Grumpy Troll Brew Pub

Ah, the good old Grumpy Troll. I've grown fond of his wooden mug of a face. I must have passed by him at least 4 times today. It's been a very, very active day for me. As I write this my pedometer is showing I've taken 17, 166 steps so far, almost 9 miles! Lots of chores, restocked on fireplace wood. We've now two months worth in the garage sitting in my Jeep trailer. The new gym routine I kicked off yesterday is really giving it to me but good. I've also really bashed up my right elbow through a combination of activities... It's SO tempting to just head over to the Troll and order an amazing beer. But I won't...

#troll #mounthoreb #wisconsin #travelwisconsin #discoverwisconsin #driftlessarea #madisonwi #hilltroll #towntroll #dovregubben #grumpytroll #grumpy #beer #lager #ale #brewery #brewpub #tavern #craftbrew #craftbeer #wibrewing #wicraftbeer #beerporn #beerstagram #beergram #instabeer #craftbeerporn #craftbeergeek

Jormungand

They've sailed their Dragonships here to the upper-midwest and have settled. Occasionally as I travel the back roads that twist along ridges like the long back of a great serpent and suddenly I'll stumble upon a symbol of the ancient past.

"His dragon with her sails of blue,
All bright and brilliant to the view,
High hoisted on the yard arms wide,
Carries great Canute o’er the tide.
Brave is the royal progress — fast
The proud ship’s keel obeys the mast,
Dashes through foam, and gains the land,
Raising a surge on Limfjord’s strand."
(The Song of Canute, Saga of St. Olaf)

#wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #mounthoreb #madisonwi #midwestisbest #danecounty #onwisconsin #norse #norwegian #nordic #viking #vikings #north #northmen #draken #dragon #dragons #Jörmungandr #Jormungand #MidgardSerpent #Miðgarðsormr #worldserpent

Taking the Back!

Freja is becoming very adept at taking and keeping the back position. I watched her really cling to a number of other kids tonight. They couldn't escape! Now all she needs to to learn how to attack from there and she may have something.

#bjj #bjj4life #brazilianjiujitsu #jiujitsulifestyle #jiujitsu #madisonwi #madisonwisconsin #martialarts #wisconsin #infusionmma #bjjgirls #jiujitsugirls #bjjgirl #bjjlife #jiujitsulife #veronawisconsin #veronawi #martialartslife #martialartsforkids #girlswhofight #girlswhoroll #bjjkid #jiujitsuforgirls #training #grappling #kidsmma #kidsmartialarts

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

I had a few hours to explore my local area. I randomly picked traveling to the Yellowstone Wildlife Area. Along the way I meandered along ridge lines of the Driftless Area. I saw a number of interesting locations but the best was when suddenly a juvenile Bald Eagle appeared in my windshield view. It was about 15' in front of me, and just above the top of the Jeep. I had been driving along the ridge slowly so we ended up keeping pace with each other for a while. Every so often it would glance back at me and I swear we made eye contact.

It wasn't the only eagle I spotted either. In all I must have seen at least five in all. The last was this beauty settling onto an oak.

#BaldEagle #raptor #birdofprey #Haliaeetusleucocephalus #eagle #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #haugelogchurch #madisonwi #midwestisbest #Eagles #Birds #ExploreOrg #Birding #BirdWatching #America #BirdsofInstagram #Audubon #igbirdwatchers #your_best_birds #igbirds #birdingwi

Hauge Log Church

Built in 1852, the Hauge Log Church was the first Norwegian Lutheran Church constructed in western Wisconsin. Adjacent to the church is a small cemetery where members of the first congregation are buried, including Arne Ruste who cut the first log used in building the church.

#wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #haugelogchurch #madisonwi #midwestisbest #danecounty #onwisconsin #norse #norwegian #nordic #hauge #Lutheran #Church

Memmories of Light

On gray, dreary, periods of extended fog and dampness it's always good to remember that this too shall pass.

#wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #stewartlake #stewartcountypark #hiking #hikingtrail #midwestliving #oakforest #danecountyparks #naturalarea #natural #oaksavannah #grassland #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #IceAgeTrail #Iceage #midwestisbest #veronawi #onwisconsin #goplayoutside #greatnorthcollective #wildernessculture #letsgosomewhere #keepitwild

Taur-e-Ndaedelos

It's another foggy day, especial up on Brigham County Park, a small hill just east of Blue Mounds State Park. My wife & I had planned to attend a company party in La Crosse but some unfortunate family events curtailed that plan. After dropping off the kid on her overnight excursion at a friends house we quickly drove to the park with only an hour left on the clock. Don't ask me how, but we found the entrance to The Mirkwood Forest!
" 'Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he is not expecting you.' " (Gandalf)

#mirkwood #Rhovanion #Wilderland #Middleearth #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #midwest #travelwi #travelwisconsin #midwestliving #midwestmoment #themidwestival #discoverwisconsin #conquer_wi #mounthoreb #madisonwi #midwestisbest #danecounty #onwisconsin #goplayoutside #greatnorthcollective #wildernessculture #letsgosomewhere #keepitwild #oak #hiking #hike #neverstopexploring #naturelovers