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On your left…

Although, “On your left” may be thought to be a political statement–nope, it is a courtesy used by bikers when they are coming up behind–getting ready to pass. I am a biker. I really, really like my bike. This blog is going to include musings of my time on the Oak Leaf Trail and just maybe, of my life journey. How cute is that? I will be back soon. A little traveling music–Melanie Safka’s, “A Brand New Key.” Enjoy the ride. Marlene Ann

The trail is 118 miles of continuous segments encompassing Milwaukee County. There are remote sections featuring wetlands as well as woodlands, the Hank Aaron State Trail segment features urban–it continues the journey down Canal Street, pass the Harley-Davidson campus on to Lake Michigan and the Milwaukee Art Center. I love it. The only segment I have not traveled is the South Shore corridor–The Seven Bridges Trail is a path through Grant Park at the edge of Lake Michigan. I’m going–no question. And, yes, there are seven bridges.

The Garden House is part of an English country garden setting. It is my cup of tea. Oh, and there is always a local artist featured.

Okay, as Roy Rogers and Dale Evens did way back when, I am going to sing “Happy Trails” until we meet again. Marlene Ann

Mother Nature

“Cooking is also of all the arts one that has done most to advance civilization, for the needs of the kitchen were what first taught us to use fire, and it is by fire that man has tamed nature itself.” Anthelme Brillar-Savarin

This quote is in the “Twelve Months of Monastery Soups” by Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourrette, a book I had with me on my errands–I always have a book with me and lately, for some reason, it has been a cookbook. Tamed nature–as we live through fires and floods with so many of us losing our homes–isn’t Mother Nature saying no, no, no more?

I brought home beautiful peaches and blueberries–decided on a peach and blueberry cake–it’s sorta, kinda like a pineapple upside-down cake–using a springform pan. Went to my music library and picked out “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d Baked You a Cake.” See ya.

That’s it……

It takes me awhile, surprise surprise. I have been selecting cookbooks to carry because of the abundance of fresh–everything, farmers markets, road side stands galore. Could it be better? When I opened the old cookbook that was with me yesterday there was an index card from way back when–I use index cards–like index cards. It read:

• Is my thought based on obvious fact?
• Will acting on my thought best help me protect my life and health?
• Will acting on my thought best help me achieve my short- and long-term goals?
• Will acting on my thought best help me avoid my most dreaded conflicts with other people?
• Does my thought best help me feel the emotions I want to feel without alcohol or other drugs?

For the thought to be rational, there must be at least three yes answers.

Good find. A refresher course.

Serendipity…

the occurrence and development of events by chance in happy or beneficial way.

I like to take my bike to run errands if possible, only; this morning at 10:00AM when I ventured out the temp was already 87 degrees–so it was going to be just a little ride on the parkway–very little. I tethered my pony and decided to walk a bit along the edge of the wood. There on the ground was the pretty egg–the underside showed that a fledgling had emerged. Cool. Knowing it was delicate and was not going to last in my hand I looked for something to cradle it–hence the leaves. They were perfect. It looked pretty as a picture and it was.

Some things are just meant to be black and white…

For example….

In the movie “Top Hat” a perfect black and white movie, Ginger wearing a white dress with a gazillion feathers on it, is dancing with Fred who, of course, is in ‘tails – to “Cheek to Cheek”– it is mesmerizing and just plain beautiful. It was today’s inspiration. A retro at heart, Marlene Ann Malisow

It’s Summer…

and this Queen can be seen everywhere–standing on the side of the road, dancing in a field, and she was even seen in a beer garden. Yep.

The bicycle…

is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.

John Howard

This quote is from Scott Stoll’s website theargonauts.com. Scott was born in Milwaukee and attended UW-Milwaukee.

Scott traveled 32,344 miles around the world, 4 years, 59 countries, 6 continents – on a bike; and, did so much more. Quite inspirational.

‘Here Comes Summer’…song

July was a great rendition. I am looking forward to August being an ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’ month. Have fun.

All love is pursuit of the whole.

-Plato

“You had me from hello.” Dorthy Boyd, (Renee Zellweger’s character) says to Jerry Maguire, (Tom Cruze’s character) in the movie ‘Jerry Maguire’ – my heart swells every time I watch that movie. Love it.

And my other go to heart swelling movie is “Fools Rush In.” I like it. It is the scene at the edge of the canyon, when Alex (Mathew Perry’s character) is telling Isabel, (Selma Hayek’s character) they should marry that does it.

The Front Porch.

I steadily pedaled on while continuing to look about for that safe haven – that Front Porch of Dominic DeFrancisco’s home – the one that held so many stories.

The sky was becoming the color of steel and there was a faint sound of thunder in the North. When that happens and I am on my bike I start pedaling as fast as I can toward home, while looking for a safe haven. That was the case yesterday afternoon on my way home with provisions for dinner. In my saddlebags – a crusty Italian bread from Sciortino’s Bakery and a bottle of vino. It was going to be pasta, with the basil and Shiitake mushroom (you only need a little) picked-up from the farmers market and the oregano from the pot on my window sill – it was perfect. Perfect because I also had a Rudbeckia plant in the carryall on the back of my bike. The plants were on display at the entrance of Sendik’s and although the botanical name is Rudbeckia – to me it will always be a Black-Eyed Susan, the flower that lined the side of my grandfather’s home. The flowers he watered (sprinkled) every summer evening – as well as the manicured lawn.

