Each Little World

Staying on message in Wisconsin 2

This house on Tokay Blvd. in Madison has kept me energized for months with their clever handmade signs.

Staying on message in Wisconsin

As we enter these last days before the election to attempt to recall Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, signs all over town repeat the message:

Apple scruffs — in bloom

Mark usually tackles the job of pruning our two old apple trees in late February or early March, when there is still snow on the ground but it's warm enough to spend an afternoon working outdoors. This year there wasn't the usual late winter kind of day to do that job, so it got done as the garden was actually springing to life. 

Over the years we've made a habit of saving those apple tree prunings to use as an edging for garden paths. This year was no different and I put them in a number of locations as I cleaned up and mulched the beds in April.

For whatever reason — the warm winter, late pruning, unseasonably hot spring — a number of the apple hoops that I stuck in the ground have sent out new leaves. Just another sign of a year in which none of us know what kind of weather to expect next — or how it will affect the garden!

What's happening in Wisconsin

For the first time since protests against Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, began on Valentine's Day in 2011, the New York Times newspaper has written about the events here and got the story right. It is worth reading since it provides the backstory as well as current information. It is also worth reading for those of you who live elsewhere, because if everyday Wisconsinites can't beat the vast sums of corporate money that are being spent to influence this recall election, then democracy is doomed. And they will be coming for you next. Read the full NYT story — "How Did Wisconsin Become the Most Politically Divisive Place in America?" — here.

Illustration: Jens Mortensen for The New York Times

"Once more ....

... this is what democracy looks like." That's what a voter said to me this morning as I exited Toki Middle School after voting and she entered. There was a steady flow of people at our local polling place just before 9 a.m., a good sign, and the next step in this gubernatorial recall process that has been going on for the past 16 months.

And yes, there are six fake Democratic candidates on the ballot, including Governor and Lt. Gov. But we won't be fooled by these GOP ploys. Here's information about where to vote etc. and also recall election info from the Government Accountability Board. Today's Breakfast Links on Dane 101 offer a number of recall stories and candidate interviews. Tom Hayden and John Nichols each offer their views on the broader implications of events in Wisconsin.

The countdown has begun: Twenty-seven days til we recall Walker. 

Rumi O'Brien in Spring Green

Textile artist Rumi O'Brien is exhibiting (and selling) some of her exquisite quilts as well as a large selection of framed and unframed watercolors at the Jura Silverman Gallery in Spring Green. There is an opening reception for Rumi this afternoon (Sunday May 6) from 2 to 5 p.m. The quilts include both abstract geometric designs and Rumi's signature personal story quilts, like the one illustrated below, called "Digging." (This quilt is darker and much more subtle in color than this image suggests). 

The watercolors — which I had never seen before — cover a wide range of subjects treated with both humor and sensitivity. Rumi suffered a stroke in 2010 and this is her first show in many years. While the quilts are older work, the watercolors include recent paintings. For anyone who loves her work and has missed seeing it, it is well worth the drive. My sister-in-law and I went out yesterday to be able to enjoy Rumi's without a crowd getting in the way. And we'll be going back to pick up our own personal Rumi splurges after the reception.

Keep your eyes on the prize

Know the only thing we did right

was the day we started to fight

Keep your eyes on the prize

Hold on, hold on.

The only chain that we can stand

is the chain of hand in hand

Keep your eyes on the prize

Hold on, hold on.

I just got home from celebrating the 350th sing along of Wisconsin's Solidarity Singers at the Majestic Theatre in Madison. It was a a night of music, dancing, shouting (er, singing) and solidarity. This spring the Solidarity Sing Along  received the William Gorham Rice Civil Libertarian of the Year Award “for the expression of the First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of assembly” from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin. The ability to combine fun with action is one of the hallmarks of the Wisconsin Uprising and one of the reasons events have been so peaceful. And no one does it better than the Solidarity Singers.

Technically we were celebrating the release of the Solidarity Sing Along CD —“This Is What Democracy Sounds Like” — but they haven't arrived. So we sang along with musical guide R. Chris Reeder (below in blue shirt on the stage last night), The Learning Curve Band and lots of other musicians whose music and lyrics have become part of the Wisconsin Uprising! I am hoarse from participating in unforgettable 70s punk/gospel versions of "People Get Ready" and "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" led by the VO5 Band all dressed in gold, glitter, wigs and whatnot and lots of Badger Red. A consumate Wisconsin moment.

