It’s Winter in Iowa

Out Standing in a Field

Out Standing in a Field

When I was a kid, my sense of humor ran to the obvious. I thought it hysterical to show one of my (three) grandmothers a sheet of white paper, and ask them what they thought of my drawing. They, of course knowing the drill, as I did this once a winter, would kindly ask “What is it?”

I, in glee, would reply “White cows in a blizzard.”

So, here’s an adaptation of the same – but this time you can see the cows (cattle, really) in their dark coats. The rest of the photo is playing true to the original version.

The Weeklies

Isthmus and The Onion

The Isthmus and The Onion

If you were to define a city by its weeklies, this would be a solid description of Madison.

Still Standing

-18˚F. Not even discussing wind chill – does it really matter?  Cold, but still standing.

Grand Central Station

Its a Station, Its a Hallway, Its a Mural!

It's a Station, It's a Hallway, It's a Mural!

Look carefully. What do you see? What is real and what is not?

Sumac’s Candelabra

Another Snow-Capped Day!

Another Snow-Capped Day!

Red sumac seeds are an important source of bird food, precisely because they simply stay on the plant long enough to be part of the winter scenery. This makes them the perfect emergency food for all sorts of birds during the long winter months.  Bluebirds, black-capped chickadees and robins will feed on sumac seeds in winter and early spring when there is little else for them to eat; it’s not their favorite food source, but there are times when it isn’t prudent to be picky.

And going in a totally different direction, I found a bit of poetry with an interesting reference to the sumac:

The sumac’s candelabrum darkly flames.
And I speak to you with the land’s voice,
It is the cold, wild land that says to you
A knowledge glimmers in the sleep of things:
The old hills hunch before the north wind blows.
~ Howard Nemerov (American poet, 1920-1991)