FOTO FRIDAY: PERMANENT VISITOR

You know from previous postings we have had a lot of critters both invited and uninvited stop by the End of the Rainbow Valley. 

One particularly unusual one which I had never seen before was either suffering from smacking into a window/one of the storms had battered him on his journey. 

He was a song bird, a magnificent yellow bellied sapsucker, who spent 2 days hopping around near/on our road. Hopping as I discovered from our bird book is normal but he definitely was having a difficult time taking off, once he had landed. I was concerned we would either run over him/ one of the barn cats would think he was a new toy.

On day 2 after Natureman mentioned seeing him in the garage thinking I had placed him there for safety sake, I discovered him stuck inbetween shelving and brooms covered in spiderwebs. Knowing he needed sustenance, I ushered him back outside.   

This guy got some spider web on his head when he went into the garage. Gorgeous markings,eh?

He hopped into the grasses nearby and I provided a hollow log for some extra protection.

In the meanwhile I contacted my friend, Sue, who does animal rehab for our area and she suggested calling the humane society for assistance. It turns out she only does raptors in the bird species and the one person who was certified for song birds had moved 10 years ago.

Well, I didn't get to that call because upon checking on our stunning visitor,  he had gotten tired of struggling to survive and lay still near the log... Sad we weren't able to help him, his new home is now permanently here, buried on the hillside...

I hope this isn't a trend thinking about last FOTO FRIDAY's SOME DAYS AREN'T SO GOOD...

DECODING THE DRIFTLESS...

The World Premiere of the film Decoding the Driftless was held at Viterbo University sponsored by the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership. The event was free and unfortunately hundreds of folks were turned away as all of the seats had been filled and we were included in those unfortunate first 100. 

Emmy winning film makers George Howe, Tim Jacobson, Rob Nelson, and Neil Rettig and Jonas Stenstrom of Untamed Science collaborated to reveal the many secrets to decoding the Driftless with hopes that we, the viewers and its residents will work to help conserve and preserve this very special region. 

From above the region and its ancient bluffs, to its oldest mighty river, the Mississippi, Effigy Mounds, deep caves and waterfalls with the country's largest migratory bird routes... we have the responsibility to preserve this national treasure which stretches from Madison, Wisconsin to Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

From Untamed Science:

Why is it special!

Because the glaciers missed the area, there exists a unique geology. There are landforms and animals non-existent in other parts of the midwest. Most people don’t know they exist though, which is why this educational outreach

. In particular, concentrating on these:

1. Effigy mounds – The native Americans built large burial mounds, often in the shape of animals. They scatter the landscape.
2. Cave Art – In the caves of the area, the Native American art is preserved. The story it tells is both interesting and shocking.
3. Caves, Sinkholes – There are limestone caves all throughout the area, all of which hold hidden passageways.
4. River Ecosystems – Some of the oldest rivers in the   world are here
5. Rare Ecosystems – Algific Talus Slopes, Goat Prairies, Dry Prairies, are but a few of the unique landscapes in the area.

   

   goat prairie

6. Springs – cold water resources in the driftless are home to some of the world’s best trout fishing. 
7. Glaciation – glacial geology shaped the area, but exactly why it missed this area is still a bit of a mystery.
8. Rare Species –Peregrines, monkshood, ice-age snails, timber rattlesnakes and other rare species call this area home.

We are fortunate to live amidst its magnificence every day here in the End of the Rainbow Valley, floods and all...

Here's a youtube clip :Decoding the Driftless

WON'T YOU BE, WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Sure this post could be about the timely Fred Roger's movie but it's actually about the concept of wanting strangers to be our neighbors. This may also seem a bit ironic from a person who lives in the End of the Rainbow Valley whose closest next door neighbor is almost a mile away. Yet, at the same time it was small town and big town neighbors who came together in our most recent time of need after flooding affected so many communities...  

The group .be whose mission is to create a space to have discussions program's theme last night was about being a good neighbor and how to improve our neighborhoods. About 75 folks from many area different areas of our city came together in Hackberry's, a local eatery, to have a bowl of soup and sandwich and discuss being better neighbors. To know not just in times of need, folks will rally to help others but are there every day.

Tom Thibodeau, retired Viterbo faculty, shared his own stories of how neighbors helped raise him and his siblings when illness took his Mother away for 13 weeks when he was 12 years old. How reverence is equal to justice, hospitality vs hostility, how when we get to know each other enemies become friends. 

So we at each table reminisced about the old days when everybody knew everybody on one's blocks, when kids all ran from one yard to another to play until dinnertime, neighbors sat for each other's children/ drove an elderly neighbor to appointments,when an unexpected dinner/dessert showed up on the door step for no reason, when the back deck and fences didn't replace the front porch and sidewalks connected blocks.

