To the Department of Natural Resources of Wisconsin: I am writing in strong opposition to the implementation of Act 168 to open our state parks to hunting. I am also dismayed that such a drastic change to the basic composition of our state parks has been enacted with little information offered to the public. If such a change is to benefit all residents of the state (plants and animals included) then why hasn’t the idea been offered openly? The first I heard of it, well after it was approved by the legislature, was on a day-time radio program, something that most people who work during the day would not have heard. The state parks were created to be a refuge -- for plants, animals and people alike. If the proposed changes prevail, the parks will become yet another natural area that I feel unsafe to take my young children to for exploring. The “closed” areas of hunting are adjacent to the areas open. How can I hike safely knowing that hunters are within feet of my children and me? We do not own a cabin in the woods or land to which we can escape. We live in a large city, surrounded by adequate parks, but we need the long trails of the state parks to truly experience the natural world. We visit the parks in the early spring, when trees are just beginning to show signs of life (and when the hunting period will be in effect). We long for snowy winters when we can ski on the many groomed trails and snowshoe on others (also when the hunting period will be in effect). And during the fall, when the most dramatic changes take place, when we love to camp, and when many other outdoors-minded families go to their land to hunt and explore, we seek out the state parks (during which time there will now be hunters with guns on the trails). All it takes is one mistake by even the most outstanding hunter to make this law the precursor to an unnecessary tragedy. My family and I seek out the state parks regularly, year-round, because they are the one place where we can go and freely explore the natural world without fear of being mistaken for deer or other animals being hunted. We moved to Wisconsin from another state in part because of the respect this state has shown for its natural resources. I will not visit the parks during the open hunting season, and will seriously consider moving our family to another state where the rights of hunters and hikers are equally respected. Please reconsider the implementation of Act 168 to allow hunting in our great state parks. Sincerely, Amy Grunewald-Mattison

Planet watching

Not our planet. For an hour or so tonight we waited for clouds to part and the sun to peek through and then dashed over to our friend's telescope to see a small black spot on a bright white circle. Cameras clicked, voices confirmed that we were seeing what we should be seeing: our neighbor in the solar system circling the sun. We marveled at this dot and for me anyway, I forgot about what is going on here on earth. Our kids mixed in with their friend and made new friends under an oak tree where they created a house of sticks, fit for a king squirrel. Even the lake, known for its green glow and distinct fragrance, spread out below us looking crystal clear from the hill. The actual celestial phenomena, the transit of Venus, has happened before in my lifetime. I don't remember it at all. Maybe there were clouds, or maybe we were just too busy, our one summer when both Ryan and I worked in a hospital. But this one I will remember. And whether it is the story of how the transit of Venus helped scientists of long ago understand the bigger world in which we live or if my memories are of the kids gathering sticks and running up and down the hill, this one I will remember. Just a mile away people were gathering to see if history would be made in a recall election of our state's Governor. That didn't happen. And as much as this defeat crushes the work and hopes of many of us, the planet watching helps. Not our planet, just for a moment. But who knows? Maybe there used to be people just like us on Venus watching the night sky until greed and comfort decimated their planet.

WI needs balance -- take a look at MN

This came from a friend in MN...glad to know our neighbors are thinking of us in the upcoming election on Tues! With permission, I'm posting it on my blog: Minnesota leaves Walker’s Wisconsin in the dust Since January 2011 Wisconsin has had a one-sided state government under Scott Walker. At the same time, Minnesota has operated with a balanced government: a Democratic governor and a Republican legislature. Through April 2012, Wisconsin lost 12,800 jobs while Minnesota gained 38,800 jobs, and while Wisconsin’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent, Minnesota’s unemployment rate is down to 5.6 percent. Over the past year and a half, Minnesota took pragmatic positions on a number of policy issues, while Walker passed short-sighted laws that weaken Wisconsin's educational system and threaten the well being of its environment. An educated workforce is key to strong economic growth, and Wisconsin’s fishing, hunting and tourism industry, and its general quality of life depend on sound environmental policy. If Walker stays in office, education will suffer, and air and water quality will deteriorate. Electing Tom Barrett on June 5 will bring balance back to Wisconsin. Barrett has a solid record on economic development, education, crime, and protecting the environment. No more playing catch up to Minnesota.

