Greetings and welcome,
As usual, I was wrong about the fall colors. It’s on. I probably saw 20+ early splashes of color on the way to work Friday afternoon. Some of the early colors are the best, and these trees were the vivid orange and red that are almost iridescent.
There is still plenty of green out there, but now there are some nice early maples showing great color. The show has started.
Have a great weekend and thank you for visiting,
RJB
Greetings and welcome!
It has been a wild week in weather. We had a couple of nights that were right around freezing, yesterday was hot and humid, and we have had rain three of the last 6 days. The rain totaled 1.4″ according to the USGS gauge by Kosir’s, with 0.8″ last night.
On the way to work yesterday I hit some of that rain on Parkway Rd. At the top of the hill a mile north of the bridge over the Peshtigo River between the flowages I got a few sprinkles on the windshield. At the bridge the wipers were on high and I couldn’t see because it was raining so hard. There were big puddles on the road and water running down the side. By Caldron Falls Bar my wipers were off and the sun was coming out. That was it for rain until after sunset.
Most of the rain came last night after about 9pm. It was a good lightning show on the way home at about 8, but it was distant. I went out to cover my firewood at about 9 and the first drops were just coming.
That rain cleared out the oppressive humidity and it looks like a pretty nice day outside. Other than a chance of a few sprinkles today as the storm clears out, there is no rain in the forecast between now and Tuesday.
The weekend looks a little on the cool side but pretty pleasant for weather. Saturday night promises to be cold though. Tomorrow’s high temp looks to be about60, Sunday about 65, and Monday & Tuesday in the low 70s. Tonight we are looking at low temps in the low 40s, but Saturday night the NWS is calling for widespread frost and a low of 31.
From what saw on the TV weather this morning, we are behind a lot of the rest of the state for fall colors. The TV was showing places like Vilas Co up to about 35% of peak and areas south at about 25%. We are probably at 5 or 10%. I just saw my first big display early color maple yesterday. It was one of two splashes of color that I noticed between here (Hwys C & F) and Parkway and Hwy X.
Someone suggested that because we have had a good summer for rain and a fairly wet past few weeks the trees aren’t closing off the leaves quite as fast as they normally do. I don’t really know, but it seems unusual to only have a couple of splashes of real color the third weekend in September.
I have a near perfect record of forecasting fall color- wrong every year.. That having been said, I am expecting the colors to really come in over the next week. My analogy is that it’s like that last little nub of fuse before the firecracker goes off, and it’s burning. A lot of trees are transitioning from green to yellow, but just aren’t quite there yet.
I am reminded that this Sunday brings the official start of fall. Sunday at 3:44pm it goes from summer to fall.
I am really happy to see clear weather ahead over the weekend and next week. I am in a near panic on where I am with my fall preparations and firewood. I got a nice boost last weekend when a website visitor friend dropped off a couple of big loads of split oak. Thank you very much!
It rained on two of my days off last week and shut me out of the woods. I finally got cutting late Thursday afternoon, and cut we did. There are four medium sized oaks down and one is cut up and waiting for the splitter. I will be back on that over the weekend.
I only have one event listed for this weekend, but more for next weekend.
Saturday 9-21
3rd Annual Dogleg Open Golf Outing – September 21 at Parkway Golf Club, Pound, WI, 920-897-3950
A family friendly golf outing, with all proceeds going to fight Multiple Sclerosis here in Wisconsin. Greens fees, cart, and dinner are only $60 per person. We’ll also have many contests and raffles- fun for everyone! Golfers AND non-golfers are welcome to participate (“Dinner only” is a $12 donation).
Saturday 9-28
There is a big poker run drawing party and ride for ABATE at Curve Inn. They are having the No Schtick Band, a really good regional band. Click on the poster for more info.
The Iron Snowshoe Associate Members 2nd annual Membership Pot Luck will be Saturday, September 28th. at Jim & Gail’s @ W12563 Ranch Road, (Twin Bridge) Meeting will start at 1:00 and party will follow. Bring a dish to pass, Lawn chairs if you have a favorite, Your own beverages, and a friend to join the club. RSVP by FRIDAY, September Sept 19th Jim Stradal 715-927-2793
Silver Cliff soup and chili festival at the picnic grounds by Hwy C and Parkay north (Hwy I). That is always a popular and delicious event.
Sunday September 29
Crivitz Fall HarvestFest at Crivitz High School – 400 South Ave. 8:30am to 2pm – Crafts/Bake Sale/Food & Refreshments/Outdoor Fall Decorations/Rummage Sale. Admission – bring a can good to donate to local food pantry.
That is about it for today. Have a good weekend and thank you for visiting!
RJB
Greetings and welcome!
I think that I finally got the date right.. Thanks Mike.
Just a quick update with a few things..
Item one, we have been having some cold nights. Last night we got down to 30, the night before was 33. That is according to Athelstane Weather.
When I woke up this morning the far back field by the creek and the pond basin looked frosted up. I must have caught the last moments of it, by the time I rubbed my eyes and headed for a camera it was gone. I am going to guess that the low areas like that where the cold air settles went into the upper 20s last night.
The big color show still hasn’t really started, but I am expecting it any time. There is some general dulling of the leaves and yellowing as they die back, but the real fall colors aren’t here yet. I am wondering if the cold will set them off.
The last item is a picture of a sturgeon that Slug sent in. The Menominee River is to my knowledge the only place that you can hook and line fish them in WI and the season is open.
