Spring at Home

Spring arrived in Ann Arbor, late but glorious nonetheless.  What I've noticed, however, is that it came and went in the blink of an eye.  The tree below moved slowly into bloom and began dropping petals almost as soon.  Looking out my window now, it has very few blooms left, lots of brown petals drooping, and yellow green leaves taking their place.

The daffodils below lasted longer than the tree blooms but today there are few left and those that are, are shrivelled and brown.

The rhododendrons below lasted a bit longer than the tree blooms but not as long as the daffodils.  All the petals are gone now and new growth is taking their place.

The pear tree below is a new addition to the yard.  It, as you can see, did very well this spring.  Blooming late, as with everything else, it lasted about a week before starting to lose petals and move into spring green foliage.

The tulips, as with everything else, bloomed late and didn't last long.  They, however, had another reason for disappearing fast.  We have a couple local groundhogs and several squirrels that seen to enjoy eating the blooms. 

Spring Revisit of Horicon

Last fall we took a trip to the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin to see the thousands of water fowl who use the marsh as a resting place on their migration south.  We loved everything about that trip -- the scenery, the weather, the birds.  The guide on the boat tour we took advised us to return in the spring.  He assured us that we would see a greater number of birds and more variety.  Many of the birds, he assured us, would be nesting around Mother's Day so we would see baby birds as well as adults.  This past Mother's Day weekend, we took him at his word and headed back to Horicon.

The boat tour in the fall was taken in the early afternoon.  This spring we took the tour at 6:00 pm, early evening.  It was peaceful and serene and one of the rare warm days we've had this spring.  While the cool spring altered the number of birds in the marsh, we were, with the assistance of the tour guide, able to identify 51 different kinds of birds.  Most of them were too small for me to photograph with my lens but believe me when there were lots and lots of birds.  Being smaller than the waterfowl of the fall, they did not dominate the landscape in the same way but the air was full of birdsong of various kinds.

Canadian geese were easy to spot.  We were assured that these geese were born and raised right here in the marsh and have never seen the likes of Canada.  We saw more than one brood enjoying an evening swim.

The sunset was lovely.  Not quite the spectacle of the sunrise this past fall but nonetheless a sight to behold.  Our eyes, however, were always searching for birds so the sunset didn't get much attention.

This is one of four American eagles we saw on this trip.  We were treated to a special show when this guy swooped down to the ground and then flew back to this perch with something in his claws.  At first we thought it might be a muskrat or a beaver but it turned out to be a small duck.  Feathers fell softly to the water as this eagle's evening meal was devoured.

We saw several great blue herons and sandhill cranes before the trip ended.  Birds this large and larger (there are pelicans in the marsh also but we only saw them flying in the distance) seem out of place to me.  I've only really seen them in the zoo.  To see them in a natural setting is one of the satisfactions of coming here.

I believe this is a coot.  We were told that the fact they are coming back to the marsh is a testimony to the job they've done cleaning up the water.

I can't tell you what kind of bird this little guy is but the benefit of going out in the evening is that the birds come in to roost for the night.  We could see the trees filling as our boat tour came to an end.

We were glad to revisit Horicon but we won't come back in the spring again.  Fall is the better time for us. 

Early Spring: Indiana

Early in April we decided to head south.  Not real south, just as far south in Indiana as one could go without being in Kentucky.  We planned the trip as a loop taking us to various antique malls along the way with specific stops in Indianaoplis to catch some jazz at the Jazz Kitchen, in Columbus, Indiana to see the oldest continuously running bar in the state, and in Madison, Indiana as it was a city we visited long ago when we were much younger and much poorer.  It happened that we purchased an apothecary chest then that was really far too expensive for our budget at the time but which has become a beloved piece of furniture in our home.  The picture above is of a mural on the side of a building across from one of the antique malls we visited.  I can't remember the name of the city but it was medium sized, had quite a bit of character, but had several store fronts empty and advertising for sale which was true of many of the cities we went through on this trip.

As you can see, the city was pretty empty.  We asked the propietors at the antique mall where would be a good place for breakfast.  The couple really wasn't all that helpful but with the mention of fresh baked rolls, they were able to direct us to a local bakery and off we went in search of it.

Believe it or not, this was it!  The enclosed side porch is where the baked goods were displayed and purchased.  The rest of the building was clearly the home of the owner.  On both sides and across the streets were similar homes, none of which also boasted a business.  We left with four muffins which we devoured before getting back into the car.  They were really good but not what we had really wanted for breakfast.

While the muffins were not the hot, homemade breakfast we had hoped for, we would have been disappointed to miss the delivery truck used by this bakery.

