tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118954692024-03-19T05:41:30.666-05:00Mulewings"Success is the Best Revenge"Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.comBlogger3714125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-21532119754857466542024-03-18T09:30:00.001-05:002024-03-18T09:30:00.131-05:00Just stuff<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is our Mini horse crop out. We purchased him from a friend many years ago. His job while we were still breeding for mules was to tease the mare and get her ready.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He is an expert an not getting wrapped up in the tie out line. I've dubbed him my self propelled mower who also does fertilizing at the same time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He may as well be out in the yard instead of his winter pen. You'd think after doing nearly 20 years of yard work, he'd pick up the pinecones for me and pile up the sticks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lazy pony! He just does his thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQ7Zu3rcryZqjaIHn6R1-Nvkkwuw43wrA4SJVidcWMVpaPL1YxnZIJ37zRyHXqghItcVW17Sq1pu76r6xVInVXKHvAiNZIqs5mhUBDzU15WOi0Vert0Qa05ASgB1oqUSqVQQm26cggvEP2hoy0E785BGHXKL95dzuMbtrPcKdoN9f2Io1XX0Xbg/s1048/3%2015%20lil%20richard%20grazin_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQ7Zu3rcryZqjaIHn6R1-Nvkkwuw43wrA4SJVidcWMVpaPL1YxnZIJ37zRyHXqghItcVW17Sq1pu76r6xVInVXKHvAiNZIqs5mhUBDzU15WOi0Vert0Qa05ASgB1oqUSqVQQm26cggvEP2hoy0E785BGHXKL95dzuMbtrPcKdoN9f2Io1XX0Xbg/s320/3%2015%20lil%20richard%20grazin_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I took a short walk in the woods on the way to go pick up my mail. I'd ordered a skort to try out this summer. A skort is a skirt with shorts in them. My son's wife wears them and says they are super comfortable. I thought I'd give them a whirl.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also ordered a new t shirt for myself. I thought the graphic was appropriate for me. The shirt features a compass with the words below it: "All who wander are not lost..." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My youngest son and crew made a date to come and visit this weekend. Hmmm. More about that later or not. My eldest son predicted a Circus. He was right but I'd call it a Circus of Drama. It was not beautiful like the Cirque du Soleil but a train wreck of consequences.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It will be a very long time before I decide he and his crew can visit again.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">'Nuff said.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We did take a hike and I got to see the wonderful Swans! They were so beautiful. I didn't bring my long long lens because I was herding kids like cats. But I did catch one pretty decent shot of the Swans.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXIQcfTWHG4DCTiPQND2VwXlnLgHSJW9sxoXOrrt_j3NXYkwmpr7cQNcjASELX4Ooa70AvwrzoC78U9zw4ULoIVcGIuqgZn6LZRJAYJevV2oMm75o5fOlIzGS0zXpGQi-lfBjNrKZVFdX7hCjEc7mP9craPmnObyPdE4n9opWn5x66bXjTQImSQ/s1280/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1280" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXIQcfTWHG4DCTiPQND2VwXlnLgHSJW9sxoXOrrt_j3NXYkwmpr7cQNcjASELX4Ooa70AvwrzoC78U9zw4ULoIVcGIuqgZn6LZRJAYJevV2oMm75o5fOlIzGS0zXpGQi-lfBjNrKZVFdX7hCjEc7mP9craPmnObyPdE4n9opWn5x66bXjTQImSQ/s320/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A couple of my younger grand kids enjoyed floating a rubber ducky in a lazy little stream we found.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4jsDn7D7Pt-KfwY75czaXc6938urNLr8efQ8kFXOAYpLcRxcjPoIw38D123d0hZDucPxsUE-czXuwmh4i9_47i6GXuoTQiI0zfV4_t-d69GgmE3IJqew5is00qO-X7_DEhJlJMQH-CxYweAgYDET8FWOFlXOQE29-htq0zjnMN3ynGQRK4wJOQ/s1048/3%2016%20Duckies%201_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4jsDn7D7Pt-KfwY75czaXc6938urNLr8efQ8kFXOAYpLcRxcjPoIw38D123d0hZDucPxsUE-czXuwmh4i9_47i6GXuoTQiI0zfV4_t-d69GgmE3IJqew5is00qO-X7_DEhJlJMQH-CxYweAgYDET8FWOFlXOQE29-htq0zjnMN3ynGQRK4wJOQ/s320/3%2016%20Duckies%201_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When the Duckie got stuck, they'd push him along with sticks.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sDZ6VG21BGa35JN1Hwz23DtpGVXWJcfpQxQJfyJHNMAWbPA6Dw6QeFETwXW8FO8J4vFJ2UqyK7Y5q9SkN9ZcMaVMKFrs3FupoKFb8DKYGrhYGyvgrGhEgeaNVkwLcyUpV_qBpEa1o0iydSLieu9yg2goXVqO8wYcPpHUfCEDoI_fXwoET1PgAA/s1048/3%2016%20Duckies%202_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sDZ6VG21BGa35JN1Hwz23DtpGVXWJcfpQxQJfyJHNMAWbPA6Dw6QeFETwXW8FO8J4vFJ2UqyK7Y5q9SkN9ZcMaVMKFrs3FupoKFb8DKYGrhYGyvgrGhEgeaNVkwLcyUpV_qBpEa1o0iydSLieu9yg2goXVqO8wYcPpHUfCEDoI_fXwoET1PgAA/s320/3%2016%20Duckies%202_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNcrFIC23bziLsE2rdD_eAN_O7f1CCtDjIp5nzSOMC5f2f_IPKZgtpE3z-4fAULP_3y48Pu2VLogzjQOOM18mC0BM5NeWmYSa0eNMxB9ZkppCey93Td_WVLk-OZ0RJGGf97PvhB0v5w1Is4V-yBl8DX7XnCzCBNQuaFPfICv3HgGQGDQCktJzoQ/s4032/PXL_20240316_181659662.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNcrFIC23bziLsE2rdD_eAN_O7f1CCtDjIp5nzSOMC5f2f_IPKZgtpE3z-4fAULP_3y48Pu2VLogzjQOOM18mC0BM5NeWmYSa0eNMxB9ZkppCey93Td_WVLk-OZ0RJGGf97PvhB0v5w1Is4V-yBl8DX7XnCzCBNQuaFPfICv3HgGQGDQCktJzoQ/s320/PXL_20240316_181659662.MP.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The shot below is a photo of my second oldest grand daughter, Lily. She is carrying her puppy named Oakley in her jacket as he was tired and cold.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp62Bla8klfbZcNDa7_f_vVDRl4CZeQ0TAokDZrE3jZzqrTcsXqKQ-kLOq0_Td78QI3z1WZ46a4-TVkldJnJYJrgwCGz_6b2SUKIzfjZM97ddTAWM3DlQtxHv-f1ZfpRgYkc2bzZR9gKCuOgd4e77BGRH8E5XkDpPAGkX6Lb6wmXL3XphcgGpgzQ/s4032/PXL_20240316_181715290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp62Bla8klfbZcNDa7_f_vVDRl4CZeQ0TAokDZrE3jZzqrTcsXqKQ-kLOq0_Td78QI3z1WZ46a4-TVkldJnJYJrgwCGz_6b2SUKIzfjZM97ddTAWM3DlQtxHv-f1ZfpRgYkc2bzZR9gKCuOgd4e77BGRH8E5XkDpPAGkX6Lb6wmXL3XphcgGpgzQ/s320/PXL_20240316_181715290.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The kids enjoyed the hiking and adventures. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well. In other news, the weather turned frigid on Sunday and will warm up once again through Tuesday and then we are back to winter with a freezing mixture which is typical for March.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have a 'date' to go hiking with another 19 yr old tomorrow. She was my neighbor for a few years. I've known her and her siblings and mom since she was 9 years old. I'm looking forward to that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">First I have to take some naps to get back to feeling human again after the circus came.</span></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-14653096165335304442024-03-15T07:30:00.001-05:002024-03-15T07:30:00.139-05:00How to make friends at...<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">the dealership when having a car serviced.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Bring a cute dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Subaru has a kids play room and a doggy play yard at the dealership. Charlie enjoys going to the dealer when we do oil changes and tire rotations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He makes good use of the yard and then we tour the show floor while I pretend that he is picking out his next Subaru. Over the years, he has posed with sales people in front of some of the displays. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Everyone at the Service Desk had to say hello to him and pet him. He was a bundle of wagging little joy. The Service Manager said that he'd like to keep Charlie as a greeter. Oh, they would take <i>GOOD care of him!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This time other patrons waiting asked about Charlie and the doggy amenities. They thought it was great that I'd brought a pet to bide my time. I told them that the dealership loved having pets visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">They all wanted to know what kind of dog Charlie was. Well, he is a mutt. His dad was a miniature dachshund and mom was a Pekinese dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The conversations all revolved around pets and soon I was peering at smart phone photos from all sorts of customers who were telling me what kind of dog or cat they had. Eventually we had about 7 people all in a circle talking about their pets.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One little old lady sat next to me and shared her stories of her dog who was gone. Then she showed me photos of her grandson's cats. She was now living with her grandson and he had cats. She had 8 grandchildren grown up and something like 8 or 9 great grandchildren and they all lived close.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I learned where she traveled and that she had a home on the West Coast on a beach. Another couple told me about their dog and their daughters, in that order. I learned all about their families just by listening. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was fun, another gent shared his thoughts about his son's Miniture Pinchers aka Minpins. He asked my advice on their crazy dogs. [Apparently he thought I was a dog mystic or something!] </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />He then told me about his family -- after showing me photos of his dog. A person can learn a lot by just looking interested and curious. <i>But I think Charlie was the ice breaker</i>.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg4h_xKsejk4xj1qctavC6gE9iR49yPxXrruhUuRr4TZUSrx_rgHEsEegi6AWm7yamQtYRk5cVLtfmGja8TTNYfHd9FOLNyblz1A_gF9D7RZZ5U1Xx77HxBjiioidrn2pfiXJ7iZ0Lxk65yUGL5JITT4FtYKkQKBDaOjWm1WYNdIIGroBHiCWyg/s4032/PXL_20240314_164103528.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg4h_xKsejk4xj1qctavC6gE9iR49yPxXrruhUuRr4TZUSrx_rgHEsEegi6AWm7yamQtYRk5cVLtfmGja8TTNYfHd9FOLNyblz1A_gF9D7RZZ5U1Xx77HxBjiioidrn2pfiXJ7iZ0Lxk65yUGL5JITT4FtYKkQKBDaOjWm1WYNdIIGroBHiCWyg/s320/PXL_20240314_164103528.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As their cars were ready, the patrons who visited thanked me for bringing Charlie because it was fun to converse with others rather than sit and stare at the large TV in the waiting area. They said it passed the time quickly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As for Charlie? He was so tired from being such a good little dog that he slept the whole way home.</span></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-38686849596798749352024-03-14T08:05:00.003-05:002024-03-14T08:05:28.551-05:00Surprises on another spring walk<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Wednesday was going to be incredibly beautiful for the middle of March. Charlie and I took off for the Reserve again to check out some different ponds of water for wildlife.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Actually, we just wanted to get out and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. I should have stayed home and raked the yard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hmmm. I think we took the better choice.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FQoJRCu2CUnkG4ooSSrJigOiPhtJOxaUh4WBMBHtknWVHJMFskC_PbTUof5nuH8-Phbhya_VF0fMiWB_KLbOXX6R2eFYmIanoBHJG_IXktax9YN07rrrWwrP_OZrrsqW5t0DGHRi7nDVJM18b_N-EC7SMZR0pVg-6JfXLiNft0QLO0EyXfgc9g/s4032/PXL_20240313_183042961.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6FQoJRCu2CUnkG4ooSSrJigOiPhtJOxaUh4WBMBHtknWVHJMFskC_PbTUof5nuH8-Phbhya_VF0fMiWB_KLbOXX6R2eFYmIanoBHJG_IXktax9YN07rrrWwrP_OZrrsqW5t0DGHRi7nDVJM18b_N-EC7SMZR0pVg-6JfXLiNft0QLO0EyXfgc9g/s320/PXL_20240313_183042961.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZSIPc1lec_azQhWzxiBV7qWyws_kXMCipTPkGdH3qJq97mFEYyTDQmhnEHWrOHgqkDE_xKbrlbRkw8HP9NGHhVWrdeijP2LwfuEhkwKSQc8_DpqPC9wst18XsuFXk2neHGoKydHTdGTxpRjSCe0_vzgT2Pn6ySVgklkAXNn-mD6yK-0T5ie9Pg/s4032/PXL_20240313_184528315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZSIPc1lec_azQhWzxiBV7qWyws_kXMCipTPkGdH3qJq97mFEYyTDQmhnEHWrOHgqkDE_xKbrlbRkw8HP9NGHhVWrdeijP2LwfuEhkwKSQc8_DpqPC9wst18XsuFXk2neHGoKydHTdGTxpRjSCe0_vzgT2Pn6ySVgklkAXNn-mD6yK-0T5ie9Pg/s320/PXL_20240313_184528315.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I figured to get some chill out time alone as the next 3 weekends are booked with visitors. I hope my son and his crew are up for taking the kids hiking at the Reserve with me if it isn't raining. It will wear out the kids and being outdoors is easier than being inside our little house.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm still in the bird 'hunting' mode. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We came up on campsite C which a few years ago had some great views of one of the ponds. Unfortunately, the briars have grown back in and I didn't have the means to cut them down. But the Canada Geese were there in droves.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I shot this through the brush so it gives it an interesting look.