Prairie Blooms

Doggo and I ran the trail camera trap line yesterday and discovered a date/time hiccup that we returned to fix today.

 

It was also a good opportunity to checkout the seasonal changes occurring in our prairie habitat. 

 

Prairie isn’t universally native to Door County. Prior to European settlement the landscape was mostly boreal forest. 

 

Cleared for agriculture nowadays you can find previously-farmed acreage repurposed as native prairie. Technically, non-native it’s terrific pollinator and ground nesting bird habitat.

 

For us the autumn species are beginning to come online. 

 

Click on images for a closer look.... 

 

 

Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida)

  

 

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

 

 

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum).  At seven feet it’s as ‘high as an elephant’s eye'

 

 

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans).  It’s flowering this time of year as part of its reproductive cycle.  Yes, grass flowers for pollination.  Four to five feet tall.

 

 

Big Blue stem (Andropogon gerardii).  Commonly known as known as turkeyfoot.  The tiny yellow structures visible dangling from the spikes are its anthers shedding pollen.  

 

 

More turkeyfoot.   The King of the Prairie around here generally grows four to eight feet tall.

 

Check-in periodically for updates as the seasons progress.  

How To Build A Deer Stand

I've built a lot of deer stands over the decades; all most too many to count.  In the early years it was a simple matter to pick-out an appropriate tree that could accommodate a home-built platform with a railing or a manufactured stand you could hang from the tree trunk.  If you chose to construct something out of lumber that was harder and required near constant attention to repairs as trees move with the wind and those platforms eventually become unstable or dangerous without inspection and repair.

All of that ended with the arrival of the ash borer.  Because mature ash trees, with their straight, strong and tall trunks are near ideal for mounting a deer stand; everything around here is dead or dying and not longer suitable for use.

So about ten years ago I commenced-upon a plan to gradually construct free-standing towers fashioned from pressure-treated lumber to replace those that had been in trees and to supplement four additional metal factory-built stands.   

At last count, and including this stand, there have been added eight wooden towers supplementing three metal stands.  The oldest metal stand was replaced by the newest wooden tower a couple weeks ago. 

This location is a really hot spot as the existing stand enjoys views south and west of several hundred yards in length.  So effective is the deer hunting here that this stand is named The Stand of Death.  Lately, dark humor extends that term to anyone bold enough to hunt from a slowly deteriorating stand.  Hunt from it at your own peril. 

I purchased that metal tower 30 + years ago from Fleet Farm.  It's rusty, corroded and pretty rickety.  It is basically unsafe.  Furthermore when you look at it you can see that it's difficult to enter and egress, especially in cold weather when you have to wear bulkier outerwear and heavy boots.  And there's no space to stand-up (safely) and stretch.  The replacement is gonna be luxurious.

 

Having performed most of the preassembly work myself there is a certain amount of muscle memory and record-keeping to guide the purchase of hardware and lumber for the project.  Nevertheless, every time we embark on this there is always a return trip to town for something that we missed or additional needed hardware.  If you've ever constructed a deck you would understand the process.  With the exception of concrete footings it's similar.

Most of the work begins under the lean-to on the barn; a handy place as it's protected from the elements, has power, storage space and a deck that allows sawdust and debris to disappear.

The latest iteration of tower stands features a 4X4 foot footprint fitted with rails bolted to the perimeter joists and the attachment of manufactured brackets that allow fitting the platform to four legs.

Most everything is preassembled along with additional parts cut, numbered and lettered for final assembly in the field.  Ladder, legs and additional lumber in the pick-up truck.  Base and tools in the mule.

 

That's Nick installing lag screws while everyone else is chatting about the recent release of another season of Ted Lasso.  Don’t get the impression that this is one guy doing all the work while the other four pick their noses. This was sweaty labor and a real group effort.

The tower is then slowly winched into an upright position, positioned and leveled by hand by means of human muscle.

And then further braced, blocked, a ladder and additional guards against fall added to the upper deck.

This stand presently is furnished with a camo-painted cafeteria chair; however, a swiveling pedestal boat seat will eventually be permanently installed. 