What has happened to knowing one's neighbors? Lives 'too' busy to have time to talk over a cup of coffee/ something stronger. Trust is limited due to fears, real/ imagined. How does one break down those fences?

Block parties, modeling being a good neighbor, conscious and patient efforts to 'get to know' one's neighbors, adults and kids alike, looking out for others. Being a good neighbor is our responsibility to society and definitely makes the big, bad world not so big nor bad as we discover we have many more things in common than different. We don't have to wait for an emergency to find out others have our back... Won't you please, can't you please, won't you be my neighbor?


MR ROGERS "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

IT'S LOST AND ...

Among my unusual likes, I really like the challenge of finding items, not the misplaced kind but those accidentally dropped.  I was always the one to find the dropped tack/ contacts (those pre disposable kind). So when friend Cari posted on FaceBook about needing a metal detector to find a missing wedding ring,  I volunteered my services. Besides an extra pair of eyes couldn't hurt.

Coincidentally, one of those children pre holiday/ birthday gifts in our gift drawer was a kid sized metal detector.  Batteries were not included but Walgreen's was in route.  

You also have to understand Cari is one of those people who's always helping others whether it's organizing a blood drive, raising monies for others by walking in fundraisers/ even helping at her town's Chicken-Q. In fact, it was this latter obligation she was doing that day. All she needed to do was give me the parameters of her projects and while she fulfilled her duties at the Chicken Q in the park across the street, I could continue the search... 

Before anything else, I asked if she had double checked her bed linens as her ring could be there. Nope, she was sure she had lost it when she mowed/weeded. So, first I emptied the garbage bin with the pulled weeds just in case that's when her ring fell off.  No luck. The metal detector also didn't pick up anything in her newly mowed lawn. Next area to search were the day lily beds where she had started weeding.

Meanwhile Cari had a farm run with chicken lunches for her hubby and sister and brother-in-law, not far from the park pavilion.  Well, there was enough for me to do in her absence as day lily beds would be easier to search with continued thatching . I had brought gloves with me and that shiny wedding ring would be much more obvious lying amidst the cleared out plants.  The garbage cans filled quickly. 

Cari returned from the farm and joined me outside. She said she had a story for me about her visit to the farm. Apparently she had informed her sister-in-law she couldn't visit long because her friend, yours truly, was back at her house searching for her lost wedding ring.  Her sister-in-law continued on her project working under the kitchen sink and upon completion, kept chatting and finally showed Cari her ring finger hand which had more than one ring on it. She said, "Look what her husband found yesterday outside one of the farm buildings." Lo and behold, there on her finger was Cari's ring. Cari had obviously lost it when she dropped off bottled water the day before.  Oh my! 

She then showed me her hand and there sat her wedding ring, a very loosely fit ring. Her husband, Matt's idea was for Cari to drop it where I was working so I could find it.  Thanks Matt but hey, I was just happy she had her ring back. Cari and I both laughed because not only did she have her ring but also got her flower bed weeded ...  I just love LOST and FOUND happy endings.

Apparently Cari decided to document my efforts and she had taken photos unbeknownst to me! While I'm weeding, she's inside her house taking pictures. Go figure.

Umpteenth...

Perhaps it shouldn't shock us that Texas was the last state to recognize the Emancipation Proclamation and in case this factoid escaped our history lessons, no time to learn like the present. The Southside Community Center was the place to be Saturday afternoon to learn more about our city's black historic residents. 

The center treated visitors to a complimentary lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, pasta salad and pickle, an opportunity to register to vote, local organizations like the New Horizon women shelter, Enduring Families Project, some visiting local and state candidates, hair products, etc...


Shaundel Spivey, a former UW- L student, now the school district's liaison welcomed visitors and spoke about Umpteenth Day and the day's celebration emphasizing the importance of  learning more about our own city's African American residents.  

We were introduced first to Asia, a high school participant on a recent civil right's bus trip which also visited black higher institutions of learning. Asia related how much she learned about the African American experience and how as a result of the trip with other black teens, she now wants to go to a black university in Atlanta. This very thing happened to a friend's granddaughter on the same trip. A very life changing trip indeed.

Afterwards we were introduced to the Enduring Families Project where 3 reenactors shared stories about a brother like George C. Poage, Olympian medalist and his accomplishments but whose nephew, the next generation, was the one able to achieve academic recognition. Fascinating stories of achievement of past generations from successful barber fathers in the river city, cutting white hair during the day and unbeknownst to those patrons, black hair at night with the same scissors.  

And the interesting story about La Crosse resident George Taylor who ran on the ticket for the White House. 

The Enduring Families Project will be taking these stories and others to the schools. More re-enactors and writers are needed to bring these stories to life. What a terrific endeavor!

