignant moments as the sun finally began coming through the clouds.   I thought that I had seen a lot of the grounds, with the Memorial Day events and other gatherings I've been a part of there, but I suppose I had overlooked some.   Situated in the same area is the Catholic Calvary Cemetery of St. Victor Parish and I saw a beautiful monument in the middle of the grounds.   Curious, I decided to walk up and take a shot or two of the statuary and figure out what it was dedicated to.   As I walked around the statues, I was moved to find out that it was erected to remember both the babies that passed away suddenly along with those that had never made the journey to birth.   I felt even more close to my daughter at that moment and gave thanks to a life of health and joy that she is enjoying, while remembering those family members and friends that have lost little ones way too soon.  

"Oh ye, who tread along the path pause and ponder if one's sorrow is as great as my sorrow."

School Daze

Dropping my daughter off at school this morning got me wondering and thinking about what it was like when I went to elementary school.   While the total distance from our house to her school is much shorter than from my house as a kid to my school, it's a bit of a different world and I would never think of letting her walk by herself, at least until she's about 21.   She has always been one to adapt quickly and not a day goes by that I drop her off and she sees another student she knows, instantly starts up a conversation, and walks away without the thought of saying good-bye to me.   I remember when I would walk to school, sometimes with my older sis, a classmate in my neighborhood, or by myself, and I'd stop by one of the stores along the way to feed my fix for Sixlets, Now-n-Laters, Moon Pies, or the like.   I can drive by the neighborhood these days, when I'm near, and recount the stories of houses that caught fire or where the haunted ones were.    I vaguely remember going in early sometimes to catch a breakfast meal and then going on to class.   Third grade was the last year I went to that particular school and when the next school year began, my new school was miles away and required car transportation to get there.   But the memories of walking to and from school would stick with me for a long time.

My daughter's school is great, and I love that she has begun making the memories that she will remember like I have.   I wanted to include this picture, because as I have learned about the "lines" a picture requires, it shows her school name and a bit of a friendly welcoming to those coming there for the first time.    Hearing her talk to her friends in the morning as she makes her way down the sidewalk from the car reminds me of those childhood friends, walking to school with our dreams filling our young minds, shaping the way we would carry ourselves all those years later.

Birth

The Spanish Moss Rose is a pretty unique flower in that during the evening hours, it folds itself back up into the bud and almost looks like it has died.   When the morning sun comes out and warms up the plant, the flower is reborn; blossoming out into an astounding yellow rose oozing with life as it it was the first day on this earth.   While autumn is usually the time that we start to end the year's activities through excavating our garden plants, mowing the lawn for the last time, or covering the windows to combat the impending winter chill, it is also a time that the colors and themes of fall are born again.   Our eyes and noses are treated to the sights and smells of fall each day when the pumpkins, apples, and other fall produce are brought in to bake those wonderful pies and pastries.

Births are also attributed to fall, as many in my family have been born this season.   My wife was born in October along with my niece in Alabama.   While my brother's and sister's birthday in August isn't technically autumn, I'll include them in this as well.   The newest member of our extended family came earlier this week when my baby sister and her boyfriend brought their first boy into this world.   An amazing little bundle of joy that happened to grace the world with his presence at the very time our seasons were changing during the autumnal equinox.   While the season hints to the beginning of a long hibernation, in my sister's world, and ours as well, it signifies the beginning of new life and the present of a beautiful, healthy, new baby boy.

Catch that train!

Miniature trains are probably one of the coolest things to watch, especially when they are constructed on such a large scale that you can imagine yourself in that particular scene.   It's neat to see trains that have a circus theme, almost lifelike, as the train makes its way through the countryside on the way to the next town for a big top show.   My favorite are the ones that are historical and show things from real life, like the military trains that took our doughboys across the country during WW1 and the ones that brought much needed supplies to the western part of the US during the dust bowl.   The people that make this their hobby are just as unique as the trains themselves.   Old and young alike almost salivate when the subject is the train they are working on and the stories about how they were inspired to make them are just as memorable.