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMZsSWce2_xS8m6mVFFmjv3Bx5dW5CJYu1Ic6Te8E_yiVdm8PJ6usNFnKqxsqjT4uPiPgbTUDQDyH8hRQHbbbJ6mpJqjofsYX3SSCLOSNqvpg1tLLiRf718EfaB7CQPJsc_Y_kKgCHO10ihZtf6EaJj4DGmIZ6E0EL-jJ5zCkVdfAIELILUxmcg/s1280/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1280" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMZsSWce2_xS8m6mVFFmjv3Bx5dW5CJYu1Ic6Te8E_yiVdm8PJ6usNFnKqxsqjT4uPiPgbTUDQDyH8hRQHbbbJ6mpJqjofsYX3SSCLOSNqvpg1tLLiRf718EfaB7CQPJsc_Y_kKgCHO10ihZtf6EaJj4DGmIZ6E0EL-jJ5zCkVdfAIELILUxmcg/s320/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I liked the reflections of the clumps of grass on the pond water, so I took this shot which is not impressive at all. Well, what I didn't see through the brush were the turtles at the bottom of the photo!<br />I was tickled to see turtles here as I don't recall ever seeing them before on my spring hikes. I'm sure they live there, I just never thought about it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25DTRm3TVjO68QPCwi19cWdti1nnwsSrl8RItKJvPzLiq3QyRiuD6o1lcyQlJW-Uj_ud2zXPCiku8JI9FQLJfnDEJ7vWsl9KP6W5nhHJgQQ6DGGctYHYcc2NhWQChbqq3mY5srOn1uIdwskqe4-SNf9viCq-226GjLNIIbobYPPlPriJT1Tk0dA/s960/3%2013%20turtles%20and%20grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25DTRm3TVjO68QPCwi19cWdti1nnwsSrl8RItKJvPzLiq3QyRiuD6o1lcyQlJW-Uj_ud2zXPCiku8JI9FQLJfnDEJ7vWsl9KP6W5nhHJgQQ6DGGctYHYcc2NhWQChbqq3mY5srOn1uIdwskqe4-SNf9viCq-226GjLNIIbobYPPlPriJT1Tk0dA/s320/3%2013%20turtles%20and%20grass.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Those clumps of grass remind me of Cousin It on the Munsters. 👀</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I promised myself to come back to that one spot and clear out the 10 briars that kept me from sitting close to the shore to watch the birds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was looking for more Sandhill Cranes, I heard them at the pond that was south of where I was. So maybe this pond is too crowded with Canada Geese for them to want to share?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVM5VqVvXvC4KZhcGURf9Wm1XL90BgEwSzp2ZdaZxoVS73UHZomOgfC9CxQhvKzy_mil4-Va86vf-cq8yMk33-gJcjzxH-ZfaYnOM-aVG8eMgL4pgz7uqPbbmJs4ecSr7_SE84q4tDdJxxjNzwjMzI-PjICBFgXBgHmtsnlSA-cpiYwYfuAMYOA/s1280/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1280" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVM5VqVvXvC4KZhcGURf9Wm1XL90BgEwSzp2ZdaZxoVS73UHZomOgfC9CxQhvKzy_mil4-Va86vf-cq8yMk33-gJcjzxH-ZfaYnOM-aVG8eMgL4pgz7uqPbbmJs4ecSr7_SE84q4tDdJxxjNzwjMzI-PjICBFgXBgHmtsnlSA-cpiYwYfuAMYOA/s320/3%2014%20Canada%20Geese%20back%20pond4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is a large meandering pond but this one spot was crowded with geese.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the other side of the Old 131 trail is another pond. This one has a floating dock with a bench for folks to sit on and watch the pond.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Nothing terribly interesting was happening there. However my Lego Friends decided they'd like to use the dock to do some bird watching themselves.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSsAKzGY3BujwTPoRH_Mw4hEolMx3oEaG_8GkFheAxEi88RLPnr8WpitKVDo-A8YxX3PL8GY9tIqFBoPI984iGUNtO2sFQ2xUnJQdzwRkbZx8bW2mdRWf-Em6UThAJdiudXVWzrBlG-OOTuR-W8pxXkpPRwiWxiT_R_D5TcPeAORLgWccH43DDA/s3783/PXL_20240313_191636892~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="3783" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSsAKzGY3BujwTPoRH_Mw4hEolMx3oEaG_8GkFheAxEi88RLPnr8WpitKVDo-A8YxX3PL8GY9tIqFBoPI984iGUNtO2sFQ2xUnJQdzwRkbZx8bW2mdRWf-Em6UThAJdiudXVWzrBlG-OOTuR-W8pxXkpPRwiWxiT_R_D5TcPeAORLgWccH43DDA/s320/PXL_20240313_191636892~2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsAz9OYO0UTBQXKiOKjd6el3_IlyAGq2GkSsi7eCwauS2O6Si7I2G1oKUs9UrMYJvFdc1uPkRSUtoLR1Hxpvpcef8osc1uOWwJ4-EyK56RunbEjj4Dk9nMwrYauwFY3ow7aE9lNEPLbMSxIYxmHCaWoDhO-WjEIXz0In99e49pPjjO9QcU1z8HQ/s4032/PXL_20240313_190815017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsAz9OYO0UTBQXKiOKjd6el3_IlyAGq2GkSsi7eCwauS2O6Si7I2G1oKUs9UrMYJvFdc1uPkRSUtoLR1Hxpvpcef8osc1uOWwJ4-EyK56RunbEjj4Dk9nMwrYauwFY3ow7aE9lNEPLbMSxIYxmHCaWoDhO-WjEIXz0In99e49pPjjO9QcU1z8HQ/s320/PXL_20240313_190815017.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I took a side trip down a trail that used to have a campsite on the river shore and was since moved. Charlie and I walked down to the river.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN5LLErjlCLY5abKoHgojZVmwuzGK1mUCtDa-E0G3qMGaBFMNxwyb4_tdVAXd0qUd8Us9I5cumuCMyj0tW592kGeFLuIo7dyOb_NGLYlWn8rQoh6gVWCFcJD9b4B8SuiLBXoLnPe4o4J1b45m0-Q46l87k70VfNiAzk-D995XW_ZQrU96QEzxvg/s4032/PXL_20240313_192230733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN5LLErjlCLY5abKoHgojZVmwuzGK1mUCtDa-E0G3qMGaBFMNxwyb4_tdVAXd0qUd8Us9I5cumuCMyj0tW592kGeFLuIo7dyOb_NGLYlWn8rQoh6gVWCFcJD9b4B8SuiLBXoLnPe4o4J1b45m0-Q46l87k70VfNiAzk-D995XW_ZQrU96QEzxvg/s320/PXL_20240313_192230733.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJzxZuUA4sjVFxe6bDI9b2cP6S8oHuLM6hJRje9P08gDgvhjDULx_x4c0kJZ1AKE2zqOju9J38h5yPB3viITQVKP-65OGm71zTyXuanPgBqXd8l_39g9sSMQNu4D1cIQs0cYfgGdmrq3r_Khw4DFqIA40eYQU8TS_xa3dw3F4seuMftAzenRIxA/s4032/PXL_20240313_192615588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJzxZuUA4sjVFxe6bDI9b2cP6S8oHuLM6hJRje9P08gDgvhjDULx_x4c0kJZ1AKE2zqOju9J38h5yPB3viITQVKP-65OGm71zTyXuanPgBqXd8l_39g9sSMQNu4D1cIQs0cYfgGdmrq3r_Khw4DFqIA40eYQU8TS_xa3dw3F4seuMftAzenRIxA/s320/PXL_20240313_192615588.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The other side of the river is where the Little Canada Trail is. The river is quite low now due to the lack of rain. I am standing on an old campsite that got washed away in a few floods. Across the river one of those pines used to have a rope in it. <br />Campers and Canoers would beach their canoes and take time to climb the bluff and swing out over the river and drop into the deeper waters for a swim. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">That tree was swept away in the 2018 flood.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dTVUB__7fNn5i2i70jorm10DNlNpwECVOMbM4d62ROxBaUw195Y7QbB08iXa2ud2vZyPREmRpaGDHWxf2D1H9nTB0TRhErzDz5N2I1SFhj39MI4980lmFYu4jx0ODRzbf6GqRdv0gT7IPQyR9xTUF6LsRdXU-URwM2n-xRWPCGNWNB7Lp8PdBg/s4032/PXL_20240313_192225980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dTVUB__7fNn5i2i70jorm10DNlNpwECVOMbM4d62ROxBaUw195Y7QbB08iXa2ud2vZyPREmRpaGDHWxf2D1H9nTB0TRhErzDz5N2I1SFhj39MI4980lmFYu4jx0ODRzbf6GqRdv0gT7IPQyR9xTUF6LsRdXU-URwM2n-xRWPCGNWNB7Lp8PdBg/s320/PXL_20240313_192225980.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I decided to take Willow Trail back to where we parked so we didn't have to backtrack.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was stopped by a familiar bird song. I could hear it but couldn't tell where it was coming from. I just stood still for a while and finally a little brown bird flew into a nearby bush.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqs9stH9wtQeQVbvd0UaQNjuP_XoWjvhpey5cUwF64Fi9IDBt-mlEFYkb7ruWzID0Q0YJSb8cSIuHFw9x2LQ_myOTtEy47O3FQCMkPfybVwl9dA1IOxzmtav5vN4kKNc4nXjB0-m3nX7-o2ct9QN2O_RAIc3Og8L5ccKUFZgfrT-V4ac8X63BVKg/s1280/3%2013%20song%20sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1280" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqs9stH9wtQeQVbvd0UaQNjuP_XoWjvhpey5cUwF64Fi9IDBt-mlEFYkb7ruWzID0Q0YJSb8cSIuHFw9x2LQ_myOTtEy47O3FQCMkPfybVwl9dA1IOxzmtav5vN4kKNc4nXjB0-m3nX7-o2ct9QN2O_RAIc3Og8L5ccKUFZgfrT-V4ac8X63BVKg/s320/3%2013%20song%20sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hear this bird every spring and summer and delight in its song. You would think I could recall that it is a song sparrow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I let her serenade me for a while before we returned to the car and went home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Charlie was warm and tired and eager to lay in his crate in the car.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I felt relaxed and happy.</span></p><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-67714503667684685052024-03-13T08:10:00.000-05:002024-03-13T08:10:18.032-05:00Sunrises<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When Charlie and I went for a morning walk we got to the top of the driveway and looked over into the corn field and saw these deer. They spotted us [we were actually pretty far away] and in a flash, they were gone into the dark woods.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s7t-BT2caQmHWc9KQUGcqYjM2PkNslwfRdjxDgKMjwMhYDkjfzSD1hszQ_gTTW4dK_LYrPJAWaZji0fd1JVxgR_wflpcsqHHZsW_iRU6SWCP_0DBk-l-K_Cx0x79dpbh4QO-_ad9LjCJUIyKJvCz_QGGfvhojunDed-mEh2SuZWXss9F1hF4Uw/s1048/3%2012%20deer_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3s7t-BT2caQmHWc9KQUGcqYjM2PkNslwfRdjxDgKMjwMhYDkjfzSD1hszQ_gTTW4dK_LYrPJAWaZji0fd1JVxgR_wflpcsqHHZsW_iRU6SWCP_0DBk-l-K_Cx0x79dpbh4QO-_ad9LjCJUIyKJvCz_QGGfvhojunDed-mEh2SuZWXss9F1hF4Uw/s320/3%2012%20deer_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> I wonder if they could hear Charlie's tags jingling or was it the movement from so far away that they detected?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We walked down the dead end road and across the soy bean field which is beyond where the deer were. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAtu38HbNrXwJxNJDmkGOcFTjPKVXrEj_w8VDXFS-KoUp5BXKqANzN_FiJAXZvxM1XN8uNNeFdAnZkNq80Ae-NfTfH3ulRrijR8g7Dek7riOY_QWkg1zfsk0wgu9eVvTKO4emDk0yoLHjtvt6cJtvDeFsT2i_nifAMbdpd7MxTUKGAcj2J-DLyA/s1048/3%2012%20sunrise%20clouds_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAtu38HbNrXwJxNJDmkGOcFTjPKVXrEj_w8VDXFS-KoUp5BXKqANzN_FiJAXZvxM1XN8uNNeFdAnZkNq80Ae-NfTfH3ulRrijR8g7Dek7riOY_QWkg1zfsk0wgu9eVvTKO4emDk0yoLHjtvt6cJtvDeFsT2i_nifAMbdpd7MxTUKGAcj2J-DLyA/s320/3%2012%20sunrise%20clouds_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I do like the predawn hour. It can be so colorful. In order to see the horizon, I have to walk 1/2 mile to the ridgetop and field edges to see the sun come up. The sun appears two hours later in our hollow.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last year's <br />Queen Anne's Lace</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypNUXDIlXekUfyy3pbXNjR5Lcq6sKpLJG5TgkQQCNkrcwex-nQW8SuR9szkiYvpSUgdVBiy8jJjlnH7EggK8pLGwE88jswsljijLh2EWY9kzRL-_H9FBFQNevmqI4ne4PvGthICTnXWmvqUy9yXWp0cdYcKPDLZWCIRxii8m1DN8i0sWMV8ZGhg/s1048/3%2012%20queen%20anne%20sunrise_DxO_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypNUXDIlXekUfyy3pbXNjR5Lcq6sKpLJG5TgkQQCNkrcwex-nQW8SuR9szkiYvpSUgdVBiy8jJjlnH7EggK8pLGwE88jswsljijLh2EWY9kzRL-_H9FBFQNevmqI4ne4PvGthICTnXWmvqUy9yXWp0cdYcKPDLZWCIRxii8m1DN8i0sWMV8ZGhg/s320/3%2012%20queen%20anne%20sunrise_DxO_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We wandered around for a bit while I was looking for anything neat to shoot with the sunrise. There was a lone tree that I always like in my photos for the past few years. It appears that the tree died over summer and was knocked over by a tractor or combine.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPRPJZHVJUEvKMx_K5ZlGcLiwpMOVw0fSZkw89JAemo47bGWUpEBbP1hcS-kY2AwqCNRRCXfrHsJROEhoqcB97wdv-tHmpDpdpVSU07qAjm-Z2lF7_DduUYKvGCCaXTPZXJXJ5M1QO_BZ5yrvMih7v1XGzATQf0q6fzc5CVvr0YxYx3R7lXAfQg/s1048/3%2012%20through%20the%20trees_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPRPJZHVJUEvKMx_K5ZlGcLiwpMOVw0fSZkw89JAemo47bGWUpEBbP1hcS-kY2AwqCNRRCXfrHsJROEhoqcB97wdv-tHmpDpdpVSU07qAjm-Z2lF7_DduUYKvGCCaXTPZXJXJ5M1QO_BZ5yrvMih7v1XGzATQf0q6fzc5CVvr0YxYx3R7lXAfQg/s320/3%2012%20through%20the%20trees_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I thought it would be cool to see the sun come up through the broken little tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We waited for the sun and then headed back home. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What a beautiful day it turned out to be. I didn't take any more photos all day, I was busy with counselors and social workers along with doing a spring hair chop.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm a person who loves to get up early, so sunrise walks are my favorite thing to do when it isn't too terribly cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What a difference a year makes and strange weather.<br />Last year I was waiting to get plowed out from a significant snowfall.</span></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-72408279449798481362024-03-11T09:33:00.005-05:002024-03-11T10:03:07.342-05:00That time of the year?<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_bJOKyYhHuSE910SU9lAajIEUuzcqrIWgOYfAC6G65T8UqNrNKkcHUt7GyqzLkVEAfJvLqX-PiAMpsM4c0VtJACaizDtyq4L6oD2u8t9b02WL4ej6uI5rcgQJqp5xnNb-AZeiCqCFUG1KBgfoA-uihL6T2VYqgkUFZuDwqrGl-JuxY1YMowgCw/s1280/3%208%20cranes%20flying.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1280" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_bJOKyYhHuSE910SU9lAajIEUuzcqrIWgOYfAC6G65T8UqNrNKkcHUt7GyqzLkVEAfJvLqX-PiAMpsM4c0VtJACaizDtyq4L6oD2u8t9b02WL4ej6uI5rcgQJqp5xnNb-AZeiCqCFUG1KBgfoA-uihL6T2VYqgkUFZuDwqrGl-JuxY1YMowgCw/s320/3%208%20cranes%20flying.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With the arrival of Robins and Redwinged Black Birds, I get into the bird hunting mode. I blame Aurora over at <a href="https://equineexpressions.blogspot.com/">equine expressions</a> for that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Saturday morning I did my 'duties' around the farm and because we have - had earlier daylight, I was finished and headed out to the Reserve to go birdwatching or at least walk around and pretend I was a Birder.