MJ's Moderation

Farmer's Market Veggies

The selection is always overwhelming at the Saturday morning farmer's market around Capitol Square in Madison, Wisconsin. This vendor had a variety of gorgeous looking produce on his tables.

Conveniently, this post fits in nicely with City Daily Photo's September Theme Day of "Open Air Markets."

City of the Big Shoulders

We drove down to Chicago last weekend to see our son, Seth. He won a trip through his work (top regional sales!) and flew in from Phoenix for a 4-day visit. Saturday afternoon was the only free time he had and the weather was ideal: blue skies, sunny and warm, but not too humid.  And talk about people!  The streets were teeming with them, walking, skating, biking, site-seeing, and shopping.  We stopped at a great little restaurant called the "Gage" - right across from Grant Park on Michigan Ave. and had a delightful lunch together.  We sat near the front windows with a super vantage point for people-watching! Afterward, we wandered past the Art Institute of Chicago (our favorite), through the park, and enjoyed browsing an art show on the green. Next was a stroll down to Lake Michigan to watch the sailboats, and then back again through Millennium Park.  All around us the skyline was such an interesting backdrop. I love the architecture in this city.

A perfect day - but much too short, as then we had to say our good-byes and be on our way.  We'll see Seth again in October when he flies back home to Milwaukee for a GB Packers game.  We'll be back down to Chicago, that toddlin' town, any other time the opportunity presents itself.

Sunflowers!

A series of sunflowers from our garden.  We usually grow a row of tall multi-color sunflowers as a back-drop to our vegetable garden. While this summer's torrential rains and hot, humid weather seemed to stifle most of our tomatoes and peppers, the sunflowers thrived.  To all things there is a season...

Fountain

While visiting Salt Lake City back in May for the Rugby National Tournament, we also toured the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Temple Square. I thought it was interesting the way the fountain mimicked the temple spires in the background.

Looks easier than it is...

The barge "Gladiator" is pushing several cars of payload up the Mississipi River, just past Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin. While it isn't evident from this angle, the captain has to make a sharp left turn on the main channel ahead and steer the barge under a railroad bridge (see far left of image) and up through Lock & Dam #7.  The red crane is actually on the first two sections, which have already turned the corner. Takes a bit of confidence and skill!

The bluffs in the distance are on the Minnesota side of the river.

Blue Dancers

Located just outside the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this blue metal sculpture provides some artistic interest to an otherwise mundane asphalt parking lot. The building visible in the background is Piggy's Restaurant.

Sunset Bridge

The Mississippi River bridge was outside our hotel room door during our stay in La Crosse last weekend. Surprisingly, the mosquitoes were not nearly as bad there as they are here in Pewaukee this year, so we were able to sit on the patio and sip a tall, cool one while watching the sun go down.

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..."

Tree Hugger

Bill hugs a giant cottonwood tree along the Myrick Park Eco-trails and wetlands preserve in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The park is bordered on the north by the La Crosse River flowage. In recent years, the city has built up wonderful groomed trails that criss-cross the marsh. This old tree is located about halfway through, in a naturally elevated spot. The area is filled with wildlife, including herons, hawks, turtles, frogs, garter snakes, muskrats, and a wide variety of flora. Such a beautiful and peaceful spot.

Milkweed Revisited

I did a series on the Milkweed plant last year on my "Pewaukee Daily Photo" blog, but find them so pretty, that I had to post some new shots. There are several varieties of Milkweed, most with flowers varying in color from white to cream to deep shades of pink. These images were taken along the new Myrick Park Hixon Eco trails in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  These lovely pink flowers will soon form large, crackly, dry pods filled with downy seeds.  The black and orange Monarch butterfly is one of the main pollinators of this flower.

"Faith...

...is an island in the setting sun.  But Proof is the bottom line for everyone." ~ Paul Simon