corner view:: garden

I have missed a few corner views lately, and with a garden theme this week, I knew I had to jump back in.


We have had an 'early spring' this year in our part of Wisconsin. Not much rain, but a lot of warmth and sunshine. So much is green, blooming and weeks ahead of normal.



We have been cutting greens from outside for a while now already - mesclun, spinach, rocket. Radishes, beets, carrots and peas have been succession planted, so we'll have them for long while. With all the warmth we are also seeing currants, raspberries, and strawberries!


The rhubarb is looking quiet lovely. I can't wait for fresh rhubarb and strawberry something-or-other for dessert!


A lot of herbage is up - lemon balm, borage, lovage, mint, parsley, chives. The tulips have already passed peak, and the lilacs are in full bloom. They smell so amazing, I often find myself standing near the bush, just inhaling.


While I understand the gardeners love of fancy flowers, I love herbs, fruit and vegetables. To find so much grace and beauty in that which nourishes and sustains us draws me in, and I could wander all day staring at the flowers of arugla going to seed, or the blossoms on a squash vine.


We of course have hundreds of seedlings still going inside, to be transplanted out after 'last frost', and some things are just being started in trays this week like all of the squash.


Ms. Hunka Bianca, our angora rabbit, has been loving her special turnip greens treat every morning - those are about done for the season, but we have many more greens for her to enjoy throughout the summer too. Munch, munch.

I can't wait to see what is growing in all of the other corner views - I am definitely a garden fan. Be sure to visit Spain Daily for the grand list of links, or check out Joyce who is substitute host this week!

corner view:: street photography

This weeks corner view is street photography. While we do live in the city, at this time of year we are a bit done with the dirty slush, huge mounds of gray gritty snow, rutted pothole streets, and colorless views of winter in town (February in Wisconsin). So we take the back roads out of town, and choose where we go to re-supply carefully. We much prefer blue skies, white snowy fields, steam coming off of thickly furred horses, chipped red barns, and hawks circling above.



Even when we must drive in town for things, my view is usually out the other window, watching the lake and the fishing shacks scattered all over the ice.


We love getting out of Madison to stop in our favorite small town cafes for some cocoa and a chess game - no crowds, nice view, and easy in and out.


Not to mention friendly gazes as we head back home.

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corner view:: repurposed

This weeks corner view is "repurposed".

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corner view:: sweets

The Corner View this week is "Sweets".

My husband and 5 year old love sweet things - glazed brioche, cookies, cakes, gummies. My 5 year old currently plans to be a baker when he grows up and have his own 'famous bakery' where he makes pastries, breads, and other goodies. G always says it is time to bake so he can practice - so we make a lot at home. We try to have at least one 'baking day' each week where he gets in the kitchen. We bake bread or he makes something special with me - custard, bread pudding, iced cookies, drop cookies, dark cookies, butter cookies (get the theme, here? ;)), ice cream, bars - whatever we have on hand and/or is is fresh and seasonal. Right now he is into making iced cookies, as he has been expanding his collection of good quality icing colors and loves to experiment and mix.

My 6 year old and I don't really like things too sweet. Our favorite sweets usually include some sort of organic fair trade dark chocolate. I could nibble on oranges or nectarines all day. Or, at a bakery, we love things like this


What are your favorite 'sweets'?


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corner view:: favorite hangout

This week the Corner View is 'favorite hangout'.

While we like getting out to one of our favorite cafes (above) for some good coffee, a game of chess, or some lunch, our favorite place is always...HOME.


Home is where we play, read, cozy up and watch the winter go by. Home is our kitchen - making yogurt, sour cream, cheese, butter. Baking bread or cookies, slow cooking dinner so the house is filled with wonderful smells all day. Home is where we do science experiments, snuggle our cat (who must be wherever we are) or play with the rabbit.


Home is where we paint, draw, sew, make, plan, and grow. Yes, home is our favorite hangout of all.

Where is your favorite hangout?


>>Be sure to visit Jane at Spain Daily for more favorite hangouts around the globe!

corner view:: evening

The Corner View this week is "Evening". We lie in white drifts and cold winds after quite the snowstorm. But we are cozy and warm inside.

You darkness, that I come from,
I love you more than all the fires
that fence in the world,
for the fire makes
a circle of light for everyone,
and then no one outside learns of you.

But the darkness pulls in everything;
shapes and fires, animals and myself,
how easily it gathers them!—
powers and people—
and it is possible a great energy
is moving near me.
I have faith in nights.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

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corner view:: "home"

Todays corner view is 'home', or 'corners of my home'.





There is always something happening in this house - we have peaceful spots as well as chaotic spots, and enjoy them both.






Be sure to visit Jane at Spain Daily where you can view corner views from around the globe.

corner view:: water

This weeks corner view is :: water. With two boys we always seem drawn to water, and a few of our favorite parks are at the top of the list because of their large smooth lakes. Last weekend we decided to take the car ferry to our favorite state park. The boys couldn't believe we hadn't taken them on this before - ahem. During tourist season the wait can be long (for a 7 minute ferry ride), but going off season meant we got on right away. The boys loved driving on, getting out and watching the water go by.




Of course once we crossed, the highway to the state park was closed due to construction, so we skipped it and took a scenic drive through amazing fall colors back home instead.

In looking back at some photos the other day, I saw our pictures from the lake this summer, and the boys at the same spot playing 2 years ago.

october 2007

september 2009

Time flies.

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corner view:: love

The corner view this week is :: love.


Need I say more?


To visit everyone who is participating in Corner View with Jane at Spain Daily, visit::

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad, caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, allison, lise, cate, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, aimee, sunnymama, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, jodi, gillian, travelingmama athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, braja, mulot, anne, lucy, leonor, elizabeth, helene, dominique, shokoofeh, cole, jenna, podane, grey-lemon, line, nihal, urbaNiche, inner toddler, puna, lucylaine, adrienne, emily, lynn, skywriting, eliane

corner view:: white

The corner view this week is "white". Honestly, with two small boys my world doesn't involve much white. Except maybe the back of the wrapping paper taped to my dining table right now which the boys drew a city and roads on. Or maybe my white streak in my hair. ;) But then as I thought for a moment, I found that there are a few things...




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jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, allison, lise, cate, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, aimee, sunnymama, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, braja, mulot, anne, lucy, leonor, elizabeth, helene, dominique, shokoofeh, cole, jenna, podane

corner view:: out the car window

corner view:: out the car window

I am excited to see the corner view resume for the fall! This week the theme is out the car window. I must admit that I take a lot of photos out the car window...


To visit great views from around the world visit the other corner views::

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad, caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, allison, lise, cate, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, aimee, sunnymama, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, braja, mulot, anne

corner view:: wisconsin weekend

This week the corner view is 7:45PM Friday, 7:45PM Saturday, 7:45PM Sunday. Friday night we checked into our weekend vacation cottage, went out to dinner, and then walked across the street to the park to play as the sun was going down. The boys found a basketball in the grass and played for a bit.



Saturday evening we were still in our cottage. We again went out to dinner in town and came back to go play in the park. At the edge of the park there were fruit trees, berry bushes and a restored prairie. I walked the edges looking as the boys played.


Sunday evening we were back home. The boys went with my husband and several neighbors to a neighborhood park on their bicycles as I watered the garden!

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