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did hear the Sandhill Cranes and the Canada Geese down at the ponds as soon as I stepped out of the car. I also realized that I had underdressed for the weather. I was instantly cold in my spring lightweight jacket and I had to pull up my hood to cover my ears.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I decided not to let the cold temps and wind stop me, so I went on down to the Big Pond to look around.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Geese were noisy. I found a spot to use my long lens as binoculars and scout the opposite shore where the majority of the birds were hanging out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There was a scuffle going on and so I took some shots and then looked at the shots I took. I found ducks! I found what I think may be Mallards.<br />I don't know if March 9th is the early for them or not, but it was a first for me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrMPYLX_h1a30HNmshAtGC_YYiljRlNkDsYDKNoFuiNhyphenhyphenHvglIBMAE70_zJ4RqxtnlKrRLtlyLRLX99A_g7F-023PeaIDdI_2FQWSlool7IDH78U_ReauDK-AX6_fsKZTsGoXbUUjGdf0V3yD18tZiX8DXnm_Cflhn2l9Xhl50YfsoYe31wiOcA/s1280/3%208%20ducks%20on%20the%20big%20pond%20KVR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1280" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrMPYLX_h1a30HNmshAtGC_YYiljRlNkDsYDKNoFuiNhyphenhyphenHvglIBMAE70_zJ4RqxtnlKrRLtlyLRLX99A_g7F-023PeaIDdI_2FQWSlool7IDH78U_ReauDK-AX6_fsKZTsGoXbUUjGdf0V3yD18tZiX8DXnm_Cflhn2l9Xhl50YfsoYe31wiOcA/s320/3%208%20ducks%20on%20the%20big%20pond%20KVR.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">...and another scuffle which included<br />Canada Geese.<br />I shot through some brush, but still</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">managed to get some action.<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAChFgzAy5AxKW0sbz698fSN7e4ZA62muHquyF-j6Z981ku94kLjtJyXfKvQ-ghSemB-tfRLGjj4ccWYNw5LjjWZ4oNsSGMunx-ymL3gKIJkOlCe30etS88ggiOtin8lZ1z1sfifOX6yYFYfYUNXAx1uvgjlOxZe1Gmmwt_5HDYZmv88cZSY5CQ/s1280/3%208%20flying%20geese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1280" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAChFgzAy5AxKW0sbz698fSN7e4ZA62muHquyF-j6Z981ku94kLjtJyXfKvQ-ghSemB-tfRLGjj4ccWYNw5LjjWZ4oNsSGMunx-ymL3gKIJkOlCe30etS88ggiOtin8lZ1z1sfifOX6yYFYfYUNXAx1uvgjlOxZe1Gmmwt_5HDYZmv88cZSY5CQ/s320/3%208%20flying%20geese.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Right then I got the urge to drive over to the Mississippi River and do some exploring. But I have time constraints and decided to just settle with what I could see in the immediate area.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">That turned into a 2+ mile walk around the backwaters of the Kickapoo River.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6LaYcQTtVFR6o3MGcIwTLlYsHh-9_HMxvZWNIZIHil67vG66DzkRayvi_vufZMGlL8ydF9G9Zb1h-Pofk3Hemzhi_SRZ0RcZS3E6C7SKkYRlw52YFWNF8dJVbcqGFWbeqsvUNYEDBVrsH7SUblNrnXrLFDzuTopSPrz5LVzLeNkbjPd9igYGfQ/s4032/PXL_20240309_170919109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6LaYcQTtVFR6o3MGcIwTLlYsHh-9_HMxvZWNIZIHil67vG66DzkRayvi_vufZMGlL8ydF9G9Zb1h-Pofk3Hemzhi_SRZ0RcZS3E6C7SKkYRlw52YFWNF8dJVbcqGFWbeqsvUNYEDBVrsH7SUblNrnXrLFDzuTopSPrz5LVzLeNkbjPd9igYGfQ/s320/PXL_20240309_170919109.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It seemed that I was only going to see the Geese on this trip out. I could hear some black birds and many sparrows. Twice I almost got a shot of Chickadees, but they were so fast! Catching them near the bird feeder at home is easier, but there is a certain challenge of trying to get them out 'in the wild' so to speak.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I finally heard the Sandhill Cranes and saw them circling overhead and managed to catch a couple of shots. They didn't turn out the best, but there they were! The darn things kept fling low and through trees!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmwSU0WQ6p-5WM6jlFll5lUnRZTHWI1qK333AGBUJLSpDIO3en9nyUp22CcWUzOYytKgDRb-VGyMq5QLyjzaBcLLavWd5qSyozqytlKJJoCtlK2gmikY4mE6L-9XmQSW2jFyXMWXjmVupFpw9wTlgnqH2TQNZiUr0LDE2x0cggQVj_E3X13YMNg/s1280/3%208%20Sandhill%20Crane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1280" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmwSU0WQ6p-5WM6jlFll5lUnRZTHWI1qK333AGBUJLSpDIO3en9nyUp22CcWUzOYytKgDRb-VGyMq5QLyjzaBcLLavWd5qSyozqytlKJJoCtlK2gmikY4mE6L-9XmQSW2jFyXMWXjmVupFpw9wTlgnqH2TQNZiUr0LDE2x0cggQVj_E3X13YMNg/s320/3%208%20Sandhill%20Crane.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did catch up with them after they landed though. I had to stand still behind some thick brush and look down onto the marshy area next to the river.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJFU4E9Opj8dRRR9csIQj1IsJLcSdnFyorOKAYwsHYeZSwAA1h5xyiieY8PmICulzpA_NhHUReo3h8Mv-A-hOfJd9dMUR7-fFDk0sdO-rMzH1TUj_ybf1mBMBfJPAhPbmC7cmMVQMaEfKSrjLyEHD5YnZDLXMIpUx8heU3BLoYFbz5DeD6OGh3g/s1280/3%209%20sandhill%20cranes%20walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1280" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJFU4E9Opj8dRRR9csIQj1IsJLcSdnFyorOKAYwsHYeZSwAA1h5xyiieY8PmICulzpA_NhHUReo3h8Mv-A-hOfJd9dMUR7-fFDk0sdO-rMzH1TUj_ybf1mBMBfJPAhPbmC7cmMVQMaEfKSrjLyEHD5YnZDLXMIpUx8heU3BLoYFbz5DeD6OGh3g/s320/3%209%20sandhill%20cranes%20walking.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I came out next to Star Valley and decided to head back to the car. I stopped to pull down my hood and turned to see this:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhH9QF9svL3rLoA8XNsfzT5XIpvzkl-HETPjee5MztmPIkbVbvTTfYj_-gfamqu9UUsbU8eqT2sL20eN4Hi45vJ9oALIQFHvrUv7B4YzZMFcgz1aTv9S9HtqhzCJkLVCk3_b8auQdniLiUeWtmkEbsmjFBDRLV7URTGZshvkI15te1z8pcHw8Fw/s4032/PXL_20240309_172701121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhH9QF9svL3rLoA8XNsfzT5XIpvzkl-HETPjee5MztmPIkbVbvTTfYj_-gfamqu9UUsbU8eqT2sL20eN4Hi45vJ9oALIQFHvrUv7B4YzZMFcgz1aTv9S9HtqhzCJkLVCk3_b8auQdniLiUeWtmkEbsmjFBDRLV7URTGZshvkI15te1z8pcHw8Fw/s320/PXL_20240309_172701121.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These are steps that once led to a house on old Highway 131. I am standing on the old road that was the original highway and looking at steps for a home that was torn down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was really surprised as I must have walked past this spot hundreds of times. It made me wonder what it was like to live along this river and road many years ago before the Government decided to take this land and turn it into a reservoir and dam to hold back flood waters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">None of that happened and many years later the Kickapoo Valley Reserve came to be in existance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was getting ready to put away my camera when I heard a bird call that I thought I recognized.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I kept turning around and looking for the source of the call. A flash of blue caught my eye and I took this shot which is again...NOT very good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But there it was, a Kingfisher!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcFbamQs-x6oAnOmisxBU90d6rSB_bLgOVTMzrbxlbsT_KIYtGtufSdAmSvBcca4iO6314KPZMS5R0D9r8VfNhiAwe_dbOWskX3HtM_Jk0sOt2sOnoOSmTz9d957BUWrIrTuvEPvGce8SNh5cnaju7RLpvpfLqKY4tgN4cRj0PToyzElR31aXdw/s1280/3%208%20Kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1280" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcFbamQs-x6oAnOmisxBU90d6rSB_bLgOVTMzrbxlbsT_KIYtGtufSdAmSvBcca4iO6314KPZMS5R0D9r8VfNhiAwe_dbOWskX3HtM_Jk0sOt2sOnoOSmTz9d957BUWrIrTuvEPvGce8SNh5cnaju7RLpvpfLqKY4tgN4cRj0PToyzElR31aXdw/s320/3%208%20Kingfisher.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did a little happy dance. Three years in a row I have been able to find a Kingfisher in this particular area. I call it dumb luck, but maybe it isn't.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was worth getting cold through and through to see this just before I walked up to the parking area.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am grateful that my Subaru has heated seats. When I got in, I turned the heater on full.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What a success. It was worth getting half frozen.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Nothing You Could Do; font-size: x-large;">It must be that time of year!</span></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-30212829836453468852024-03-09T15:30:00.001-06:002024-03-09T15:30:00.148-06:00Bushes, Trees, and Birds<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I was out on Thursday determined to find some birds or something exciting to look at.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Most of what I found was a bit dull and boring.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was looking for any sign of birds at first. But then I noticed some things about the bushes and the trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did find birds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I mean, who cannot find crows? They are all over the place!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYjWbCPsI2KoLoGKVTklRY9n_QLqan6WBHd7l-vhgEKWzUds0bvfisYcWkNm3TEH6GEXasDK4kBWefcKpWZ053v2dsWkMILG7GdLtdVnK4x0oifUZ6FVGsVYU8z6txRoLzj3I8nlrC5nIGGeXgSJ0b52X27w15kU87NVYVoOfg_bwMIKBS7fL5Q/s1048/3%207%20crows_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYjWbCPsI2KoLoGKVTklRY9n_QLqan6WBHd7l-vhgEKWzUds0bvfisYcWkNm3TEH6GEXasDK4kBWefcKpWZ053v2dsWkMILG7GdLtdVnK4x0oifUZ6FVGsVYU8z6txRoLzj3I8nlrC5nIGGeXgSJ0b52X27w15kU87NVYVoOfg_bwMIKBS7fL5Q/s320/3%207%20crows_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I heard the Redwinged Black Birds, I did! I crept around a large field edge to see if I could get a glimpse of one. <br /><br />And there he/she was. In a thicket of Prickly Ash. There was no predator that could bust through that thorny bush.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I knew from hiking here over the years, that I always heard them in the brush but never paid particular attention. Now I see why they would love this area as a nesting spot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ClBaiVJUQqHvUfKqTMRJetS2UVh9dx8RKBW-HLsTfRzzNW1z7dPys8nvKZ4N0zWcu71teV1ZqIz_SzwYtyXo0SUQmbCVDmZjC8spAsnRvUF6dOzsb2gbkd_GQVUYR2qycdmgRYdAoqZNE72uiMDzcd5_sxa7XDxA64rVsDb-YasJ-QgJ33attg/s1048/3%207%20redwing%20blackbirds_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ClBaiVJUQqHvUfKqTMRJetS2UVh9dx8RKBW-HLsTfRzzNW1z7dPys8nvKZ4N0zWcu71teV1ZqIz_SzwYtyXo0SUQmbCVDmZjC8spAsnRvUF6dOzsb2gbkd_GQVUYR2qycdmgRYdAoqZNE72uiMDzcd5_sxa7XDxA64rVsDb-YasJ-QgJ33attg/s320/3%207%20redwing%20blackbirds_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />I decided to sit quietly in the field and see if one would eventually come out. That paid off.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlF-LT6NjqGnKXEsrFaxDzhgqdFuCm1c6S_SVUkohDaVMOtfF2TxrSvLST74crTF6fK8ESB1MjZXzx5Jp3GDnvIBEy_HSeDKwbOcWz6sfumMPxOg39VUYvs8znwOk2zS7q0j5pAJhX-XmU83VCHgfFggicd2qBGfbYRRoZ-nZev9av6Q4lqKH7w/s1048/3%207%20redwinged%20blk%20bird_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlF-LT6NjqGnKXEsrFaxDzhgqdFuCm1c6S_SVUkohDaVMOtfF2TxrSvLST74crTF6fK8ESB1MjZXzx5Jp3GDnvIBEy_HSeDKwbOcWz6sfumMPxOg39VUYvs8znwOk2zS7q0j5pAJhX-XmU83VCHgfFggicd2qBGfbYRRoZ-nZev9av6Q4lqKH7w/s320/3%207%20redwinged%20blk%20bird_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />There were several sparrows flitting around inside that area too. I couldn't get any decent shots of them to ID them. But they were all very talkative.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I ended up on the road where I'd seen the Bluebirds a few weeks ago and started walking along my neighbor's land. His big old birch trees grabbed my attention, their branches looked like they were pussy willows.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The photo is of lower feeder branches coming out from the tree itself.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG9ClDjAvgmaB9IWwZoM0ypeLORQZGcmhMHipiUkxU8npEnC-Z2M5ZDK76gUDM0jLyr4INc-DgPO6qp1hQJPNUHqCPQNmoHGMExVplD-l-Yidf7_ZmDElpK0cO1s6B7xVap7xQI6BZtTTcli__JZh9PKVGUA31PZUENkDHhazWJrcIqDWAfgCyg/s1048/3%207%20catkins%20birch%20tree_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG9ClDjAvgmaB9IWwZoM0ypeLORQZGcmhMHipiUkxU8npEnC-Z2M5ZDK76gUDM0jLyr4INc-DgPO6qp1hQJPNUHqCPQNmoHGMExVplD-l-Yidf7_ZmDElpK0cO1s6B7xVap7xQI6BZtTTcli__JZh9PKVGUA31PZUENkDHhazWJrcIqDWAfgCyg/s320/3%207%20catkins%20birch%20tree_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Further down the road I saw these above me. More Birch trees, but I don't know exactly what kind.