This filling station museum was across from our hotel in Columbus.  Unfortunately, it wasn't open but we walked around and peeked into the windows.  The coke machine, the gas pumps, the garage itself -- all brought back memories of full service gas stations with $.25 a gallon gas.  The garage had two classic antique cars, one of which was a Rolls Royce. 

This is the outside of the Kickerbacker Saloon, the oldest continuously running bar in Indiana.  We were giddy with anticipation.  Loving historic bars as we do, we always search out such bars in any city we visit.  We've found some treasures with massive wooden back bars sporting intricate carvings, stain glass windows, brass foot rests, furniture and decor that shout their age with dignity and pride.  And we've encountered real dumps.  Dirty, unkept, scarred by time but still managing to survive with a loyal clientele.  Both have their appeal.  This bar had neither.

It's a bad picture, I know, but this bar had been remodelled recently and probably more than once in its long history.  TV's were prominently displayed in several corners of the room.  It was clean and serviceable but lacked the character we expect from historic bars.  In other words, we were disappointed.

The town of Columbus, however, did not disappoint.  It was clean, the buildings preserved, and functioning.  This marquee, once adorning a theater, now adorns a event center.

The Broadway Hotel in Madison housed the historic bar.  When we first tried to see it, we found that it was reserved for a wedding reception.  We were told to come back around 8:00 pm and so we moved on.

This small cart was located outside a small market on Main Street. There was little traffic, either that of cars or pedestrians. Several of the stores were closed and others were out of business. This changed as the day moved into evening, however. More and more people were to be seen entering restaurants and bars. We actually saw about eight Amish teenagers crossing the street, laughing and carrying on. 

 

Somehow this cat in a shop window sums up Madison.  Comfortable, lazy, at ease, unaware of the world passing by.   

This small park is located off Main Street in Madison between businesses and churches, a small bit of greenery and peace inviting all to sit for a spell. You can see we succeeded in going far enough south to find spring. Things were green and beginning to burst into bloom. While my pictures indicate we had wonderful sunny weather, rest assured that it rained on us most of our trip. We were just fortunate that the time we were in Madison found the sun shining on us.

As we were walking along Main Street taking in the sights and enjoying the sunshine, I happened to look down and realized that the details are sometimes just as lovely as the big picture.

What you see is the bank of the Ohio River.  Well, not actually the bank.  It's probably a few feet farther in but the river by this time had swollen over it's banks and ran muddy and swift.

This is one of the images I think fits into what ee cummings had in mind when he wrote "in-Just Spring".  So close to blooming but not quite there.

Having exhausted the city, we headed for Shifty Falls State Park, just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from Madison.  We figured we would hike even if the trails were muddy.  As it turns out, there were board walks and what trails we followed were fairly hard packed with little mud.

What I imagine is usually a quiet flowing creek was a rushing torrent.

And what was probably a gentle falls later in summer was crashing muddy water.

The park was a great stop for us but we wanted to head back to the city to check out the bar at the Broadway Hotel and to see what kind of entertainment this river city offered on a Saturday evening.

We found Madison a very walkable city, even from this, our hotel, perched high on a hill overlooking the Ohio River and Madison.  Our room was on this side and had a balcony.  The hotel was clean and the personnel, gracious.  Anyone staying here can make claim to having stayed in the same hotel Frank Sinatra stayed in while shooting a film  I can't remember the name but the plot revolved around GI Frank returning home from the war and having a difficult time returning to the small town culture and its ways. 

Our first stop this evening was this bar whose most defining feature was the mural painted on the side of the building.  The inside of the bar was your usual small town bar; the clientele, friendly and colorful but the beer selection very limited.

From there we moved to a wine bar which is run by the local vintner and only serves their wine.  As you can see, the bar was warm and welcoming.  The wine was a bit of a disappointment but the entertainment made it imperative that we stay through the first set.  Two young ladies, one playing a guitar; the other, an accordion.  Both sang.  The songs were all originals.  Their voices blended well but one was clearly the better singer.  While the songs were pleasant, we wish they had sang a few well known songs, too.  We were certain we'd have enjoyed them even more.

Joey G's was our next stop and at first sight looked to be our best.  Unfortunately, part of what brings out the best of entertainers was missing.  There were only a handful of patrons listening to a gray bearded man sitting on stage with a guitar in his lap, his foot on a control, and pre-recorded background music accompanying his singing and playing.  He looked and sounded like a down-trodden Kenny Rogers who's been on the road too long and who's dreams long ago faded.  The late hour of the night and the spase crowd made his blues all the bluer.

