Each Little World

Mark's favorite peony

There is nothing Mark likes better than flowers that are past their prime. When he goes out into the garden to take pictures for the blog, I never know what to expect. Same thing when it comes to cut flowers in arrangements in the house. He's taken dozens of shots of this white peony from Seneca Hill Perennials as it fades and the petals becomes more and more elongated and transparent. Since this is a young plant, I brought the second bloom indoors to enjoy as I didn't want the peony to use any energy setting seed. He won't let me toss the arrangment as there's lots more life to it from his photographic point of view!

Snowdrop stats

The first appearance of snowdrops in the garden is typically one of the harbingers of Spring. In the past we've always used the arrival of our mallard ducks, Fred and Ethel, to note the changing season. They show up as soon as the pond ice melts — which should be this week — but we've had snowdrops since February 17th.

So it occurs to me that I should be recording the first snowdrop sighting as one of my phenological records, the same way I take note of the ducks. And since digital photos all have the date embedded, I realized I could instantly assemble a snowdrop history merely by looking at all my snowdrop images taken in the years since we bought our first digitial camera. 

And yes, this year the snowdrops popped up earlier than any year since we started snapping their pictures in 2005. You can see from the list below that there is a fluctuation of almost 7 weeks in the first appearance of the snowdrops; though interestingly the arrival dates for the ducks just barely span a month: March 6 (2000, 2004) to April 2 (2011). 

Snowdrop stats:

• 2005: March 30
• 2006: no photos, so no recorded date
• 2007: March 21
• 2008: April 6 (after the winter where we had more than 100 inches of snow)
• 2009: March 14
• 2010: March 10
• 2011: March 14
• 2012: February 17

Birds

HE SAID:

I've been trying out a couple of telephoto lenses lately. The other night I played around with some images in Adobe Lightroom to see if I could reduce them to their essential "birdness." (The 5th photo is a robin bathing in our pond.)

Memphis to Madison

"The greatness of America is the right to protest for rights." --M. L. King

Once more dear friends ....

Saturday dawned cold and cloudy with strong breezes blowing off the lakes. We dressed warmly, made a new Kloppenburg for Supreme Court sign, grabbed the camera and went to EVP for coffee and to gather a group to carpool to the Tractor Parade.

Once downtown, we drove around the Square before things got started and found a parking spot at the top of West Wash just as they were closing the last couple of blocks to traffic. It was so cold we hovered in the lee of the Wisconsin HIstorical Society Museum until just before the parade began.

As we took our places curbside we saw our friends Bill and Greta who have a small farm out near Mineral Point. Bill was able to identify the year and make of the tractors as they drove by.

It wasn't until later Saturday night when we saw snaps taken by other friends that we realized we somehow missed seeing about half of the tractors.
Still, the ones we did see were great and it was nice to be able to connect with all the farmers who need our support in their fight against agri-business and who have joined in this fight as well. 

We went home for an hour to sup on hot soup and add more layers of clothing. Our friend Cindy, who came along on both trips to the Capitol, brought us packages of "Hotties" to keep our hands warm.

On this second trip up to the Capitol, we actually found another parking spot on West Wash only a block further from the Square. We met friends down at the Overturn Center and marched up State Street with the artists brigade led by a big group of drummers.

We made it once — walking slowly — around the Square, and then we joined the thousands of folks on the Capitol lawn to welcome the Fab 14 home and to thank them for their courageous stand on behalf of all the people of Wisconsin. The sun was out, the mood was jubilant. As one of the signs said: Remember this day every time you vote. 

This week there is a warming trend and the garden will soon be revealed as the snow finally melts. This flow of political blog posts will diminish as we begin the long work of changing the political landscape. Thank you for sharing this historic moment with us and for all your emails and supportive comments. On Wisconsin!

Let my people go ... in

HE SAID:

Another interesting day at the Wisconsin State Capitol. As I was walking out the door Linda said that she had just read that a judge had issued an order requiring the Capitol to be opened to the public during business hours. My first thought was that maybe I had overdressed. No need to worry; I never got inside.

 When I arrived there was the usual rally with PA system and a line of people waiting to voice their opinions. I believe the brick layers brought the blow-up "Fat Cat."

 This little girl was enjoying a slice of Ian's pizza. The latest figures I saw said that Ian's had received orders from all 50 States and 60 foreign countries in support of the protestors.

 It was readily apparent that the doors of the Capitol, despite the court order, were not open.

