Centerway and Main

Cars wait for a traffic light to change at the corner of Centerway and Main on a hot day in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). Some of the cars on the left are waiting to be serviced at the auto repair shop. The Rock River is still very high.

Dance of the Ents

I had this picture (several really) of a spot in the forest where nothing wanted to grow. It had some interesting old tree skeletons that I liked, but I just couldn't do anything useful with the images. Finally, I thought maybe this would be a good one for Halloween, so here you are. I really can see the trees dancing. Can you?

Stone Beauty

I have a thing for railroad trestles. Here's another one, but this one is actually a tunnel on a footpath beneath the right of way, and the stonework is just gorgeous. I simply had to share it. It's a treasure, built just like the old Roman Legions would have done it. Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

After the Flood

Pretty sure these are oyster mushrooms. I didn't pick 'em though. Found on a downed log, floating in what's left of the flood waters, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Ethel the Frog

This is Ethel. She lives in a little pond outside our kitchen. She's a green frog. She's about 2 to 2.5 inches (5 - 6.5 cm) long, about double that with her legs outstretched. According to every metric I can find, she's a little girl. Her color is dark, her tympanium is the same size as her eye, she doesn't have knobs on her "hands", she has a white belly, and she likes Abba tunes. (I made that last part up, but she does hum along when I'm listening to Fernando or Dancing Queen on Pandora.) Frogs are fascinating little creatures. They have a lung, but they don't have a diaphram. They breath by moving the membrane below their jaw. They can get oxygen through their skin though, but only when they're wet, so if they're in oxygenated water, they don't need to breathe. They're cold blooded, and green frogs can survive being frozen in the winter, as long as they're not frozen too hard. -20 deg F (-29 deg C) is about their limit. They shelter in protected places in order to avoid the worst of it.

Heavy Duty

Here's a view of the massive scale of one of these old railroad trestles across the Rock River in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Cleaning Up

This is the site of the former Monterey Dam in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). The dam has already been removed. The power shovel is picking up the fill in the river, and depositing it behind itself. The front end loader then picks up the dirt from that pile and spreads it across the site of what will now be the riverbank. The railroad bridge in the background is just a skeleton. It contains no tracks, no floor of any kind. Just the steel framework, rusting away. The sky is colored gray by the smoke from 1000 miles to the west, where it seems that wildfires are burning the entire country.

Workers and Watchers

Two guys are watching to make sure the pile driver is lined up correctly, while three people supervise from the bridge. Janesville, Wisconsin (USA), Riverwalk construction project.

River View

The Rock River flows over an ancient hydro dam in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Antique Hydro Power

The Rock River flows over an ancient hydro dam in the Rock River in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). The emergency vehicles are present, unfortunately, because the body of a deceased 60 year old man has just been pulled from the river above the dam. The dead tree has been there for at least several years. Apparently nobody know how to safely remove it.

Youngster

I believe this is an immature male Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). He is taking a break in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA). Rufous Hummingbirds are very aggressive, and there must be parents around somewhere, although we didn't see them. Maybe that accounts for the fact that we only saw one other hummingbird in the gardens on the 1st of August, 2018.

Hmmmm

A female Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) thinks it over in the butterfly garden at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Real Life

So you want to join the rodeo... Rock County 4-H Fair, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA), July 29, 2918. I don't know how badly this fellow was hurt. He definitely was hurt though. He collapsed against one of the gates when he tried to walk off. But after he rested for a minute or so, he hobbled away under his own power. There was no stretcher, not even an assist.

Rodeo

Bull Riding at the Rock County 4-H Fair in Janesville, Wisconsin (USA) on July 30th, 2018.

Right Out of the Gate

That's a lot of bull, cowboy! Looks like he means business too. Yeeeha! Rock County 4H fair, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA).

Reflective

Rock County 4-H Fair, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA), July 29, 2018.

Getting Ready

Rock County 4-H Fair, Janesville, Wisconsin (USA), July 29, 2018.

Rambling

Just strolling along down the hill and being nosy.

Wires

It was an interesting perspective, but really hot. All those wires and poles get in the way though. Would it be better without them?

Lonesome

I wonder why nobody lives here...

Rose Garden Tower

Looking outside from the Rose Garden Tower at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin (USA).

Thai Pavilion

This is the Thai Pavilion at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin (USA). It was built in Thailand, disassembled, shipped to Madison, and re-assembled. The building is covered in gold leaf, which tarnishes easily, so visitors are asked not to touch. (For more information, see: http://www.olbrich.org/gardens/thai.cfm)

Thai Pavilion Interior

Here's a look at the intricate detail within the Thai Pavilion at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin (USA). That gold color is real gold (gold leaf).

Tudor

This is a Ford 1928 Model A Tudor Sedan, at Old World Wisconsin, Midsummer Magic event on June 23, 2017. The Ford 1928 Model A was manufactured between 1928 and 1932. In that time, 4.8 million were produced. Prices ranged from about US$385 for the roadster to US$1,500 for the Town Car. Adjusted for inflation, that's about US$5,600 to 22,000.