This is a63″ 55# female caught downstream of Bear Point by Paul Schmidt.
As always, Bear Point Yacht Club is the HQ for fishing that stretch of the Menominee River.
That’s news for today. Have a good week and thank you for visiting!
RJB
Greetings and welcome!
It was a week of big changes in the weather this week. The week started out humid and close to 90 degrees, today it is pleasant and we are expecting a high of 62.
Last night was on the chilly side. Athelstane weather shows a low of 36 for last night, and we are expecting similar temperatures for tonight. I stoked up the wood burner last night and will be doing it again tonight. I must be getting better at that, the fire died out right as it got up to 75 in here. It is almost a tradition to overdo it at least once early in the season and get it up over 90 in here with the doors and windows open. So far so good.
The weekend weather looks like a split. The NWS has us getting up to 71 tomorrow with a sunny day. Saturday night they have us for a 40% chance of showers and a low of 50, followed by a 63 degree day and a 60% chance of rain Sunday.
That is pretty typical for early fall around here. One thing that I learned the hard way is that fall can bring more rain than summer. I say OK I have 6 weeks to do outside work, but by my reasoning is that it really is 3 weeks because of the frequent cold fronts and rainy days.
This is a big weekend around here with events and with hunting seasons opening. Bow deer season opens tomorrow and runs Sept. 14 – Nov. 21 & Nov. 23 – Jan. 5, 2014. Black bear season opened last week and this week depending on if you use bait, dogs, and so on. Yesterday I saw two people at the gas station with bears registering them, so I’d guess that bear season is off to a good start.
Slug sent in a reminder that hook and line sturgeon season is open on the Menominee River. There is a 60″ minimum. Bear Point Yacht Club is your headquarters on that.
As far as events, here is the current list..
There is the Firequacker 500 at Everbreeze Resort where rubber ducks race on Chute Pond and have some fun with raffles, food, live music and refreshments.
– See more at: http://www.ocontocounty.org/events/?i=fire-quacker-500-2013-09-21&d=2013-09&view=l#sthash.DpxAZgUe.dpuf
Saturday in Lakewood they are having their Festi-Fall, listed as An outdoor celebration with Art and Music. Artists,Musicians & Demonstrations. Antiques, Food & Fun throughout the Town of Lakewood
– See more at: http://www.ocontocounty.org/events/?i=festi-fall-2013-09-14&d=2013-09&view=l#sthash.9ZG5JIBx.dpuf
In conjunction ith that there is a beer tasting at Lakewood pavillion with Lakewood Pirates of the Northwoods PHC Beer tasting. Over 100 beers from around the world.
– See more at: http://www.ocontocounty.org/events/?i=lakewood-beer-tasting-2013-09-14&d=2013-09&view=l#sthash.FQgxVoaw.dpuf
Chris’ event list brings us the Annual Peshtigo River Paddle – September 14 10am-3pm – Trip starts at the City of Peshtigo boat landing by the municipal garage on County Road B (401 East Front St) and ends at the County Road BB Landing. Canoes available for reservation or bring your own. Transportation is available to shuttle participants. For more information call 715-732-7780.
Next weekend brings the 3rd Annual Dogleg Open Golf Outing – September 21 at Parkway Golf Club, Pound, WI, 920-897-3950
A family friendly golf outing, with all proceeds going to fight Multiple Sclerosis here in Wisconsin. Greens fees, cart, and dinner are only $60 per person. We’ll also have many contests and raffles- fun for everyone! Golfers AND non-golfers are welcome to participate (“Dinner only” is a $12 donation).
Two weekends out..
There is a big poker run and ride for ABATE at Curve Inn. They are having the No Schtick Band, a really good regional band. Click on the poster for more info.
The Iron Snowshoe Associate Members 2nd annual Membership Pot Luck will be Saturday, September 28th. at Jim & Gail;s @ W12563 Ranch Road, (Twin Bridge) Meeting will start at 1:00 and party will follow. Bring a dish to pass, Lawn chairs if you have a favorite, Your own beverages, and a friend to join the club. RSVP by FRIDAY, September Sept 19th Jim Stradal 715-927-2793
That is also the weekend of the Silver Cliff soup and chili festival at the picnic grounds by Hwy C and Parkay north (Hwy I). That is always a popular and delicious event.
That Sunday September 29 is Crivitz Fall HarvestFest at Crivitz High School – 400 South Ave. 8:30am to 2pm – Crafts/Bake Sale/Food & Refreshments/Outdoor Fall Decorations/Rummage Sale. Admission – bring a can good to donate to local food pantry.
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There was some debate this week if we are behind normal for fall colors or not. I think that we are, it is just getting started with a few splashes here and there. I recall seeing some early maples in late August and around Labor Day in years past, and those are just starting to show up. When I was in Niagara early this week there were a couple of color spots, but not many. The back yard has a tree or two getting started, but no big show yet. I wold expect that the next few weeks will bring a lot more.
One last item, the Lakewood Zoo got closed down a while back because the government got excited about some of the exotic animals. Apparently they are reopening for Halloween season as “Chumley’s”. They will have halloween festival stuff like campfires and hay rides, but no critters. I will try to track down a poster and/or get more information.
Also on the list of stuff to track down is the opening date for the corn maze on Nejedlo Rd just south of Wausaukee. That should be starting up any time now.
That is just about a wrap for me today. Special thanks gfoes out to Jim and Neil who helped me out in a big way this week. Thank you both very much.
Have a good weekend and thank you for visiting!
RJB