It's a beginning of stories needing to be told and time for us all to be educated about the historic role of the black community, their contributions and the Black Code of restrictions within our cities and towns...

FOTO FRIDAY: SOME DAYS AREN'T SO GOOD

FOTO FRIDAY for this guy wasn't so good. Poor fella took the wrong path up the garage door at the wrong time. I had noticed some of his smaller tree frog friends enjoying the same door's glass pane. He should have followed their example...

Nothing could have saved him from this demise as some humanoid decided to use the very same door in the opposite direction, oops! Obviously , we didn't discover this right away. Now he's petrified.

Have any pics to share?

Last week's entry was :FIREWORKS

ATONING ...

Yom Kippur / יום כפור

Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, one of the major holidays of the Jewish year.  All my life, acquaintances have asked me about the Jewish holidays and their significance. Today is a big one and I compare it to the importance of being in church on Christmas/Easter. 

Due to the lunar calendar holidays always fall on different days in the solar calendar which creates a bit of a problem in a Christian country as most of the world still has school and work days. Yom Kippur falls on the 10th of Tishrei, this year in September, next year in October.

Being back at teaching this semester, I needed coverage a couple times for the holidays since both Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur fell on work days. My colleagues have covered for me for which I am truly thankful to be able to go to services and know my students are able to have class. 

So my work for today is to atone as my ancestors have done before me. From generation to generation our traditions are passed on and after 10 Days of Awe for personal reflection and repentance  by sunset tonight and the blowing of the shofar (ram's horn) Jews all over the world will break their 24 hour fast and start the new Year of 5779 with a clean slate ...  

"G'mar hatimah tova" is the traditional Yom Kippur greeting. It means "May you be sealed for a good year in the book of life" in Hebrew.

Below are a couple of links you might find interesting...
SHOFAR BLOWING
FORGIVENESS

WALKING TACO..

Our county fair  has the distinction of being the last Wisconsin county to hold their fair. I bet you it's been about 10 years since we've attended the fair. 

I'm certainly glad we stopped on our way back from the Driftless Art Festival to catch the last day of the fair and free admission no less. My heart was set on a 'walking taco' for my late lunch and wouldn't you know that walking taco was not on any of the menus at the  regular stands. Finally, I asked one of the worker bees if by any chance they knew if /where they were being sold. Nobody had seen anybody eating one. As we walked away from another stand, one of the gentlemen yelled after me, " Look there on that food truck!" And there in front of me was the most welcomed sight, a picture of a walking taco. 

If you are not familiar with a walking taco. You can eat it with a fork/spoon and eat while walking around as it's an opened small bag of Fritos  covered with taco seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and salsa. I savored every bite as Natureman enjoyed his hamburger at the Lions's stand. BTW a portion of their profits was going to the Flood Relief fund... 

tobacco hanging as if alfalfa and corn amidst
many offer crops

Now I could go and enjoy the fair buildings filled with 4H projects of everything under the sun many with ribbons of recognition. Produce like humongous pumpkins, tobacco which we don't see too much any more, every craft/hobby imaginable including
 this miniature pumpkin patch below...

A stage with handmade flower backdrop
 where 4H'ers  modeled fashions they made 

Loved the modernity with the best friends
and the cell phone

And in the barn buildings were magnificent varieties of cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats and chickens with their names and the names of their owners. Many of the owners stay with their animals during the week of the fair.














Some stalls were decorated with photo journaling displays of the animal's owner growing up with the animal.

Some animals were raised to be auctioned off and there were thank you notes to the buyers. 

The auctioning was complete but we did catch the 'tail' end of the dog show (punny) with all sizes of tails...

You could sense the very special pride and bond between the animals and their owners.

As many are pets...

Some judges even had a good sense of humor...

Visiting the County Fair was a great way to end the weekend with a walking taco and all and I guess I wasn't the only one tuckered out...

KICKAPOO...

The devastation of the floods was certainly evident on our car trip eastward through Coon Valley and then south along the Kickapoo River to attend the Driftless Area Art Festival. It became more apparent that the 4 million dollar Federal Aid requested by our Governor falls way short of the devastation to flood victims.  Besides homes, entire fields were destroyed.

Due to the flooding this 14th year of the festival had to be moved from its past location in Soldiers Grove to the neighboring town of  Gays Mills's Crawford County Fair Grounds. 

The usual serene setting had changed in Soldiers Grove. The Kickapoo waters had overflowed their man made levee in the park with such force it tore through the tennis court over the fest grounds across the street into the parking lot.

Grass covered levee  by Kickapoo River in Soldiers Grove, you can see by the tree line the levee's height  

demolished tennis courts

what used to be where the parking lot across the street from the park

It's not that nearby Gays Mills was untouched as many of its downtown stores were closed including its Food Coop actually the first in the Coulee Region (1970's) and has been relocated to the Mercantile Building on higher ground until they can figure out their future. 