This quote literally brought tears to my eyes:

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Anonymous

I want to tell you that I am on Instagram; only, I do not know how to tell you to get there…it has to do with marleneannmalisow, I think. It was enough for me to get there, of course I had help! Jenna, the young barista at Broad Street Coffee Company helped me, she is so smart – she is also a music student at UWM – as well as twelve other things.

‘So Fine’ by the Fiestas

was my wake-up song this morning. You know what else is ‘so fine?’ The three people who helped me when I sooooo needed it – I was on the Trail. I was biking to the top of the Hill — you can get there by bike on an adjacent trail – off Root River Parkway.

Almost to the top. This is at the Rock. An outdoor yoga class in session.

At the top of the Hill is a toboggan slide. I want to say it is part of Whitnall only I do get turned around. I biked (skirted) the edges of Hales Corners, Greendale and Greenfield only to end up in Franklin. It is so pretty. Okay, up the hill.

I was so disappointed.

At the top of that hill. That is it. That is where I wanted to be. Another bike ride….

They are still working on the trail up to the Rock. I took my bike for a walk. There are I believe six maybe seven baseball fields at the Rock including the one where the Milkmen play.

The Rock has become a very, very, very popular place, and, that is important. So, this is going to sound terrible – I could not help but think of Joni Mitchell’s song ‘Big Yellow Taxi.’

And, yes I am aware that the Rock is built on landfill.

It was on my way down when the ‘situation’ occurred:

• I did not fall from my bike.
• No pain.
• A huge amount of blood.
• I had stopped short.
• The pedal hit my shinbone and opened a vein.

As I stood there gripping my bike wondering what was happening, three people came on the scene. Sharon and Laura helped me to the ground. Sharon had a towel which was used as a compress to stop the bleeding. And, Lori had a ‘clean wipe’ thing and bandages. And, there was DJ standing on the other side of the Trail. DJ had a problem with all the blood, only; he wanted to help if needed. Which he did. DJ was walking the Trail so he had a car (big) near by and took me home. An interesting side – DJ’ s girlfriend is a phlebotomist.

Remnant – Old French remnant, from remenoir, remanoir ‘remain’

After the heavy rain this – a ‘remenoir’ from the Summer garden.

Fall

is filled with stories – poetry – prose galore. These descriptive sentences are from Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960) ‘Storm in a Teacup.’ There is now a 2017 edition – for years there were few copies available. “The immense curtain of trees faced north in tapestry of temperate tones painted with purple and grey and the twilight colors of autumn foliage seen through shadows. The ash was already naked – a clean skeleton against the sun mass of drying foliage – and other trees were casting down there garments; but the fir and spruce made rich contrast of blue and green upon the sere.

Another Sunday afternoon ride.

I do own golf clubs and occasionally they are taken outside to play.

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Yes, of course, the ride is pretty. It also has some hills and that is good. Always a challenge. The very first time I did this ride it was from ‘Tosa’ and boy I did not know where I was going or if I would ever get there – it’s now a part of me. It isn’t only the ride – it’s the place. I love it – it is the type of place where I could live. Sometimes I go there just to sit and write, especially if I need to do or complete something I have delayed doing. If I had a gazillion dollars some of that would be spent renovating all the buildings in all the parks in Milwaukee County. Not only do they hold memories for so many they are not cookie cutter buildings – they should have been maintained – preserved. I am one of these people who can not understand the millions of dollars poured into, oh dear, sports. Okay, you where I am going with this…. I learned to ice skate and swim in these parks. Climbing down from the soap box….

It is also my favorite place for lunch. Grilled three cheese sandwich and those basket weave fries – love it. See ya.

A full moon…

Black and White

You know what? They came into my life at the same time.

______________________________________

The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame was born in Scotland in 1859. From the age of five he lived with his grandmother in Cookham Dean, Berkshire, where he spent a lot time on the banks of the River Thames.

‘The Wind in the Willows’ grew from a series of stories he wrote for his young son. Inga Moore has beautifully illustrated this children’s classic.

The little Red Book Store in ‘Tosa’ ordered this for me some time ago. It is my ‘comfort food’ for the mind.

Round and round and round…

• 2005 This song was one that was played in the movie ‘The Wedding Date.’ I liked the movie. I still the movie.

• 1960 Jimmy Clanton releases the recording, ‘I Want to Go Home.’ You do the math.

All of this brought something else to mind. It is strange how that works.

Karma

Did your mom ever say to you ‘what goes around comes around?’ I don’t think she was referring to the turntable. Do you?

Way too much fun…

I could touch the film when it was, gingerly, threaded onto the reel in the camera. Again, in the dark – I threaded it on to the reel to be placed in the developing tank. And, when I printed the negative – once again in the dark – I touched the selected paper — sliding it into the tray of chemicals. And, when the image appeared I never ever lost the sense of surprise and joy — I was in love…..

When life is not going right…turn left.

Okay, this will be the last leaf on my blog page. This could be a Christmas tree. It is so pretty.

This blog is continuing on way too long. On the sixth of December I will begin anew, if I can figure out how to do it. I will also at that time start another page entitled ‘The Front Porch.’ I will figure it out.