into May

Weather for the past 3 weeks has been cold, wet, grey, and windy.  Farmers have delayed planting crops for 3 weeks, and birds have delayed migration.  One or 2 days per week we have seen sun and blue sky.  With all this dreary weather I have had alot of indoor time for job searching.  You would think with all the effort I have put into this, I would at least get a phone call or an email.
     Highlights of my time in Madison were attending a wonderful show by Madison Ballet, visiting the Picasso exhibit at Chicago Art Institute, and watching a performance of the opera Don Giovanni presented by Madison Opera.  Such marvelous voices, oh my, it was beautiful music.  The Picasso exhibit was fascinating. He had so many more phases of his art than I knew about.  We also toured the Impressionist exhibit with paintings by all the famous names.

 

 While raking leaves in my aunt's yard I uncovered the sprouts of Bloodroot.  A week later they were blooming.

    In between the raindrops and bundled up against the cold wind, I did do some birding.  Eastern Towhees returned, Hermit Thrushes came back but are not singing yet, Juncos finally left, Chipping Sparrows arrived, and Field Sparrows were trilling in a field.  In a flooded field near Lake Kegonza south of Madison I found over a dozen Snipe, a pair of Blue-winged Teal, 3 Sandhill Cranes, a few Yellowlegs, and 2 large Sandpipers.  At first I thought maybe White-rumped; later on a local expert told me its too early for them.
 ?? maybe they were Solitary Sandpipers.

Top photo is a White-throated Sparrow.
Right now, its snowing.  May 2 and its snowing. This is crazy weather.