Gone Fishin'

The other day I called my husband while I was on my way home from work.  I was wrapping up a work week that was overwhelming.  Very long days, on call three nights in a row and some symptoms that were a challenge to manage. My mental exhaustion also included the projects I have been working on for the Humane Society, normal family issues and my sadness over the pathetic state of my garden.  So, I called Rick and whispered those words every man our age longs to hear, “ Stop what you are doing, go change your clothes, I am in the mood….to go fishing.”

I barely had the car in the driveway when Rick was backing the truck out of the pole shed.  I quickly changed out of my nursing uniform, invited Ande but received a look that I interpreted as “Really? Really Mom?  You have known me for all sixteen years of my life. When have I ever gone fishing?” and she went back to texting.  I am not sure Rick completely stopped the truck so I could jump in but we were headed to the river.

A quick stop at Pronto for bait and a few sodas and we headed down The Great River Highway. Usually we head north to the Genoa Dam but this time we were adventurous and turned south towards Ferryville into unknown shore fishing territory.

I have driven up and down this highway countless times since moving to Wisconsin. I even received a speeding ticket the first week we lived at the rental house. There is something about the Mississippi River that is commanding yet peaceful that can lull you into going just a little faster and faster and pretty soon you learn cruise control is your best friend when traveling this slightly curving road parallel to one of the most beautiful rivers.   With Rick behind the wheel driving the speed limit, it was my job to find a good spot to pull over to fish.

The town of Ferryville in the distance.

On this trip I could not remember where I have “always” seen people fishing off the shore.  Luckily we remembered there was a boat landing in town and found it quite easily.  Across the railroad tracks, tucked in behind some quaint homes, we found more then just a boat landing. Rick pulled the truck into an expansive parking lot that lead to a clean grassy area with picnic benches, a shelter, a large port-a- potty (also clean), and two outcroppings of rocks. It was beautiful.  We unloaded the poles, tackle box, a cooler for our catchings and looked for a good spot.

After putting a worm on the hook I carefully made my way to the furthest point out into the river, set my line and gently sat down. This little exercise of balance reminded me that I am not the graceful dancer I once was. I was glad Rick and I had the area to ourselves because getting back up was not going to be pretty. But that was a few hours away so I took off my shoes and socks and enjoyed the breeze.

Crayfish courtesy of the internet.

The river was moving at a quick clip and my bobber soon was close to shore. From my sitting position I cast again, nearly tangling my line with Rick’s.  I slowly reeled in. Did I feel a little nibble or was I getting caught on the rocks?  I could see the hook before it was out of the water. I caught the tiniest lobster I had ever seen. It was only two inches long and Rick informed me it was really a crayfish.  Later I would learn these are invasive.

For the rest of the afternoon I mainly fed the fish.  Few nibbles here and there, reel in and the worm was gone.  So, I changed my strategy and my location.  I walked back up the rocks and over to the other outcropping. I found there was a small dock that I hadn’t noticed before. Again, I cast out, sat down and just breathed. Isn’t this what I really came here for?  No cell phones, no computers, no demands.  I had needed to reconnect with what is important- a breeze on my skin, sun on the back of my neck, the lapping of the water on the shore, the occasional bird call and looking across the landing at the silhouette of my husband.  I fell a little more in love with him that evening.  The sparkling water, sun setting behind him, just watching him cast out and reel in, so peaceful, so content.

Then, in the midst of my peaceful moment the line wiggled. Was it the rocks? Another crayfish?  The pole bent ever so slightly. I tried to remain calm. I tried to remember what I was supposed to do. Wait for the next wiggle and jerk the pole back. I waited…and pulled! I had something. My heart got a little excited as the line was being pulled; something was swimming away from the shore.  Yippie! Not seaweed or a stick this time. I reeled in and paused.  Reeled in and paused. Then I just kept reeling in until I could see it under the water. I called for Rick but he did not hear me as my back was to him and a train was rumbling by just 100 yards away.   It was a northern pike….25 inches!

Fish story?

Sounds of Summer

Mother Nature has recently released her painful grip on our area.  Heat indices of 110+ are now in the high 70s and low 80s and even cooler at night.  A wall of humidity that took my breath away as soon as I stepped outside has given way to gentle winds. I have found my idea of heaven.   I have started walking again, now that I can make it further down the driveway, beyond the car.

During my walks this week I became acutely aware of the sounds of summer.  Cooped up in the house I could still look outside and see the birds and rabbits and my garden, but the house was closed up and the whirring of the air conditioner muffled every sound.  When I did venture outside I did not take the time to notice the music of Untah’s Farm. Perhaps the creatures I have come to expect were just as worn out as I was. The stillness of the heat did not allow for rustling of leaves.

The first sound I noticed as I set out with the dogs on my evening trek is the crunching of the gravel beneath shoes and paws. It reminds me of the echo in my head as I take the first bites of cereal in the morning, before the cereal gets soft. As my ears tune in, I hear the sniffing of giant canine noses exploring their world. Sniff, sniff, sniff, snort.  I can imagine a sommelier cleansing his pallet; the dogs snorting out all the particles that might interfere with new odors. Next the rustlings of stalks of corn, seven or eight feet tall, like good quality paper being shuffled.

Red Winged Black Bird
Courtesy of the internet

When I get home I sit in the Adirondack chair by my flower garden.  I am barely seated and I am nearly knocked in the head by a pair of hummingbirds vying for the next hollyhock.   I did not think such tiny bird could make such a buzzing.  As my heart and breath slow from my walk, I begin to notice the conversations of the birds. If I listen closely I hear the call and response of the red winged black birds, of which we have many. Black capped chickadees talk without ceasing.  To me, the house wren adds a bit of calm in the aviary party going on in the field and by the pond.

