Category Archives: Life

The American West or What I did on summer vacation (Take 2)

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

A wonderful post by my friend Sally, in which she visits an old-time saloon in a small Montana town, left behind to vanish almost completely when the railroad abandoned its tracks, to report a cow on the road separated by … Continue reading →

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After the line went dead

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

It took only a few seconds for me to figure out what function this alcove most likely used to serve. But a few years from now, there will be young adults who have no memory of pay phones.

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History in the Women’s Room

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

I had an appointment in an older downtown Milwaukee office building yesterday and stopped in the women’s room on my way out. While washing my hands, I noticed this old machine for dispensing “feminine hygiene” products hanging on the wall. Meds Tampons were … Continue reading →

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Little Free Library (#2)

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

A couple years ago—hard to believe I’ve been blogging that long!—I wrote a post on the Little Free Library phenomenon.  (Here’s the link to that post if you’d like to read it: https://katherinewikoff.com/2012/06/29/little-free-library/) I’ve been meaning to follow up that post … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Books and reading, Life, Little Free Library, Milwaukee | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mr. Bennet’s Gooseberry Fool

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

This is not Mr. Bennet.  It’s Mr. Darcy, as portrayed by Colin Firth. You’re welcome 😄 About 17 years ago I had to read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for a Great Books event I facilitated at Milwaukee School of Engineering. … Continue reading →

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Tree shadows growing along a wall (à la Edward Hopper)

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Somehow these slanted early-morning shadows remind me of Edward Hopper’s “Early Sunday Morning,” which you can see here in the Whitney Museum of Art collection.  That sweep of light washing swiftly down a street, stretching everything in its path into spindly … Continue reading →

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Choosing the Clarinet

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

When it came time for my kids to join the band in elementary school, selecting an instrument prompted great angst.  As they ruminated on each possibility’s merits, they asked why I had decided on the clarinet.  How had I known that it was “the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Wham! Pow! Ooof!

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Fun article the other day in the Wall Street Journal—or, as they like to style themselves: The Wall Street Journal. (← with a period at the end, I have no idea why)—about all the over-the-top villains in the old “Batman” … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Popular culture, Television | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Melting ice at Red Arrow skating rink

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Last week Friday the temperature was 0º on our back porch thermometer when I let the dogs out first thing in the morning.  Today the high is supposed to hit 63º.  Quite a change, (to which my sinuses can attest … Continue reading →

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Morning Sunlight, à la Brothers Grimm

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

I don’t know why this golden-orange cast of sunrise on trees makes me think of a Grimm Brothers fairy tale.  When I walked outside my front door this morning, the gilded bark was the first thing I noticed, and “Grimm … Continue reading →

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