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRf8soX5UHJuUm24PoHoBPcv38695uHDa3l6dSwRt5ILDGhhxjKMa67iJU2gmd9hb1oMCtcFlthFNfA619_9CQ5rmNelMlgqUHdvHWbGO3yBBbHW0l_pP88qIp5Xf9C8FRraNAF2DzSEGTryFZi6lTS_RAxw2x7e4KS-BanV5D4uzBbQ5DSk12g/s1048/3%207%20catkins%20on%20birch%20field_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRf8soX5UHJuUm24PoHoBPcv38695uHDa3l6dSwRt5ILDGhhxjKMa67iJU2gmd9hb1oMCtcFlthFNfA619_9CQ5rmNelMlgqUHdvHWbGO3yBBbHW0l_pP88qIp5Xf9C8FRraNAF2DzSEGTryFZi6lTS_RAxw2x7e4KS-BanV5D4uzBbQ5DSk12g/s320/3%207%20catkins%20on%20birch%20field_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />I know that there are several types of birch, so this shouldn't have surprised me. Of course, I first thought that all birch trees should show their catkins in the same manner. But different varieties, just like different varieties of flowers will appear different.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Each year, I learn a little bit more about trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So this Hophornbeam gave me a bit of a brain tease.<br />My neighbor ID'd it as a Hophornbeam.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt3c9sM-dufBBYBZF20R7yvIueC5eiJpNW1Z6wdEZXu-h7VdFCAz1l5onJcITEFv2yY4HNVcjqjWTDXrp-guvvCnokDASYPiCqY3h0Ar_MIX6n4bp0fTtZpy8dJOT8iRNSlfjMWtuVALxKksF1X_P7LkkZpwywPP_J5AnMQvJBYw9CDaI7aRtvQ/s960/3%207%20hophornbeam%20eastern.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt3c9sM-dufBBYBZF20R7yvIueC5eiJpNW1Z6wdEZXu-h7VdFCAz1l5onJcITEFv2yY4HNVcjqjWTDXrp-guvvCnokDASYPiCqY3h0Ar_MIX6n4bp0fTtZpy8dJOT8iRNSlfjMWtuVALxKksF1X_P7LkkZpwywPP_J5AnMQvJBYw9CDaI7aRtvQ/s320/3%207%20hophornbeam%20eastern.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He ID'd this tree <b><i>below</i></b> as a Hophornbeam also. But they present differently.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So this confused me. But since I am not a botany person, I am going to leave these two trees as Hophornbeams of different varieties?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This tree keeps its leaves but doesn't have the 'chicken foot' winter catkins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The leaves stick around and only fall off when the buds push them off.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">See the tiny bud?<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEjlNrSzI9otUsm8j8fMEPx4uh74sw6Rb-AAGPvsgTBcXKvK1JsTL4LD6nBVtyU3m6fGayGL04o9ZJB5iSO0HxSYifuASu0ta3CJHUzzKUTbpaIBgwXbP3k9Huqrg1kRQpF_nnd9dhGD-ZSEkzxkHwTjYhfd9IhSoCWZ1HLNgN7lQ8TZHZinlmw/s960/3%207%20Hophornbeam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="685" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEjlNrSzI9otUsm8j8fMEPx4uh74sw6Rb-AAGPvsgTBcXKvK1JsTL4LD6nBVtyU3m6fGayGL04o9ZJB5iSO0HxSYifuASu0ta3CJHUzzKUTbpaIBgwXbP3k9Huqrg1kRQpF_nnd9dhGD-ZSEkzxkHwTjYhfd9IhSoCWZ1HLNgN7lQ8TZHZinlmw/s320/3%207%20Hophornbeam.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />Tiny bud..... -----></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MoEkLGmH8k2CuKkBABlzay2ZGrGAWSdguzNS-HZ1jKdWTAVIskKl2a42e211lGqzMOhRbNLx_xEiGnc6tGr6B4zEg_zmy6dQ64TDwaDyfLfQndktKV2CgwQqW4gRPKINEexlZl_83r7_HHv6_S_pXwzRtl7DGI1iPwag15vt2nRaryVaDo6mBg/s1606/3%207%20Hophornbeam%20arrow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1606" data-original-width="1218" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MoEkLGmH8k2CuKkBABlzay2ZGrGAWSdguzNS-HZ1jKdWTAVIskKl2a42e211lGqzMOhRbNLx_xEiGnc6tGr6B4zEg_zmy6dQ64TDwaDyfLfQndktKV2CgwQqW4gRPKINEexlZl_83r7_HHv6_S_pXwzRtl7DGI1iPwag15vt2nRaryVaDo6mBg/s320/3%207%20Hophornbeam%20arrow.jpg" width="243" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />So the more I 'investigate' these trees, the more questions I come up with.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These trees are grouped under the name of Ironwood Trees and there is apparently several kinds of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hop Hornbeam, Hornbeam, Ironwood, and Musclewood are names given to these trees because of their hard wood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Let's not forget that these trees in the summer look like elm trees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">How confusing can that be????</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then there was evidence that the Gooseberry bushes were coming alive in the forest. I have a love hate relationship with these thorny guys. However, their flowers are cute and their berries can be picked and eaten when ripe. <br />I've never tried it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqN0E6RnxpQw11ZIa46NBc696YuQf0Nu9uqISi_yP7fQVdF0dVQWCg8tswIq7cEIPfRA2nIBlfbyRC2utLOTMnD_6_7piNApNRz5inGlj48pEDlviGYCDDnZxyqNp37isR-zH9nQtMHehACssxc7pvDx-dvgHJN7AFPT9k99fKdxZmvmVSfZQBw/s960/3%207%20gooseberry%20bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqN0E6RnxpQw11ZIa46NBc696YuQf0Nu9uqISi_yP7fQVdF0dVQWCg8tswIq7cEIPfRA2nIBlfbyRC2utLOTMnD_6_7piNApNRz5inGlj48pEDlviGYCDDnZxyqNp37isR-zH9nQtMHehACssxc7pvDx-dvgHJN7AFPT9k99fKdxZmvmVSfZQBw/s320/3%207%20gooseberry%20bush.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Even the invasive and horrible Multiflora Rose is trying to wake up.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the shot below there are leaves that had budded out a few weeks ago during an intense warm spell. Those leaves dried up and now I can see new bright red ones peeking out.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpVJbjcg_igqKs2uGVOD5p_cjzTncc9FmKQGK6Z4ufuejb4msw_OwGdCokwHAEijpoInHLn0nsjY2WdwZmWQV915HvvjfDQlWTtUpWoCU9Zk2_03xGAeIETBFY2veywclEbooMGiT7wfhfEr7VOnkR03kwg19aeE6z6FVfahQmGfAW94JU2ZhgQ/s1280/3%207%20multiflora%20rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1280" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpVJbjcg_igqKs2uGVOD5p_cjzTncc9FmKQGK6Z4ufuejb4msw_OwGdCokwHAEijpoInHLn0nsjY2WdwZmWQV915HvvjfDQlWTtUpWoCU9Zk2_03xGAeIETBFY2veywclEbooMGiT7wfhfEr7VOnkR03kwg19aeE6z6FVfahQmGfAW94JU2ZhgQ/s320/3%207%20multiflora%20rose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The flowers to these bushes are pretty, but man those thorns are tough to get around. </span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I may tie a ribbon or something around those two different Hop-Hornbeam trees and see what happens through the year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Seems that I enjoy watching some of the least popular trees and bushes there are.</span></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-83831660703341814332024-03-08T17:50:00.000-06:002024-03-08T17:50:17.274-06:00A little breath of love<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzmiGu_r_ayzbtn77qpnW9N6Jl2PklxzUf-62n-X1CyJDfWoTXkeEoXtCtJWBYBCrFmZ4j0dzXXLELmxZfmzrApkqBZTSUiI4tW3Y27wePmsypckgvgtdNoVKrZYnOrYp9vGN2uSC0Domm9ntTpCaSG28XuTqam1pqFsus98xhLRZR65FU9-gzQ/s2048/PXL_20240304_131828983_exported_1226_1709558324382.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzmiGu_r_ayzbtn77qpnW9N6Jl2PklxzUf-62n-X1CyJDfWoTXkeEoXtCtJWBYBCrFmZ4j0dzXXLELmxZfmzrApkqBZTSUiI4tW3Y27wePmsypckgvgtdNoVKrZYnOrYp9vGN2uSC0Domm9ntTpCaSG28XuTqam1pqFsus98xhLRZR65FU9-gzQ/s320/PXL_20240304_131828983_exported_1226_1709558324382.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> Of course I am a bit prejudice, but isn't this the most-est cutest little girl in the whole world?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well at least in my eyes she is!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04Iv13Ns609Ba9SK_ne5KWQC-vyxmSiqixPPJcay8mURTWLGtPyilLwXDJZVCBMVBB2qnjdvOI8STBQeUITN8R3FOnvLXA5S_Cq-KRY5sib4XR4hA0rjTPIaQpGdI2XTE4T_N_OaoD9TUsV5RSzczz1YO-FEJlzFYjn2eQ2_s0YFHzjE6O9M-xg/s800/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04Iv13Ns609Ba9SK_ne5KWQC-vyxmSiqixPPJcay8mURTWLGtPyilLwXDJZVCBMVBB2qnjdvOI8STBQeUITN8R3FOnvLXA5S_Cq-KRY5sib4XR4hA0rjTPIaQpGdI2XTE4T_N_OaoD9TUsV5RSzczz1YO-FEJlzFYjn2eQ2_s0YFHzjE6O9M-xg/s320/image.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Rory is a beauty with smiles, grunts, wiggles, cries, and wonderful expressions. There certainly is something magical about holding a grandchild for the first time.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyxSkTbyyp0RebHabFtaTfsho9Gk1XSKnLpudSFpg7naGeNH7OsRqjFOvMBq7n3L_F2rjCYObL7OE4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is just a 6 second video of Rory. I made a few that are longer so Rich could watch her as she interacted with the world around her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wish I had a picture frame for Rich in which I could load images of her so he could enjoy seeing her many faces. He often asks me to bring up any little shots of her on my phone and little clips of her so he can watch. It lights up his face with tenderness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Meeting her in person was like such a wonderful little breath of love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thanks to mom and dad for letting me come for a quick Grandma visit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Oh......</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also enjoyed the night time visit with Aldo the cat who thought that sleeping on my head and neck was a good way to show me how much he loved me too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And the cuddles from Twila who wanted to make sure that I stayed plenty warm overnight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Until next time....</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-27341218269507003822024-03-07T05:19:00.000-06:002024-03-07T05:19:04.003-06:00Messing around<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the mean time, I've been busy with experimenting with lights indoors. I used a technique called Black Background ... it uses no background but a setting on the camera that makes the scene black and then the photographer uses a flashlight, flash, or something to light up the subject.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was a pain to do, but I think if I practice a LOT more I can get it to work pretty easily. I'm studying how to do this outdoors while photographing a flower. I didn't take a 'how to' shot. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did it on the kitchen table with light coming in through a curtain. There is a coffee cup about 6 inches from the Lego Bird.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While the camera thought the scene was black, I used a bright flashlight to light up the Lego Bird and this was the result. I still have some work to do to figure out the best settings for this type of photography.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6-IfTxdtpdcoaOVDl1kMkp9g7YhkHrRsVkdpGTPND3JJJNQTsfPKiltp2MS3aTVhRkvE7F3tuiyljPJyD-QFRBMbiv4e_UJ0rtI7Y6V0IpAfjZBbj-hxpicXjw540X3NSGsutWOi-MZdb0xKuthnr2PNJCvJkWsK1kKA8nVXbQDA_TiAKOT4Fw/s4224/3%201%20blue%20bird%20lego.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="4224" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6-IfTxdtpdcoaOVDl1kMkp9g7YhkHrRsVkdpGTPND3JJJNQTsfPKiltp2MS3aTVhRkvE7F3tuiyljPJyD-QFRBMbiv4e_UJ0rtI7Y6V0IpAfjZBbj-hxpicXjw540X3NSGsutWOi-MZdb0xKuthnr2PNJCvJkWsK1kKA8nVXbQDA_TiAKOT4Fw/s320/3%201%20blue%20bird%20lego.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I tried a new method of lighting up a subject from underneath. I found a large piece of broken glass and put it on some old play blocks.<br />I stuck a flat light under the critters and a weak light shining on them from the front.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yj3B9gL5efkHoEzwSzciwG3YQQwrDNnC3rbWqboMHR8-DSndAcZ1ods3AxrTlIUyeKTrkyrv4hJ2R_pcP_1UWLxpIwj4iMsvfMQnwfArDqWgOf8VqegnrSy6nJulkbkcuWVL1dZD2dvvQCuvvyN2HOMSOtl7GNrTEwT1HWFcu9nJ1mzqOvX0OQ/s4032/PXL_20240229_155244260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yj3B9gL5efkHoEzwSzciwG3YQQwrDNnC3rbWqboMHR8-DSndAcZ1ods3AxrTlIUyeKTrkyrv4hJ2R_pcP_1UWLxpIwj4iMsvfMQnwfArDqWgOf8VqegnrSy6nJulkbkcuWVL1dZD2dvvQCuvvyN2HOMSOtl7GNrTEwT1HWFcu9nJ1mzqOvX0OQ/s320/PXL_20240229_155244260.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">That is how I did the Shark Duckie shot which you already saw last week:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j49SnSxDd9FdyyxutnFhMjshiMj0IQxVnvoNpmzQb3tIb0O-gL4XqvrYpY8W7QY-Nw4-ukmqdEbw7pi1c03_DldZ5W8APbiflIU0CteUL4q-6tL6ylvbKdeKERpUGXTVH__cv8MJTEV_NdjzcrmKbgG9vecpcml8dr9NQl8GCbbPZz0q1k5WYA/s1280/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1j49SnSxDd9FdyyxutnFhMjshiMj0IQxVnvoNpmzQb3tIb0O-gL4XqvrYpY8W7QY-Nw4-ukmqdEbw7pi1c03_DldZ5W8APbiflIU0CteUL4q-6tL6ylvbKdeKERpUGXTVH__cv8MJTEV_NdjzcrmKbgG9vecpcml8dr9NQl8GCbbPZz0q1k5WYA/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I then stood a tiny soldier right on top of the light with a black plastic background.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The soldier standing on the light with a black reflective<br />background behind him.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU4ya8m43d5iJdFDuaBFPxIMKNkecNlb9iJEbuh7UDeXy9_U4bPaQlVpk8MjiY8Vq5lWeqole3tVC61ONUwxfLzoTJXhmRmNH4ZtyUcxtbtAXTfyOs6wF2PcsIQKldnsR5lgvsMnV3WtCOz2jpPEFlUNalRDLmkE7xP2bfA-eg52EnyBdZX7Opw/s1048/2%2029%20soldier%20on%20a%20light_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU4ya8m43d5iJdFDuaBFPxIMKNkecNlb9iJEbuh7UDeXy9_U4bPaQlVpk8MjiY8Vq5lWeqole3tVC61ONUwxfLzoTJXhmRmNH4ZtyUcxtbtAXTfyOs6wF2PcsIQKldnsR5lgvsMnV3WtCOz2jpPEFlUNalRDLmkE7xP2bfA-eg52EnyBdZX7Opw/s320/2%2029%20soldier%20on%20a%20light_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cropped version...