Red Tailed Hawk
Picture courtesy of internet

As the evening progresses and the sun moves further west into the horizon, a red tailed hawk screeches as if to defend his territory or give warning to an approaching predator.  I look around but cannot see him.  I also hear the first lone hoot of a great horned owl.  Tonight he is out of sight but I recall one evening as the sky was a beautiful blend of pinks and oranges, I could hear the owl loud and clear.  I stepped outside and looked at various high perches; the dead tree by the pond, the top of the electric post.  I finally found him- a huge black silhouette against the sky calling out into the night atop the silo.

Bullfrog Picture courtesy of internet

As the prairie begins to settle down, a bullfrog is the wake up call for the pond. The croaking of the bullfrog fills in the low bass tones as the American toad fills the tenor range and Northern Spring Peepers the soprano range.  

As I find my way up to the house I see our resident tree frog crawling out from behind the wisteria that has enclosed our front porch. Last night I saw a tiny tree frog on the window as I closed the front door for the night.  Tonight, a moderate size one sings out good night as I walk past. I think there must be a family among those leaves.   Good night to you too.

Medium sized Tree Frog on my living room window.

All the Wisconsin bird and frog sounds sited in this blog and many, many more can be heard through these websites:

http://www.wisconsinbirdsounds.com/

http://seagrant.wisc.edu/frogs/field_ids.html

Summer Break

Today on the radio I heard a phrase I had never heard before: “Not all watermelons are red in the middle.”  This is a loosely translated Italian phrase.  It would be similar to “Life is like a box of chocolates…”  Sometimes your choices yield something sweet and juicy and sometimes not so much. Either way, usually you can find something good.

This summer has been so exciting; full of adventure and change.  As usually happens, my best laid plans fell by the wayside.  I haven’t been to the farmers market in the last 4 weeks, and due to the weather I haven’t been able to tend to the garden. I put many miles on my new car and have seen Ande for less then 24 hours in the last 2 weeks.

In May, Rick handed me a help wanted ad for Development Director for the Vernon County Humane Society. I put it aside as I thought he was joking.  After all, I am a nurse!  After a series of events, I decided to send in a resume and cover letter to see what would happen.  Because I really did not think I was qualified I had a lot of fun writing the cover letter and figured I really needed to be myself. I put the formality aside and wrote from my heart about why I would like an interview to explore the possibility of this position.   It worked.  After two interviews, with much laughter and serious conversation, the position was offered to me and I accepted. I am so excited and overwhelmed.  It will be my responsibility to raise the funds to keep the Humane Society running.  There is so much good work going on and many volunteers giving of themselves to see that these abandoned and surrendered cats and dogs have some quality of life and are treated with dignity. Please check out the web site and give me some feed back about what you think.   http://www.vchumane.org/  I welcome your suggestions.

The Fourth of July was a blast. Our Pastor and his family came over for dinner. What started as a friendly badminton game turned into a competative tournament.  The Dads were the ultimate winners with 5 wins and no losses.  The Moms had the most fun and the kids were the most competitive. We had a big bonfire and Jay and Ande set off fireworks.

John and Krista

The next week Ellie, Maddie Ande, Jay and I headed to Oshkosh, WI for Lifest…A Party with a Purpose. We met up with my friends Starr, Krista, John and John’s daughters.  Lifest is a 5 day festival with Christian bands, speakers and family friendly activities.  There was a kid’s area with face painting, kids’ music and art stations. Ellie and Maddie had so much fun. Ande and Jay went off on their own and listened to different musicians and met peers from different backgrounds. The adults listened to speakers and played with the kids.  We all went to concerts each night. First we heard Mercy Me, the next night Toby Mac and Saturday night was Skillet.  What a variety….easy listening to hip hop/rap to heavy metal…all were equally exciting and powerful. We slept in tents, used port-a-potties and bathed in communal showers.  I am definitely going again next year, but I will be bringing the travel trailer or getting a hotel room. I am too old to sleep on the ground.



Jay and Ande llama dancing



All the girls with face painting



When we got back home, the girls and I had fun at the farm, playing with the dogs and cats, cooking and the girls made a neat fort under the old apple trees and overgrown vines.  I drove Ellie and Maddie to Middleton where I met my brother in law Scott to drop off the girls.

Middle of July brought a mother’s biggest fear-sending my baby out on the road alone.  We sent Ande to Illinois to my parent’s home 200 miles away, driving all by herself.  My Mom and Ande headed off to New York for four days. They toured Columbia University where Ande might like to attend college.  They ate at different restaurants including a sushi bar!  They also saw the Statue of Liberty and other touristy things. They flew back into O’Hare airport and the next day Ande flew out by herself to spend time with her godfather and his fiancé.  After a few days in Ohio she flew back to Chicago.  A day with my parents, a day with her big sister in Maggie’s new apartment and then Ande was home for 24 hours.  Now she is off for the next 8 days to dog and house sit for a friend of mine.  

So, my garden is a mess but I found cucumbers, pumpkins, beets and onions under three foot weeds. My oldest daughter is so grown up and in her very own apartment.  My youngest daughter has traveled far away and has the desire to live in New York.  My dreams of the farmer’s market have disappeared but goals for fund raisers for the Humane Society are so exciting. Boy, that watermelon is very red and very sweet.