I took my daughter today to the train show here in Monroe and we were both amazed at the size of some of the sets.   I could not believe the detail that went into a lot of the smaller-scale trains that were built from actual train routes and used topography from the actual landscapes they went through.   Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin routes were all represented along with historical data about the trains that served them.   While my train hobby won't mature past the oval track I put around the Christmas tree each year, it's nice to see the fruits of the labor of the countless engineers that make this their labor of love.

Fall into fall

A couple of days ago, I was driving around town wasting a little time when I discovered a little oasis away from the beaten path.   In the smallest park in town, an area about 2-3 acres has been set aside as a prairie reclamation project.   There are paths leading through plants and flowers that once were part of the great prairie that spanned across Southern Wisconsin several hundred years ago.   Milkweed, daisies, and other plants stand taller than a human and create a sense of being away from the 21st century.   You can almost hear the hammers banging on the wood-shingled roofs being built for the early homesteaders and taste the salted pork in the air as it's being cooked for the evening supper.   I thought that this would be a great place to begin the next phase of my photo taking, as the autumnal equinox has arrived.   Nature is about to explode her color palatte with the leaves changing, grass losing the dark green of summer, and harvesting about to begin.   I am anticipating the time ahead when the outdoors will become my studio and the plants and animals of fall will become my subjects.  

Just duckin' around

Just off the parking lot of one of the local grocery stores is a creek that lazily makes it's way a couple miles around the area.   There is an area where you can go down and feed the Mallard ducks that call this place home for several months of the year (I'm sure there's one like this in FL that they go to during the winter months) and an occasional groundhog can be spotted there too.   During the late spring, you can see the ducklings following their moms as they learn the rules of the road and whatever life lessons a duck teaches its youngsters.   I've been there many times, disposing of stale bread and buns, making sure the ducks get their bellies full of the yummy wheat crumbs.  

Today, I decided to go down and see what would transpire since I didn't have any bread with me.   Note to self, when making animals the subject matter, ensure that they are happy with you being there by bringing goodies.   Obviously, they moved quickly to the other side of the creek far away from me.   Not to be deterred, I followed them down the creek and crossed the bridge that separates their side from the one I was on, and kept watching.   Pleasantly surprised, they started to get a bit restless and take to flight a little bit.   I managed to catch this pretty neat shot of one of the male ducks protecting his little area from the others, flying to get another trespasser getting too close.   Go get 'em, duck.

The Perfect Pint

I have heard Guinness described as "the nectar of the gods", among other things, and that it is an "acquired taste".   There have been times where I have visited a tavern and the bartender had no idea how a Guinness should be poured, and I was pleasantly surprised at some visits where they filled the glass so artistically, the experience of just getting a work of art made me hesitant to drink it.   I used to joke that if I was at a party, I would order a Guinness so nobody would confuse their drink with mine.    My rating system of a bar or restaurant would also be influenced by whether or not they had Guinness on tap.   One of my favorite books is called "Pint-sized Ireland" where a couple backpacks their way across the Emerald Isle to try and find the best pint of Guinness they can.   While they are told that you can only get the best from the source in Dublin, or that it only can be drunk in stone jugs, the moral of it is that Guinness tastes best when it is shared with a circle of close friends in a place where all are welcome.

The inspiration for this shot came from our dining room.   We have tried to recreate an Irish pub feeling in our house with pictures, advertisements, and other brewerania.   Whenever we went to an antique store or estate sale, we tried to look for things that made the room come together.   However, in the journey of transforming our room, I have come to learn that a true Irish pub-themed dining room comes in the form of how we celebrate each day by sitting around our table for a good family meal, more often or not with a Guinness by my plate.   Slainte.

Tower Tale

All around the city, there are numerous water towers that are either vacant and decommissioned or modern and still in use.   Down the street from our house, stands the Lincoln Park Tower, one of those historic towers that, from what I have been able to check out, is not in use.   It was used early on when the neighborhood was starting up and residents needed a central water source.   The park only takes up one city block and it is pretty centralized to the neighborhood, complete with two playgrounds, a picnic shed, and several grills for outdoor activities.   I remember taking our daughter there right after we first moved back to WI in 2008 to allow her to play and forget about the stress of getting used to a new place.

