Happy Fall ~ and some more of the UP

~~~ Which means.
Winter is coming.
The Brothers Odd are getting prepared.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last stop of the first day of our whirlwind Tour was a place called Brunette Park, Michigan. At first glance it didn't look very special at all. Sandy beach, winds, waves, blowing sand, beautiful skies, and sunshine.

We walked east along the shoreline towards the trees and something began to change. There were Rock outcroppings to walk on instead of sand.

I decided this was a brilliant spot to break out my Infrared once more and use the Chrome Filter.

When we got to the rocky shore, I photographed the rocks we were walking on. To me, they were nature's works of art. If I didn't know they were rocks that I was walking on, I'd have thought they were abstract art.

I commented to Em that I'd love to have the shot below in large print on my wall. 

What looks like raised veins of white is sand that had been deposited on the rocks by waves.

We spent a lot of time here just sitting and watching the waves. The sounds of the water were so calming to me.

If allowed, I would have found a dry spot and just fallen asleep.

I did look up and my son was out playing in the water. It looked as if he was literally walking on water which I mentioned when he came back.

To which he quipped, "Oh of course! You doubted me?"

We all laughed. 

Just before we headed back to the car, I looked behind me at the pines. They were covered in some of the most intriguing Lichen I'd ever seen.

They were so beautiful and intricate.

Yeah, the kids thought I was a little funny getting excited over something like this.

But there I was, touching it and  admiring it with a beautiful lake and red rocks behind me.

Well, that is me. I like the odd things. I'd go back just to take more photos of the Lichen.

And this Lichen had a common name:

Old Man's Beard!

How cool is that?

We all slapped as much sand as we could off our feet and Jer announced that this ended our first Tour Day.

We had to go to Houghton and grab something to eat and head to the Hotel 3 hours away and get some rest before the next big day.

I'd planned on finding a spot at night along the lake shore and filming the Milky Way.

Guess who was too exhausted to think about getting up and going hiking in the middle of the night???

Yup. We all slept until just before dawn.

And we had quite the adventure come Sunday morning.

Yeah. I'm gonna leave you hanging.

3 weeks with Hannah....and flowers

I found this brave crocus pushing up through the grass just before the blizzard hit. I figured it would be crushed by the ice and snow. We had 6 to 10 inches depending on where the winds blew.

Three days after the blizzard I found one crocus blossoming and more pushing up through the yard.

By Saturday we had a record breaking 83 degrees and the crocuses decided to celebrate the warm day.

But having a pup and an older dog do require nearly 24 hour supervision.

I've been taking the 'kids' for walks and looking for interesting small things before spring bursts forth with all the amazing wildflowers.

I've been searching out Lichen and Mosses as they are so colorful right now.

The mosses are sending out new sporophytes right now. I think of it as flowering.

I took my charges with me for a morning hike to look for pretty things. It was also a good opportunity to start showing Hannah what to do when I stop and take pictures.

She did pretty well. Of course the hazards of having dogs along while doing macro photography can have its consequences. 

Just as I snapped this, Charlie went through behind the Lego Rabbit and Hannah followed. 

Patience pays off and I finally got the shot I wanted.

When we got back I got a nice surprise.

Things went from this....

to this with no hassle. Warm sunshine is such an equalizer!

By evening after a lot of yard work and a few walks to find more cool mosses....

the unthinkable happened. 

Hannah crept up next to Charlie and slowly eased next to him [on HIS sacred couch!]. 

Curiously both dogs had to be touching me in some way too. 

Hannah can still be a sharp toothed Terror but she has figured out who is boss and how far she can push him before he gives her a warning.

This was just too sweet. What a great way to end my day.

Land of snow and ice and whatnot

The other day we had a little bit of snow, just enough to cover moss and areas of grasses. Charlie and I took a quick morning walk to double check the gates to make sure that the deer didn't knock them down.

I stopped and sat in the snow to take some shots of snow crystals and moss in the bright sunlight.

I found some more beautiful lichen on an oak branch. It was a challenge to get the shot as the branch was swaying in the wind. Challenges are fun though.

This shot of Yarrow was even harder. I had one still shot and tried again when a gust of wind blew it around. I combined the photos for fun. 

The fences were all intact and the gates were still up.

Black Friday was spent getting ready for the large snowstorm that was being predicted. I ordered some things on line so I wouldn't have to fight crowds. When I picked up my order, I realized I needed a couple of other things and had to go in the store.

It was only 8:30 and the place was dead as a doornail. Associates were standing around all over the store. I was surprised, although I have never set foot in a store on a Black Friday. I suppose things have changed so much with online ordering.

I grabbed my items and was on my way home. The weather service put out a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state, so I asked my youngest son to reschedule a visit. No use in having them get stuck here for days.

The storm came in quietly early this morning and has been piling up. I don't know what it is like up on the ridge, but it is rather peaceful here. The birds are enjoying  the feeders and I am enjoying the quiet while watching them.

Chores weren't bad at all. I used the large sled to haul the hay to the mules.  I give the sled a shove with its pile of hay and the mules part ways so it can slide past them. I go in and dump the pile. Since these three get along so well, I don't have to put hay in separate areas anymore.

Everyone is wearing a snow coat. Little Richard thought he check to see if I had brought his sweet feed.

This pony is in his mid thirties and still has quite a bit of energy. He is the only equine I have that will go indoors. I'll probably put him in tonight when the winds start up and the temps drop.

Everyone has plenty of hay and heated water. This morning they were giving themselves snow baths. 

We are pleased not to have to travel today.

The snow will fall, we'll watch the birds, and take short walks to check on things.

