We decided to move back to the East Side of Milwaukee. We have been here a few months now. We have loved the energy of the neighborhood, the variety of things to do, the great restaurants at our door, and of course Lake Park and Lake Michigan. After living in so many other spaces, we know that no one place can be everything--although we miss our old homes, we loved the next one also. This one feels good as well. I think the time in Reykjavik reminded us that we like to be in the city.

I come from the land of corn, wheat, and soybeans. When I travel I relish in seeing fields full of things I don't expect. I was driving my uncle to a medical appointment that day. He chuckled as I stopped the car to shoot these. (Skagit Valley, Washington, 2017)

He is doing the worrying for the whole house as he sits in the garden. Gargoyles and Grotesques are commonplace in my neighborhood. Some are attached to buildings--others are thoughtfully placed in the garden. I see this one regularly--no, I don't name them. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2026)

Our neighborhood has a number of gardens that are in full bloom this week. The mix of colors and textures signals that summer is in full swing. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2026)

The bright red legs make this bird easy to name. However they can distract you from the blue and black feathers of the male red-legged honeycreeper. He paused at the fruit just long enough for a few photos. You will see some more some other day. (La Unión de Guápiles, Costa Rica, 2026)

I was on a Fulbright to Iceland two years ago. I had a hard time finding a place to live in Reykjavik, but finally landed this 500 square foot beauty. It was small, but well designed. The neighborhood was fun and near a lot. I'm standing by the back porch of my garden apartment. Despite the size, I could have lived there for a long time. It also set the stage for the most recent move. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

There is a Frank Lloyd Wright home in my neighborhood. It's gotten a lot of love an attention over the past couple of years. More seems to be ongoing. I do think that Frank would disapprove of the port-a-potty. He might approve if the design were right, but clearly it isn't. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

I was out for a walk one day and saw this sign outside a duplex in my neighborhood. To be honest, it was a beautiful building and looked inviting. I do want to see what a kitchen by Julia Child would look like. I've removed the phone number from the sign. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

There was a rummage sale in my neighborhood a couple weeks ago. Aside from selling the merchandise one of the operators did a little juggling to bring people by. I spent some time watching him--he was pretty good. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

At one time ferries were common across rivers, sounds, and lakes. There are still places where the ferry is the best option and Northwest Washington is one of those places if you are island hopping or going between places on the mainland. (Port Townsend Bay, Washington, 2020)

I have some friends in Spain and Iceland who are going to get to see an eclipse today. It's a remarkable thing that I will not forget. I was please to get this shot that day. (Carbondale, Illinois, 2017)

The Daniel W. Hoan Bridge has gotten some new lighting in recent years that makes a splash (as well as a good reflection. Hoan is widely recognized as one of the most effective mayors of the early 20th Century. The creation of what would become the County Parks System is among is many achievements. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

We lived here over ten years (our longest stay). This was a great Bungalow with a number of fun spaces in the house. Like other houses, the garage was on the alley, but it had a whole workspace on the 2nd floor of the garage. Kathleen made the gardens a showplace and a "way-station" for butterflies and hummingbirds. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, 2020)

I can't say it is an elegant or wonderful building. but like a homely dog with personality I have come to love it. When I took this shot, it looked like some work was underway. Perhaps there will be a little love coming its way. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

I like riding the early train out of Milwaukee to Chicago. The slow roll out of the station and through the south side of the city always makes me pause, look, and think of people taking this rail route over time. I also like to see the old Hoffco Shoe Polish Building. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2017)

One of the great advantages to getting up early is to see the sun come up. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

The big waterfalls that are tall and have a lot of volume are spectacular. However some of the prettiest are the small ones that slip off the edge of an embankment somewhere. Often they are nameless or we forget where they are. I had to dig in the metadata to find out where this was. It is surrounded by more spectacular cascades. (Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland, 2024)