 And the protesters were not happy about it.

 I had ditched my sign supporting Kloppenburg for the Supreme Court in a bush while I took pictures, but when I came back it was gone. It didn't take me long to find it - in the hands of this enthusiastic gentleman. He thought it shouldn't go to waste.

  

 I then circled around until I found a spot next to the police line protecting the entrance. Because I still technically work for the University Police Department and looked like I knew what I was doing with a camera they didn't ask me to move off the steps. It was a perfect location to observe and document the action.

 The reactions of people who tried to gain entry to the Capitol were varied and fascinating to see. This man, in spite of his best efforts, did not get in.

 He was told, like so many others, that he would have to stand in line. Then when someone left the building others from the head of the line would be let in. I saw this happen for maybe a dozen people in three hours.

 This Madison street worker did not get in.

 Nor did this intense young couple.

 "Flat Stanley" was also denied entrance, although his companion took it in good humor.

 Another way to get in was to contact one's Representative, as this man appeared to be trying to do. Representatives were given a limited number of badges for visitors - 8 or 9 - that they could give out. The Representative or an aid had to come down to the door and escort the visitor in.

 This woman was explaining to the officers that she had a tag and that the dog she had in her bag was a "service animal."

 Much to my amazement she got in - with the dog!

 This woman, who did not get in, seemed not to understand how the police could ignore a judge's order. She was not alone.

This man was very patient and polite and was eventually escorted in.

 The ever delightful singer/song writer Lou Berryman also got a pass from her Representative.

 This group, who had passes, were only allowed in after a great deal of discussion.

 And this little girl should have gotten in on "cute" alone, but didn't.

 Just before the Governor began to present his budget most of the crew at that entrance surged half way around the building to the State Street entrance in hopes of being heard by Walker and his audience. It was not looking like a great day for Wisconsin or "Forward."

 The crowd did their enthusiastic best to drown out Gov. Walker's speech.

While across the intersection five City of Madison police continued to protect the city from the protesters.

One day longer, one day stronger

WE SAID:

I received a comment on our recent posts from a reader of this blog who said she turns to the the blog "for enjoyment and to get away from the conflict and stress bombarding me daily from television and radio these days. Please get back to home and garden topics."

I am sure a number of you feel the same way. The problem is that conflict and stress have become our daily life here in Wisconsin. I spoke to members of a local garden club at their annual luncheon at Black Hawk Country Club this week; but all the conversation, before I began my presentation, was about events at the Capitol. It is impossible to ignore and impossible not to take a stand.

As a former newspaper editorial writer and editorial page editor, I could not witness this historic moment without commenting. Mark and I both feel that it is our duty as citizens on the scene to present to you our unfiltered experience so you can truly see what is happening here including what we saw when we again took part in the protests at the Capitol yesterday. 

The Wisconsin Assembly passed Gov. Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill after debate had gone on for 60 hours and 15 Democrats were still waiting to speak when the vote started around 1 a.m. Friday. According to an AP report, Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, opened the roll and closed it within seconds. Only 13 of the 38 Democratic members even managed to vote in time. The GOP majority, of course, did not need the Dem's votes to pass the bill in the Assembly but it is another example of the way this group works.

Meanwhile our fourteen Democratic State Senators continue the fight from Illinois. Though Walker and the GOP keep telling them to come back and get to work, we think they are working where they are and doing what they're doing. The Fab 14 gained us enough time to shine a light on this bill and to reveal all the hidden agendas buried within it from loss of federal transportation funds to cut backs in Badger Care and Senior Care, to plans to sell off (without public debate or open bids) the state's power plants to taking away collective bargaining rights of public employees.

Here in Madison, the Capitol has turned into a mini city with its citizens given aid and information on any subject that might arise if you are spending days and nights in the building. It is these little things that are so touching — and give the lie to any talk of thugs or chaos on the scene that some commentators seem bent on perpetrating. These are the things that get missed by the large news organizations who are so enamored of the clever sound bite.

As artists and painters will tell you, blue tape is low tack and will not harm surfaces.

The young people especially are keeping the building clean, safe, and looking after people's health.

This is one of the walls covered with print-outs of e-mailed messages of support sent to the protesters via moveon.org. The Republicans have also passed a small law this week that makes it "legal" for them to lock people out of the Capitol during night hours. No doubt these walls would be cleared if that took place. Authorities have already begun to cordon off more areas of the building and the numbers of visible police officers has increased noticeably. Standing in one spot Mark counted 25 officers standing at posts — with no suggestion of any threat at all from the crowd.

