Blog

The hillside out my window is awash in green. Every curve of the land and limestone outcropping, visible only a few weeks ago, now hides behind a lush summer foliage. A hike up the hill with our dog Riley finds plenty of new growth to explore. The drywash running by...

In our family, sometimes a text message from the kitchen to the living room is the only way to get our teenage girl to the dinner table. Like much of society, every member of our family often seems to have an electronic device in hand. To combat the electronic...

My first exposure to history as a child was courtesy of Michael Brisbois. He was buried on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River Valley, as the story goes, “so he could look down upon his intense business rival, Joseph Rolette, in death as he did in life.” Talk...

The most memorable moments I’ve experienced in the natural world have come courtesy of birds. A year ago I wrote of exiting my home in the late afternoon to the sound of a hundred crow wings beating the air above my head, as they launched from a nearby stand of cedar...

The optimism of spring arrived early for me this year, showing up before the weather offered a reason. I started planning the launch of my boat on the Mississippi before nature had even scraped the ice off the water. Still it’s best to wait till the icebergs clear...

A furry red creature has taken up residence in our backyard. Our dog was the first to discover our new neighbor while searching the backyard for a place to transact his business. Riley stumbled upon the scent and tracks of an animal leading into a large brush pile on...

The holidays are over and winter has taken hold. Save for a passing snow plow, it’s quiet outside. Even a walk down a rocky horse trail near our home is muffled by a carpet of snow. The woods feel like an empty park after all the kids have gone home for supper. But...

The season of thanking and giving is upon us, so it’s time to make a list. Mine is short, yet long on importance: my family, my friends, and living in Driftless Wisconsin. The month of celebration from Thanksgiving through Christmas offers a break from the world at...

When you can’t see the prize, follow your nose. This seems to be the general philosophy of Riley, our five-year old golden retriever, who relies on his snout to find his way in life. We were out for a walk in La Riviere Park when Riley flushed a deer out of a...