Happy Groundhog Day!

February 2nd is the day the fabled Groundhog prophecies from the sight of its shadow if northern Wisconsin gets 6 more weeks of winter or if it cant see its shadow spring is 6 weeks away, no matter what is seen we will have 6 more weeks of winter.

No winter lasts forever, no spring skips its turn, despite the forecast, let's live like its spring!

"Earth laughs in flowers." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, lets laugh are way to spring

I checked my horoscope for the spring, and this is what it said -

"Sag - twisty roads good news job offers grim reels breaks wild. Horizons chase laughs glue love shotgun impulse tight. Purple roams free vibes lucky pure."

Did I receive predictions of my future from a Yoda-ish Groundhog sending out a Haiku of the collective horoscope for the universe?

If you have thoughts on this, I would appreciate your feedback

Or we can just laugh our way spring.

Brutally beautiful

(All temperature's used in this blog post will be in Fahrenheit)

In the days leading up to this blog post warning's circulated on radio, television and the internet of extreme cold or brutally cold weather and deadly wind chills on their way.

This morning, I dragged myself out from under the warmth of my down comforter to discover "they" were right - my thermometer read negative twenty-eight degrees.

Is this what Shakespeare meant when he said - "Now is the winter of our discontent"?

I looked out the window and the frosty splendor was absolutely breathtaking.

I made coffee and am now back under the warmth of the down comforter reflecting on hike I took a few days ago when it was a balmy two degrees.

The color of the sky was cold blue

the scenery was breath taking, literally and scenically

The moving water of the stream kept it from freezing

Undeterred by the cold, the ducks went about their business as if it were just another day

I stood on the pier and enjoyed the icy elegance

Is beauty born from suffering or do you just get used to it?

Only negative sixteen the high temperature for the day as I upload this post.

knew year knew you

The year fades only to be reborn with the next sunrise

and we head off down the path of the unknown

The universe is always sending us signs so we can find direction in our everyday surroundings

As we beat our wings but go nowhere

And reflect on the fleeting moments of our lives

While the chill of time mixes with light and shadow

Hope's flame endures the winter of the years and time goes on.

Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season!

Snow laden trees stand like silent robed monks of winter praying at the edge of the creek

Winter's artistry whispered across the forest

The creek could not stand still or it would freeze

Old man winter reached out with Icey fingers on the creek’s reflections

Jack Frost's chilly breath left a delicate, frosted lace on every surface

Witnessing and documenting that interplay of ice and reflection made me feel incredibly lucky and grateful to share with all who view and enjoy this blog.

Glad tidings of comfort and joy from jimsgibberish

Snow time like the present

Bone chilling winds have chased the first snows of the season into Wisconsin blanketing all it touches in a coating of white while the sun hides behind the clouds and water turns to ice

The roads I travel lead to Currier & Ives idyllic destinations

Where time is frozen and its snow time like the present

Day of the Turkey

As we trot into Thanksgiving, we in northern Wisconsin only experience a brief 9-hour window of sunshine that is if the sun comes out from behind the clouds but when it does it can brighten your outlook

It is a universal experience even the deer feel it

Sometime in the night old man winter came a knocking - I won’t open that door now and will save that for the next blog

And let the past be the past

While reflecting on the perfection of imperfection ang giving thanks for what is now.

Falling behind

We are entering the season of diminishing daylight and what remains of the colors of autumn the wind blows through my yard, but I still have photos of its grandeur to share with you

The final autumn leaves drift on the water's surface

The last crop of hay is bailed and waits to be picked up

I still venture out to see what there is to see

And reflect upon the future

And be grateful for the opportunity to show my work through classes at the local college.

Sirens song

The last of the fall colors are beginning to pale but the light still dances on the water

And cranberry harvesting in northern Wisconsin is ending

So, it’s off to the pizza farm before its season also ends were even the shadows wait patiently to order their wood fired pizza

Your order is placed into one of the 3 wood fired outdoor brick ovens

Cooking time is only minutes

and it can be enjoyed with a delightful, fermented beverage

Everyone enjoys even the shadows

While kids still jump into hay piles

The world is bathed in beauty by the sun's rays

Nomadic dancers take flight to a Primeval pulse

And I am not the only one captivated by the siren song of the gypsy dancers

To polka or not to polka - that is the question.