<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa80pXVLWbVmnt81xTG-8Cbwi5LA_QJD6OYa-aUnUTPxHeJHGk0Q_xYlOB7iNgbYHAkmvYeMKQZZ4bRJcpc7tdK4iU52GNhmtF77AVqNsfQ2sztSQLXHMG0McKsIahhUP8v-XMSSfbSS-AYH-0km9vzwrpR_I4GwlrhWcT4qBzqnB0wi34ohW5A/s1048/2%2029%20soldier%20on%20a%20light%20cropped_DxO_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa80pXVLWbVmnt81xTG-8Cbwi5LA_QJD6OYa-aUnUTPxHeJHGk0Q_xYlOB7iNgbYHAkmvYeMKQZZ4bRJcpc7tdK4iU52GNhmtF77AVqNsfQ2sztSQLXHMG0McKsIahhUP8v-XMSSfbSS-AYH-0km9vzwrpR_I4GwlrhWcT4qBzqnB0wi34ohW5A/s320/2%2029%20soldier%20on%20a%20light%20cropped_DxO_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A Calico Critter ~<br />She stood on the light and I took a flashlight and<br />lit her up from the top.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PTpNxyDKMURxi3GwjKqjvEcJ_yw_JJd8RTkqHS2ojgVm3hN51ml8B_iXfQzp7Z3ockBfNKVjohNSmyBkdcRXCRnr9774wNTWGfotZUg6Aid7q5jmQlWpa00CdUeExfhqdRs4RYTV3Z0WOUkoiAlBDYrEuZCAFc3D5vg16_aiNkKUSxD5huJ2jQ/s1048/2%2029%20critters_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="927" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PTpNxyDKMURxi3GwjKqjvEcJ_yw_JJd8RTkqHS2ojgVm3hN51ml8B_iXfQzp7Z3ockBfNKVjohNSmyBkdcRXCRnr9774wNTWGfotZUg6Aid7q5jmQlWpa00CdUeExfhqdRs4RYTV3Z0WOUkoiAlBDYrEuZCAFc3D5vg16_aiNkKUSxD5huJ2jQ/s320/2%2029%20critters_DxO.jpg" width="283" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The shots turn out quite moody and interesting. I'd guess this method would work with some still life like an apple or forks or utensils? Perhaps a salt shaker with salt spilled on the glass and a small measuring spoon alongside it?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I just have to face it. There is not a lot out in the woodlands right now to get excited about. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However. Things are starting to happen!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I saw Robins again today, along with Bluebirds, Sandhill Cranes have been flying overhead...and this morning I heard my first red winged black bird.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Seems like I need to start looking for neat signs of spring.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I guess a mission to look for Skunk Cabbage should be in order!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">PS-- I did find skunk cabbage when I went out on Tuesday for my walk.</span></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-53870931375548271652024-03-06T16:30:00.001-06:002024-03-07T06:49:03.151-06:00Springing up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was really quite curious as to how the warmer weather was affecting things in the forest. I took a hike down to the Big Spring in the Valley where I usually can spot the first signs of spring when the Skunk Cabbage emerges.<br /><br />Years ago, this was an easier hike. But the forest has taken over with briars and weeds. The land has been left 'feral' in the past 15 years. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Charlie and I found the spring and it took a little bit of looking around but eventually we found Skunk Cabbage plants emerging just and inch or so above the leave debris.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The usual time for Skunk Cabbage to emerge in this</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">part of the forest is late March to early April.<br />So this emergence is about 3 weeks</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">early.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIeQxnivUliywvDD1t2MTefqbiRGvyVUl3T6aMOlDD6YRN_UhT1NzttipvOf5jv1KAnZIOzzRiJRsxJ-Dkq8e5RV05lIZ-TR-5vmVsQMxH-kFpOJSQyZwmDQGRx3hwuBiPgqLjA6SkFNuKt_UA_qRxepTQ688ocIoBQlXY_eIh6F8K3ht_YnFnQ/s1048/3%205%20skunk%20cabbage1_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIeQxnivUliywvDD1t2MTefqbiRGvyVUl3T6aMOlDD6YRN_UhT1NzttipvOf5jv1KAnZIOzzRiJRsxJ-Dkq8e5RV05lIZ-TR-5vmVsQMxH-kFpOJSQyZwmDQGRx3hwuBiPgqLjA6SkFNuKt_UA_qRxepTQ688ocIoBQlXY_eIh6F8K3ht_YnFnQ/s320/3%205%20skunk%20cabbage1_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_doPDT5JaCKAxavAZz28y1blfcvfi4pwUyH1OYyP3iwEMJehguEf76tgcSxNtuT1P-UL9jonUARQJFbJSFU5FwcalyEN-Ea3YC_V-O-QNHBEFwHGCuBsIr2V44wZG02-X2Gylo8sADiI1SjN8WhI88y4VEgkyFI9rdBshoLTlGj9Jk4X2Jo4eQ/s1048/3%205%20skunk%20cabbage2_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_doPDT5JaCKAxavAZz28y1blfcvfi4pwUyH1OYyP3iwEMJehguEf76tgcSxNtuT1P-UL9jonUARQJFbJSFU5FwcalyEN-Ea3YC_V-O-QNHBEFwHGCuBsIr2V44wZG02-X2Gylo8sADiI1SjN8WhI88y4VEgkyFI9rdBshoLTlGj9Jk4X2Jo4eQ/s320/3%205%20skunk%20cabbage2_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />We also found Water Strider running back and forth across the creek. How they walk on the water is amazing!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is hard to see the Water Strider in this shot, but you can see its shadow quite easily.<br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV4xxMDniw12IeATIdJAtP562SqHb2ysyCV_bEKHgoqIHDpvzBRYpKnY9WaO7E5YTtdZg_VOgu7dPVJnSRE2h1YIFlPTMSqCfs5omoamWWKO9Z7wT1VDwSEe05CQ23ebDtbhPAtMrdj62OeHFboV_YKg8omzYybafv7NMbvmJC3ldteQC8EMczg/s1048/3%205%20water%20spider_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIV4xxMDniw12IeATIdJAtP562SqHb2ysyCV_bEKHgoqIHDpvzBRYpKnY9WaO7E5YTtdZg_VOgu7dPVJnSRE2h1YIFlPTMSqCfs5omoamWWKO9Z7wT1VDwSEe05CQ23ebDtbhPAtMrdj62OeHFboV_YKg8omzYybafv7NMbvmJC3ldteQC8EMczg/s320/3%205%20water%20spider_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the woods, things are brown and rather dull looking, however this is another time of year that the mosses really do shine. I love seeing them in the early morning or late afternoon sunlight. They are in areas that will be shaded later this year. The mosses will be hidden by the greenery of the briars and trees on this hillside above the Big Spring.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0NiGNRQfQWt1MZqnxmbqGd3xkwdyTAWbEPbgzR7UntIZByvr2Q24tn-LOY991qnbwKnJYEgTE5MPXEJKYMNkAa5Aq0-iTEwTwI-wO-jcMA9AZahLcAANhfvIfm8hv5Msj5BTHL55PPsL3O90CQ3FbDu3goa3-TdJTBsLHjUYLIRQ2MuquStl1w/s1048/3%205%20big%20spring%20mosses_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0NiGNRQfQWt1MZqnxmbqGd3xkwdyTAWbEPbgzR7UntIZByvr2Q24tn-LOY991qnbwKnJYEgTE5MPXEJKYMNkAa5Aq0-iTEwTwI-wO-jcMA9AZahLcAANhfvIfm8hv5Msj5BTHL55PPsL3O90CQ3FbDu3goa3-TdJTBsLHjUYLIRQ2MuquStl1w/s320/3%205%20big%20spring%20mosses_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These aren't the 'best' shots of birds, but I did enjoy trying to spot this Junco inside a bush. It was a challenge. Charlie and I had to sit in the hayfield and stay still for a while so the bird would settle down too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBn6jIrPVCJxCVsmPvCyjgV8cWP2FHSLZ6UxpdgvEHWNuUuX_lTCn9CwUos7y336Xy4UzBHKC1Hi6DnD6Y-Qm1qjvreUXf7aveI5KOu1z05mpqR2m6RkR8rPmqERYWgl1HgxgwzZqsRbsZBwiTEX4Ny-6TwSvS8UtE8IUc1wS90_4TIj44N4csg/s1048/3%205%20Junco_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBn6jIrPVCJxCVsmPvCyjgV8cWP2FHSLZ6UxpdgvEHWNuUuX_lTCn9CwUos7y336Xy4UzBHKC1Hi6DnD6Y-Qm1qjvreUXf7aveI5KOu1z05mpqR2m6RkR8rPmqERYWgl1HgxgwzZqsRbsZBwiTEX4Ny-6TwSvS8UtE8IUc1wS90_4TIj44N4csg/s320/3%205%20Junco_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Robins were appearing everywhere and they were able to grab insects and even worms which I found very amazing for this early in March.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2PMElm5jed9fOIs0L9QRGKzCQtjtHnrZZjR1B9q5z9LPvs4GT5P8V_DO5QITN3yAOlCZdYEcupwpPWFqB413h5l3rbm1gKXaXvIfGNRgdko0TLwOz0GpPb1GBzDFVKwCo0gY6ojeRLpmc2LQeiIADgfWIL-LfavP6bQHBm0Vdn6xY9K7kOqkbA/s1048/3%205%20Robin_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2PMElm5jed9fOIs0L9QRGKzCQtjtHnrZZjR1B9q5z9LPvs4GT5P8V_DO5QITN3yAOlCZdYEcupwpPWFqB413h5l3rbm1gKXaXvIfGNRgdko0TLwOz0GpPb1GBzDFVKwCo0gY6ojeRLpmc2LQeiIADgfWIL-LfavP6bQHBm0Vdn6xY9K7kOqkbA/s320/3%205%20Robin_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The whole reason to go for the hike was to look for Skunk Cabbage and some birds. I didn't do very well on the bird search, but here are some rather odd little birds.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This one was a difficult shot. Not in the way you think though. I put the Lego Bird in a nest that was inside a multiflora rose bush. In the natural world, this is a perfect spot for birds to build nests. No predators or even humans can get at the nest without being stabbed and caught up in all of the thorns!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt73W2SFvop4WfmiZGNzdzOSlbpCjI2xrgjITe-oeoMlIMQSLrLyq_pwgVu4fKb50lXUqsjNIsAljm5UFrqT9PZOS7j3bLg5SVCs0NNRhCKWu_xuKCmeSZWXMakTlYjC_j0xUueb88b4xmYle8PqQg0NLS2wazMbjlueFx7Z3gZ6nPq7ZIBGHSGQ/s1280/3%205%20lego%20bird%20nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1280" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt73W2SFvop4WfmiZGNzdzOSlbpCjI2xrgjITe-oeoMlIMQSLrLyq_pwgVu4fKb50lXUqsjNIsAljm5UFrqT9PZOS7j3bLg5SVCs0NNRhCKWu_xuKCmeSZWXMakTlYjC_j0xUueb88b4xmYle8PqQg0NLS2wazMbjlueFx7Z3gZ6nPq7ZIBGHSGQ/s320/3%205%20lego%20bird%20nest.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We discovered more crocus flowers when we got home. So did the baby Lego Birds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldGhNiiDJ2yImUTYtuMliRc9NlWqoirD3OA7mrmse_S0dzzsDwvhhiPM-m7GQe7r45g2VHukPTMSyMBW1SmEV6c0nTzYzXJw5kKWSpQVpueqmHGqiK0gVhXTunhnj5gZC-2lyviLKAOCGwU4sO7HcJ82cU8GjAd8Hr9YkQW6WGoC_BgC3Tx4VPA/s1280/3%203%20baby%20birds%20and%20crocus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldGhNiiDJ2yImUTYtuMliRc9NlWqoirD3OA7mrmse_S0dzzsDwvhhiPM-m7GQe7r45g2VHukPTMSyMBW1SmEV6c0nTzYzXJw5kKWSpQVpueqmHGqiK0gVhXTunhnj5gZC-2lyviLKAOCGwU4sO7HcJ82cU8GjAd8Hr9YkQW6WGoC_BgC3Tx4VPA/s320/3%203%20baby%20birds%20and%20crocus.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdkkPai-tN40lsdh13-9xokMYh5Ik54we3pc5FVIu_RPF_IU1Fhkbn-Y_QgbtQtMCz5raqKKmfeK0OWGJ3rB0X5r48Mi3RwuCURXe5OoHPTKOGDA2AFw4eAADRJDmgEAvxjSZDLegheRf6h8iq4lSlJaWpqjBVzUsUkZldcJ_VLAujwjdp4w8TA/s1048/3%205%20crocus_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdkkPai-tN40lsdh13-9xokMYh5Ik54we3pc5FVIu_RPF_IU1Fhkbn-Y_QgbtQtMCz5raqKKmfeK0OWGJ3rB0X5r48Mi3RwuCURXe5OoHPTKOGDA2AFw4eAADRJDmgEAvxjSZDLegheRf6h8iq4lSlJaWpqjBVzUsUkZldcJ_VLAujwjdp4w8TA/s320/3%205%20crocus_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Spring is starting to creep into our area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wonder what it will be like? Friday we are supposed to have rain which we need.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-61155117136904038362024-03-05T08:56:00.002-06:002024-03-05T08:56:30.893-06:00There and back....<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcF080i-2zhbgEKz9U5INDQH7v_7ixbnAgmOXrzIrPKqaBMIzxkeYsePIk4QmeG0FSZZ8VZac38ayOyNFnkMPhXeiLmh5P3VkuWo5wYJPdkPK-F3r3esCucKOfgImeYC9L9PHgxnjw_Rnu3KidZDytsJp5emeAIDqth0ANig1GHKpzQoqX27yIQ/s4032/PXL_20240303_153111489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcF080i-2zhbgEKz9U5INDQH7v_7ixbnAgmOXrzIrPKqaBMIzxkeYsePIk4QmeG0FSZZ8VZac38ayOyNFnkMPhXeiLmh5P3VkuWo5wYJPdkPK-F3r3esCucKOfgImeYC9L9PHgxnjw_Rnu3KidZDytsJp5emeAIDqth0ANig1GHKpzQoqX27yIQ/s320/PXL_20240303_153111489.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sunday afternoon I took off for a drive to the other side of the state into the Kenosha area to see and meet Aurora [Rory] for the first time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The trip takes me at least 4 hours. But it is always so worth it to walk into Megan and Eddie's welcoming arms. <br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Of course this time, I got to snuggle a new grand baby! You will just have to imagine the joy and love that glowed through my body as I got to hold Aurora....Rory for the first time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was purely magical and breathtaking. We women [and many men for that matter], absolutely melt in the presence of cooing baby. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I can't post photos until I ask permission from the parents, but there was a few of me holding her and looking like I'd just entered baby wonderland.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My whirlwind ended after lunch on Monday and I drove back home straight through. I was trying to beat the storms that were whipping up on this strange odd March day!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">By evening just north of us had hail and sleet which covered the roads in ice when the temps dropped to 33 degrees.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At our house, we had lightening, thunder, and then small hail.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What a crazy two days!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The crocus flowers are in my yard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These snow drops were in my son's yard.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCc5QPFAjeDMCFF1hoH1QgI9VM6Rc9olgizwNDpNsOq_mOpFDkKMYaCUv02cn_Xfo4PXQ75AKsX2m57S1HUq0YP-fgWOLe2i2_uKky_8MYivyN94YRVDUgTriFCFY2nn_gX7jO12B64JWsSlWEqmUbFHEVaZo4cCp9ngEgze3a9Q5QaZA4vPV1A/s1048/3%204%20snowdrops_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCc5QPFAjeDMCFF1hoH1QgI9VM6Rc9olgizwNDpNsOq_mOpFDkKMYaCUv02cn_Xfo4PXQ75AKsX2m57S1HUq0YP-fgWOLe2i2_uKky_8MYivyN94YRVDUgTriFCFY2nn_gX7jO12B64JWsSlWEqmUbFHEVaZo4cCp9ngEgze3a9Q5QaZA4vPV1A/s320/3%204%20snowdrops_DxO.jpg" width="291" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And...there...