Odds and ends

It must be mouse season again. Yesterday I found three in the sticky traps, and this morning there was a nice big fat dead one lying in the middle of the living room floor.

The Baraboo paper reports that the drought has put the Wisconsin River at its lowest level in decades. The Kilbourn Dam in Wisconsin Dells is only generating 20% of capacity. The reservoir system is at less than 66% of storage. Two-thirds of the state is in moderate to severe drought, while the southwest is digging out from under floods. It looks like Jerry's corn across the road -- that looked so beautiful just a few weeks ago -- will wind up going to silage.

Joe and Evelyn are having good weather for their grandkids' visit, though. Sunday they took them to the pool and skatepark. Yesterday they went on a river tour and played miniature golf. Tomorrow is supposed to be a waterpark adventure. Besides feeding and entertaining eleven kids -- sort of like herding cats, one imagines -- they are also both doing some of their legal work by telephone. As Mama said the other day, they will need a vacation to recover from their vacation.

The railroad excursion was fun. When it was over, my pants were covered with bits of coal ash and cinders. I guess I'm lucky none of the sparks burned holes. They didn't try to get me to pick up trash along the river, but they did put in a pitch for helping replace 4200 railroad ties. I don't think so! I have to mention to Joe that the train might be a nice thing to take the grandkids on next year. Not only is it fun, it is quite educational in an easy-going sort of way. And they have Thomas the Train stuff in the gift shop, which will appeal to the youngest of the kids.