Gather 'round…
Rolled a deer the other night. At that very duskiest time of dusk, where the headlights still have no real darkness to cut through, yet all the world is fading to blue and the eyes begin to lose contrast. This is not the first deer that has fallen to the Ottinger fleet. Oh, no, there... Continue Reading →
Right out of the gate, let's get this out of the way... It is entirely possible that you gathered, from my last post, that I was being a little dramatic about the minor damage the coons were inflicting on my hostas. Due to the less-than-magnificent photograph. How about this one? It's a geometric tragedy A... Continue Reading →
Hwell... You see... Rounds #3 and #4 with the Poison Ivy were just as productive as the first 2 rounds combined, so you see how well we've eradicated the beast to this point. There are now two heaping snow-sleds out by the firepit with that heaping wheelbarrow full of poisonous nastiness. It's raining or I'd... Continue Reading →
Yikes. Y'ever just feel like the fast forward button is stuck on? It's spring--well, it was spring, until winter came back, but let's not dwell--so that certainly plays a part, unleashing wild rips of energy. I won't lead you to believe that I'm overly productive, but spring has definitely kicked me into a higher gear,... Continue Reading →
I like to think that Einstein sometimes had trouble estimating his bill at the grocery store. That Carl Sagan counted out the Seven Sisters and occasionally came up with eight. That Feynman, every once in a while, misplaced a decimal and ordered up a thirty-egg omelet. I, for one, brilliant astrophysicist that I am, pride... Continue Reading →
The moles are working overtime these days. It is spring, the temporal realm of the mole, and they have--apparently--declared this the year to finally decimate the Ottinger Homestead once and for all. Sound Familiar? Well, sure it does... I went out yesterday, to stomp down the run that I shaved off the day before when... Continue Reading →
Our garden hasn't looked this pitiful in years, but there is something beautiful that calls to me. Something more natural and wild and free than we've allowed before. This year's plantings were haphazard; this is an understatement. We weren't sure of how much to plant, for the surgery was coming, and let's face it… no... Continue Reading →
I'll make up for my overly verbose last post with an abbreviated one today... I just saw my first tufted titmouse. Ever. Here at my own birdfeeder. Where the squirrels play. Yes, he was adorable. The slackline is up, the treehouse is swept out and in use, and the driveway is muddy. The first tree... Continue Reading →
The first greenery has erupted on our land. Many of our treefolk currently sport buds so swollen with springtime excitement that their seams are near to bursting, but they don't dare let go. Many more (the wise ones, I suspect), have abstained from sending their life force out to their tips in earnest, choosing rather... Continue Reading →
Spring has sprung. I have a feeling we're still in for some more cold days here in northern Wisconsin, but for today we are reveling in the newness of the sun and warmth. I've been upright all day, by the way. Pretty exciting stuff, given my past 8 days spent horizontal. I. Will. Take. It.... Continue Reading →
Tales From the Nexus 