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was there and back....</span></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-84884447551800213052024-03-02T21:00:00.000-06:002024-03-02T21:00:00.158-06:00Birds and roots<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhailFNVFrRPOndzIN1Ua6amP92WPOjtLLr7biACIrzDWUFAvOLtLOESsQAgdnuq93G7AB0IXW8Al_hx5pZmE5gkfCaU4msH3O4iiEWuKIj1o-ClkPXmc8aqn4rnIvMVPh0eT-VZ3wXqs2TlISl0osVn3ZREcJPW8mf0-JzXLpzUYy7uv-OHDS6yA/s4032/PXL_20240301_191002215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhailFNVFrRPOndzIN1Ua6amP92WPOjtLLr7biACIrzDWUFAvOLtLOESsQAgdnuq93G7AB0IXW8Al_hx5pZmE5gkfCaU4msH3O4iiEWuKIj1o-ClkPXmc8aqn4rnIvMVPh0eT-VZ3wXqs2TlISl0osVn3ZREcJPW8mf0-JzXLpzUYy7uv-OHDS6yA/s320/PXL_20240301_191002215.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> I wanted to go see if any Swans, ducks, or other birds had shown up near the KVR Ponds so Charlie and I took a little trip to walk the trails around the ponds.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We saw geese. A lot of geese! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The water in the foreground is still frozen on this pond. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_EeGpZOiCjQEdktkANvWO37v0xncAMcqm24OJ3VP0_wwVTUsHvbx2kOcQVJ42Oqg7ApaWhwN66PUmFmWp10U7Bz9fI2szdZeLiUXscWHoilZEP295qzjKoTPHAFzgj88TURTSHIgiQFO4TXklx0qV8kyhmIbDl6FoyRhAnfNOtPAH7yNjgVVeA/s1280/3%202%20canada%20geese3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1280" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_EeGpZOiCjQEdktkANvWO37v0xncAMcqm24OJ3VP0_wwVTUsHvbx2kOcQVJ42Oqg7ApaWhwN66PUmFmWp10U7Bz9fI2szdZeLiUXscWHoilZEP295qzjKoTPHAFzgj88TURTSHIgiQFO4TXklx0qV8kyhmIbDl6FoyRhAnfNOtPAH7yNjgVVeA/s320/3%202%20canada%20geese3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the large pond though, the geese were lined up on the shore where the winds weren't blowing. At first glance it looked like they were turtles all lined up.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-3bqZSKWjtO2lxqo9xZaUmhEgme2C6A46QrYGCQkk815WkDshQW44HAN5yh4fi599ywk7E9fgOUH3ltlF6AyELYBi2qk0ixVAn2JB95oQ35vL2yJhzVqgTpqER8qzbSZCHgGVIojJTBowp8JexafCx2VHmcbi_fj0SGFbcKsJ-YdI3CA9U43dg/s1280/3%202%20canada%20geese4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-3bqZSKWjtO2lxqo9xZaUmhEgme2C6A46QrYGCQkk815WkDshQW44HAN5yh4fi599ywk7E9fgOUH3ltlF6AyELYBi2qk0ixVAn2JB95oQ35vL2yJhzVqgTpqER8qzbSZCHgGVIojJTBowp8JexafCx2VHmcbi_fj0SGFbcKsJ-YdI3CA9U43dg/s320/3%202%20canada%20geese4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wished that the viewing blind that the Reserve put up wasn't facing the sun. However, it is fun to sit there with binoculars and watch these characters chatter and flap their wings. After all, I felt good getting out and enjoying the sunshine. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The ponds were a bit of a dud but that didn't matter much. We wanted the fresh air and anytime getting off the farm feels like a bit of a vacation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We wondered around Harrison Trail and down a little known footpath that encircles one of the smaller ponds. On a good year it is really quite wet and muddy. Only a few places required some leaping from log to log and grass clump to keep from getting my feet wet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We found cool tree roots...of course...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIOEfG-Pvic6vlEti7eLTO9O_kt7JtBszl1mOhnyvRVjgee-zAW8FljYhrSRS6nZPlgTfQcAEWi1RC2fNxjfsNq2iaR4rdXc4TzNbFm2NDR4xx35HZaZDMSZBymsjRXAFMCnCIzHk6_zewqG0efn4ADN22uBdqP6MC8Uary4NLcLx1BU3fX3YdA/s4032/PXL_20240301_191540075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIOEfG-Pvic6vlEti7eLTO9O_kt7JtBszl1mOhnyvRVjgee-zAW8FljYhrSRS6nZPlgTfQcAEWi1RC2fNxjfsNq2iaR4rdXc4TzNbFm2NDR4xx35HZaZDMSZBymsjRXAFMCnCIzHk6_zewqG0efn4ADN22uBdqP6MC8Uary4NLcLx1BU3fX3YdA/s320/PXL_20240301_191540075.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now that tree grew sideways and UP!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAxM8lbd9oujkFhMhOnMG-94jEH9yDT3_QxUdfd9czowYbq2yTQfIudKBGXvAe2swLK1zrh67fmOHhOBiMC0fy1zAJYTOavG19LvO8rNCvhwPQWymZOYBE-xg7w_VAkubFuGnOBLykBiJLCVuHxQnbcGDCNjqsVU_c3WUvGi0oEiExNC2Th6w3A/s4032/PXL_20240301_193203250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAxM8lbd9oujkFhMhOnMG-94jEH9yDT3_QxUdfd9czowYbq2yTQfIudKBGXvAe2swLK1zrh67fmOHhOBiMC0fy1zAJYTOavG19LvO8rNCvhwPQWymZOYBE-xg7w_VAkubFuGnOBLykBiJLCVuHxQnbcGDCNjqsVU_c3WUvGi0oEiExNC2Th6w3A/s320/PXL_20240301_193203250.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOEVVSpJIcelgrgnDd7xBMW4Jt5qCi4q9P21TcnPiDIxfwElHspaJWEeVcIWfCNJBT2ZhWr1CzKqkAbJPfIC5NLuX_HdsCG0KDJvywy3R0uhRjponq4xl_cwOYd2vS30I9yhyI6rpHjYFBGL7kclCsDbPaa7-A-HmzE9hpb2Xhsp3ecLIX1z3Cw/s960/3%201%20roots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOEVVSpJIcelgrgnDd7xBMW4Jt5qCi4q9P21TcnPiDIxfwElHspaJWEeVcIWfCNJBT2ZhWr1CzKqkAbJPfIC5NLuX_HdsCG0KDJvywy3R0uhRjponq4xl_cwOYd2vS30I9yhyI6rpHjYFBGL7kclCsDbPaa7-A-HmzE9hpb2Xhsp3ecLIX1z3Cw/s320/3%201%20roots.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Charlie had the best time, he chased a family of red squirrels around and around on the base of this bluff before they took off and climbed a pine tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ahhhh! We did find some birds!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih86nZ-R6QbE75LXsEZvWivxfn3Lo4m3WpKDo3n8hgfXZ0TC1ivpeCx4fhwPu26WKuMDy1NrFm-5FDMhtFEvvkYD1erqgrnc9afQY8zx5fcJhD4MXM8DOYAZBwqL_lk4TIVJEyASF5mrB4UzWe7oKxuZRUyhNivMf042WOqNJRyk3KXM_P7tG7fg/s1280/3%202%20birdies%20lego3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih86nZ-R6QbE75LXsEZvWivxfn3Lo4m3WpKDo3n8hgfXZ0TC1ivpeCx4fhwPu26WKuMDy1NrFm-5FDMhtFEvvkYD1erqgrnc9afQY8zx5fcJhD4MXM8DOYAZBwqL_lk4TIVJEyASF5mrB4UzWe7oKxuZRUyhNivMf042WOqNJRyk3KXM_P7tG7fg/s320/3%202%20birdies%20lego3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I found 3 little ones hiding alongside a bluff out of the wind. I didn't know that Cardinals, Bluebirds, and Sparrows hung out together.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YwY53PuJI3iMxBRr6mibw52tqYi4Dx4plhWz6bj0clfokd9pb59rpXIwQ-pHuUZqcmtwwJTNpL6-yS8xVqPM5gJIGHQ8c6jnVmlSLWMPIu6MWa_bCgkUJl6ufKlGF-QRVBSnK5kPHOIlLMkS89dNE692X8jspr5GKcyMeJB7d91ZrhVqGVoCcA/s1280/3%202%20birdies%20lego5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YwY53PuJI3iMxBRr6mibw52tqYi4Dx4plhWz6bj0clfokd9pb59rpXIwQ-pHuUZqcmtwwJTNpL6-yS8xVqPM5gJIGHQ8c6jnVmlSLWMPIu6MWa_bCgkUJl6ufKlGF-QRVBSnK5kPHOIlLMkS89dNE692X8jspr5GKcyMeJB7d91ZrhVqGVoCcA/s320/3%202%20birdies%20lego5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-48945388196128739892024-03-01T07:13:00.003-06:002024-03-01T10:10:30.313-06:00Ironwoods and trees<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I don't know of many folks here in my area that love the Ironwood, in some places they are considered a pesky tree. Of course, I find it interesting in shape and form. The tree is also known as:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />Hop-Hornbeam<br />Ostrya Virginia</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This tree is not to be confused with the other Ironwood. Also called Musclewood or American Hornbeam. Both trees live in the surrounding forests.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here are the leaves in the winter. This is called marcescent leaves. Leaves that stay on the tree and don't fall off in the fall. Oak trees do the same things. The new buds push off the leaves in the spring. Some think that this provides better mulch for the tree. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">All I know, is that these trees are fun to look at in the winter. They are generally understory trees and are pretty abundant in forests that have been commercially logged.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY3WYWQirzOTWMpJXlv_YQg3EZmguk1PwQRCiPVR8PVpY0eKuReqj8A8-qTJFMR2zDdiMiI640kmNEB6I1qbghQW2OlkY1KXZSw59k6TEDhEG_phRhov9S7rBm4isjwGFx33plDxFEGzXuS3tQCHnTYAMm0EoSzSkeLz4MVn8vR4pgHv3KhI-kA/s960/2%2027%20ironwood%20leaves%20hornhop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghY3WYWQirzOTWMpJXlv_YQg3EZmguk1PwQRCiPVR8PVpY0eKuReqj8A8-qTJFMR2zDdiMiI640kmNEB6I1qbghQW2OlkY1KXZSw59k6TEDhEG_phRhov9S7rBm4isjwGFx33plDxFEGzXuS3tQCHnTYAMm0EoSzSkeLz4MVn8vR4pgHv3KhI-kA/s320/2%2027%20ironwood%20leaves%20hornhop.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The trees that are on the edge of the woods have their leaves torn off by wicked winter winds. In the winter you can see the male catkins that are produced in the summer. In the spring, the catkins spore and fertilize the female parts. <br /><br />I'm don't totally understand the whole process as this is all fairly new to me. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkym0_vXvRzY9xnhaHM0zmVe9f8ZypXS69401pACzCZOdFaEJ_VgzlsGFu40IDzmA3fbkuh_R6C3WY6NKP9Dc-bob7JX7gkbTkJYXEU-TPFdASzP2GhRxawIfolEtZV5qASL3hHDm4X3ElS_4pCkDdNWQNaDNuKGAf7JPk_7QBC_CtqdxbQ7iAdg/s960/2%2027%20catkins%20on%20hornhopbeam%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkym0_vXvRzY9xnhaHM0zmVe9f8ZypXS69401pACzCZOdFaEJ_VgzlsGFu40IDzmA3fbkuh_R6C3WY6NKP9Dc-bob7JX7gkbTkJYXEU-TPFdASzP2GhRxawIfolEtZV5qASL3hHDm4X3ElS_4pCkDdNWQNaDNuKGAf7JPk_7QBC_CtqdxbQ7iAdg/s320/2%2027%20catkins%20on%20hornhopbeam%20tree.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you are interested in seeing the photos and explanation, this is a good site to read:<br /><a href="https://www.gcc.mass.edu/oll/plants/hop-hornbeam/">Hop Hornbeam-Outdoor Learning.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has taken me a few years and a new neighbor whose job is helping people with managing their forests in our county. He is a wealth of knowledge.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This spring I'll try and catch the catkins from the slippery elms, the boxelders, maples, oaks, birch, and the hop hornbeam. I'm pretty curious about how these trees 'do their' thing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I've been working on this sort of ID project since 2010 with so many starts and stops and distractions along the way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I can at least identify a few more trees now than in 2010.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This curlicue below is from a wild grape vine. This is part of the same vine that I made almost two whole batches of grape jelly. The second batch had to be mixed with wild apple juice I picked from the meadow trees.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqboiiiNTQ1Z3Gml7_q_b2SR4EWRmKEeu1AsCWxbT375aR5DxdIVFVoFFjIAg5rgebzUSDTXFtLlzQe3kTOH4XbVxb2d7H3W-rDhQ6W5UoH1zXNaYCvS6w-aksO6EcZ8OuXVCImnnuPyy_ICrlOVCpzYsVxbOIyLP0qOySEu7WU1d0sLsLNB6Hrg/s960/2%2027%20grape%20vine%20curls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="796" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqboiiiNTQ1Z3Gml7_q_b2SR4EWRmKEeu1AsCWxbT375aR5DxdIVFVoFFjIAg5rgebzUSDTXFtLlzQe3kTOH4XbVxb2d7H3W-rDhQ6W5UoH1zXNaYCvS6w-aksO6EcZ8OuXVCImnnuPyy_ICrlOVCpzYsVxbOIyLP0qOySEu7WU1d0sLsLNB6Hrg/s320/2%2027%20grape%20vine%20curls.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm going to be sidetracked yet again by some nice weather. That means I'll go looking at KVR I hope to see if I can find some migrating birds in the ponds or perhaps some pussywillows.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, there is a NEW tougher Duckie in town!</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfOoJoCUjFmLtDfA5UaGzFCHooAEpAuSmCGC1DluM8GsdX0DJHESaExIDc2kFwoW3Mp_q-jr7eFf6qJlLVxxY4pTTAjKYXzMz_zk9SqwukESh_K5A2WlNhzg7pgMaTYaca5ZPgPtiNuXNpoeTPHbFc7UV0QIIa5x3vtRn8U8Msb2bW92H6szkA/s1280/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1280" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZfOoJoCUjFmLtDfA5UaGzFCHooAEpAuSmCGC1DluM8GsdX0DJHESaExIDc2kFwoW3Mp_q-jr7eFf6qJlLVxxY4pTTAjKYXzMz_zk9SqwukESh_K5A2WlNhzg7pgMaTYaca5ZPgPtiNuXNpoeTPHbFc7UV0QIIa5x3vtRn8U8Msb2bW92H6szkA/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br /> </p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-41471348884297688902024-02-28T06:39:00.001-06:002024-02-28T06:43:50.310-06:00Kite<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nQfTURzc5DhvSiryOZQmFHJWmXtjHU9zDcblfEtkc4fhfalFIxyBj75XzJO6AhkBzDe3YJSf-kp_UMoe34OfIVxS-6qWqr3ha-JkbdgLI64j-rqCjKO4tlK7KrBl48w4GyCsq5Xd5r3zYXf81cx411onzTyMJg3No-zul3SrJNCKqEQ8fsSVgw/s4032/PXL_20240227_190527858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nQfTURzc5DhvSiryOZQmFHJWmXtjHU9zDcblfEtkc4fhfalFIxyBj75XzJO6AhkBzDe3YJSf-kp_UMoe34OfIVxS-6qWqr3ha-JkbdgLI64j-rqCjKO4tlK7KrBl48w4GyCsq5Xd5r3zYXf81cx411onzTyMJg3No-zul3SrJNCKqEQ8fsSVgw/s320/PXL_20240227_190527858.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br />This has been the most interesting winter. February has been up and down and all around with no pattern to the weather but</span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">CRAZY. Last year at this time we were digging out of a huge snow/ice storm.....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This week we even had red flag warnings because it is so dry and there is so much dead plant material around.