Mitchell Middle School double rainbow, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — A double rainbow shines over Mitchell Middle School's west entrance and American flag following a summer rain shower.
Backyard garden beds, July 9, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Our backyard garden beds, nearing the halfway point of the growing season: Raised bed (based on a raised bed plan from Sunset magazine) with marigolds, English lavender, snapdragons, rosemary, parsley, and sage. Heirloom tomato beds with basil and...
Red Admiral butterfly, purple coneflower, Racine
Racine, Wisconsin — Dorsal view of a Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) as it feeds on a purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). We saw an abundance of Red Admirals here in early July.
President Barack Obama, Memorial Hall, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — President Barack Obama answers a question during his town hall meeting at Memorial Hall. (See also: My blog post and videos.)
Memorial Hall: President Barack Obama in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — An audience at Memorial Hall listens to President Barack Obama during his town hall meeting. (See also: My blog post and videos.)
Air Force One from Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Air Force One, as seen from Lake Ave. near 7th St. outside Memorial Hall, about 90 minutes before President Obama's town hall meeting there.
Monarch butterfly caterpillar eats Butterfly Weed
Racine, Wisconsin — A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar feeds on a Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) plant in our backyard flower bed.
John Deere tractor and Zoey, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Brighton, Wisconsin — Our great niece Zoey at the wheel of a John Deere tractor during the 2010 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast at Crane Dairy,
Antique Belle City threshing machine, Wisconsin
Brighton, Wisconsin — Long view of a 1915 Belle City threshing machine (see the video) displayed during the 2010 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast at Crane Dairy,
Belle City logo on antique threshing machine
Brighton, Wisconsin — 1915 Belle City threshing machine (see the story and video) displayed during the 2010 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast at Crane Dairy, This threshing machine, along with other farm equipment, was manufactured by the Belle City Manufacturing Company...
1915 Belle City threshing machine, Wisconsin
Brighton, Wisconsin — 1915 Belle City threshing machine (see the video) displayed during the 2010 Kenosha County Dairy Breakfast at Crane Dairy,
Red Admiral butterfly on Black Elderberry flowers
Racine, Wisconsin — A Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) rests on Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) flowers in our backyard.
Monarch butterfly caterpillar on Butterfly Weed
Racine, Wisconsin — A Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar feeds on buds of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) in our backyard flower bed.
Ian graduates 8th grade, St. Joseph, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Our nephew, Ian Thrasher, graduates from eighth grade at St. Joseph Interparish Junior High School, shaking hands with keynote speaker and St. Joe's alum Lisa Halverson. Our great nieces' grandpa, dean Doug Reindl, masters the ceremony from the...
Alfalfa mulch on garden beds, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — After reading about Ruth Stout in Jerry Minnich's Wisconsin Garden Guide, we have used alfalfa hay for garden mulch with good results. We buy it from a farm just across the interstate and, where necessary, run it through the lawn mower to make it...
Scarlet Tanager in our mulberry tree, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — This is the first Scarlet Tanager I have seen in the five years we have lived here. The mulberry tree has only recently flowered, so it's too early for fruit. The bird flitted from branch to branch for about five minutes, then flew off.
Cooper’s Hawk on backyard birdbath, Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — A young-looking Cooper's Hawk surveys our backyard from the centrally positioned birdbath, causing quite a stir among all the sparrows in hiding.
Forsythia in bloom after renewal pruning
Racine, Wisconsin — Our forsythia is finally blooming again — after just one year of a three-year renewal pruning plan.
Hot oven fries on a plate, with ketchup
Racine, Wisconsin — A plate of hot and delicious oven fries, on its way up to my home office in the spare bedroom
Best fish fry: Wegner’s St. Martins Inn, Franklin, Wisconsin
Franklin, Wisconsin — Our friend Mary Jean enjoys the Friday fish fry at Wegner's St. Martins Inn restaurant (11318 West St. Martins Rd,), where dinner includes beer-battered fried fish (haddock), coleslaw, and Miller's famous marbled rye bread. Wisconsin's fish fry...
Red Jewel Crabapple tree, iced
Racine, Wisconsin — A Red Jewel Crabapple tree (Malus x 'Red Jewel') covered with hoarfrost on a cold Wisconsin morning. This crabapple tree is one of a pair planted as part of the City of Racine's Street Tree Planting program. Butterflies on flowering crabapple tree...
Mitchell School, Racine: Hoarfrost and American flag
Racine, Wisconsin — Hoarfrost covers trees at Mitchell school on a cold January morning.