I've photographed this tower before, but this time, I wanted to get a different viewpoint.   Pulling out my wide-angle lens, I couldn't think of a better way to tell this story than to show it in a powerful way.   Standing like a pinnacle, a beacon of hope for those who made this area their own.   A humorous aspect of the tower is that there is a winding staircase on the outside that makes its way to the top.   However, this staircase doesn't start until almost the top of the tower, about 75 feet or so.   Maybe it was shortened to keep off vandals, or maybe it just fell off in a storm.   Either way, it always cracks me up when I see it.

Bridge to the future

So the title of the blog is kind of corny, but I wanted to try and commemorate my 30th posting somehow.   I remember a few years ago, the documentary maker Morgan Spurlock had a show on TV called "30 days" where he'd take someone out of their element and have them do something for a month to see how it would change them.   While it didn't last very long, and he was trying to build off his doc about the McDonald's challenge, I did remember that the people that did those things actually did change.   Not only that, but the subjects actually formed new habits and new routines that helped them get to the goal.   Doing this project has pushed me in a direction that has both been extremely rewarding and pretty challenging.

Earlier this year, Monroe decided that it was finally time to repair a street corridor that was pretty confusing to navigate and was just poorly designed in the first place.   Along the way, they replaced sewer lines, rerouted traffic patterns with one-way streets, and demolished a decades-old pedestrian bridge previously used as a railroad crossing.   It recently opened back up for the outdoor enthusiasts to be able to use the trail that was closed for the bridge construction and it is pretty neat.   While extremely simple in its design, I think that the minimalistic ironwork is very artistic.   It blends well with the surrounding residential neighborhood and is a welcome sight from the eyesore that the old railroad bridge was.   This shot is a metaphor for me to be both excited and challenged at the shots that await me in the next 30 days and beyond.

An apple a day

Although the day was overcast and a bit drizzly, not to mention chilly, we decided to make the trek south to an apple farm in Illinois to try our hand at picking some fresh apples.   I can't continue without mentioning our failed attempt several weeks ago at a farm close to Monroe.   We had high hopes when we went then and our experience there was far from unique.   It seemed a bit disorganized, it was hard to determine what fit our needs, and the person that was overseeing the place seemed like he wanted to be 100 other places than right there.   We left dejected and empty-handed with no produce.    Today, however, the experience was pretty amazing.   While the weather wasn't cooperating, the Edwards Apple Orchard in Illinois was teeming with people.   Fresh and hot apple cider donuts were being made, cider was being poured by the gallon-full, and the animals in the petting zoo were more than cooperative with us and the young kids running around.   I didn't expect to be able to pick apples due to the weather, but the rains ceased long enough for us to enjoy a family outing of apple pickin'.

Our daughter also had a great time looking for the perfect apples on the trees and kept describing each apple we picked as being a "mommy" or "daddy" due to their sizes.   I snapped this shot after she picked one of her prizes and was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.   Even with less than perfect weather conditions and an overcast day, the lighting was just right and the trees helped frame my shot.   Now, the real project begins as we figure out how to utilize the 1/2 bushel of Jonamac apples we have crowding our countertop.

Having a hoot

Recently, my daughter got a hat that has an owl face on it for the upcoming cooler weather.   She's worn it quite a bit since it was purchased and has even slept with it a time or two.   While the hat itself is cute, I find that the colors are vibrant and compliment her very well.   This morning, I was wondering what a good subject for today would be and my wife said that we should get our daughter to pose with the hat on. We decided that it would be neat to capture her face with just her eyes and have the hat be the central subject.  

Now, anyone that has a young girl knows that she won't do anything she doesn't want to do, and no amount of bribing, deal making, or threats of losing privileges will make her bend.   I tried paying her off with quarters for the toy machines, threatened to turn off her beloved Cartoon Network, and all sorts of things that just didn't work.   Finally, after negotiating the terms of a quick and painless photo shoot, my diva agreed to participate.   Capturing her beautiful eyes made all the hassle worth it, and I got to include her in my blog once again.

