Mary Louise Eklund

Tag: weekend

  • Don’t Mind My Dust

    Don’t Mind My Dust

    plumbing behind my bedroom wall
    Not what it really looks like behind the scenes but what it does in my imagination.

    Today I am home alone. Unusual for a Saturday but I don’t mind. After Lesson 4 in my class I’ve got ideas buzzing about in my head for spiffing up the place around here. Today I’m trying out things. Don’t worry if you come here and things are changing drastically from one page to the next. I’m tinkering with stuff behind the scenes and then look at it up front. IF you see something you really like give a shout out – “HEY! I really liked – That slide show of posts” the same for the reverse “The slide show made me dizzy don’t like that.”

    Any way things will settle down after today until next lesson. I think then the tweaks will be smaller that today’s total revamping.

    Oh check out the menu bar up top there – yes it has drop down choices from the primary choices then fly outs from the secondary to tertiary choices. I worked on that yesterday and felt very proud of myself I might add. VERY PROUD. **nods satisfactorily**

    So pardon the mess but know improvements are coming!

  • We Went To the County Fair, All The Animals Were There

    We Went To the County Fair, All The Animals Were There

    Kenosha, Wisconsin
    My view of the road with the top down

    Saturday was a beautiful clear day. The weather was pleasant and we planned to head out to the country fair. We’ve lived in Kenosha eight years now. We have never gone to the county fair. Where I grew up south of the Mason Dixon fairs were fall things to attend say in September or early October. Here they are things to do in August. To many times they just passed us by because we never thought of it until it was too late.

    On this glorious day we put the top down on Mike’s Mustang and headed out from the lake toward the west end of the county. We’re not too familiar with this area of the county tending to be lake people you see. We spent some time driving about in the general area of the fair feeling our way there. Luckily we did find it. Despite our theorizing they kept packing it up and moving it when we got close.

    There was one downside. I didn’t get to take my trusty Nikon with me. I’d forgotten to charge the batter D’oh! So I took my small Olympus which I hadn’t used in so long I didn’t notice the white balance was set off for a sunny day. Also the Olympus only has the damn LED screen that’s useless in the bright sun. Yet another reason I shall prefer an SLR or at least require a viewfinder. So excuse some of the pictures harsh contrasts. The Nikon is charged now. I’ve reset the Olympus after re-familiarizing myself with the setting. Oh and I’m eyeballing one of these Agfaphoto cameras. I’m thinking Christmas list for this red baby right here.

    It was pretty much like the Greene County fairs I grew up attending. The only difference was the fields were flat and we were glad to have a cool day instead of hoping for a warm one. We paid our fee and set about taking in the sights from displays, to livestock, to demonstrations, to contest winners, to concerts and finally the midway. It was classic Americana of a county fair.

    Kenosha County Fair, Wisconsin
    Our local newspaper’s mascot

    Back to a great day at the fair, I made many pictures. I’ve broken them up into two posts. This one is centered on my favorite part – the animals. The next post will the other stuff. Come and enjoy the sights with me. (There’s more on Flickr just click on any photo to hop over there and surf until you’re content.)

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  • Milwaukee Lake Shore Parks Watch the Skies

    Milwaukee Lake Shore Parks Watch the Skies

    Three planes make smoke loop in sky

    On Sunday Mike and I went to the Milwaukee Air Show. It’s held out over Lake Michigan. It’s free you just have to stake a seat in one of the many beaches or parks along the lake shore in Milwaukee. We chose to pay for parking it was convenient and the money went to the parks that were hosting the event. We chose to sit near the marina and watch the planes over the masts of the sailboats.

    It started at 10am. However we didn’t wake until 9am, having an aversion to setting alarms on the weekends. We had flopped into bed pleasantly exhausted from the picnic, zoo viewing, and car shopping (still haven’t bought). Needless to say we didn’t hop in the car straight from bed to race the hour to Milwaukee. Instead we got ready quickly and got up there after it started. When we spotted the loop in the air there we knew we were getting close.

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    On the drive in we passed the skyline and the Art museum. I started spotting planes and enjoy the parks. I’d not been down to the parks on the lake shore they were beautiful on the way in and out. I can see why they are gold medal winners. If you visit Milwaukee in Spring or Fall (too hot in Summer and OOH SNOW ick in Winter) take drive down and visit the parks. Maybe enjoy a stroll there after taking in the Art Museum!

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    We saw the water walker. It’s an apparatus where you have jets of water pumped down and they lift you up. There’s photos of it after the jump and a few more on my Flickr. Mike had read about it in the Sunday paper. You can rent it by the hour. Interesting to watch that’s for sure not sure I’d want to do it. It looks hard to keep balance to me. Then again I’m not known for coordination, that’s why they didn’t name me Grace.

    It was a great day on lake enjoying beautiful weather, watching planes, and relaxing. Enjoy the photos of the day, you can click on one and be taken to my Flickr account where there are more for the browsing.

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  • Lunch With The Animals

    Lunch With The Animals

    Racine Zoological Gardens, Racine, Wisconsin

    Saturday Mike’s employer (he’s a reservist) had their annual company picnic at the Racine zoo. It was a lovely day for it. Clear, sunny, not too hot, great weather for a picnic. The zoo sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan so we added the lake breezes as a bonus.