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiTv-oTA8mAuuU9psHGibBLtoDCwmiHtsM__7S78AooYfzMonZCmrrjj9978U6TwGH67fFWy4ehDnv7Y5foobhk4_buDr_NzLJVHdqkh4MBz84deEwvGRd2tdCRaFAPrZI7ksUa8OQylBFy5x9Ey6o4i-eKxOjzIMNHj3IwfYq6sT5qX2oKBkTg/s960/2%2010%20waiting%20for%20the%20rain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiTv-oTA8mAuuU9psHGibBLtoDCwmiHtsM__7S78AooYfzMonZCmrrjj9978U6TwGH67fFWy4ehDnv7Y5foobhk4_buDr_NzLJVHdqkh4MBz84deEwvGRd2tdCRaFAPrZI7ksUa8OQylBFy5x9Ey6o4i-eKxOjzIMNHj3IwfYq6sT5qX2oKBkTg/s320/2%2010%20waiting%20for%20the%20rain.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Yesterday the neighbor came down with her two little ones. Her little boy wanted to fly a kit, but he didn't want to go into the field on the ridge to fly it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I helped put a little kite together and I helped him launch it. He then turned it over to me because the wind picked up. <i>Funny.</i><br />I haven't flown a kite since I was a kid and it was actually pretty thrilling to do!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This was about time that the cold front was sweeping in.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr51J9AZonPNg4F3nK-hbGuGVLLAyU0WiF77Cxvmcj6g6_kw_G6KL5tGWasABDbul0WRws-PSoiNzCu0uaJmFqyTi6qi9ekEgZSYWSx2Z8uuwTrCS8BzUZOddGgTO4IVnt7qCYsUASyy8EU52F982I-fmnVNy05LU20kVZcd-nmEEP94FBDy-qZg/s4032/PXL_20240227_221328742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr51J9AZonPNg4F3nK-hbGuGVLLAyU0WiF77Cxvmcj6g6_kw_G6KL5tGWasABDbul0WRws-PSoiNzCu0uaJmFqyTi6qi9ekEgZSYWSx2Z8uuwTrCS8BzUZOddGgTO4IVnt7qCYsUASyy8EU52F982I-fmnVNy05LU20kVZcd-nmEEP94FBDy-qZg/s320/PXL_20240227_221328742.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Wednesday dawns with temperatures in the single digits and wind chills reading something like 9F below.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Tomorrow on Leap Year Day, it will warm up into the 50's again. One wonders how that affects wildlife and plant life?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Looks like a good day to work on some Still Life indoors and practice some photography skills. After working in 70 degree temps yesterday, it will feel pretty cold out today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbE4WZs9rqtrBNL882LEeq-k62GSP7y7mMy081R7DLXvKGIe30gn4-ycI4C-LTL-seaJvisd1dXW0PpmoNQopvoI1aFbWLTGqzlMopvRRQULfHhq4o0iDsAffnV8zv05-dqcpIKXziHbLVqdwYxSQK8GVZ-eGQV_SYOF68h3k717qAvZe846cZQ/s799/32249270740_8e97e1b984_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbE4WZs9rqtrBNL882LEeq-k62GSP7y7mMy081R7DLXvKGIe30gn4-ycI4C-LTL-seaJvisd1dXW0PpmoNQopvoI1aFbWLTGqzlMopvRRQULfHhq4o0iDsAffnV8zv05-dqcpIKXziHbLVqdwYxSQK8GVZ-eGQV_SYOF68h3k717qAvZe846cZQ/s320/32249270740_8e97e1b984_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-80079888949620872982024-02-26T06:30:00.001-06:002024-02-26T06:30:23.211-06:00Sunday<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOYeia3AqGw5B27x1DlvnxVSmnJHTvqtqevZmgKR0OZf-592JvkgnLCOocEl-tvWRIQ48ol3ZZUDMX36Ds4iGLEarS8nls5s3DWpN9QqUvMkz7_BKDnppJT2psJ8j6FVrp-sHrmUWnGYFwrOCjRvrdfKzH8-ILynnxtJ47tKxid_NwWcV7AQQkg/s1048/2%2025%20sunrise%20tigen%20ridge_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1048" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOYeia3AqGw5B27x1DlvnxVSmnJHTvqtqevZmgKR0OZf-592JvkgnLCOocEl-tvWRIQ48ol3ZZUDMX36Ds4iGLEarS8nls5s3DWpN9QqUvMkz7_BKDnppJT2psJ8j6FVrp-sHrmUWnGYFwrOCjRvrdfKzH8-ILynnxtJ47tKxid_NwWcV7AQQkg/s320/2%2025%20sunrise%20tigen%20ridge_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />The early bird gets the sunrise as the days grow longer. The colors are so amazing in the sky as they change so quickly.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5fVC7q9P8S8MSJ_l0wWWXQY62VLRxs_nSZOKYyZ5OVGlMiY8nThZf6Z0ry-IDBf4f79Fv1K0rPuh-mkhQgEh4MYSEIcPeUaK0MFLQgzbhYjQWua8o4to7Au7l9twk5SpPnJID65pvXrpii2q395BrtIIB__onDmE_ghAtIKnGAmYP0-8DIcY4A/s1048/2%2025%20sunrise_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5fVC7q9P8S8MSJ_l0wWWXQY62VLRxs_nSZOKYyZ5OVGlMiY8nThZf6Z0ry-IDBf4f79Fv1K0rPuh-mkhQgEh4MYSEIcPeUaK0MFLQgzbhYjQWua8o4to7Au7l9twk5SpPnJID65pvXrpii2q395BrtIIB__onDmE_ghAtIKnGAmYP0-8DIcY4A/s320/2%2025%20sunrise_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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.<br />In the morning I need coveralls to do chores. By midday, I can work outside in a sweatshirt.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I started this job:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFPC1msz_1es-WGLRlkNesrbrRc3cs8-RrBhNHFENZw2CspocvUfSHrYv3q5Y88u1H4WKbt5uVJlwXhEpertrfu9mI6pUDxomf2AyvNbK9Nz6FtDY9AF4j11emkZOaNUOCLi7uP935_GtXTfl-qAGdmv7gdOgXh_ydhMHKFnmFtp09Cg-YuySgg/s4032/PXL_20240223_220909569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFPC1msz_1es-WGLRlkNesrbrRc3cs8-RrBhNHFENZw2CspocvUfSHrYv3q5Y88u1H4WKbt5uVJlwXhEpertrfu9mI6pUDxomf2AyvNbK9Nz6FtDY9AF4j11emkZOaNUOCLi7uP935_GtXTfl-qAGdmv7gdOgXh_ydhMHKFnmFtp09Cg-YuySgg/s320/PXL_20240223_220909569.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">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.<br />Except when you look for Lichen and mosses. Then things get colorful.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">During our morning walk Charlie and I found snow and ice on the mosses!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivubMjeKPNaZLhjOYEIzwclrv8jwKu7dIBxpZnX1qZs9VpPEcssJQ_VX3fkfWPnp1hdRxhngST2qdX2eGpwAAyN2Xg1zl7OGexbInL0Wwg6X1GE1icp1B123kpduu5BB6D70N-hXbmAaRPQwP8iAJB5UR92enbbvAzhh2fPhLPSKRC5fwoUEP8A/s1222/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1222" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivubMjeKPNaZLhjOYEIzwclrv8jwKu7dIBxpZnX1qZs9VpPEcssJQ_VX3fkfWPnp1hdRxhngST2qdX2eGpwAAyN2Xg1zl7OGexbInL0Wwg6X1GE1icp1B123kpduu5BB6D70N-hXbmAaRPQwP8iAJB5UR92enbbvAzhh2fPhLPSKRC5fwoUEP8A/s320/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShVymNkTZCpkm_9EC3hvH_j7NYKYDdJ-GeubQZ70J8VEReEt7BM-xpfdwF6fNqvAq6am3BQbd68xA35oAPhFT6m54YAiZm-OhJ26VLZ7GXfSfgSn4xCkkYWyqV-ESSm9k1t-AiCttgVb9zTZAvmrBO_fUNmN2zRka33XFFkuPQSnFDiL49XG4Lw/s1222/2%2025%20mosses%20and%20ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1222" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShVymNkTZCpkm_9EC3hvH_j7NYKYDdJ-GeubQZ70J8VEReEt7BM-xpfdwF6fNqvAq6am3BQbd68xA35oAPhFT6m54YAiZm-OhJ26VLZ7GXfSfgSn4xCkkYWyqV-ESSm9k1t-AiCttgVb9zTZAvmrBO_fUNmN2zRka33XFFkuPQSnFDiL49XG4Lw/s320/2%2025%20mosses%20and%20ice.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">...and by a little after lunch time....<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R4OeZti9iozmfMDQX8gXXLsNM2YZLbqTgblOCPtvMmP80961ZLp9dDOFGvsfrZXH7dV39r55Szijod1H_CNB4O4nQOdhyphenhyphenGJI47DmcdqmCT9QAlsu4z1jFvXTOLsy2Dn5jjNuznVoS_ez8cqMNJF9OCvbJzwuVI9RkkBzmdupfX9nWzWZhBUwSA/s1048/2%2025%20little%20mosses_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1048" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3R4OeZti9iozmfMDQX8gXXLsNM2YZLbqTgblOCPtvMmP80961ZLp9dDOFGvsfrZXH7dV39r55Szijod1H_CNB4O4nQOdhyphenhyphenGJI47DmcdqmCT9QAlsu4z1jFvXTOLsy2Dn5jjNuznVoS_ez8cqMNJF9OCvbJzwuVI9RkkBzmdupfX9nWzWZhBUwSA/s320/2%2025%20little%20mosses_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Lichen was quite beautiful. But one has to pick up sticks or crouch down on a look to find the colors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On a stick:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq33OWt9r09dLlcqlIq86AF-nrnCWF64Uz6aKnhqrJGQs81KLEO73BOncrBGTlGslSG196lyirpHn9giybJ4csrLjlEomaU1HsWs0JR-0S4h8GPLmiznASiK-o0LPYef9kPTyvwPxT-haVinc3NhfJM3JW9XTP6t7WSuiWpkzOGf-kMF6RK1x92g/s803/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq33OWt9r09dLlcqlIq86AF-nrnCWF64Uz6aKnhqrJGQs81KLEO73BOncrBGTlGslSG196lyirpHn9giybJ4csrLjlEomaU1HsWs0JR-0S4h8GPLmiznASiK-o0LPYef9kPTyvwPxT-haVinc3NhfJM3JW9XTP6t7WSuiWpkzOGf-kMF6RK1x92g/s320/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors5.jpg" width="293" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AzyrdkzRJJHjTpqHahueBRsYhrMOod7H7b3RAtksA2R1OnKHGmG6aXszuVGa7p7nkDXJ3v9ndj0KHg5UMgmyJeRoz5TP-APOxZqEozdLt66q4Yd0SBjqwPqUe5gwRrMBr0ztNUz4RVqrw_pp-553XqGU9zryEwXsGhQiyhYXTNkCDG136Es_wA/s912/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="912" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AzyrdkzRJJHjTpqHahueBRsYhrMOod7H7b3RAtksA2R1OnKHGmG6aXszuVGa7p7nkDXJ3v9ndj0KHg5UMgmyJeRoz5TP-APOxZqEozdLt66q4Yd0SBjqwPqUe5gwRrMBr0ztNUz4RVqrw_pp-553XqGU9zryEwXsGhQiyhYXTNkCDG136Es_wA/s320/2%2025%20moss%20and%20lichen%20colors6.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lichen and moss on a log. It was so colorful!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThlggblO6ACXxUAia2CX3oxhgLbqoZpUb95sIGahIwBesCwYI3P6H2LpfBDRgtLyWLYZi5ql3FAKTBN18evqmz7sCqlUyZTsWZODx7eTJyV0aNzQT91gUn1TILQRwbu6BXxOJbgf4XEgXlelI3SksJrc4yhoxQ2MC41mnZkVNNl_ueF_AA5Wqfw/s1222/2%2025%20mosses%20and%20lichen%20powderhorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1222" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThlggblO6ACXxUAia2CX3oxhgLbqoZpUb95sIGahIwBesCwYI3P6H2LpfBDRgtLyWLYZi5ql3FAKTBN18evqmz7sCqlUyZTsWZODx7eTJyV0aNzQT91gUn1TILQRwbu6BXxOJbgf4XEgXlelI3SksJrc4yhoxQ2MC41mnZkVNNl_ueF_AA5Wqfw/s320/2%2025%20mosses%20and%20lichen%20powderhorn.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Late Sunday afternoon, I took time to just sit on the porch with Charlie and enjoy the warm sunshine.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Charlie enjoyed it immensely.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzrvpDBuTTSKqLMOJf1Aytcv3EUaaEMhMgZwzHAoSEX_0cTayfZKlrk2xbj_z9WJv32Syql9uK6LLFSGbcDsJfVMA71hlMZIq5dz7ijHdLMyCXN7tzxMd8_2rXg46QHA033e3as8IDhe0Zo1tCIhEScJSFmMcnLbiGcqnAinQ7gBGfNvj1o6nRQ/s5184/2%2025%20Charlie%20on%20th%20porch1_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzrvpDBuTTSKqLMOJf1Aytcv3EUaaEMhMgZwzHAoSEX_0cTayfZKlrk2xbj_z9WJv32Syql9uK6LLFSGbcDsJfVMA71hlMZIq5dz7ijHdLMyCXN7tzxMd8_2rXg46QHA033e3as8IDhe0Zo1tCIhEScJSFmMcnLbiGcqnAinQ7gBGfNvj1o6nRQ/s320/2%2025%20Charlie%20on%20th%20porch1_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mOv-uFZZARZ65xYSXFxYlexD6A617vxLiVbg2wl1psDo3MyLt44IkyRV6fmF6lDkkV8EVi5qNypu5M-OLpm-5sNH5I4ZPYCcF-qDNkUKdOaz9bLQshcchQgcRI877S-XboCa3vABvPkPSE9ggLxit_212YgEyqq51fzyyWyUAsVQXSLIwWTTmg/s5184/2%2025%20Charlie%20on%20th%20porch2_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mOv-uFZZARZ65xYSXFxYlexD6A617vxLiVbg2wl1psDo3MyLt44IkyRV6fmF6lDkkV8EVi5qNypu5M-OLpm-5sNH5I4ZPYCcF-qDNkUKdOaz9bLQshcchQgcRI877S-XboCa3vABvPkPSE9ggLxit_212YgEyqq51fzyyWyUAsVQXSLIwWTTmg/s320/2%2025%20Charlie%20on%20th%20porch2_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It seems as though the ducks are starting to try and behave themselves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hmmm. There is one in every crowd.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkGckUST3bCd6AJt5dx2eLAWK6Y8bNyXNtx3d7ENxNXIrS7WFqwlJXNk0r6Qp1yjFL3XMrZhUZ5zm9xOfBlVyRZ_sRVLCJWUEHyyJW-ZnY_qZaYeVld0wff9j_YjIU8no_7rEMBhIFSd0j_ClofHXGMCRq6Zm8hi8WCGuXDbvPAzJwHypNiPMkQ/s1048/2%2025%20one%20duck%20in%20every%20crwd_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkGckUST3bCd6AJt5dx2eLAWK6Y8bNyXNtx3d7ENxNXIrS7WFqwlJXNk0r6Qp1yjFL3XMrZhUZ5zm9xOfBlVyRZ_sRVLCJWUEHyyJW-ZnY_qZaYeVld0wff9j_YjIU8no_7rEMBhIFSd0j_ClofHXGMCRq6Zm8hi8WCGuXDbvPAzJwHypNiPMkQ/s320/2%2025%20one%20duck%20in%20every%20crwd_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-2753012535031785792024-02-25T09:00:00.001-06:002024-02-25T09:00:00.135-06:00Coasting<p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Sometimes our lives take us on journeys that are unexpected.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">You can feel as if you are afloat in an unknown territory.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSax2MKViGiLHEPTc2jq4g1wwgJFlCDBwFAFVzbcQfj8vAuAw-DTDN4esH6GC6cZfIW0wOXwQyNKYTMik3jiyZjZQV7H3pbWHkRzCXiCL3rD9CPxZhUCI4x0dQkIO8p7vOgQi9Fd3gUfYOIVe1OQnBCqUddSAamnKO7NMIzlQVKvZda4ae9IUIiQ/s5184/2%2022%20duckie%20swimming.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSax2MKViGiLHEPTc2jq4g1wwgJFlCDBwFAFVzbcQfj8vAuAw-DTDN4esH6GC6cZfIW0wOXwQyNKYTMik3jiyZjZQV7H3pbWHkRzCXiCL3rD9CPxZhUCI4x0dQkIO8p7vOgQi9Fd3gUfYOIVe1OQnBCqUddSAamnKO7NMIzlQVKvZda4ae9IUIiQ/s320/2%2022%20duckie%20swimming.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">You can face unexpected twists and turns and at some point have to stop and make a decision as to whether or not you move forward despite the odds.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S8w3UqYuFP-IbFlr4f0r1akAPK8rJJhnFiIxKrGVyixCFjQgdGZlhkApo3VKj2cWHbbimDlwPNHdwprQSMHwnp_GZGOAqroJsefj8C6x3nWIyuj7jikgbcMLdBDhw03YZroS-SkNoQ0qdFOs-MHolPmMTijpoL7CMVZw4QkcsIuxKUHSNXyDdw/s1280/2%2022%20facing%20your%20Wendigo%20duckie4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-S8w3UqYuFP-IbFlr4f0r1akAPK8rJJhnFiIxKrGVyixCFjQgdGZlhkApo3VKj2cWHbbimDlwPNHdwprQSMHwnp_GZGOAqroJsefj8C6x3nWIyuj7jikgbcMLdBDhw03YZroS-SkNoQ0qdFOs-MHolPmMTijpoL7CMVZw4QkcsIuxKUHSNXyDdw/s320/2%2022%20facing%20your%20Wendigo%20duckie4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><i>oh brother I have tried<br />like a drop inside an ocean<br />but there's some comma on my light</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><i>there's a place where i am going</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><i>it's out of my control<br />so i'm going to coast<br />for a little while</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">[lyrics by Moontricks]</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">10 seconds</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzl7xzFQ461ouQ1VLW8syshob1BE15DNfSa3sRc_ZfOU0zh2oOUqYGjDAVsCNalQzj2GFMu67C4IcY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Sometimes you need to get your Ducks in a Row and they just don't want to cooperate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Little Rogue Duckies!