Birds of a Feather

Sometimes, inspiration for a photo story comes from the most unexpected places.   I was having a bit of photographers' block (as if that's a real condition) when trying to determine my subject for today.    I couldn't get the juices flowing and find art in every day opportunities, as I wanted this blog to help me discover.   Driving around the town square, the park, schools, and other areas in town, I kept drawing blanks as to what would make both and interesting shot and story.   Then, while catching a quick nap this morning, it hit me.  

Last night, a coworker presented me with some peacock feathers to give to my daughter.   A couple of nights before, we were chatting about nothing in particular when she mentioned her peacocks that were on her farm.   I asked her if it would be possible to bring me a few so I could give them to my daughter as a surprise, and to cement my standing as the #1 dad.   She dressed them up for me with a ribbon and I brought them home, snuck into my daughter's room, and placed them in a spot that she would see when she woke up.   Her reaction this morning was evident that I had never lost that superlative label.   In thinking about my shot, I knew that the amazing colors on the feather would not only make a great subject, but would remind me of how overjoyed my daughter was this morning as she ran into my room and hugged my neck.

Frolf anyone?

In one of the parks, here in Monroe, lies a nine hole disc golf course.   While I have never played this particular game, it is pretty interesting to see how much of a following it has here in WI.   Living in Madison a few years ago I remember people going on and on about playing disc golf and participating in local tournaments.   I worked at a sports store for a brief period and the vast array of disc "golf clubs" that we sold always left me flabbergasted.    Just like in a traditional golf bag, you carry a driver disc, iron discs, and putter discs.   And, depending on the layout of the "hole", you use different style discs to maximize your approach to the hole, as in traditional golf.   The holes are these metal stands with chains coming off the sides to catch the disc as it settles into the raised bucket of sorts on the bottom.   Definitely, this is something I want to try.

I drove to the park on this chilly morning and thought about different ways I could capture such a common fixture.   The sun was just coming up over the horizon through the trees, so my lighting was ideal.   I walked around it and snapped all kinds of vantage points, even using the fixture as a background for shots of the park.   I lay under it and took pictures from below, put my camera close to it and tried for some landscape shots, and just tinkered around with it for a little while.   I put my wide angle lens on and then just put the camera on top and shot straight down.   What came from that was a pretty neat shot that showed the shape of the top piece and a lot of color coming from the trees and ground shadows.   I have to say, this is one of my favorite shots of this blog thus far.   I hope it's as enjoyable to you as it is to me.

The Sky-Vu's the limit

About a mile south of town stands one of the few remaining operational drive-in movie screens.   Each weekend, cars line up to go in and catch some of the movies nearing the end of their theater runs giving families another outlet to bring them all together.   While I have yet to be a part of this unique experience, I have heard that it has played host to all sorts of events in the people's lives here in Monroe from engagements to first dates to family reunions.   Mostly, however, it remains as a great addition to the historic Goetz theater that graces our town square.  

I wanted to try and catch the angles of the sign in a way that would show both the character of it and the view of the sky, as the name suggests.   One unique feature of the sign, whether it is intentional or not, is the fact that one side of it is restored and looks new.   The other side is weathered and looks like a relic from days of yesteryear.   I decided to focus on the side that was new, as I could make out the trees in the reflection.   While the beautiful sunrise didn't get to make an appearance in the photograph, the clouds moving away made a pretty neat backdrop.   Standing there, I could only imagine the crowds of families driving through from over the years and thinking about what it must have been like the night a young boy got to watch Star Wars from the front seat of his dad's station wagon.

 

A look back

Photographs taken in mirrors have always intrigued me because it seems like such an easy thing to do for a photographer.   You don't have to worry about framing the shot since you already have the frame in the mirror.   I look at pictures of people in mirrors and the opportunities to tell different stories are endless.   One I saw recently was of a woman getting married and her bridesmaids were all gathered around a tall mirror posed as looking into it, while the bride was reflected in the mirror as if she was the center of a fairy tale.   Another idea I think about is that the reflected mirror shot speaks volumes in that sometimes the meaning of the shot is that you are looking into the past and the future at the same time.  