The evening brought home to me once again how life in Wisconsin has changed. Here it is Thursday night and I'm downtown with a politcal/gardening friend. We're hanging out in a historic Madison theater-turned-music club actually paying money to sing along with a crowd of unknown-to-us fellow citizens. For two hours we joined in on dozens of labor songs and classic tunes that have been re-fashioned to comment on our state's current crisis in democracy. The joint was packed and still jumpin' when my friend Cindy and I left, our voices and ears barely intact. (You can watch livestreaming of the event here).

Further east, another historic Madison theater was hosting a film that is deeply relevant to what's happening in our state and probably yours. The film — "Koch Brothers Exposed" — will be repeated Friday night, along with great local speakers. I am buying a copy of the Koch Brothers DVD and plan to have a house party where friends can gather to watch the movie (and drink Wisconsin craft beer) and have our own discussion. And then I can pass the DVD around to other friends so they can have their own Koch parties. 

This Saturday, April 28, the local version of the protest against the GOP war on women takes place from 1-3 p.m. on the South Hamilton side of the Capitol. (You can find details here). In Wisconsin, this is really just one more step in the process to recall Gov. Scott Walker, and just one more reason that Walker has to go.

Thursday night, Saturday afternoon. Whatever the day, whatever the time, whatever the weather, life in Wisconsin continues as it has for the past 14 months: Protesting, politicking, learning, going to the movies, singing, celebrating — all the while keeping our eyes on the prize. 

 

Cold jitters

In a normal Spring, I wouldn't worry about overnight low temperatures dropping into the 20s. Things in the garden would just be beginning to push up in the first week of April, so nothing would be in danger from sudden frosts. But with this year's unseasonably warm temperatures all through March, the garden is way ahead of schedule. The martagon lilies are up a foot; my rockii peony is about to bloom for the first time this year; the woodland peonies are in full bud and starting to open; and the clematis has a record number of buds.

So the last two nights I've gone into the garden to try to protect what I can — which is not really that much. I've used old plastic plant pots and big 5-gallon plastic buckets to cover the lilies and the smaller peonies. I covered the big clumps of lilies and big peonies with old sheets draped over wire cages and bamboo stakes. Then I held the coverings in place with clothes' pins or bricks so things wouldn't blow around in the breeze.

The temperature was 28 degrees F. (-2.22C) when I got up at 7 a.m. this morning. When it rose to 34, I went out and removed my protective coverings. But I left them nearby to use again next week when it looks like the weather pattern will continue. I will hate to lose any plants but at least I am not a farmer or orchardist whose livlihood will take a hit from these low temps. We've already had a truncated maple syrup season from the hot weather; now farmers and gardenrs must contend with the cold.  

Image No. 1: Peony Coral Sunset under a bucket; No. 2: Clumps of martagon lilies in the driveway  border; Nos. 3 & 4: Covering a huge clump of martagons with a sheet draped over bamboo stakes; in the foreground a smaller clump of liles has been caged and covered with a sheet.

Prairie burn

We have a number of country friends who are each restoring prairies on their land. In the spring, they often send out a call for assistance to help with the burning of the prairie to control weeds and invasives. Here are a few photos of a burn that Mark assisted with at the end of last week out near Mineral Point.

Solidarity Saturday

ONE YEAR LONGER, ONE MILLION STRONGER: For those of you living elsewhere, just a couple of photos to let you know the good fight is still being fought here in Wisconsin. On Saturday, about 65,000 people gathered at the Capitol to celebrate the one year anniversay of the return of the Wisconsin 14 and recent political events in general. We were not at this rally, so I am posting a couple of photos by Leslie Amsterdam from the rally and march.

RECALL DATES: At this point it appears that the recall elections of the Governor, Lt. Gov. and all four targeteded GOP Senators will go forward. Tentative date for the Democratic primary is May 15 and June 12 for the general election.

MEET JOHN DOE: I should also mention that our dear Gov has started a defense fund, something that a state official may ONLY do when he is under investigation. Walker is part of a John Doe investigation that actually began just about the time he was being elected governor in 2010.