Hello again! I recently traveled to the midwest, 1) to see my aunt & uncle in Iowa, whom I haven't visited
since 2019, and 2) to see Gregory Alan Isakov in concert, and when I found out he was playing in Madison, Wisconsin, I figured I could combine the two into a nice wintry getaway. (Well, not so much a getaway
from winter as a getaway
to winter, as it was quite balmy in NM and everyone was asking me why on earth I'd willingly go where the forecast said it would be single-digit temperatures. I ended up lucking out; while it was frigid the first day or so, it warmed up nicely for the rest of my visit. Anyway, on to the photos!)
February 2
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| view from the hotel in Madison |
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| a chilly stroll |
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| the hotel |
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| downtown Madison |
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| stopping at a vegan restaurant, of course |
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| Sookie's |
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| Lake Mendota |
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| paraskiing? |
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| the wind was a little too fickle |
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| peek at the ice layer |
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| Greg & the boys |
February 3
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| my aunt showing off her vanity plate |
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| the garage/studio |
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| Yuki |
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| Turkey |
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| Rell & Origami (the two newest kittens) |
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| Hymnal, a.k.a. Himmy |
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| Max |
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| did someone say treats? |
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| Blackstar |
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| Fuji |
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| letting the goats out for their walk |
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| Edvard Munch, Paul Goat-guin, & Vincent Van Goat |
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| love to block me on the trail |
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| but he's cute, so he gets a pass |
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| Vinnie |
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| Eddie |
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| munchin', as his name would suggest |
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| goatherding |
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| Paulie & Fuji |
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| Cupid |
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| I can't believe it's been this long since he was a kitten! |
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| Ophelia |
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| will emerge for treats |
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| Cupid, Yuki, Ophelia |
February 4
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| Origami |
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| Himmy's glare |
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| Butter |
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| restaurant dome-pods |
February 5
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| Rell at church |
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| Origami in the back office |
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| a kitten's weakness |
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| Butter in his aggressive affections |
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| Edvard & Fuji |
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| beyond the property line |
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| handsome Vincent |
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| Eddie on the move |
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| grow up & glow up |
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| Paulie posing |
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the garden shed (or, a pop of color in this grayscale world)
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February 6
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| scoping out a spot to nap in the sun |
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| Himmy |
February 7
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| thaw |
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| sweet Fuji |
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| Max trying to blend in |
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| goat stretches |
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| (note the icicles on the top) |
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| increasing traction on the driveway post-thaw |
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| my uncle loves his machinery |
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| up in the cupola, I |
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| up in the cupola, II |
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| stayed still enough to attract 3 fluffballs |
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| Rell (left), Max (front), Himmy (rear) |
February 8
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| Max, Cupid |
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| watching from the goathouse |
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| the schoolhouse down the road |
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| my aunt's church |
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| visiting Baraboo, WI |
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| 4th St |
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| we tried... |
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| not just a hall of fame - also a research center (??) |
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| the circus walk of fame |
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| this is a very circus-renowned town |
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| UberEats & Shark Tank back at my Madison hotel |
The only animals not pictured here were Aeon (who passed away 😢 R.I.P., you were such a sweet and funny lil guy, even if the other cats didn't see that, but I'm glad you're not in pain anymore) and Mango. Everyone else - even Blackstar! - got their moment on camera.
Though, speaking of "moments on camera," these were all taken with my phone (couldn't you tell?). I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I lost my fancy camera before I made it to Iowa. 😞 But, on the upside, it was an opportunity for a gear upgrade (after 7 years with the Lumix), so stay tuned for some photos taken with a Canon DSLR!