The courthouse challenge I set for myself earlier rings true to capturing the bell tower in my side mirror as I drove my daughter to school.   Quite accidentally, I took a different route to drop her off this morning and I had looked in my mirror and saw the square as I drove away from it.   I thought that it would work well as a good shot, so after dropping her off, I came back to attempt to replicate what I saw.   Feeling like a private investigator trying to catch a cheating spouse, I crouched down in my driver's seat and caught the tower in just the right way.    This was a fun experience and I think the reflecting shots are going to be making a lot of appearances in the future.

From the ashes they rose

It goes without saying that there is a different breed of hero that thinks it's nothing more than part of their job to run into danger.   Whether it's a soldier on patrol in a war zone who runs into a hail of bullets to save a fellow countryman or a police officer who reaches into a burning car to pull out an injured victim.   This is true of firefighters everywhere, in my personal opinion.   I remember growing up all the firemen and women I ever met, thinking that they were put together in some factory somewhere out of old machine parts and installed with superhero powers.   It seemed that they had a character that matched no other.   They were gentle, kind, friendly, generous, and jovial, but when the alarms sounded, nothing else mattered than getting to the danger and extinguishing it as quickly as they could with no loss of life.   I saw pictures of them fighting fires in the heat of summer and seeing icicles grow longer off their trucks as they worked to kill the flames on a sub-zero winter day.  

Yesterday, a piece of steel from one of the twin towers was dedicated here in Monroe to all those heroes and first responders who never thought about what could have happened on that terrible day.   They had no other goal than to help out wherever they could to rescue the stranded and contain the destruction.    Molten steel, falling glass, burning bodies, and everything else unimaginable to us at the time was raining down upon them as they kept running into the fire.   When I saw this hulking and rusting artifact, I noticed the bent rivets in the side and thought about the sacrifice those brave souls gave in order to save those they never met.   I tried to capture a feeling with the photo, pay respect to them, and thank them for their duties, at the same time.

Where were you?

I had just finished breakfast on 9/11/01 when I turned on the television to watch the Today show, a ritual I continue to this day.   They had just broken into regular programming and started talking about how there was an accident at the WTC.   What was surreal about it all was how calm everyone was and how it was first reported as an accident.   Then, stories started to trickle in about how witnesses described a commercial jet had hit.   I remember the terrible sinking feeling in my gut and the overwhelming emotion of sadness when, as I continued to watch the coverage, the second plane hit.   I didn't want to go to work that day and I kept calling my wife at her job and talking about it throughout the morning.   When I did finally go in at about 1, I brought my tv with me so I could keep watching the coverage.   Customers came in and were as numb as we were as we couldn't look away from the news.   Finally, around 3 or so, I remember they instructed us to close down, as were all the other malls and shopping centers around the city.   Going home, all I wanted to do was be close to my family and grieve for everyone who lost their lives.

Today, I wanted to try and find a way to journal this subject without being disrespectful to my friends, family, and my neighbors in the world.   I had thought about going to the fire station and snapping some pictures of those everyday heroes, or even to the armory down the street and showcasing our military who sacrifice their lives for me.   The cemetery was on my list and I thought about catching the sunlight in a way that would signify our rebirth as a nation that day.   Instead, as a family, we set the stage for this remembrance photo that I thought would pay respects for those lost and show support for those that are continuing our fight for freedom against tyranny and terrorism.   I will never forget.

Workin for the weekend

Probably the largest employer in Monroe, if not Green County, is The Swiss Colony, or known now as their new identity as Colony Brands, Inc.   If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be in Wisconsin again, nor would we be able to enjoy all the interesting things we have done since we have been here.   My wife works for them in the apparel side of it and has made quite a name for herself, in bringing new ideals and practices to her department.   My journey to the "Colony" has a bit of a different story.   I began working for them almost exactly a year ago when I found myself unemployed suddenly.   I started as a seasonal employee packing all the goodies that we love to indulge on, petit fours, butter toffee, and cheesecake.   I asked to move to the baking side of it so I could learn a different part of the business and not be bored.   Long story short, while I'm still considered "seasonal", I've been working continuously since last September and I feel like I've worked hard enough to have a good reputation as a hard worker and fast learner.  