Here is to enjoying a peaceful winter storm day.
 

Moving right along...

Mr. Pony is shedding! My little self propelled lawn mower got a good curry Saturday. In one hand I had the curry and in the other I had a shedding blade.

I hope the birds find his piles of hair. 

The weather for Sunday afternoon has promised us heavy rain and lots of it.

Up to 2 inches or more are expected.

I did get out in the morning to explore the valley and the creek for a little bit while Rich was busy watching a program.

The rain that was coming would keep me indoors for the rest of today and most of tomorrow.

I set my watch. I know how long it takes me to get to a few spots that I want to check out and get back home before he needs me for something.

I admit it. I'd rather wander with free will. But life doesn't always allow it.
Other chores around the house will wait for when the rain descends on us.

Mr. Chipmunk [Chippy] had a great time this morning checking out my daffodils. 

Isn't he cute? 

I washed and dried him and he came out looking just great. I'll add him to my collection of Stuffies. I do have my eye on the Prairie Dog I saw at one of the resale shops. He'd go great with my Chippie and Beaver!

I did some studies of lichen, mosses, and ducks Sunday morning.

I think it is Acarospora strigata lichen. I'd call it scaly white lichen on a log. I didn't find a common name for it, but still the macro shot is sort of abstract in a way.

My favorite green stuff found with mosses? Simply this: Snakeskin Liverwort.
I think that is a fun name for a Liverwort.

It has a Scientific name if you are interested. Conocephalum salebrosum.

Folklore says it is good for warding off evil spirits and brings good luck.

I just love the incredible texture it has on the small leaves.

I got to the creek and couldn't resist pulling these little ones out of my bag.

Go ahead and laugh. I'll never have my ducks in a row figuratively. But I can try.

I was careful and checked my time. I had some shots in mind and set them up quickly. I grabbed my stuff and dumped it in my backpack to head home.

Halfway home, I stopped by a little rock that had moss on it. The day was overcast which is like having the whole forest in a huge softbox.

I put my little 30mm macro lens on the camera and enjoyed a few minutes of 'close ups'.

One takes what conditions the weather gives you for photography. I like slightly overcast days much better than bright sunny ones [unless I am shooting Infrared, then bright sunny middays are perfect].

Now onto Monday's duties. We had an inch and 3/4 of rain last night. I expect my equine will be a bit muddy today.

I'm Liken Lichen...

My outings are few and far between at the moment. We are busy with scheduled visits from the Hospice folks, deliveries of medications, and crappy weather. [I'm still trying to figure out some sort of schedule]

I did get out for a bit with Charlie and we went hunting for some little things. I went to the creek to look for Lichen and mosses.

By the rock vents above this section of the creek, there were still icicles hanging from the rocks above Snakeskin Liverwort. That has to be the coolest of all names for a Liverwort.

Snakeskin Liverwort Lichen loves cool, damp, shady places. It loves growing by this rock vent of cold air. Even in the driest of summers, it is damp here.

I found an oak limb that had a colorful array of lichens on it.

I don't know all the names of the lichens on this limb, but I thought it made such a colorful patchwork of colors.

March is the perfect month to search for Lichen
if you are lucky, you can find one branch

with quite a variety on them.

Mosses on a log

Even with a record temperature of 79 F, we still had ice in the valley.  Charlie cooled his feet.

One of the drawbacks of a nice graveled driveway is...raking up the gravel to put it back on the driveway.

I take it a bit at a time especially since NOAA has given us a Winter Weather Advisory that could give us rain and then some snow or up to 8" of heavy wet snow. Trying to do it all at once is a miserable long job.

I could hire a yard sweeper to come out and do it, but that could cost the minimum of $200. Anyway, that was the rate last year when I considered it. With the economy looking a bit iffy, I'm not willing to spend the extra money just to make things easy right now. 

If we get significant snow again, we'll get another plow and more gravel will be piled in the yard so I will leave my piles for when the snows are all done.

While waiting and waiting hours for a delivery from FedEx, I decided to do some more creative photography. 

Other news updates---->

We have Robins, Redwing Blackbirds, and Blue birds in our yard! 

[This may be the first year that I haven't gone to KVR to look for water fowl and and other migrating birds. I may have to see if I can 'shoot' some nearer the house]

...and I am waiting for an opportunity to go look for the first Flower of Spring. The Skunk Cabbage.

Sunday

The early bird gets the sunrise as the days grow longer. The colors are so amazing in the sky as they change so quickly.

In truth, this past week has felt more like mid March or the beginning of April than the last week of February. A year ago we were recovering from a major ice/snowstorm. This year? It is warm and pleasant.
In the morning I need coveralls to do chores. By midday, I can work outside in a sweatshirt.

I started this job:

Believe me, it will be a long long job to do. But since I can't plant a garden yet, raking, picking up sticks and stones will be a good job for me. It is good mindless work that can be done while listening to the birds and the forest noises.

I took a couple of breaks to go out and search for color in the woods. It is hard this time of the year as everything seems to be dull and lifeless.
Except when you look for Lichen and mosses. Then things get colorful.

During our morning walk Charlie and I found snow and ice on the mosses!

...and by a little after lunch time....

The Lichen was quite beautiful. But one has to pick up sticks or crouch down on a look to find the colors.

On a stick:

Lichen and moss on a log. It was so colorful!

Late Sunday afternoon, I took time to just sit on the porch with Charlie and enjoy the warm sunshine.

Charlie enjoyed it immensely.

It seems as though the ducks are starting to try and behave themselves.

Hmmm. There is one in every crowd.