Nineteenth Century Automation

This goat is walking on a treadmill that powers the butter churn in the background. An 1894 advertisement for this device says it's intended to be powered by a dog or sheep. Minard Harder also produced horse powered machinery for more difficult jobs. https://www.google.com/search?q=Minard+Harder&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=BDqI63c_uSJDzM%253A%252Cr4U8InmIxU0uYM%252C_&usg=__J9YZyNManBsLutTccNMQoHjDGvs%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijyqPxv6_cAhVShq0KHXKRA7UQ9QEIPjAG#imgrc=BDqI63c_uSJDzM: Seen at Old World Wisconsin, near Eagle, Wisconsin (USA) during the annual Midsummer Magic fund raising event.

Just Clyde No Bonnie

Clyde Barrow was a little slimmer than this gentleman, but he's got the ears all right. This fellow seemed like a nice guy. Clyde wasn't. It's a real Model A Ford, and Tommy gun though. It looks like he's got his finger on the trigger too, but no shooting is allowed on the grounds at Old World Wisconsin. It was all in fun at the Midsummer Magic event on June 23rd, 2018.

Model T

This is an immaculately restored Ford Model T, at Old World Wisconsin for the Midsummer Magic event on June 23, 2018. Based on the style of the hood, this car was built sometime between 1909 and 1914. The beautiful, gleaming brasswork is very impressive. Red was an available color during the earliest years of production. This car is amazingly clean under the hood too. The factory price of the Model T decreased each year. It started out at US$825 in 1909, and by 1914, it was down to US$440. In current dollars that's US$22,471 and US$10,750, respectively. The Model T engine was able to run on gasoline, kerosene or ethanol. It had an ignition system, much different from that of more modern vehicles. A low voltage magneto on the flywheel, supplied power via a timer (similar to a distributor) on the crankshaft. The timer routed power to trembler coils (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trembler_coil), in a coil box, inside the cabin on what we would consider the instrument panel. The coil box contained 4 coils, one for each cylinder, Each coil supplied spark to an insulated terminal which extended through the firewall. Spark plug wires were routed directly from the firewall terminals to the spark plugs.

1930 Pierce Arrow

This beautiful automobile is a 1930 Pierce Arrow Dual Cowl Phaeton It was at Old World Wisconsin for the Midsummer Magic event on June 23, 2018.

1912 Buick

I think this is a model 43. It was one of the cars in the antique auto/truck/tractor show at Old World Wisconsin, in conjunction with their Midsummer Magic event. It's one of two major annual fundraising events, always held on the Saturday nearest to the summer solistice. I was fortunate to be one of several volunteer photographers. It was a workout, but lots of fun. Old World Wisconsin is owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. It is located near Eagle, in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It's a great place for family friendly entertainment, and there's always some kind of activity for kids of all ages.

Schoolroom

This is the interior of the Raspberry schoolhouse at Old World Wisconsin. It's a one room school in the Norwegian tradition. Raspberry is the place the building came from, not the color of the wood. Raspberry Island is in the Apostle Islands group in the Town of Russell in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, USA. All of the primary grades were taught in this space.

A Good Talking To

This is the interior of the Raspberry schoolhouse at Old World Wisconsin. It's a one room school in the Norwegian tradition. Raspberry is the place the building came from, not the color of the wood. Raspberry Island is in the Apostle Islands group in the Town of Russell in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, USA. All of the primary grades were taught in this space. The two ladies are actually employees of Old World, known as "interpreters".

Learning Space

This is the interior of the Raspberry schoolhouse at Old World Wisconsin. It's a one room school in the Norwegian tradition. Raspberry is the place the building came from, not the color of the wood. Raspberry Island is in the Apostle Islands group in the Town of Russell in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, USA. All of the primary grades were taught in this space.

Teacher and Student

This is the interior of the Raspberry schoolhouse at Old World Wisconsin. It's a one room school in the Norwegian tradition. Raspberry is the place the building came from, not the color of the wood. Raspberry Island is in the Apostle Islands group in the Town of Russell in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, USA. All of the primary grades were taught in this space. The two ladies are actually employees of Old World, known as "interpreters".

Legacy of Humanity

Were we helpful or hurtful to our environment; to others; to ourselves?

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk

A young Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) relaxes after lunching on a small bird, possibly a tree sparrow.

Shake Your Booty!

Apologies to KC and the Sunshine Band (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3fZuW-aJsg). These Italian ethnic dancers from Milwaukee (Tradizone Vivente, http://www.tradizionevivente.org/) were rockin' it on Sunday night (3-Dec-2017) at the annual Old World Wisconsin Holiday Dinner on the OWW site near Eagle Wisconsin. Judge number 7 doesn't seem impressed, but I liked them. I like puppies and kitties too. Gentleman number 7 is probably a perfectly fine gentleman, and may like puppies and kitties too, but from that expression, I'm not too sure... He's really not a judge anyway. Buon Natale! You might be able to get a seating for next weekend if you hurry. Call (1+) 262-594-2922 :-)

Prairie Grass

This grass is at Magnolia Bluff, near Evansville, Wisconsin (USA). According to the sign, this grass is an endangered species. It didn't say which one. I thought the little bits of seed fluff and the bent top of each stem were interesting.

Corner Kick

It's that time again. The fall co-ed youth soccer (football) matches are under way. Several leagues are run by the local YMCA for different age groups. This one is for 5th through 8th grades, so the kids are between approximately 10 and 14 years of age. Everyone gets to play in every match.

Golden Grass

Golden grass seed heads, back-lit by the sun, stand out on a predominantly green background with golden highlights.

Let Them Eat Cake

I think this may be what happens if you watch too much WWE.