I took this picture after leaving work tonight as I felt that the sun was setting at the right time to showcase the colors of the flowers and the warm tones of the company sign against the building.   Although you can't see it, the sprinklers were on, so I took one for the team in order to get the shot I wanted.   I discovered that there were a few more stories I wanted to tell around the front of this building, so there will be more in a future post.  

I challenge the court

I floated the idea to myself that one thing I planned on doing with this project was to find different ways to photograph a subject over the course of the year.   I had thought about what that would look like, both literally and figuratively, and how it could be done without moving the readers to boredom.   I've seen others take pictures of the same thing over and over again as if it was the only thing to photograph (think the iconic Epcot), but it's interesting to see people attempt to capture a common subject in different viewpoints.   Given the amazing architecture and history that our courthouse has, I figured that I would attempt to find different ways to immortalize this structure in pictures.   Wherever you are in Monroe, you are able to catch a glimpse of the building.   You can see the tall clock tower from really any vantage point and the sunsets or sunrises paint the area in warm shades of reds, oranges, and dark yellows.   A beautiful palette given to us by Mother Nature.


This morning was no exception.   The high cirrus clouds were moving pretty fast high above and the sun had risen to a pretty good angle for a natural light source.   I wanted to catch the tower at a viewpoint that shows it's prominence in the city as well as how well the sky made a great backdrop to it.   With two photographs in this blog already showing the courthouse, I have laid down the gauntlet for future shoots to tell different stories about this breathtaking structure.

Traditions

It goes without saying that the area we live in is steeped in history of our young country, as well as the other nationalities that make up the population of Southern Wisconsin.   German, Nordic, and Swiss immigrants made this area their home, since it reminded them so much of their homelands and they brought so many of their heritage and tradition along with them.   One of the many places here in Monroe that boast that tradition is Turner Hall, a restaurant/bowling alley/gathering place located right off the town square.   A ceremony that they hold each year is the raising of the Maitag, or maypole.   Essentially, it is a tree pole that has flags extending out from it signifying all the cantons of Switzerland and topped with a shrub of some sort.   It's usually kept up all summer long and then brought down after the final harvest.
  

I thought about the traditions that I have started since moving away and having a family when framing this picture.   The Christmas story readings on Christmas Eve, the special dish we make for the Thanksgiving table, or leaving a birthday or anniversary card for my wife in different spots each year all make me think about how I can pass on the legacy of traditions to our daughter.   Heritage has always been important to me, as I am sure it was to that Swiss community looking for a place that reminded them of home and built a place to remember, celebrate, and pass the traditions along to the next generation.

Seven on the Seventh

Seven years ago, not anywhere close to four score, two parents brought forth on this continent, a new baby, conceived in Appleton, WI and dedicated to the proposition that girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice.   Okay, Abraham Lincoln I am not, but today marks the 7th birthday our our daughter.   A special one since you only get one chance to celebrate the years of your birth on the same day as the day of your birth.   We reminisced a little bit this morning with her and played the guilt card about how long it took my wife to go into labor, how little sleep we got those first few weeks, and how many times we had to change diapers during the first few days in the hospital.   Of course, none of that was really true, but it's nice to be able to watch her appreciate the day a little more instead of anticipating the newest toy to be unwrapped at the table tonight.

I tried to think about unique ways to capture the "7" theme for today and was drawing a blank.   There aren't any 7/11's here in Monroe, nor are there any addresses with just a 7 in the number.   I looked at the street signs, but 7th street essentially doesn't exist except for about a block and the 7th avenue sign is in someone's front yard with a foreboding "No Trespassing" sign perched on the fence.   Swiss Colony has a catalog called Seventh Avenue, but I suppose the creative juices weren't flowing as much as I would have liked when I looked at that sign over the outlet store here in town.   Finally, I was driving back home and remembered the disc golf course that one of the parks has here in town.   Trudging through the chilly and dewy grass, I found the number 7 tee box and found the shot.   I'm extremely lucky to have such a talented and smart young lady celebrating her "golden birthday" today, turning 7 on the 7th.