The 2/4 meter of a polka fills the air and the soul with fun, add in a small-town Octoberfest with food, games, beer and Pomeranian dancers and for a moment in time the inconvenience of the world withdraws.

The smiles on the faces of the dancers tell the story of letting go and moving with the beat

Even those that join in can feel the energy of the moment

Be young, set free your inner child and just enjoy

Let yourself off your self-imposed leash

Step Lively to the rhythm

Just don't make a pig of yourself

Summer's last hurrah

Daylight and the sky are becoming more autumnal, but the warmth of summer remains.

End of summer flowers are in bloom signaling a change of season is on its way

The bee's and pollinators know it

The hummingbirds are loading up for their long journey south

With lake water temperatures in the 60's the late summer aquatic plants like pipewort know its time to bloom and we should take time to notice and enjoy the change of season.

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION! part 2

When last you tuned in to part 1 of SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION your masked (and snorkeled) aquatic crusader (that's me)was photo'ing at the mouth of the Cascade river on Lake Superior.

The fog was lifting I had launched myself into the 61 degree water and begone my adventure.

I found myself snorkeling in a phantasmagorical world of reflections and refractions of light and form.

I snorkeled through the 1.1-billion-year-old lava beds battered by glaciers and time called the Canadian shield, or was I in a land of mythical creatures frozen in time waiting to return?

Lines of iron-stained quartz or jasper I followed like roads on a map

to legendary realms

Spending two and a half hours in 61-degree water not only chilled my body but my brain - was I seeing floating boulder's?

It was time to get out and warm up on some dark rock like a lizard and appreciate the experience I was having.

Save the date

Save the date

Subsurface exploration - part 1

8:30am and the morning fog was beginning to burn off as I made the final adjustments to my snorkeling gear and camera while I readied my mind and body to enter the 61 degree water of lake Superior.

Mid August and the seemingly never ending daylight hours of the summer solstice were behind me and the trepidation that fall and winter were approaching rapidly reminded me that Lake Superior was not going to get any warmer this year.

I was in the arrowhead of Minnesota as I calmly emersed myself into the greatest of great lakes near the mouth of the Cascade River, my heart raced not only from the cold but the amazing views.

Timeworn bedrock, boulders and rocks surrounded me.

In the 3 quadrillion gallons of water that is Lake Superior I find hiding under a rock a Sculpin that is no bigger than an inch and a half. (bottom center)

Further along a musky swim’s past me on its way to ...?

Veins of quartz stained by iron flash before me like lightning frozen in time.

Algae on this boulder reminds me of A monk's haircut that is traditionally called a tonsure.

Keep tuned into this blog for part two of "SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION"

Keeping an eye on me

I geared up and headed down the landing to a no motor use small lake that had no homes on it and that I would not see another human on for the over 4 hours I was there. I carried my mask, snorkel, fins and camera into the water with only hope that this snorkeling adventure would excide expectation but I had no idea.

I snorkeled out it to some lily pads photo'ing water striders resting on their edges.

Working my way out across the bay and down a shore I came across a downed tree that had been hanging there for so long that sun dews were growing on it,

(Drosera, which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surfaces.)

On the lower edge you will see the discarded casings of dragonfly's.

dragonfly larvae live up to 4 years in water as wingless insects.

Before changing into what we know as a dragonfly.

I was lost on capturing the photo when I hear a low grunting sound - look to the end of the tree

I looked up to see three swans watching what I'm doing

They didn't seem to be troubled I was there more curious as to what I was and what I was doing.

I took some photos of them and not wanting to stress them out I slowly turned and went the opposite way they looked like they were going.

I looked back to see that they were fallowing me.

They watched as I photo'd damselflies dance over lily pads

And freshwater mollusks talking to each other

The swans tiered of me, and they went there way and I went mine.

I snorkeled on encountering an old sunken wooden boat.

And again, I was being watched this time by a Heron

I think nature is keeping an eye on me.

Spongillidae

Yesterday I spent my time snorkeling with freshwater sponges.

Bellow you will find photos and information about Spongillidae I retrieved off the internet - I just find them interesting other worldly and beautiful, see what you think.

