Clouds over Barn © 2008 Bo Mackison
Perfect white clouds hover over green and white farm buildings in central Door County Wisconsin.
Companions – A Car and A Truck
June 26, 2008 by 6 Comments
Red Truck and Gray Dodge – For Sale © 2008 Bo Mackison
Taking a short cut through the center of Door County, traveling from our campground on Lake Michigan to the Green Bay side, we passed these once handsome vehicles. Without a doubt, they would have been real beauties in their hey-day. Now they both appear to be in search of new owners.
Looking for similar cars, I found this 1939 Dodge Luxury Liner Deluxe D-11 4-door Sedan. Sure looks similar, even the same color! What a looker that car was brand new! I can just imagine riding along the streets of Chicago, dressed to the T in a tailored suit influenced a bit by masculine apparel, a tipped hat and nylons just introduced that very year. Why, my suit may have even had one of those new, modern zippers! (Pretty fancy name for the car – hmmm? Not only luxury, but deluxe, too!)
I didn’t have as much luck looking for a comparable truck. I narrowed it down to one of the early 1940s models – I think. But it still must have been grand to zoom around in a shiny red truck, especially after the work chores were done. Tooling through the Door in a snazzy truck, making a Saturday night ruckus!
Not Your Typical Barn
June 24, 2008 by 13 Comments
Red Roof and Green Grass © 2013 Bo Mackison
Juxtaposition of colors and textures tempted me. Not a typical barn, but I love its individuality. Hmm. Can a building have individuality?
I think so.
Paddling 4 …
June 23, 2008 by 7 Comments
Paddling 4 … © 2008 Bo Mackison
. . . the promotion of prostate cancer awareness and early treatments.
I met Skip early Saturday morning as he was preparing to shove off from the tip of Door County, Wisconsin, heading into the choppy waters of Lake Michigan. I was busy taking photographs of the lake when I noticed his kayak, loaded to the gills with equipment. I went over to see what was going on and he spoke with me about “his mission.”
He explained that a week ago, on Saturday June 14, he had pointed his kayak into Lake Michigan from the Chicago Harbor, and began a planned 54 day, 1,700 mile trip from the Midwest to the Hudson River in New York City.
Ciccarelli, a 60 year old high school teacher from Massachusetts, is a prostate cancer survivor. If all goes as planned, he will arrive in NYC on August 9 – 7 years to the day from when he had surgery for prostate cancer. He is doing the trip to raise prostate cancer awareness.
“I realized, like most men, I was clueless about prostate cancer and soon became flummoxed at how little men know about their own bodies,” Ciccarelli said. “I realized I could help raise awareness. By drawing attention to this disease, I’m hoping more men will get prostate check-ups, PSA screenings and that more research will focus on this type of cancer.”
More information on Cicarelli’s journey can be found at www.paddle4prostate.org. Any funds he raises over and above his expenses will be donated to two cancer organizations: Us TOO International and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Oh Dear – There Was a Deer
June 21, 2008 by 16 Comments
Storm Clouds Massing © 2008 Bo Mackison
First there were the storm clouds. For most of our five hour Friday afternoon trip, the skies were bright blue and the sun was dazzly bright. Then as we approached our weekend camping destination, clouds started massing on the horizon. An ominous start to the weekend we thought. If we had only known. . .
Deer-Struck Truck © 2008 Bo Mackison
Twenty miles from the campground I spied a doe and fawn at the side of the road. I said, “Look at the two deer”, and the doe ran across the road and smacked into the car as I said the word “deer”. We were lucky – we were towing our mini trailer and so we were driving the bigger towing vehicle which withstood the impact – actually very well. If we had been in our little Subaru, we would have been thrown into the ditch.
The deer didn’t fare so well – I’ll pass on those photos – and the fawn ran into the woods without its mama. We’re figuring a good 6 or 7 thousand dollars in car repairs. Front fender, hood, electrical repairs, on and on. With a sizable deductible to pay, our anticipated October trip to the Southwest looks pretty doubtful. We were already concerned with the price of gas, but looks like this might be the kiss of death – so to speak.
But today it is a sunny Saturday. The prairie wildflowers are blooming and I have an itchy shutter finger. And the only living things that surrender their existence to me today will be mosquitoes – which happen to be as big as wildebeests.
Looks like a good morning to head into Sister Bay and grab some Swedish pancakes at Al Johnson’s after I shoot for awhile. Those pancakes there are heavenly – paper thin and cut in long rectangles, swimming in lingonberries and butter. Yum!