I've been everywhere, man.

I read somewhere recently that the average person moves once every 7 years and that the traditional 30-year mortgage is quickly becoming a relic of times gone by.   There was also a bit about how it's becoming more popular to rent, rather than own, because of those statistics.   Not being one to fall into the law of averages, our family has done everything we can to blow the Bell curve on them.   Since getting married in 2001, my wife and I have moved 10 times.   We have lived near the "frozen tundra" of Lambeau Field, fabled Beale Street in Memphis, Civil War battlefields in Franklin, TN, Harry Houdini's adopted birthplace in Appleton, WI, and now we reside in the only place Limburger cheese is made in the United States.   We made four nearly cross-country moves from TN to WI to TN and back again.   We've bought two houses and have lived in 3 or four apartment complexes.   We've rented a duplex, a house with an impressive "man cave", and a house that previously was the residence for 55 feral cats.   I have become UHaul's unofficial frequent renter and probably have driven every model and length of truck that they offer.   At one time we had given up on unpacking boxes because we just had a feeling that another move was getting closer.  

Now, it appears that our family has started to take root in where we have ended up.   While I wouldn't have picked Monroe, WI out of the atlas as one of the top 100 places we could live, I'm glad we have made this our home.   There may not be the big cinema houses the big cities have to offer, nor are there giant lakes and rivers that entice you to boat, swim, or fish your weekend away.   However, we have found out that most everything to see and do is within walking distance and you are never more than 5 minutes away from the other side of town.   We have experienced the wonder of Cheese Days, an event so big and popular that it is held with the same frequency as the Olympics.   I have met local artists who have gone on to widespread recognition in their fields of photography and carpentry.   One of the most beneficial things we have experienced is that our daughter has a bright future in store for her through the school system and extra curricular activities that our little town just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Illinois border has to offer.

American picker

One of the greatest things about where we live is that we have been able to take part in what was once a normal routine for those early farmers cultivating the land.   Dotted throughout the Southern Wisconsin area are numerous "pick-your-own" farms that have anything from apples to zucchini and let you come onto their land and pick as much as you can possibly carry.   Earlier this summer, we went out and picked a bunch of strawberries, brought them home, and made jars of jelly, froze some for later, and ate them fresh on some ice cream or by themselves.   We tried another farm and picked some okra that we had high hopes for, but a failed attempt at fried okra and a not-so scrumptious bout of canning pickled okra didn't do too much to raise our appetite to try them out.   I'm sure we will, but it's kind of like rooting for Notre Dame right now.   Always have great expectations at the beginning, but it falls short of the standards you were expecting toward the end.

Today, we decided to go to a farm and pick some raspberries.   The weather was perfect with a stiff breeze, low humidity, and a temperature that never spiked above 65.   Our daughter was very excited to do it and found that picking raspberries is a bit more easy on the back than picking strawberries was.   Not to mention, a lot more exciting than picking okra.   I was taking pictures of the bugs and plants and looked up to see her face showing the determination to get the right berry as well as the happiness she was feeling to be having a great experience with me and Anna.  

Pathway

There are some interesting places here in Monroe that, after living here for a year and in the area for the past 4, I have yet to discover.   Bike and walking paths crisscross the city and connect it with many of the other towns in the area.   With the grid system that the roads have, it's neat to see a winding path playing a bit of havoc with the cartography.   Splitting the town essentially in half is a railroad moving east to west that, at one point, carried supplies to the young farmers and homesteaders from the big cities of Milwaukee and Chicago all throughout the southern landscape of Wisconsin.   Brodhead, New Glarus, and Monroe boast renovated train depots that once bustled with businessmen, families, and store owners eagerly awaiting their goods, services, and other family members.  