A freshwater sponge is a simple, non-moving invertebrate animal that lives in lakes and rivers. They are characterized by their ability to filter water for food and their unique reproductive strategy involving gemmules, which are dormant structures that can survive harsh conditions.

Freshwater sponges are multicellular but lack organs. They have specialized cells that help them filter water and extract food particles and bacteria.

They are typically found attached to rocks, logs, or plants in clean, flowing water, such as lakes and streams.

They are filter feeders, meaning they draw water into their bodies and filter out organic matter, bacteria, and other small particles for food.

It always amazes me the things we share this planet with - and may not realize are there.

Observing while being observed

What do artists do? they notice things.

like a couple otters out for a swim.

I am also noticed by more things than I realize, like this crayfish keeping an eye on me

Snorkeling past what I though was "just" a long dead tree I became aware of something; can you notice something in this photo besides the long dead tree?

I'm sure it was aware of me before I was of it.

The fish and I observe each other

The damselfly and I are mindful of each other's presence

I know how lucky I am to travel through two different realities observing and being observed.

End of the epic journey

I have been back from my journey for a few days now but I will always keep the adventure in my memory.

Waking in our little blue tent to amazing views against the never-ending light of the summer solstice.

the journeys of discovery when the MV Columbia docked finding a fish and chowder stand.

I also discovered this wreck on the rocks.

The wreck happened between a doctor’s office and a financial adviser, the view from either of the offices would not inspire confidence.

For some a life changing experience is hiking the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail. I tried a different way, not hiking through amazing vistas but letting a ship do all the work as I enjoyed as life passed by.

Storms passed

We sailed through where sea water meets glacial melt

we even witnessed the ever-diminishing glacier

As the sunset on this adventure.

Embarkation - a 3-hour tour ...

Welcome back to the tales and photos of my mid summer adventure.

When you tuned in last time I shared my expedition thoughts and photos on my nearly 1900 mile expedition on Amtrak from Portage Wisconsin to Bellingham Washington.

On this episode of jimsgibberish.com I meet up with my older brother and we travel on board the MV Columbia up and back on the Alaska Marine Coast Highway.

The MV Columbia Leaves Bellingham Washington every Friday at 6pm and returns every Friday at 8am a one way journey of 950 miles, 69 hours with stops in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, the stops last in duration from 45 minutes to 3 hours.

We board ship at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal a short 6 block hike from my brothers home.

People gather to send us off and/or enjoy the fish and chips and famous clam chowder on this sunny day.

We enjoy the views of Bellingham

At around 6pm we set sail

The MV Columbia can carry up to 499 passengers and approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles it has sleeping cabins but also allows you to set up tents in certain areas to sleep in - we chose to bring our 2 man tent and set up camp.

After setting up we break open our food supply and enjoy some cheese and crackers and enjoy an amazing sunset.

Being near the date of the summer solstice we are always in some form of daylight, and we wake in the middle of night to enjoy the moon.

The next morning on a self-guided tour of the MV Columbia I see something shocking

After opening the lid, I am relieved to see that it is filled with 20 life preservers for children not 20 children to be used as life perseveres.

I also find the bar; I check in from time to time but never frequent it for a drink

At our first stop in Ketchikan, we are let off for a quick walk about when I realize I'm being watched

then its back on board to watch life go past

more installments to come :)

Riding the Empire Builder

I kept getting that feeling like I was catching a cold except it wasn't a common viral infection I was getting it was the need to get out of my everyday life tracks and go on an adventure.

I hoped a train on 1900-mile train journey across the great plains to the west coast for the first part of the adventure

Camera in hand I observed the world unfold outside the train car window, like roads seemingly going no ware.

The beauty in isolation.

The commerce of small towns that impact all of us without our realization.

More of my adventure coming stay tuned to this blog for updates.

Signs of life

"Life is one big road with lots of signs" - Bob Marley

The fish and I take these signs seriously

The bass have laid their eggs and some have started to hatch, the fry wait for their signs

Their parents are tired in need of a nap, have you ever seen a fish yawn?

From the painted turtle to the musky, we all enjoy our day swimming

The minnows school me in how to swim

And we all obey the signs.