The folks at Ian's Pizza on State St. continue to deliver pizzas to the crowd courtesy of supporters around the country and the world. They have temporarily stopped taking local orders but were handing out free slices in the store no matter which side you support. 

The crowd yesterday afternoon was smaller but still vocal. Not really surprising as it was a work day for everyone and there were also concurrent protests at the Koch Brothers offices in Madison. Other folks are planning on attending evening events, like Amy Goodman's appearance at the Orpheum. For the first time, we saw airline pilots carrying placards as well as a member of the Screen Actors Guild. 

We saw friends, as well current and former co-workers. And we even came upon an impromptu performance of local musician Ken Lonnquist's great new song, "Fourteen Senators."   

And yes, we even saw some of those "outside agitators" we'd heard about. I talked to a woman (standing next to me in the line for the rest room) who was here as part of a contingent of supporters from LA. A group of about 140 Angelinos (from 60 different unions) chartered a plane and were here from Wednesday morning until 10 p.m. Thursday night.

This drummer came from Illinois while teamsters from the Upper Midwest... 

joined members of Joint Council No. 39 from Wisconsin. 

But the majority of protesters — and those supporting them — are still Wisconsin residents. Lindsey Lee, who owns these coffee shops bought our Spaight St. house when we moved to the west side. A typical instance of the small world character of Madison, and indeed Wisconsin. 

We even saw the owner, and sometimes barista, of the EVP coffeeshop where we hang out.

We leave you today with two great men from Illinois and Wisconsin; Republicans of reason and vision whose party has deserted them.

Now, 100 years after the great Fighting Bob La Follette took on the rapacious robber barons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we are sending a message to Scott Walker and today's Republican party. Out of Wisconsin will come political reform, will come political change, will come principle before profit. This was La Follette's fight and it is not over.

Madison protest update: 2.20.2011

HE SAID:

As many of you know from reading this blog, I'm in the process of retiring after nearly 34 years of State service. During all of that time I have enjoyed the benefits of a Union, both as a member and as a part of management. I've always believed that the Union made working life better for everyone involved. It provided a negotiated rule book for work behavior and tools to resolve conflict. And it worked well!

Even though the changes that Gov. Walker has tried unsuccessfully to sneak through the legislature would not affect my retirement, I feel an obligation to do what I can to protect those rights for current workers and those to follow. That is why I keep going back to the Capitol Square to add my presence to the throng and to document and share what I witness.

Here are pictures from Saturday and today.

The rotunda has been occupied continuously since Tuesday, although there were rumors that the police might try to clear the building tonight.

I got really irritated yesterday when I heard some right wing pundit blame these demonstrations on the Democratic National Committee. Unlike so many other demonstrations that I've witnessed there are almost no mass-produced signs. Nearly every sign you see was made by hand with obvious personal sincerity.

The other thing that I hear that tics me off is the suggestion that this extended demonstration of civic displeasure is in any way unruly. In fact people have been eerily polite. The only hateful words I've heard have come from the mouths of Tea Party folks.

Yesterday, the crowd outside was the biggest I've seen since the 60's. The 3-lane-wide street was packed for its full 8 blocks. The thing to keep in mind is that this is not really an event driven protest. Although there may be scheduled speakers, people seem to come and go constantly. So, on a day like today with horrible weather there might me 3,000 people in the Capitol at a given time, but over the day the total who have come and gone might be 3 or 4 times that number.

I was told that this young guy comes by bus from Milwaukee every day. Here he is picking up any bit of trash that someone might drop as the crowd circles the square.

This was one of many variations on the HOPE/DOPE theme. All handmade.

I'm still treating this as a rumor, but people I've talked to swear they have it on reliable information that Walker did not leave Marquette University completely willingly. 

This accusation appears to have a lot of factual support. It seems that Gov. Walker IS part of that "vast Right Wing conspiracy" that we've heard about. Check out the Feb. 18 article in Mother Jones.

And no one can accuse us of not having a sense of humor!

This really is the bottom line. 

Signs of the times

Related post here.

Snow on snow

HE SAID:

While I had my coffee this morning at EVP it started snowing again. I stopped and took a couple of shots of Glenway Golf Course on my way home. Just when you think you've had enough of the white stuff it seduces once again with its simple purity.