The following video starts at the eastern portal of what we call the quarter mile long ‘Tunnel of Doom’.  At the opener you can see a couple of flag tapes on the left and right side of the frame. 

 

As I shared at the top, the new Stand of Death (SOD 2.0) enjoys a magnificent view of two shooting lanes. 

 

 

The Middle Guard Tower is similarly endowed to include a new 100 yard-plus shooting lane to the east; further enhancing the original north-south lane. 

 

Thanks to those that were able to join-in on short notice to help assemble this and clear offending branches and other obstacles. I cannot express my gratitude enough.

 

There’s still work to be to be completed before the bow opener so check-in with me about your availability.

 

The food around here is pretty good. 

 

Cheers people; and eat more deer!

Sean Duffy Reprise

Yesterday I featured Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Administration's skillful use of sleight of hand to take credit for transportation improvements and gains for which they didn't have any skin in the game.  They're good at it.  Same goes for this this...

The Great American Road Trip was unveiled earlier this year as part and parcel of the further celebration of America's Semiquincentennial by inspiring the people to hit the road and travel America to join in the celebration.  Previous administrations and Secretaries have produced similar puff pieces and on paper I would not disagree with this conceptually.  Who doesn't like a good road trip and fun celebration?

Filmed beforehand and announced after Mr. Trump made his unilateral decision to go to war the timing was somewhat fraught.  Considering the impulsive nature of the president, the lack of planning and poor timing shouldn't come as any surprise.  With gasoline and diesel north of $4 and $5 a gallon the notion of a road trip was stunningly inopportune and tone deaf.  Working-class middle America was priced out of the road trip market.

So the administration held it back.  Planned for release three months ago it was put on ice ostensibly for additional editing to comply with government ethics rules.  Which is the second problematic issue; Road Trip was underwritten through the generous support of sponsors.  Namely the corporate entities that Duffy's Department is supposed to regulate - including $1 Million Platinum Level sponsors including names like Boeing, Toyota, Royal Caribbean,United Airlines and Shell.

Naturally, considering the Trump administration has its hand out for any opportunity to take money from any any well-heeled contributor that might have business before the federal government; with the exception of Presidential Pardons I'm unwilling to characterize this a bribery.  All previous administrations have done this at some level; however, considering the level of Trump's personal level of fiscal self-aggrandizement and the brazenness of the Trump organization's efforts this is nothing less than art form. But I digress.

I'll likely catch some flack because I'm a cultural philistine and not a fan of 1990's-style saccharine reality television programming.  Even so, if your viewing tastes match the target audience you might want to give it a look.  Its family friendly and the advertising is muted; and because it never rose to the interest of network or cable television you can find it over on YouTube.  And it can use the viewership.

Happy motoring.

You can learn more about the production here. 

Claim Jumping

I have observed the advancement of a homegrown Wisconsin boy, Sean Duffy, from afar.  With some admiration too.  What's not to like about a lumberjack from Hayward, WI?

Indeed, Duffy was a professional lumberjack having competed in Hayward's Lumberjack World Championship on several occasions and winning multiple titles in speed climbing.  He graduated from St. Mary's College of Minnesota with a marketing degree and from William Mitchell College of Law in 1999.  In 2002 governor Scott McCallum appointed Duffy as Ashland County District Attorney where he served until 2010.

In 2010 he defeated state senator Julie Lassa for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional district; formerly held by retiring representative David Obey.  Duffy was re-elected four more times before resigning from Congress in 2019 on account of a newborn child's health complications. After leaving Congress Duffy worked for a consulting group and began co-hosting Fox Business's The Bottom Line in 2023.  

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Duffy to serve as his Secretary of Transportation.  Duffy was confirmed by the Senate on January 28, 2025 and immediately sworn-in.

As cabinet Secretary Duffy isn't generally associated with much of the drama and intrigue that ordinarily follows other cabinet officials.  Much of this is a consequence of a department not generally bedeviled by the culture wars, there is institutional inherited momentum in the pipeline (pardon the pun), ribbon cuttings are positive events and any project delays can be chalked-up to government bureaucracy.  Because bricks and mortar are basically boring background noise Transportation is likely the quietly safest cabinet post on the planet.  Which leads me to this:  Scuttlebutt that Secretary Duffy is taking credit for infrastructure grants signed into law by former president Biden. 

