RogerMatile
@ram1946
Retired weekly newspaper editor, photographer, reporter, graphic artist. Local history columnist, & public history nerd. Blogging local history & microhistory at History on the Fox. Volunteer local history museum director.
My dad, former cowboy, oil field roustabout, and steeple jack, was showing a bit of swash and buckle when my mom snapped this photo in 1930. A happy Father's Day to you, dad...
Apparently not everyone in Texas is a Trumpie loon. Saw this pickup with Texas plates this afternoon here in northern Illinois.
It may actually be spring here in Illinois' Fox River Valley--it's always hard to tell. But the flowers on the south side of the house have popped today: Peonies are above ground, daffodils, tulips, Virginia bluebells, the magnolia tree, and our stand of Lenten Roses--hellebores--are all blooming.
Just one more piece of the nation's ever-growing Depravity Economy that is gradually stripping society of its basic humanity:
I'm assuming this guy's using the word "action" ironically when referencing the Republican-run U.S. House of Representatives:
As you can see by the view from my office window here on the banks of northern Illinois' beautiful Fox River, we got a light dusting of snow last night. Yesterday we saw a migrating Loon. And our resident mink has been wandering the riverbank. Hope he hangs around to harvest some Canada Goose eggs.
Not sure what to make of this other than wishing I'd been there to see it in person:
Northern Illinois weather rule: "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute." Yesterday it was over 60° F. and raining cats and dogs. Today, our island is disappearing under the Fox River, it's currently 27° F., it's snowing, and we've got a nice NNW breeze going on.
The one thing you can count on with the modern GOP's leadership is a total lack of judgment, not to mention morals, ethics, and honor itself:
The winter holidays are definitely over. I just ate the last Christmas springerle while watching the Bears game:
Back in the day, Christmas trees, were decorated with lighted candles. Which makes a person wonder why any houses from that era still survive. For your holiday pleasure--and possibly extreme concern--here is a photo of my distant cousins gathered around their tree in 1912, with candles blazing:
Walking 10 miles to school, uphill both ways, through 10' drifts...these kids today don't know how good they've got it, etc., etc...
No leisurely bagel, cream cheese, and coffee on the screen porch this morning, I guess...
It's still 22 days until winter officially begins, but it looks like Mother Nature wanted to get an early start this year. We've got about 8" on the ground along the banks of the Fox River out here on what the Chicago Trib once described as "the rural plains" west of Chicago.
Glenn & Sandy, Sue & I, Pat & Craig, Nov. 25, 1965. After 60 years, we're all still close friends. While Vietnam created delays for the other two couples--both guys saw heavy combat during Tet--they survived, came home, & we're all still married to our high school sweethearts, here in our hometown.
Note to Trump's MAGA military murdering crews on those boats down south: These guys were assured by their corrupt legal officials that what they were doing was within the law. It wasn't and several of them were hanged. Food for thought?
So...woke up this morning to see this on our deck--enough snow to track a cat. Since this is Nov. 10, according to my grandfather's weather wisdom, that means we'll have 10 snows this winter. Given global climate change, though, that's pretty doubtful...
Something I reposted exactly a year ago seems to have worn unfortunately well:
In case you were wondering what Trump's ridiculous 'ballroom' will look like, here you go. Here's hoping the next Dem President will personally drive the demolition dozer that destroys this architectural carbuncle:
Look what just fell out of my copy of "Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West!" Boy, were those the days or what? Borders Books AND Tapes!
Last 2025 Wisconsin northwoods sunset for us; we head south to Illinois tomorrow morning...
About ready to head back south and home tomorrow but this was the view out of the front window of our Wisconsin fishing cabin this morning as I enjoyed my morning brew...