MOONING AT THE RIVER

MOON TUNES used to be NOON TUNES which was actually pretty sweet for a lunch hour but alas the time changed now starting at 5:30 p.m. but it  remains on Thursdays, making it still one of my favorite summer days.

This past Thursday we listened to String Ties, a local bluegrass band while enjoying our picnic dinner.  Their members also play in many other groups. Love of music does that to a musician. ( I've mentioned this group before and it won't be the last time...)

                           String Ties (l to r)  Tom Pfaff, Larry Dalton,Dan Sebranek and Wayne Beezley


Anyhow, all ages enjoy this group's music. One of the band member's wife teaches clogging and 2 of her clogging group joined her for 3 numbers on stage.  Also adding to the music, our infamous town's 90+ year old hula hooper who comes equipped with more hula hoops for volunteers,  had some younger backup hoola hoopers. It was fun to seeing the different generations sharing a love.

At one point during the concert about 20 kids between the ages of 5 to 10 were showing off their dancing moves.



Folks bring their babies and even the furry ones.

Moon Tunes is definitely a family affair as all ages attend the free concerts.  A donation bucket is passed and dollar by dollar goes towards building a new bandshell. Friend Heidi added that Moon Tunes is one of her Valley View Rotary's projects and they are committed to raising enough monies to pay for the new bandshell's ($110k +)sound system. Kudos to all our community's support!

It was a warm day and most of us sought out the shade but once the cloud coverage moved in, it was much more bearable and we felt blessed to not get rained out. It was a wonderful evening filled with great music, great community and a great sky.

If you're in La Crosse, this coming Thursday TUGG, a reggae group is playing. Stop by, nothing beats music by the Mississippi...

FOTO FRIDAY: ANYTHING CAN BE A PLANTER

FOTO FRIDAY: You know they? 

Well I've heard them say, "Anything can be a planter." Perhaps that's a very true statement as outside of Spring Green, WI. there was a really large planter in front of a motel. 

I assume some guests just couldn't get their truck started in the morning and left it parked right there. Well, one thing's for sure, this planter definitely has a nice view of the neighboring cornfield.

Have you created/seen an unusual planter?  Do share. Judi added that although she doesn't have pics to share she has seen boat and appliance planters. And you?

"Fronds South of the Border"

JoEllen spot ten this Bug planter in Puerto Vallarta.


Do you add to last week's FOTO FRIDAY:DRESSING FOR THE FOURTH?

WISCONSIN ROADSIDES

Last Tuesday en route to the Twin Cities for our niece's wedding I had shared our stop in Red Wing, Minnesota but neglected to share our return on the Wisconsin side. Both sides are equally scenic.

We actually stopped to read those roadside 'historical'( or as my Dad always calls them ' hysterical') signs. So why not share them this TBT as they are a throw back to another time.

First was the scenic view of Lake Pepin and its history.

The second stop was at Maiden Rock with an interesting Native American story of love. An arranged marriage gone bad. 

And this is the precipice from which the young beautiful Sioux bride jumped... 

A new addition since my last visit.

Our third stop was at Lake Pepin's Pickle factory where we sat out on their deck and enjoyed our lunch and the lake view. (I had lunch here with Charleston friend Missee maybe 6 years ago on our road trip.) 

Afterwards it was another stop at Alma's Garden Gate before heading home.  Besides a gal can never have too many flowers and everything's on sale. Tell them Karen sent you...

I bought up the last of their Mexican sunflower Fiesta del Sols and they certainly have brightened up the front flower bed, loving all this heat and humidity.  
              May we all be able to enjoy many TBTs.  

PRE WEDDING RELAXATION

Folks relax in numerous ways whether it's going to a spa, watching

TV, drinking, playing on the computer, reading /perhaps even 

frequenting a city's botanical garden.  It was the latter that appealed

to us hours before our attendance at a wedding in Madison Sunday. 

