Lake Country This Month

By Karen Pilarski Freeman Staff PEWAUKEE — Things just got a "wee" bit creative in downtown Pewaukee. The Wee Rock project is a part of Art in the Downtown. Posi- tively Pewaukee Executive Director Elaine Kroening said this is the ninth year of the partnership between the organization and the Pewau- kee Area Art Council. She credits artists from the PAAC who came up with the idea. Wee Rock is a play-on-words for Pewaukee. "Every year we try to have something fun to add some whimsey to downtown," said Kroening. To prepare for the event, a bunch of artists in an art stu- dio in Delafield made 25 sets of noses, ears, mouths and eyes for the Wee Rock project. There are different shapes and designs such as eyes with eyelashes and mouths with a tongue. Participants can make their creations using the provided rock and face components for the rock sculpture in their own studios or production spaces. All designs must be original creations by the artist. "Come pick up a rock and face pieces, the sky is the limit," Kroening said. Participants are asked to call the office first at 262-695- 9735 during bank hours. Artists can come to the Posi- tively Pewaukee office located on the second flood of the North Shore Bank building, 120 W Wisconsin Ave. Kroening said the creation should not be strenuous to move. Once a person brings it up to the office, the staff has to eventually move it. The project should be weather resistant as it will be outside from June through Labor Day. Anyone interested in the project has until the end of May to complete their art- work. Rock sculpture projects will be placed in flowerbeds and around downtown on June 4 for Downtown Planting Day. The grand unveiling will be June 8 during Waterfront Wednesday. Kroening hopes to develop a map that shows where all the rocks are locat- ed and who the artists are, including a small bio of each. Something new Two years ago Positively Pewaukee did a bowling ball art project. Kroening was impressed with the creativity of people and what they came up with. She recalled some- one making a pig out of a bowling ball. The artist chis- eled the ball to form a face with contoured cheeks and a corked tail. She pointed out partici- pants don't have to be profes- sional artists to make a cre- ation. "I love the quirky things people produce, I see a rock and they see a squid," she said, laughing. There is no entry fee but there is an application that needs to be filled out. Kroen- ing said after a participant signs the application, the cre- ation becomes property of the art in downtown. "I hope to find a permanent piece of artwork which can be donated to the village and placed downtown, she said. For more information go to artinthedowntown.com, call 262-695-9735 or email elaine@positivelypewaukee.c om. Email: kpilarski@conleynet.com FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 3A April 2016 Avoid the risks of lyme disease and other tick transmitted diseases through tick prevention, along with a lyme vaccination for the best protection. Each dog is different, so call us today to determine what is best for your pet. 262.347.0787 Bring in this coupon for $15 OFF your next visit! No cash value. Limit one per family. Pewaukee Veterinary Service Tick Prevention and Vaccination OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • CONVENIENT EXTENDED AND URGENT CARE HOURS M – F 7:30 AM – 8 PM • SAT 8 AM – 5 PM • SUN 12 PM - 4 PM to schedule an appointment online, visit: PewaukeeVeterinaryService.com 249540002 Little Swiss Clock Shop 270 W. Main Street • Downtown Waukesha 262-547-2111 www.LittleSwissClockShop.com 248420029 OPEN M-FRI. 9–5:30pm SAT. 9–3:00pm Clocks of Distinction! See what's new at… Grandfathers Wall Mantel • Cuckoos Chime Clocks • Alarms Pocket Watches Huge Selection! DURING MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS please find us from River Front Plaza and enter our back door. Pardon the dust while our downtown is recreated for your enjoyment! This oversized wall clock features a highly-distressed antique red finish for an aged appearance. 32" diameter 249452001 2016 SUMMER FUN GUIDE There are endless possibilities of summer fun in Waukesha County. Find exciting and interesting things to do to keep you and your family busy all summer long. See what's new in summer fun! Pick up a copy of the 2016 Summer Fun Guide in the May edition. Adding a dash of creativity to Pewaukee Positively Pewaukee's Wee Rock art project Submitted photos Two years ago Positively Pewaukee did a bowling ball art pro- ject. Positively Pewaukee Executive Director Elaine Kroening was impressed with the creativity. She hopes to see the same spirit in the Wee Rock art project. Submitted photo Rock sculpture projects will be placed in flowerbeds and around downtown Pewaukee on June 4 for Downtown Planting Day. The grand unveiling will be June 8 during Waterfront Wednesday. Positively Pewaukee Executive Director Elaine Kroening encourages professional and non-professional artists to participate. By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman DELAFIELD —The time you devote to cleaning up outside after a long and harsh Wisconsin winter is also time to consider adding some pop to your home's curb appeal. Curb appeal is so impor- tant HGTV devotes a show to the concept. The Internet is filled with easy-to-read stories on how you can gain or enhance curb appeal. Curb appeal is how attractive or pretty your home looks in its entirety. The concept is as old as curb and gutter, but the term gained widespread use during the housing boom that led to the Great Reces- sion. Curb appeal can be enhanced in various ways. A coat of paint might do the trick, as would new siding. New shutters or window accents might also offer an eye-catching visual cue. Blaine and Kathy Sidders have owned and operated Lake Country Landscaping in Delafield for more than 30 years. Blaine said adding or updating landscaping is another proven method used to add curb appeal. Blaine said LCL often is called on to add the final touches to a customer's property. "We go in and trim all the shrubs, re-edge everything, put down a fresh layer of mulch, spruce up the lawn," Blaine said. Blaine said what LCL goes for is the fairway look, or the outfield of a baseball game — a clean, crisp look in the landscaping that highlights the house and the property's beauty. Lifting trees — where lower branches are pruned and the canopy of the three is raised — is a common method of adding curb appeal. Clearing low branches allows for better visibility of the home and any plantings or landscaping cues. A high- er canopy also allows more sunlight, and can lead to a more healthy lawn. "The lawn might need a little bit of landscaping, too," Blaine said. "Maybe the customer didn't rake their leaves properly, or the snow came too quick." Blaine said some lawns might need to be fertilized or have weed control applied. Such treatment can help give the lawn the healthy, green look that stands out. Don't forget plant beds Maintaining plant beds also helps a home's curb appeal. Plant beds are often overlooked for years at a time, and might eventually need considerable attention. "Maybe it's a 20 or 25-year old home, and the plant beds have not been maintained properly," Blaine said. "They get overgrown and they don't look that good. You might want to totally renovate. Take out the old and put in new." Another issue with plant beds is unwanted material. Blaine said maple trees leave seedlings. Squirrels leave "presents." Chip- munks bury black walnut seeds, which can sprout if left in the ground. Beds can also become prime real estate for inva- sive species like buckthorn to take root. If left untend- ed, buckthorn can spread, take over and kill trees and shrubs. After cleaning and clear- ing your plant beds it is important to put down fresh mulch. Mulch helps keep moisture at the soil, acts as an impediment to weeds and also looks snazzy. Blaine dis- missed most mulch as being little more than ground-up pallets dyed a bright color. "As far as a nice, clean mulch bed, we like to use hemlock," Blaine said. "It's a hair more expensive, but it's got the best, most natu- ral color. It smells good — it smells like Christmas all the time, and it's got that deep, red natural color." When doing yard mainte- nance be sure to not trim any spring-flowering shrubs, such as azaleas, forsythias, lilacs and more. Blaine also to not trim any plant that flowers off of last year's growth, but said it is okay to trim plants that flower off of this year's growth. Accenting your abode's attractiveness

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