Bull Durham ghost sign: Belle Harbor Lofts, Racine
Racine, Wisconsin — Faded Bull Durham smoking tobacco wall ad on north side of Bell Harbor Lofts Apartments, 134 Main St. in downtown Racine.
Reefpoint Marina, Racine, Wisconsin: Fuel dock
Racine, Wisconsin — Fuel dock at SkipperBuds - Reefpoint Marina on Lake Michigan.
Trick-or-Treat: Halloween in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin — Savannah, Mason, and little Garrett pose on the sidewalk in their Halloween costumes while making their trick-or-treating rounds.
First Culver’s restaurant monument: Sauk City, Wisconsin
Sauk City, Wisconsin — Monument marking the location of the first Culver's restaurant at 716 Phillips Blvd. It reads: The George Culver family opened the original Culver's Frozen Custard Restaurant on this site July 18, 1984. The current restaurant opened April 27,...
Frogmore Stew recipe: Low Country shrimp boil
Our Frogmore Stew recipe. Frogmore Stew is a "Low Country boil" from the area of Beaufort, South Carolina featuring shrimp, corn, smoked sausage (kielbasa), potatoes, onions, and Old Bay seasoning. We use andouille sausage and Yukon Gold potatoes — not exactly the...
Chicken kebabs on the grill
Racine, Wisconsin — Grilling chicken kebabs for dinner in our backyard on our Weber One-Touch Silver Kettle Grill. Besides chicken, the skewers are loaded with red onion, tomatoes, green pepper, and mushrooms.
Collector’s Edge Comics, Bay View, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Collector’s Edge Comics, at 2330 S Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood, boasts the largest selection of comics and graphic novels in Wisconsin. They buy, they sell, and this Bay View comic book shop is one of four locations.
Hi-Fi Cafe restaurant, Bay View, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — The Hi-Fi Cafe at 2640 S Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. This perky neighborhood joint's MySpace motto is "Great Coffee — Great Food — Great Jukebox," and both the eclectic music on their vintage jukebox and their coffee...
Magic Dann’s restaurant, Bay View, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Magic Dann's jazz-and-blues themed restaurant at 2691 S Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.
Alchemist Theatre, Bay View, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — The Alchemist Theater and Lounge, at 2569 S Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. The Alchemist's show schedule includes several sketch and improv comedy offerings.
Lonefeather Trading Post, Bay View, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — According to the "Q10" column at the Bay View Compass, you can buy "walking sticks, canes, tomahawks, war clubs, bows and arrows, prayer sticks, turquoise jewelry, medicine wheels, dreamcatchers, wild rice mandalas, ceremonial pipes, chain-sawed...
100,000 Parts Company, Bay View, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — 100,000 Parts Company, at 2373 S Kinnickinnic Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. The window signs advertise appliance parts: Commercial cooking gas valves, pilots, thermostats, and controls; WCI, Gibson, Tappan, Frigidaire, Westinghouse,...
Sugar Maple bar, Bay View, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — The Sugar Maple bar, at 441 E. Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood, features 60 American craft beers on tap. Read more about the Sugar Maple at OnMilwaukee.com, or follow thesugarmaple on Twitter.
Wild Flour Bakery & Cafe, Bay View, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — The Wild Flour Bakery and Cafe at 422 E Lincoln Ave. in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood. Wild Flour Bakery & Cafe sells artisan breads, muffins, barrista coffees, and sandwiches, and they also do catering.
Baseball game: Sheridan Park, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Cudahy, Wisconsin — Sheridan Park baseball diamond at the corner of S Lake Dr. and E. Armour Ave., kitty-corner from Rick Serocki's house with the Cadillac buried in the front yard. Seen here on the field are the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves, who play their...
Cadillac Fleetwood car buried in Cudahy, Wisconsin yard
Cudahy, Wisconsin — 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood partially buried in the Cudahy, Wisconsin front yard of Rick Serocki, at 4531 S Lake Dr.
Mannequin on motorcycle, Cudahy, Wisconsin backyard
Cudahy, Wisconsin — A mannequin rides a motorcycle — reportedly the first piece of what has become a large and unusual display in the Cudahy back yard of Rick Serocki at 4531 S Lake Dr.
Hamburglar, Captain Crook: Cudahy, Wisconsin backyard
Cudahy, Wisconsin — A Hamburglar statue and Captain Crook from McDonaldland, plus a large shark and a Milwaukee Harp street light are a few of the unusual objects displayed in the Cudahy back yard of Rick Serocki at 4531 S Lake Dr.