(our second wedding within a week's time). 

We needed calm before the storm and bythe time we made it to the 

city's botanical gardens side of town, we decided it'd be best to grab 

a bite to eat before the gardens. Boy, did we luck out stopping at the 

Daisy Cafe &Cakeatery.  The eclectic mix of spice assaults your 

nostrils upon entering. Not all the bakery smell I expected.

A variety of 'Daisy' art and mosaics fill their walls with an equally 

interesting array of patrons filling their eclectic tables and chairs.

A very Madison feel.

Oodles of  menu choices with gluten free choices, vegetarian 

possibilities and many with chorizo/pork so I went for their 

Meatless Meatloaf and was not disappointed in the least bit. Super 

delicious with their roasted potatoes. YUM. Natureman opted for

one of their burgers. He's not as adventuresome in the ordering 

process. It's too bad we didn't have room to try the cupcakes. :(

Filled to the gills off we went to peruse the well planned 16 acres of Olbricht Gardens. Despite the filled parking lot we had a lot of the gardens to  ourselves. 


The Gardens have changed over the years and the visitor can enjoy vistas and water features with even the Starkweather Creek traversing the property where folks kayak/canoe.

The variety of garden spaces include: 

The Flowering Grove with ornamental 
trees, 

Meadow Garden with drought 
tolerant grasses, 

Eunice Fisher Hosta Garden with its shade loving plantings, 

the Rock Garden, 

Discovery Dock with plants that love to live near  water,

Wildflower Garden a reminder of the 

  
End of the Rainbow Valley, don't you 

think?

There's also the Herb Garden, Gravel 

Gardens, Rain Gardens, Sunken 

Gardens, Rose Garden, Perennial

Garden, Priarie Dropseed and Sedge 

Meadows, Serenity Garden and 

Flowering Cherry Grove and Olbrich's 

Thai Pavilion and Garden.

So many interesting species to view and 

enjoy all the different textures, blooms, 

colors and foliage.



Olbrich prides itself in teaching 

sustainability by example of its gardening methods which anyone 

can try in their own gardening spaces.


* The Right Plant in the Right Place:Midwest hearty, disease & 

                                                           pest resistant

*Maintaining Healthy Soil : leaf mulching adding nutrients

*Natural Insect Control:hand picking pests, using beneficial insects

* Controlling Weeds Naturally: using mulch, weeding by hand

* Smart Water Usage, water when needed, rain barrels,       

                                     computerized irrigation  system

* Lawn Alternatives: meadow, prairie dropseed, sedge, drought           

                                   tolerant

*Greener Garden Desings:low maintenance perennials, naturalizing 

                                    bulbs 

*Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: composting garden wage, reusing/ 

                         recycling  plastic pots and use of biodegradable pots


Olbricht's is a gem and its outdoor gardens are free to the public 

although there's a $2 charge to enter the Bolz Conservatory. 


There's even a garden tram for those who need assistance. As their 

brochure states: Discover, Explore and Enjoy the World of Plants.

To be sure July is just a beautiful time for gardens in the Midwest, 

don't forget to enjoy its blooms.

HOOD SCOOPS

Isn't it everybody's dream to be able to combine one's loves in a business? 

John Riniker is one of those lucky ones. He has combined his love of anything automotive and motorcycles into the new car themed ice cream business, Hood Scoops, in the 83 year old Standard Gas Station in the town of Stoddard at 121 Main St. (35 S)


Riniker, is a professional landscaper & holiday light specialist in Colorado who credits his father for imparting his love for anything involving cars/motorcycles. 



Hood Scoops's decor holds a lot of surprises... 




Many special touches include wainscoting accessorized with wrenches, stools with hub cap seats, unique ceiling fans and tools imbedded in the cement floor. 

 The ice cream case is a front of a gas pump 

and the syrup's pumped out of a Texaco motor oil can while  milkshakes will be made in the large old shake maker.  