I rate countries on whether they are on the "short list" to return to visit. Both Spain and Argentina fall into this category. The history of both is long and deep on the landscape. Above is the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba. The Mosque is built on Ancient Roman and Visigoth sites and was converted to a Catholic cathedral after 1236. While in Argentina I got to visit Pucará de Tilcara which was inhabited as long as 10,000 years ago and was concured by the Inca in the late 1400s just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in 1536. (Cordoba, Spain 2024 and Tilcara, Argentina, 2025)

Walking among the pilgrims to the Badarinath Temple was a remarkable experience. While I was there, I was in disbeleif that I was there. When I look at this photo I am in disbelief that it's me in the photo. (Badrinath, Uttarakhand, India, 2009)

I was out photographic doors and it was hot that day. The sun was wearing me out. This teal was just so cooling as the sun blazed down. I suspect it had been recently painted because it was not very faded. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico 2010)

One of the most interesting backstories of today's football match is the historical-political history between these two nations. When I was in Argentina last year, I saw these signs all over the country. The Malvinas is embedded in the Argentine mind and is recalled in the current football chant that celebrates Messi, Maradona, and longs for a 4th cup. (Salta, Argentina, 2025)

But it's really an invitation. I love doors that offer more than the traditional "portal cover." This one called to me with the colors at first, but then the sounds from inside made me want to go in and see what was cooking in the kitchen. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

We expected to live here a very long time, but it wound up being just a few years. It was our first house with an alley which we loved and we never owned another house with a driveway. We got a better price on it because the previous owner had turned the dining room into a Green Bay Packer sports bar. Although we like the Packers, we restored the dining room to its original purpose. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, 2008)

I had forgotten about this one. It had been an amazing day of early summer flowers in Butchart Garden. My memory of the day is coming across one amazing planting after the next. It was a day of beauty fatigue. (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2012)

Everyone starts somewhere. I've taken a number of waterfall shots over the years. Not sure if this is the first one, but it is probably close to it. I was 16 standing at the base of the falls with an instamatic camera. Everything could have been better in the shot, but given the technology limits and the limits of the camera, I'm still pleased by this shot. (El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, 1976)

We were saying farewell to our hosts and I was speaking for the group in my best "broken Spanish." I felt the heat of the moment, but not as much as my colleague who collapsed under the heat just a few minutes earlier. (Managua, Nicaragua, 2007)

My Great Aunt Agnes had a dryer. There was something sweet about her hanging the wash on the line as she had done for decades. It looks like it was a great June day just before the winter wheat would be harvested. (Ann Arbor, Michigan 1970s)

We had been tipped off by a friend where we could get some "seriously good pie." To be honest, I could have come back every day for a different flavor of pie. These were outstanding and unique styles and flavors. (Bath, England, 2023)

The Spanish started to build the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in 1539 and it is one of my favorite places to visit and spend an afternoon wandering around the facilities. The walk along the ocean or wandering through the underground facilities is always amazing. Imagining the soldiers who worked and defended the fort over the centuries gives pause for thought. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico, 2002)

We were both on sabbatical for the first time and working at Arizona State that year. We were told by neighbors that when the homes on the street were built, you could smell the orange blossoms from nearby orchards. By the time we got there, the development extended past us for many miles. There were only a few citrus trees in the yard. The home was nice, but it had seen better days. It was a great year and we enjoyed exploring the desert. (Tempe, Arizona, 2004)

One of my favorite things is when another culture comes into a place and erects buildings that look like the ones at home, rather than resembling the local ones. This phenomenon is ancient and has some spectacular examples across the globe. This one just happens to be in the Caribbean. (Willemstad, Curaçao, 2002)

I took a detour to visit the Manzanar War Relocation Center where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. It was a quiet, cool, sunny day. There was an eerie silence about the place. It left me unsettled. (Inyo County, California, 2006)