When I see photos of railroads, I try to think back about what was there when it first was constructed.   Mostly, they winded their way through empty farmland or sleepy little stopovers for water, mail, or food.   Here, I'd like to think that Monroe was a destination point, a growing city that welcomed its visitors and future residents with open arms.   My other thought is what lays beyond the horizon, where the railway continues around a bend or beyond the line of sight.   It must be what those first settlers and homesteaders thought too when they first boarded the train and looked down the rails at the pathway they had yet to travel.  

Under Construction

This past June, we had to make one of those trips to the hardware store that everyone just hates to make.   The one where you go in to get supplies for a new project and you realize that you need much more than what you originally expected and have to spend a lot more money.   It was gardening time and we needed to get an extra bed for our new garden, which entailed more dirt, plants, extra gardening tools, and whatever else that would rear its ugly head into our cart.   However, our plans almost immediately changed when we arrived because, outside of the store, there was a huge area set up with kids building some sort of project.   Over the noise of the busy parking lot, people talking all around, and the whoosh of the passing cars on the interstate, an almost rhythmic beat of hammers was pounding on nails from this gathering.   While it had the feeling of a birthday party, probably for some kid whose parents were really into carpentry, we gravitated to it to discover that it was a children's project weekend put on each month by the store.   Clearly, we jumped in headfirst and Olivia was overly excited to begin.   Several minutes later, a perfectly built flowerpot was made for us to plant a new seed to grow during the summer.   The fun that was had surely outweighed the pain we had to endure at the cash register later.

Each month thereafter, we have made it a point to make it to the monthly children's workshop.   She has made a toolbox for her paints along with a counter valet for me over the Fathers' Day weekend.   The most enjoyable thing for me is to not only assist her in making the project but to watch the excitement she has when it is completed.   Today, the project was a dry erase message board that is framed in wood and able to either be hung on a wall or have magnets adhered to it in order to stick on the fridge.    I attempted to catch her at the right moment in order to capture the zeal and determination she had to make this her best project yet.   From the finished project, and the games we played on the board on the way home, I think that she definitely accomplished her goal.

Lights, Camera, Action!

This will probably be the first of many posts I'll make with a photo of the theater that Monroe has right off of the town square.   While the Goetz movie theater is far from one of the high definition, state of the art movie mega plexes that most large cities boast about these days, the experience of seeing a movie here is definitely one of a kind.   The old-fashioned ticket booth at the front of the theater is only big enough for one person to sit in to give out the tickets and the exterior of the building displays attributes of a by-gone era.   I've been inside several times to see movies and the interior gives the sense that you have stepped out of the hustle and bustle of the 21st century and have become part of the glory days of cinema.   There are only 3 theaters inside, with each one equipped with soft, plush, red recliners that you just melt into before the main attraction begins.   It is most certainly one of the most unique and special cinema houses that I have been lucky enough to enjoy.

On the outskirts of town, there stands another icon of cinematic history.   Rising from a field you will find yourself sitting in front of a giant drive-in movie screen that has weekly showtimes.   The Sky-Vu theater is very well known in the Southern Wisconsin era and hosts many people on a regular basis.   While I have yet to see a show at this venue, I sense that there will be a great treat in store as we make it to an outdoor movie before the hibernation of winter sets in.   As I mentioned in the beginning, I also sense that the outdoor space will definitely be a subject in the future as well.

First day jitters

Last year, my daughter started kindergarten and there were more butterflies in my stomach in anticipation of her starting than were in hers, for sure.   I kept thinking of all the times she would start a new day care and how she would be sad for, what seemed to be, days on end.   I wanted to be able to stay there with her after walking her to her new school, repel all the bullies, and make sure that she had only "good" kids to be friends with.   Of course, I let her go and start her own day and begin her school career like she is supposed to, but letting go was pretty tough.   This year; however, there were none of those butterflies in my stomach and the excitement of beginning a new year was overwhelming.   One year older, one more grade to begin, and new teachers and students to meet and become friends with.  

Today was not like it was last year, as I was much more relaxed and the jitters for me were nowhere near what the level was then.   It helped that Olivia was excited to be a first grader and had staked out her place in the library now that, as a first grade student, she would be able to read books in the replica log cabin or art-encovered bathtub.   It was a great morning with many, many more to go until the school year ends and the 2nd grade begins.