    Racine Zoological Gardens, Racine, Wisconsin

    The great thing about this picnic is we didn’t have to haul food and tend it. We just showed up and were treated to a great meal and then walked it off looking at the sights and animals of the zoo. Join me for a photo tour. If you want more click an image to be taken to my Flickr account and you surf images there until your heart is content.

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  • Kenosha History Center

    Kenosha History Center

    Kenosha History Center, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    Saturday when I had the pleasure of the Pike River Rendezvous and the tour of the Kenosha Light Station I went around the corner to the Kenosha History Center. It’s a wonderful small museum dedicated to the history of the Kenosha, earlier called Southport, community.

    The Center has a collection of things related to life in Kenosha. There’s everything from cars once made here to toys played with by children growing up here. I too had a Mrs. Beasley doll like the one one display. I enjoyed my stroll through the museum as one of a few people that had found this gem.

    Kenosha History Center, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    I was surprised more people weren’t stopping by the Center. First off, it’s free – they ask for a small donations if you are able but if not that’s fine. It was air conditions and on a hot day it was nice to come in and cool off. It had indoor plumbing bathrooms which beat the port-a-pottys at the Rendezvous all to pieces. (I will only use a portlet in case of emergency.) It was just a block from the Rendezvous and half a block from the Light Station. But the final reason was it was very interesting to see how the community developed from the time period of the Rendezvous to today.

    I made pictures as I do when I go places. I do apologize for the warm coloring of some but it’s the type of lighting used in the museum to preserve the artifacts combined with the no flash photography rule. I’m always appreciative of museums that allow photos and understand why flash photography is out. Don’t want to fade the color of the objects. Textiles are especially vulnerable to that. That also accounts for the grain in the photos due to the higher the ISO. (The more light sensitive the higher the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more noise to picture ratio on single pixels. Eh, what I refer to as grain which is a throw back to silver grains in the higher ASA films back in the day when I did my own darkroom work.)

    Sit back and enjoy a tour of a few things that caught my eye.

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  • Restoring the Keeper of the Light

    Restoring the Keeper of the Light

    Kenosha Light Station, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin
    Kenosha Light Station, National Register of Historic Places #90000995

    Saturday when I attended the Pike River Rendezvous the Kenosha History Center was having a fund raiser for the restoration of the Simmons Island lighthouse. I made a donation and toured the  keeper’s house as well as a bit of the lighthouse. The house is completely restored downstairs. Upstairs is in process with one room is complete.

    I didn’t go all the way up in the lighthouse. The deck up there was closed so there’s not much to see at the top. It was extremely hot so I just went up part way and enjoyed the wonderful wrought iron stairs in there. Why don’t we make every day things beautiful any more? Like stairs and warehouses?

    The lighthouse and the keeper’s house were built by the federal government in 1866. It is 74 feet above lake level. The light only operated for 40 years but light keepers lived in the house until the 1940s. There are other harbor lights they tended and posted weather warning flags on this lighthouse. It is being currently being renovated. It’s funded by donations and grants. It was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1990.

    Kenosha Light Station, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    Enjoy the tour after the jump. Until next time!

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  • Pike River Rendezvous

    Pike River Rendezvous

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Yesterday I went to Simmons Island here in Kenosha.  I went to the Pike River Rendezvous.  It is a historic reenactment of life in the late 1700s and early 1800s in this area.  It is open and free to the public.  The reenactors like to share their stories, history, goods, and services.  There was a battle with pirates on the shores of Lake Michigan.

    I’d like to thank all the participants that were nice enough to allow me to photograph them and their things.  So many were gracious to allow it and look forward to seeing themselves there.  If you stop by please say hi.  I’m sorry but I lost my notes on who is who.  I would so like to give you credit for being such a gracious host/hostess.

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Oh one nice thing for me is I got to drive the Mustang.  Mike had taken the car to the airport to go on his long weekend of active duty.  Aaron had taken the truck to go to work so I got to take the lady out for a drive.  I didn’t put the top down because there was a prediction of storms rolling in about 11am or so. Don’t worry honey I was careful and even parallel parked her just fine.

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

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  • 1 If By Land, 2 If By Sea, 3 If By Air?

    1 If By Land, 2 If By Sea, 3 If By Air?

    A few weekends ago, just before or after the garden tour, Mike and I went to the Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.  It’s a car and plane show.  Yes, Kenosha has a small airport.  We even took along Mike’s Mistress and she had her top down. He enjoyed looking at engines and mechanical things. I loved getting pictures of shapes, colors and textures. So we both were very happy. Which I guess is why we’re a good couple for over 25 years, we can find something in the other’s interest that intrigues us.

    Oh if you look at how brown the grass is you get an idea of what the drought is doing to us here in Wisconsin. We’ve gotten some rain since then but not nearly enough.

    Any way, here’s a picture post of the day – Enjoy.

    Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.

    Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.

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  • Tour The Secret Gardens of Kenosha

    Tour The Secret Gardens of Kenosha

    A few weeks ago Mike and I took the Secret Gardens tour of Kenosha. Mike enjoyed gardening ideas. I enjoyed the photo opportunities. Despite the drought the gardens were lovely.  I’m sure the owners put in a lot of hard work and watering expense to make them ready for the event. Sit back and enjoy this colorful photo post.

    Close up of bloom

    Orange petals tipped in yellow

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