It was the early 90s and Tulum was clearly a resort, but not as trendy as it is now. Regardless it always requires good hydration and a hat if you visit. (Tulum, Mexico, 1993)

Among the beautiful homes in the San Gabriel Mountains are debris shoots and basins to capture and direct mud and rocks that tumble from above. After reading John McPhee's The Control of Nature I had to see these things for myself. This is the Shields Canyon debris field. (La Crescenta-Montrose, California, 2006)

I'm after pizza where I can find it. This time it was in some small joint in Naples. So good, so fresh, so hot. (Naples, Italy 2011)

I had been in Spain for about a month and Kathleen was coming for the last 2 weeks. She is, tired, jet lagged, her luggage is delayed, and she is trying to figure out where I am in the greeting line. I think she looks great! (Seville, Spain 2024)

Our next house was a plain white colonial with no plantings in front. Kathleen took on the challenge of making the front yard a spectacle of color and flowers all summer long. For the record, we were here for a long time as well. (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 2004)

It's important to remember that people live in the places we visit. Seeing laundry brings this home to me and reminds me to think of this space as someone's neighborhood space. (Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2011)

Spotting laundry on the line is a traveling hobby. This one was a particular good morning for it and this was my best shot from my vantage point on Las Setas. There is something special about the smell of clothes off the line. There is also something wonderful about the visual of the clothes blowing in the breeze. (Seville, Spain, 2024)

A friend called me a few weeks ago and asked if I wanted to have dinner at Real Chili. It had been a while since I've sat down to this Milwaukee classic dish. If you know it, you love it or you know someone who loves it. The simple counter, the bright lights, and the unique variation on chili. I recommend a visit to either location. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

A couple years ago I wrote about my affection for this mode of transportation. Now that I've moved back into the city I think I will start using them again. They are inexpensive and pragmatic. Yeah, that sounds like me. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

Juan Arctic (@juan_arctic) is one of my favorite muralists. I walked by his work nearly every day when I lived in Reykjavik. He is playful, aware of context, colorful, and just fun. When I was in town this spring, I was please to find a new work near my hotel. (Reykjavik, Iceland, 2026)

I love hokey things. When TV Land was putting up statues of 1970s television characters (Mary Tyler Moore, Jackie Gleason, Bob Newhart, etc) Milwaukee got the "Bronze Fonz." I plan to do some photos of other statues around the city, but this is a nice place to start. If you do a search online, you will find that these are places people travel to see. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2026)

Our first house was a bungalow with beautiful woodwork and stained glass. It was exceptionally sturdy. The driveway can best be described as an adventure in "narrowness." Although we have move a lot, we were here for 9 years. (Shorewood, Wisconsin, 1995)

This guy with his cane and headphones just said to me that someone he lives with told him to take his cane when he went out for coffee at La Biela--he complied. However they didn't tell him to use it. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2026)

I can't remember which caught my eye first--the truck or the mural. I have shots of both art pieces. I was also impressed by the parking job and how close the truck was to the car in front of it. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

For several years I took students to Ometepe Island to work with local medical professionals. One year I found out the ferry we had booked has sunk the day before our return to the mainland. We caught a different boat, but I was amazed to see the crews working to raise the boat we were on just the week before. (Rivas, Nicaragua, 2006)

It's an old drug store and I was taking some images of it and I wanted some of the name stone across the top. It's no surprise that the name of the store and "drugs" are etched in stone. Seeds surprised me. I'm sure they sold them, but putting it in stone also says something about life in the city in the early 20th Century. (St. Paul, Minnesota, 2004)

One of the locals I know recommended El Imperio. When i walked in, it had all the earmarks of great pizza. The decor was simple and functional. The pizza kitchen was in the open and set up for high production. We were there early (about 8:00 p.m.) so we got a good table and this magnificent pie. (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2025)

I had breakfast here but couldn't resist taking a shot of the sign. Did not make it back for the meat loaf, but always wondered about how it was. (Claremont, California, 2006