The observation deck at the top of the capital dome opened last weekend. Most people lining the rails are looking out at the city, but they're missing these pensive figures carved in granite that surround the dome. I wonder if most people even realize they're there.

Another look at the stauary on the capital dome.

One last look ...

I, Cow

Madison's nighttime skyline was reflected in the eye of this cow, to arresting effect.

Madison Skyline at Night (Cow Version)

The capital of Wisconsin is built on an isthmus. Lake Mendota's to the north, Lake Monona to the south, and a never-ending slew of photos and paintings of the city in between. Seems nobody with a camera or paint brush can resist the frame that sky and water put around the city.

The Cows Came To Madison

The state milk marketing board dreamed up this promotional art exhibit; they cast several hundred cows in fiberglass, handed them to local artists and bid them do what they would. Then they loaded the cows on trucks and began to cart them all over the state. I have no idea of Madison is the beginning of their tour, in the middle, or near the end.

Cows again

I found this cow face (complete with hen-shaped lock of forehead hair) hidden in the turquois pattern that covered one cow from head to hoof.

The cows are supposed to be in town for one or two weeks and, as you can see, they're scattered here and there along the sidewalks of the town. How long before the grafitti taggers get in on the action?

Bumper Cow

For sheer whimsy, I think this was my favorite cow — for today. Although several others have climbed in to take the wheel for a photo op, I resisted the urge (and I'm kicking myself for it now).

While I was grilling the customary Memorial Day tenderloin, I ducked into the house to escape the insane heat (temps were in the high 90s all day). My darling B was pan-frying onion crisps to garnish the steak and the hot oil had fogged the air in the house to the point that the evening sunshine cut slanting rays through the windows in the front door and the display screen in the living room.

It's been a long time since I've seen a modern car, particularly one made by Detroit, that will make me stop cold in my tracks and drool. This Chevrolet SSR was parked along Mifflin Street during my lunch hour last Friday.

If the capital building were designed today, would it look like ...

... this?

A walk around capital square first thing in the morning is a treat.

I've been sloppy drunk, and I've been awful tired, but I've never, ever been as relaxed as this, and I can't imagine how I ever will.

Looking Up

This oak tree has been hunched over like a question mark for longer than I've been breathing in and out, and I just noticed it today as I was taking my afternoon break in the form of a short walk around capital square.

Looking Down

It looks like an ash leaf, but I didn't see any ash trees on the square, so I'm not sure which tree's leaf was immortalized in the sidewalk on Mifflin Street.

Looking Up Again

These terra cotta faces look out across the square from the upper story of the building at 7 Pickney Street. Looks a bit like the Green Man, doesn't it?

Out on the Stoop

Of the many wonderful places in Our Humble O-Bode, this back stoop is a great place to take your cup of coffee and set a spell. Barb and the cats loves to watch the yard through the many windows; on warmer days, she swings the door open to give her an even better view through the screen. Her basil plant is doing very well in the sun at the far corner of the room, too.

And what does she watch through her binoculars?

We've got rabbits living in a warren under a rotting stump out by the lilac bushes. So far we've counted at least two adults and three youngsters, and when they're out on the lawn to get their morning silfay, Bonkers will jump from window to window, jockeying for the best view, and Barb will squeal, "Bunnies!" and call everybody into the room to watch.

Birds! Our neighborhood has had about fifty years to establish a thick cover of trees, and many of the yards have gardens, attracting grackles, cowbirds, cardinals, jays, nigers and sparrows — lots and lots of sparrows.

I can't think of a place I've been in Wisconsin where I haven't heard a mourning dove, and our yard is no exception. Even in a cold rain, this dove showed up for the morning shift to sing her song.