Say it isn't so.

With a modicum of digging it is quite so.

Seems Duffy is touting BUILD grants (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) as rebranded RAISE grants (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) created and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden in 2021.  

Critics note that the Trump administration has been resurrecting previously-passed legislation with new names while not always acknowledging their origin under the former guy.

Official messaging from Duffy and the Department frequently describe moving or approving grants emphasizing that the Trump administration is clearing a backlog or getting America building again of previously announced projects.  Such messaging frames the work as a fresh accomplishment by the current administration - omitting any reference to funding under Biden. 

Representative O'Brien meets with Transportation Secretary Duffy to discuss the I-69 Ohio River Crossing.  The ORX bridge involves a mix of federal, state (Kentucky and Indiana) and toll authority funding for the estimated $933 million project.  The states are pursuing $632.3 million in major federal grants, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) signed in 2021 was huge; authorizing roughly $1.2 trillion in infrastructure funding much of which continues to be allocated and spent as you read this.

In the year since Trump took office not a single stand-alone infrastructure law has been passed.  Major federal infrastructure authorizations all stem from laws passed before Joe Biden left office.  

Noteworthy, is the administration has focused on regulation and permitting; pushing changes intended to speed-up infrastructure approvals by means of revising matters such as environmental permitting.  Recent rollbacks of long-standing environmental review requirements aim to reduce delays on large projects which supporters suggest accelerates infrastructure work without creating entirely new federal infrastructure spending authorizations.

Nevertheless, the current administration has not passed into law any large scale infrastructure spending of its own.  Major funding still originates from earlier bipartisan legislation enacted under former President Biden or other existing statutory authority.

It's not exactly like plagiarizing a term paper as much as it is more like stealing someone else's thunder.  Or maybe their lunch from the office break room fridge.  And much like never accepting responsibility for anything that goes awry; the administration is quick to message another's work as their own and take credit and recognition for someone else's efforts.  All in the name of benefiting from unearned achievements passed-off as their own.  

Nothing new under the sun; we've all been to this rodeo before..... 

August Astronomy

As we come upon the end of August it is worthy of note that Saturn begins rising in the east-southeast signalling the official kickoff of a season of Saturn viewing.

Heretofore, as summer commenced, Saturn was a predawn event.  Now it is rising at a time to make late-evening viewing convenient.  Saturn is now found in the southeast sky by 10 PM and is visible to the naked eye.  If you have a telescope you will have an opportunity to view the planet's rings. 

As a consequence of Saturn rising approximately four minutes earlier each night these later-evening viewing hours will only get better and earlier in September leading up to its peak opposition in October.

 

Friday Music

Trio II was recorded in 1994 but not released until 1999, when Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt appeared on Late Show to perform Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush." 

The Glass Harmonica (or Armonica) was played by Dennis James, who remembers the performance in an interview with Rich Bailey in 2002.

Rich Bailey: 

I remember when you appeared with her on Letterman and you discussed the Armonica a bit. How was that? 

Dennis James: 

Well, it was a great surprise. A sort of unspoken message in the air to me before the broadcast was "Do not say anything on the air!”. After all, these things are Linda's appearances. When David L. leaned over his desk and directed a question to me I simply froze - on playback of the dub I can see myself caught and unable to speak. I received a glance from Linda that said to me it was OK and so when he tried again I called back a flip one liner and on things went from there. 

This song has an ethereal quality to it - the voices of angels.

Everyone should be more like Dolly; God speed.... 

Cognitive Dissonance

Free speech is a vital American value, until it’s exercised by drag queens (or Jimmy Kimmel). 

Socialism is a threat to American freedom, until the Trump administration takes ownership stakes in multiple major American corporations. 

Religious liberty is a cornerstone of the American experiment, unless Muslims want to open a mosque or have equal access to religious schools.