Discover Wisconsin
Travel Photography Class
I love to travel. I love to take photos. I love to take photos when I travel. So this year, before I go on another trip, I thought it would be a good idea to take a Travel Photography class. The continuing education arm of the local university has a wonderful program and I finally found the time for this class. So this past weekend, we had our first photo shoot. We were supposed to see the city as if we’re travelers here and discover something new or different. Of course, like any class, we had a specific set of things we needed to capture. Here are a few photos from that photo shoot. I love the early spring, when the trees are just coming into...
Read MoreDoor County Cherries
Look at these gorgeous rubies! In the years we’ve lived here, I’ve forgotten how much I like cherries (vishnya, in Russian). You see, we had a cherry tree in the yard when I was little, but it had to be cut down (don’t remember the reason). But we always bought both kinds of cherries (sweet and sour) at the market after letting go of the tree, but not really since we moved here. Strangely enough, we had a cherry tree in our first house here too. But that tree also had to be cut down; it was pretty sick. It’s safe to say that I haven’t had sour cherries, directly from the tree in more than 25 years. So it was definitely a treat...
Read MoreCedarburg Strawberry Festival
Don’t these look like they’d be the most delicious, most perfect strawberries you’ve ever tasted? Can’t you just imagine the sweet juice running down your chin? No? You must be more coordinated than I am. This weekend was the 26th Annual Cedarburg Strawberry Festival and the weather was perfect; not a cloud in the sky and a gentle breeze helped relieve the heat of the sun. This family-friendly event had lots of bands, food vendors, crafts vendors, and artists. Lots of interesting things, like hand-made wooden toys. Great for developing kids’ imaginations, and definitely a throwback to a simpler time. They also had hay rides,...
Read MoreWinter Scenes
It’s snowing here again. It’s been snowing the whole day. I was so happy last week when spring peeked in and showed us that decent weather is possible and hasn’t forgotten us. And when I awoke today, I saw this out my window. Look at how huge the snowflakes are. They’re more like snow chunks than flakes! But thankfully, it wasn’t too cold out so I decided to take some pictures around the neighborhood and saw a neighbor walking her dog. Maggie, the dog, seemed to enjoy the snow and posing for pictures. She’s a beautiful dog and it was good to see a creature frolicking in the snow. I mean, just look at how much snow there...
Read MoreLittle Norway, Mount Horeb, WI
If you’re in Mount Horeb,WI, you have plenty of things to do. Cave of the Mounds is one attraction, and Little Norway is about a two-minute drive away. So it only makes sense to see both on the same day, or on the same trip. Don’t think that Little Norway is second fiddle to any other attraction in the area, it’s a treat in its own right. But as you might have guessed, I did visit Little Norway on the same day as Cave of the Mounds. By the time I got here, it was a little later in the afternoon and the beautiful area provided plenty of shade.There is a creek running through the property and a fairly extensive lawn (which hosts the Mid-Summer...
Read MoreCave of the Mounds, Mount Horeb, WI
I’ve heard about Cave of the Mounds many years ago but have never been there until this particular July weekend. The drive was quite lovely and once I got to the Cave of the Mounds park, I decided I should have lunch before I go on exploring.There were picnic tables everywhere and I picked one in the shade. The breeze was quite welcome, the birds provided entertainment and scenery was most relaxing so my lunch was very enjoyable. Especially since it’s one I made myself.After the lunch respite I decided to explore the grounds, while waiting for the tour of the cave. Nestled snugly in the Driftless region of Southern Wisconsin, the park allows visitors to...
Read MoreRenaissance Fair, Kenosha, WI
One of my goals has been to travel around locally, as in day trips during the weekend, so nothing too far away. Someplace I can pack a lunch, pack my camera, GPS, and start exploring the area around me. I joked with some friends from CA that we pack about twelve months worth of activities into about five. And it’s true; there are about three major events on any given weekend from May to end of October. One of these activities one could do is to go back in time. And this past weekend I stepped into another world yet again. It’s been about five years since my last visit to the Renaissance Fair in Kenosha, WI. Yet again, I’m so glad I live in...
Read MoreTwo Rivers, Manitowoc, Algoma – Wisconsin
For many years I have wanted to see more of Wisconsin. With an occasional trip to Door County or a rare trip to Wisconsin Dells, my exploration of this beautiful state has been rather limited. So this year I finally decided to do something about it. This was the inaugural trip of my “Discover Wisconsin” goal. On this particular Saturday in July, I packed up my camera, a lunch, a travel guide I picked up at a rest stop, a GPS and a full tank of gas, and set off on my first adventure. The first stop was West of the Lake Gardens. Don’t let their awful website stop you though. The place itself is great. There are fantastic spaces, all completely...
