a foggy sunday morning...

 

we have had days of warm weather (in the 40s) and fog. So we headed out Sunday morning to take a few pictures.

winter, hopefully the second half

 

I really, really hope that Winter is half over. By the calendar it should be, but this year who knows. Sunday we had a rare sort of warmish day and decided to take a walk on the lake. Never fear I would think by now the ice on the lake should be at least 2' deep.

From in our condo we can see this little forest out on the lake with little ant-like people walking around it. I've seen it other years but in a different place on the lake. It appears that someone gathers up old Christmas trees and creates a little forest you can walk around and through. I think of it as an art installation.

There is a little desk and you can take a strip of cloth and write a message and attach it to one of the trees. I think these stay until Spring. We always wonder if they just sink into the lake when it thaws. I guess this year we will find out If you want to wander on out I'd suggest accessing the lake from Morrison Park on Morrison St. on the near East side here in Madison. It is maybe half a mile from the shoreline there.

ice fishing

   

yes I went ice fishing. A first. Ryan and his buddy Chad and John fished about 100 yards off our shoreline. So I layered up and went out to see what this was all about.

I was shocked at how thick the ice was. Certainly shows that we are a long way from Spring.

Also surprised that the 4 of us could all fit in the ice shanty. And that we were nice and warm in there as it was a windy day. But then I was wearing so many clothes I could barely move.

I then came home and let the boys be boys with my long held belief confirmed that men go sit in these tents to drink beer and get away from their women. And that is a good thing.

At least this mystery is solved.

winter

 

If you are into that sort of thing. Winter is wearing me down. But February is half over and today it will be 40. So there is hope.

weird winter wisconsin weather

 

strange weather this week... ice storm, followed by 55 degrees today, snow tomorrow and then freezing temperatures. And in the time it took to take these pictures and post them all the whiteness is gone and it is completely clear out. The above photo was the view from my desk.

We have been having daily ice quakes which I have written about here and here. They are caused by extreme changes in temperature. We are wondering if the ice quakes are what causes the ice on the shoreline.

And here is a surprising photo. One of our neighbor's boulders is sitting on the ice. These are massive and too heavy for someone to have moved it there. I guess it is just Mother Nature at work.

ice & swans

swans and ducks... probably 100 of them just 100 feet from our living room. Spent the day watching our own NOVA show and listening to them squawk. The gathering spot seems to have been in front of our condo. Neighbors say that the white ones are Whistling Swans or Trumpeter Swans or Tundra Swans and apparently live near the Arctic Circle but migrate here. Cool.

it is starting to look a lot like Christmas

And this storm is maybe half over. Just got plowed out and they will be back again before the it is over. The city is pretty much shut down, no buses are running. I have chili in the crockpot.

This always amazes me. This is how the ice starts to form on the lake. It starts with chunks of floating ice.

It is a Winter Wonderland. Merry almost Christmas.

in like a lamb out like a lion

 

Quote really says If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. Who knows. What I do know is that the last big storm missed us and for that I am grateful. In my world the lake is starting to melt and for me that is a sign of Spring.