Adding down lighting are hanging empty oil cans. 



Both Spring Grove soda pop and ice cream flavors will eventually be  posted on an old car hood.

Bathroom door covered
in state license plates

And don't  miss a visit to the bathroom as its door is covered in state license plates. Part of a grill frames the bathroom mirror and the TP holder is an old fuel pump. I'm sure I missed other touches but you'll have to check it out for yourselves.

Bathroom mirror

Inside seating is limited but eventually the remainder of the building will be converted into a bar and grill called Gasoline Johnny's.  Outside seating includes picnic tables, lawn chairs and benches made out of old car tail gates.

Unfortunately refrigeration issues delayed Hood Scoops's original opening but its door finally opened in time for the holiday weekend Friday. There was a continuous flow of customers as folks were super excited to try the new ice cream place, even dinosaurs. 

Everyone loves ice cream. As my Dad taught us from when we were little :" I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream." 

Whether en route to Prairie du Chien/ La Crosse/ need a little road trip you can stop by / perhaps if you grab a bite at the Thirsty Turtle/ Rocky's you'll leave room for some ice cream. I promise you it's good stuff.

 Welcome to our hood, Hood Scoops! 

Best Wishes for your success as you help improve the little Mississippi town of Stoddard's Main Street. 

*Hood Scoops opens at noon through the fall.
 Sundays-Wednesdays until 8pm and until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

FOTO FRIDAY: DRESSING FOR THE FOURTH

FOTO  FRIDAY: Most folks have an outfit for the Fourth of July so it's only befitting that the tin soldier from the End of the Rainbow Valley gets decked out too. 



Look how I found him this afternoon readied for the holiday weekend.

                       Wishing All  a Happy Fourth of July!  

Do share pics of your outfit for the 4th... 
Here are the Friday Jazzercisers in their patriotic colors.

Great Grandma Marianne 
shared her little great grand-
daughter on the 4th. 


What a cute firecracker!

Kids aren't the only littles dressed up either in a household some folks also bedeck their pets.

Cousin Debbie makes sure both her dog, Daisy Dooddles, and cat, Mikey Musketeer are patriotic in their 
red, white and blue.











Last FOTO FRIDAY was :NEW HAIRDO.

A LOT OF PLEIN AIR ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI

En route to the Twin Cities we avoided the highway and took the scenic route up on the Minnesota side stopping in Red Wing, MN, picnicking by the train station's waterside park. Luckily we happened upon the Red Wing Arts Association Gallery in the  Depot. 

30 Wisconsin and Minnesota regional artists had held their wine reception the previous evening after finishing their juried Plein Air challenge (June 20-25)  to paint the town and Mississippi towns and scenery nearby.

Daily painting was held in a different locale and the public was invited to watch. 
Monday: the Harbor Bar and Eisenhower Bridge
Tuesday:In honor of the Solstice painting the sunset at Memorial Park at Sorin's Bluff
Wednesday: artists set up at the Concert in the Park
Thursday: artists were located in Wisconsin between Prescott and  Pepin painting scenery also Viroqua, WI artist Kathy Wheeler, the exhibit's judge, gave a demo in Red Wing.

Duane Bonhart's work top L received judge's recognition

Then, Friday by noon each participating artist submitted 3 of their week's paintings (out of a possible 6 to 10) 



Saturday there also  was a 2 hour  'Quick Paint' down at the Levee. 
We fortuitously walked in on Tuesday in time for the public vote. The votes were being counted as we perused the week's work.

Since the skies have been super phenomenal this past week I choose to limit my decision making to a piece with a stunning sky. In my mind, it was between the two paintings below. 

Stockholm painting by Doug Berg

Surrounding countryside  by Ivan Zassavitski

Which would you have chosen? 

The Plein Air exhibit will continue through August 28th and all the work is for sale. Treat yourself. The Gallery also has a small but terrific gift shop. It's a win win and you get to support local artists.