Koen walked today! I was rolling out pizza dough that didn't want to be rolled out when I saw him moving from his favorite spot in the kitchen, the pantry, towards his second favorite spot, the garbage. What he spotted was a tub of hummus on the counter and was so focused, he forgot to get down and crawl. He proceeded to eat out of the hummus tub I handed him while standing on his own. I think we have a toddler in the house! We won't have to worry about forgetting the date, as today is also Rob's birthday. Way to go Koen!

Jump Start to Spring

A week ago Ryan took the boys sledding while I sat on the couch and read the newspaper (Koen napped). We knew the end of the snow was coming, but there was plenty to sled on. By Tuesday it started warming and water rushed down the gutters and seeped into the frozen ground. Wednesday brought a hard enough rain to clean things up a bit, and Thursday I could smell the sweet spring dirt. Friday was cold and windy, but Saturday a warm front moved in and we moved out -- of the house and into the yard, street, anywhere that was unsheltered and in the welcomed sun. Everyone emerged from their houses, groups of parents and kids gathered together basking in the warmth of the sun and conversation. Kids made up games, rode bikes up and down the sidewalk, and shed layers of clothes as the afternoon went on. But it is tiring. Just breathing in the air for hours at a time when I am used to being in the heated domes of home and car and store made me sleepy by dinner time. We sprung the clocks ahead, but I feel like I am an hour behind. Elliott collapsed on the couch, no meltdown, no whining, just pure, beautiful exhaustion. Dietrich put his head on the table after he was done eating. They still rallied for bedtime and put on their usual show, but it was subdued and short-lived, the air now turning cooler and beckoning them towards a deep sleep. And it calls me too. I'm sure we'll have another dumping of snow -- after all, it isn't even April yet -- but what a treat. What a joy to be given a taste of spring so early.

Sparkly Ski

There is nothing like a drought of snow to bring out the sparkly magic of a perfect ski. Before last week it had snowed exactly twice -- November 9th (a Thursday) and December 17 (a Saturday, happily the day we went to the Christmas tree farm). Besides those two days, nothing. Without snow in Wisconsin is tolerable, it even had its bright spots. The sidewalks remained wide, the car relatively clean, the smell of soggy mittens absent. No backaches in the house from over-shoveling (pretty sure that is a medical diagnosis here) and no headaches from driving on snow covered roads. What we've missed though was worse. It felt like the ground was left outside naked, as if someone forgot to dress her and she just keeps showing up anyway. Bare trees, bare lakes, even open water. Not enough stillness for winter, not enough fresh, warm dirt for spring. We felt caught in the in between times and nothing we could do about it.

And then, the snow started to come. Not a lot and it didn't last real long, but we had a snowy day or two last week, and then another few inches and below freezing temps this week. It really feels like winter may come after all! The quiet that the snow ushered in surprised me. I kept wondering what was different? Why so quiet? Then today I took the boys skiing while the baby napped at home with Ryan. For the first time they wore real skis and used poles. Their coordination has changed so much since the last time I saw them ski -- for Elliott, probably two years ago with his broken arm last January. I would even say we had a pace going, a rhythm. As we came to a bridge that crossed over a frozen creek bed, the snow caught our attention. It sparkled. In all the stillness and quiet that a blanket of snow offers the earth, the light it reflects is what captured our attention. We swished over the sparkly snow until the boys' rentals were due back (and Elliott's tummy grumbled). Who knows, it may be the last sparkly snow of this crazy winter, but it has lightened us, and I am grateful.