From Joey G's we headed to the bar at the Broadway Hotel.  Here we found a young and lively crowd.  After a beer, we headed for H Hinkle Hamburger which stays open into the wee hours of the morning.  The food was cheap, hot, and filling. 

This was the sight we saw outside our window Sunday morning.  The mist began as a thick fog and as morning progressed, it gradually disappeared until all that was left was what you see here -- a mist on the Ohio.  The bridge takes you to Kentucky but not us.  We headed north for home and cold, wet weather and a landscape that more resembled winter than spring.  It would be two more weeks before Ann Arbor would sport green in its trees.

Toilet Etiquette

Given my advanced years, it's safe to say I've been in hundreds, if not thousands, of public restroom facilities.  Roadside rest and service areas, restaurants, gas stations, trains, planes, busses, hotels and motels, all kinds of stores, national and state parks, porta-potties, and yes, even an outhouse.  I'm claiming a degree of expertise when it comes to toilet facilities and lately, I've noticed a decided lack of, well, let's call it etiquette when it comes to restroom facilities and toilets in particular, especially those used by women (I really am not qualified to address the state of the men's facilities).

Perhaps you're familiar with the little ditty "If you sprinkle when you tinkle...".  Well, I've noticed more and more sprinklers using the facilities.  I suppose, as my husband claims, these women are choosing to rest their bottoms, not on the toilet seat, but rather are straining to hold their bodies above in whatever manner best works for them creating greater distance and less receptivity for whatever they are depositing into the toilet.  In other words, the likelihood of drips falling onto the toilet seat increases.  Okay, I'll grant that could be the situation but does that forgive the lack of courtesy when it comes to wiping off the drips?!  And while I don't want you thinking I stand and analyze the contents of toilets, on three of my last trips to public facilities, I found that not one, but several toilets either had not been flushed or worse, were full to overflowing with contents of various kinds. On a recent trip, a restroom in a Steak N' Shake between home and Chicago, the restroom itself was clean and the toilet useable but darn! there was NO toilet paper in either of the two stalls!  Adding injury to insult, in yet another trip to public facilities someone or ones had deliberately filled several toilet bowls with large quantities of toilet paper and left them unflushable and unuseable.  That is downright rude!



Now I don't enter restrooms for leisure or pleasure, though I suppose there are those who do.  When I'm there I'm on a mission, sometimes an urgent one.  The last thing I want is to have to search for a clean, ready-to-use toilet yet that is too often the case.  And so I've come to ponder the lack of etiquette of my fellow facility users.  Just what accounts for this deplorable situation?  Are parents not teaching the proper use of the facilities?  Do they not talk about the golden rule?  I mean the one that would say leave the facilities the way you'd like them to be left for you.  Or are we in too much of a hurry, too self-concerned to take a few minutes to tidy up after ourselves?  Have we lost regard for our fellow women? 

I used to hate going into a restroom and finding either that there were pay stalls (which, by the way, I haven't encountered for years.  What happened to them?) or that there was an attendant who clearly expected a tip for handing me a hand towel.  Now I've come to respect both practices.  I now understand that the money collected in the stalls went not only for supplies but also for the work it takes to keep a restroom clean and fresh.  I understand now that when an attendent is present, there won't be any practical jokesters deliberately clogging the toilets.  And when there is a genuine problem, it will be addressed promptly rather than stewing ... literally ... over time.  There is less likelihood of finding no toilet paper or paper towels when an attendant is in charge.  It's hard, stinky, and humble work but it is also work that is necessary that benefits us all and it has integrity.    From now on my tips will reflect a sincere and profound appreciation for their work on my behalf. 

Another possible solution to this problem is the unisex restroom.  Recently in Toronto I had occasion to use such a facility.  It had individual stalls with doors and locks for each.  The lavatories were available to both sexes.  Handwashing and freshing up evidently don't require privacy.  I found the stall I used to be clean, well stocked, and fully functional.  I realize one instance isn't enough to draw conclusions but I can't help but wonder if we have more regard for the potential next user if there is the possiblity that the user will be of the opposite sex.  The jury is still out on that one.

Anyway, I recognize that there may not be a long list of people signing up for the job of restroom attendant and the cost of changing facilities to unisex, individual stalls is prohibitive.  In the meantime, I urge you all to practice better restroom etiquette.  If you sprinkle, clean up after yourself.  If you use the last of the toilet paper or paper towels, let an employee know of the need.  If things aren't working properly (I mean the toilet itself, not you), inform an employee.  If we all did our part, none of us would ever enter a restroom feeling nature's call, only to find that things make answering that call difficult, if not downright disgusting.