The Crawford Fairgrounds are also on higher ground and had plenty of parking space for the Art Festival. Attendance was good in spite of a warm weekend and area artists from all over Wisconsin and some from across the river from neighboring Iowa and Minnesota shared their beautiful art and flood stories too. The Artist Silent Auction proceeds went to Flood Relief. 

A little less than a hundred artists showed their wares and I always love seeing the kids art booth where kids can work on an art project like painting little  pumpkins/ceramic pieces. 

Area schools had entered their students's art to be displayed in the Youth tent as well. It's wonderful to see the projects art teachers are promoting to encourage their students creativity and artistic abilities.

Judges awarded ribbons to their favorites in the Youth tent as well as kid visitors attaching  tags to adorn their favorites.

It's also great to see artists art growing from one year to the next. One of my favorite glass artists Laurel and her glass works are becoming multidimensional and sculptural.

Laurel Grey Glassworks

 Look for her work in Door County's upcoming art show!

 And of course there's always great local music to enjoy... 



On  Saturday The Roddys and Patchouli performed followed on Sunday by Kickapoo Joy Juice and the Medicine Brothers.

Kickapoo Joy Juice

And local culinary arts including Apple'licious, Food for Thought, Mary's Berries in addition to catering food trucks amongst others added a special locavore touch to the festival.

The music, art, food, people and gorgeous blue skies surrounded by the changing tree colors on the hills added a bit of welcomed reprieve for all of us recuperating from the floods. It's still a beautiful place to live albeit battered right now...  

FIGHT THE FLOOD 2018

While the east coast is starting to get hammered from Hurricane Flo, we in southwestern Wisconsin are continuing to dig out and assess the damage from 2 flash floods in a week's time. In fact, today the backhoe and bobcat appeared at the end of our drive and will begin to put our mile long driveway back together. The repair not only  takes time, but it takes a lot of money and there are many folk who have much, much more to repair and replace.

Yes, FEMA monies can help affected counties but many folks know if monies are not forthcoming, there will be bankruptcies. Neighboring communities have come to the aid of the victims in so many ways this past week from helping with housing, cleaning supplies, meals and cleanup just to name a few. Yet, a lot remains to be done that's where the raised monies will help make a dent. 

Today after 9 days of planning La Crosse Festivals including
Moon Tunes La Crosse, Rotary Club of La Crosse - Valley View, Country Boom, Irishfest La Crosse, Great River Folk Festival, Oktoberfest - La Crosse and the band TUGG  planned the Fight the Flood Relief Moon Tunes style. It was a summer of Moon Tunes in one day. Some 30 bands volunteered to play for the 12 hour benefit to earn monies to help flood victims. Unfortunately even with 30 minute  performances, not all the volunteer groups could perform. 

There was free admission with only the request to make donations. It was a wonderful day of music and community. 

The food trucks which showed up included Woodshed Wood Fired Pizza from Winona, Big Boar, Fathead Steve's, the Pearl Ice Cream, Apothik and Midwest Bite's
all who kept quite busy

serving a couple hundred at lunchtime but thousands by dinnertime. 20% of their profits besides tips was donated.

And as for drink the beer came from 3 area breweries along with Pepsi products and water for sale with 100% of the raised monies being donated to the flood victims in the La  Crosse area.  

Waders used in cleaning out the muck in area home.

The fundraising goal hoped for was $150,000 but by 9 pm that goal was surpassed at $162,000 with two concert hours still remaining... When I arrived at noon the number had been at $53,545. Area businesses and community members were donating in all amounts. This am the radio stated $196,000 + was accounted for by the last act. By
all accounts so far $204,000 which will be divided up by the Rotary in different counties. 


Two stages alternated showcasing an amazing array of entertainment. A third smaller tent was set up by the Food Court but I never got over to hear those performers. Apparently Marty Raney, host of the Discovery TV’s show Homestead Rescue was there late afternoon with a film crew as he's in Viroqua helping a family. The groups I did get to hear were captured in some of the photos below. 

Matt Monsoor

Coulee Celtic 

Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers

Rhythmic Justice Motown 

Gregg Hall and the Wrecking Ball

Pig Town Fling

Mr. Blink

If you weren’t able to make the concert and would still like to donate, you can send a check to the Rotary Works Foundation, PO Box 1571, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54602-1571.

I think Mr. Blink had perhaps the best advice of the day as he pointed out the day's donations help but we all need to go and visit these rural towns and buy our gas there and patronize their businesses.  

Devastation like our Coulee region has suffered does take a lot more than a village after one flood much less two...