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsGPRmM8mSfroZZTnmbHjVTmlAjPZ2CCxT9Xuet4FEMY_GgMaNU6fI6YvuJRLHCD896PVCo2cT12_jn9FbME-i2GMvllR_6LuBI9P5KF34r_Miu1Hzptv7i8GCLg7wP7K7EAsyCyho_ijZKWdgYgJsRbKRu1zzlrd4pnFrlP3iv3GZYhw1xuITQ/s1048/2%2025%20not%20ducky%20in%20a%20row_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1048" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsGPRmM8mSfroZZTnmbHjVTmlAjPZ2CCxT9Xuet4FEMY_GgMaNU6fI6YvuJRLHCD896PVCo2cT12_jn9FbME-i2GMvllR_6LuBI9P5KF34r_Miu1Hzptv7i8GCLg7wP7K7EAsyCyho_ijZKWdgYgJsRbKRu1zzlrd4pnFrlP3iv3GZYhw1xuITQ/s320/2%2025%20not%20ducky%20in%20a%20row_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Keep on keeping on and just coast along.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 2; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-16171681642923852622024-02-22T14:30:00.001-06:002024-02-22T14:30:00.138-06:00Time out<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tuesday morning started off with a Colorful Bang...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqqpcDEnfguEv2HjQ_VHjFr4c6bEOcjvui6OCTq3i_EIhUDqMmtj6VTdsjYlynBY7igZrHsTa5hrnh0DzGR5fFkLCd-STiHM_slenm-_O9dG53myOtc_mcfFwojdx2iJF4Ff7hBgKOSSC79DTzFU2jXE67CbpLCSHMLUUn8K4sJAS-DRPmngDlA/s1280/2%2020%20late%20morning%20sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1280" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqqpcDEnfguEv2HjQ_VHjFr4c6bEOcjvui6OCTq3i_EIhUDqMmtj6VTdsjYlynBY7igZrHsTa5hrnh0DzGR5fFkLCd-STiHM_slenm-_O9dG53myOtc_mcfFwojdx2iJF4Ff7hBgKOSSC79DTzFU2jXE67CbpLCSHMLUUn8K4sJAS-DRPmngDlA/s320/2%2020%20late%20morning%20sunrise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB12veh4NizRfaUZ13tATHM5oG5zRoO_GAPiBkOr_NuECrrtNqfROS3nPNABWIigO_fUQyRRtum79c5-EkCmggTbNcIlmgD_zGQgAYo0gNa0t6kxxh0MK5mkUsokMIt6PA9GawGx_VSYMZhKPJE06VqKQ71f_7lgb8ag2JMLy27mMXGgmCATeXiw/s1089/2%2020%20sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="1089" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB12veh4NizRfaUZ13tATHM5oG5zRoO_GAPiBkOr_NuECrrtNqfROS3nPNABWIigO_fUQyRRtum79c5-EkCmggTbNcIlmgD_zGQgAYo0gNa0t6kxxh0MK5mkUsokMIt6PA9GawGx_VSYMZhKPJE06VqKQ71f_7lgb8ag2JMLy27mMXGgmCATeXiw/s320/2%2020%20sunrise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Things are going along. Everyone gets into a funk every once in a while.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Life happens. I know that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I've had my head down and have been grinding through. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had an opportunity to get out and take a nice long hike with Charlie.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />This is how we tackle trails. 10 seconds long....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_T_Hbddg_HjHkedfnVGQIAkFc48uYUwXMZ4OU9Dn2NGeBc3Y8qvtRLuZmRihnpSwT92cEdqEkAYk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But we stop a LOT also. This is not a marathon, it is a mind cleansing experience.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvKy7R3kiAMmD-xW-Zc9Ed7kviAx5sa_f-kGeQjYt5LeOy0Qo2T6Y1a2vyfQRlCakOu2HIE4Cfa1DpvQa6OxWxAnk2JcJxpRzS2C_POzjQZ71PHpa6326f2-4RoHTuJqpGuaxbFbA0-Vh0mB1dQuH2xnqdz5GhcixjSLrkQEpG6Z-8ceYfY7nTQ/s4032/PXL_20240220_173459513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvKy7R3kiAMmD-xW-Zc9Ed7kviAx5sa_f-kGeQjYt5LeOy0Qo2T6Y1a2vyfQRlCakOu2HIE4Cfa1DpvQa6OxWxAnk2JcJxpRzS2C_POzjQZ71PHpa6326f2-4RoHTuJqpGuaxbFbA0-Vh0mB1dQuH2xnqdz5GhcixjSLrkQEpG6Z-8ceYfY7nTQ/s320/PXL_20240220_173459513.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Below are cool Roots that cling to the edge of a small bluff.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETgbQShPHNYzkNt6b-3fPR5SDvg178P-gm9CUJDnDawPEpveD7Uu3RWC0pLUCbrz-BhbtQZh1ZLSwzOgwwAL-IbdPczKKl2PrkIFKyn_q4OMB_wLwa1BO8IAZmq0Tpximpu7eA1YnzX0n2DbE8PyOLGv3E4WFn3cusr-1qOdIUo5lPYeT8endrw/s4032/PXL_20240220_174047460.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETgbQShPHNYzkNt6b-3fPR5SDvg178P-gm9CUJDnDawPEpveD7Uu3RWC0pLUCbrz-BhbtQZh1ZLSwzOgwwAL-IbdPczKKl2PrkIFKyn_q4OMB_wLwa1BO8IAZmq0Tpximpu7eA1YnzX0n2DbE8PyOLGv3E4WFn3cusr-1qOdIUo5lPYeT8endrw/s320/PXL_20240220_174047460.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I thought of Aurora when I saw this tree...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinquqe8mxvAYhGyCP6TqWnA1pVmzJHbrNVHAk6JN6edA6C7n2XvXTNQMY0MD-1KvW6UHYiAXH-tfxM8u0fcDriQrPtcfrPozd1bRnA0eqttTXFLM9tdrlGJKzJOE1fZaBCTMvGbaLvX5n6020PirWLXlAAT-gEZt8GAzr_jxRjLT2rwdF_LfnRHg/s4032/PXL_20240220_165956337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinquqe8mxvAYhGyCP6TqWnA1pVmzJHbrNVHAk6JN6edA6C7n2XvXTNQMY0MD-1KvW6UHYiAXH-tfxM8u0fcDriQrPtcfrPozd1bRnA0eqttTXFLM9tdrlGJKzJOE1fZaBCTMvGbaLvX5n6020PirWLXlAAT-gEZt8GAzr_jxRjLT2rwdF_LfnRHg/s320/PXL_20240220_165956337.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Of course I love to make fun of the trail signs along here. I don't know if you can see it, but there are two little figures on the tree. A horse and rider and then a bicycle. This is a multi use trail.<br />My interpretation for these upside down signs are that a horse got spooked by a bike and they both ended up in a crash.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68j2668_x3b5_Nf062MR50dR1WrBUpLLpTj8C0wvT2cLbv0QaMHl9A8mjPHto90OC-77NEJ92v8zfzuXAnqzMadHfmz69NxpcSaYQRDQFyEREydz9Ombf4DfiqL4Du5l-RIhVh5FOh9csiWE8mDQqFjU6KgR3-0SNYfXybkmIeCWND6E28aJB2w/s4032/PXL_20240220_162145018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68j2668_x3b5_Nf062MR50dR1WrBUpLLpTj8C0wvT2cLbv0QaMHl9A8mjPHto90OC-77NEJ92v8zfzuXAnqzMadHfmz69NxpcSaYQRDQFyEREydz9Ombf4DfiqL4Du5l-RIhVh5FOh9csiWE8mDQqFjU6KgR3-0SNYfXybkmIeCWND6E28aJB2w/s320/PXL_20240220_162145018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />Well, I do know that my mules are very suspicious of bicycles but baby strollers are much more menacing. 😁</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I digress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wanted to see the Ice Cave on Ice Cave Trail. Normally, this ice 'cave' is pretty spectacular with a normal winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was pleased to see that with all the freezing and thawing we'd had, that it did have a bit of ice. But not enough to climb down into it and explore.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkR_N5uTK6eL7dF4V2vAvFKbDPe86Fv2PzlNlRgBFljMBOYDdyWRoh-d46oTQS1vpeX025_e60TG9YdRBVgUZSY7kR34wrdSUxkU0ggmlB9Pvg-oIFOuK6GamGsHeD7zoaKBTPUhCrl2Ud7pPmOLGkHihQfznZi1m6aiR99BcSBA2GH3s2T62fQ/s4032/PXL_20240220_162819139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkR_N5uTK6eL7dF4V2vAvFKbDPe86Fv2PzlNlRgBFljMBOYDdyWRoh-d46oTQS1vpeX025_e60TG9YdRBVgUZSY7kR34wrdSUxkU0ggmlB9Pvg-oIFOuK6GamGsHeD7zoaKBTPUhCrl2Ud7pPmOLGkHihQfznZi1m6aiR99BcSBA2GH3s2T62fQ/s320/PXL_20240220_162819139.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For fun, I used my app to see how this lollipop loop actually is from where I parked the car. I picked this particular trail because it is up and down and all around. Plus it is demanding enough that it keeps the mind on the footing and not on the Mind Gibberish.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I left early in the morning so that I could still walk while the trail was still solid and slightly frozen. I didn't want to walk in muck and mud.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-kX3QH8maHYst8Fdd0nJCHxF06glQHyWQMFI1rMqZ4VpCoiEioU8JRR4Yi03hSTnw0-JqmRSbdICDti2L-Uj2VkbRzNQ4l5J6kBt8yyUMhYIzFzD4uUImwNOlV9SuM1gFo6tqqZOvxp1Pr6lNR50SYy4OTjYvHYb13u_LBjcZZNhVvRoLq6b_A/s960/2%2020%20hike%20with%20Charlie%20Trail3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-kX3QH8maHYst8Fdd0nJCHxF06glQHyWQMFI1rMqZ4VpCoiEioU8JRR4Yi03hSTnw0-JqmRSbdICDti2L-Uj2VkbRzNQ4l5J6kBt8yyUMhYIzFzD4uUImwNOlV9SuM1gFo6tqqZOvxp1Pr6lNR50SYy4OTjYvHYb13u_LBjcZZNhVvRoLq6b_A/s320/2%2020%20hike%20with%20Charlie%20Trail3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was rather surprised at how dry the trails were. Obviously, we really do need rain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I brought along my Infrared camera and stopped for several shots. IR is not that great in the winter time, but I still thought I might get something interesting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Infrared works best with leaves, sky, clouds, and water. Those elements are generally the best ones to photograph with on a bright sunny day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I found two spots that fit the bill. The first shot is of a long trail along the river bottom with a frozen puddle in the middle of the trail and pines in the distance.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq177W6uDsVLZKZU87qxE-SGzlekzKLH8jrveqnnkYJyiiktw1WqcK10cO9q9ZjXbLZWxm-AlvyYBN-_5x7bafXLN4MRmOq9VPmhYN_dv9GXpzRre8qeVcEnBYLSXmR8khuB13j8YBq9Aq5_BjsFb-iTIxWJbtp-hGjKdMnZjr9UyFcHvQkxbdSw/s1048/2%2020%20ir%20trail%20with%20ice%20ir%20590_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq177W6uDsVLZKZU87qxE-SGzlekzKLH8jrveqnnkYJyiiktw1WqcK10cO9q9ZjXbLZWxm-AlvyYBN-_5x7bafXLN4MRmOq9VPmhYN_dv9GXpzRre8qeVcEnBYLSXmR8khuB13j8YBq9Aq5_BjsFb-iTIxWJbtp-hGjKdMnZjr9UyFcHvQkxbdSw/s320/2%2020%20ir%20trail%20with%20ice%20ir%20590_DxO.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This was shot at bridge 15 towards the pines on the bluff where I love to go and watch the river go by me 80 feet below.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If the stars, skies, times, and everything else lines up. I'm going to visit those bluffs this weekend.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXPbMHouYstdQMieRwmsfDKW5fJ5xt3vqIaB15fb-bppKGogwhUumi2yKfzwv_HqsSlksPKON51T97FtfIH0lPLP2Fl88UURVynndZgkH7vLB-ZLOtf5mlJSHWtsjsEg14uQqJA9k4RKM4-6RShSgqgLhHeHD8N0YvGmhB3ncnA_lnPyA7oFOiw/s1048/Bridge%2015%20view%20in%20IR_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="786" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXPbMHouYstdQMieRwmsfDKW5fJ5xt3vqIaB15fb-bppKGogwhUumi2yKfzwv_HqsSlksPKON51T97FtfIH0lPLP2Fl88UURVynndZgkH7vLB-ZLOtf5mlJSHWtsjsEg14uQqJA9k4RKM4-6RShSgqgLhHeHD8N0YvGmhB3ncnA_lnPyA7oFOiw/s320/Bridge%2015%20view%20in%20IR_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The weather today is insane. I cannot recall a February where the temps reached 60!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm heading outside!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="border: 0px; line-height: 2; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-24441466049067656872024-02-20T16:00:00.001-06:002024-02-20T16:00:00.138-06:00Ducks<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">My hikes last week? Abysmal. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I had absolutely no motivation at all. I didn't even want to cook meals [that's not new though, I hate cooking]. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I spent the week seriously having doubts about everything in Life. I like to have my Ducks in a row and it seemed like someone went into the duck pond and tossed all of my duckies around and scattered them.<br /><br />So, I went to the gym and did Mobility Class and then a one on one work out which was intense and exactly what I needed. When I get down and out or anxious about my Ducks [metaphorically speaking], I need to expend great amounts of energy to bring out the endorphins and shut down the Mental Gibberish.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Good friends of mine from a distance have talked with me via email too and I am thankful for their support and lending an ear --- or well, reading. Sometimes a worry isn't such a worry if you share and just get some input. However, we stoic older Midwesterners were taught that you don't share worry or burden others. <br />[And then talking with a counselor, that is exactly what she suggests! In tough times, lean on your circle of supporting friends. Who'd a THUNK of that?😛]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Truth is, we are never fully prepared for things that are tossed our way are we? We think we are. Yet, thankfully, I have an incredible son who can speak calming and sensible words to me and show me how to start sorting The Ducks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bxr6CQw3StZXlccXr-tUNHHMp5XKqlJB3UAbhxAY0-9y80dWYw9iZMNoF-zANsPYrbCxbimBW-rR1g3fOIIfK4c4NM0a29Y8naEV4OKp9cxNEjJJZ7aWZEtH8IYmrPpobNCzRMuqLIax1azXpiIbzwHoCkSTI4oMr-BsiEBmtnmbMHIbWfh8IA/s1500/71cJupyMT9L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1423" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bxr6CQw3StZXlccXr-tUNHHMp5XKqlJB3UAbhxAY0-9y80dWYw9iZMNoF-zANsPYrbCxbimBW-rR1g3fOIIfK4c4NM0a29Y8naEV4OKp9cxNEjJJZ7aWZEtH8IYmrPpobNCzRMuqLIax1azXpiIbzwHoCkSTI4oMr-BsiEBmtnmbMHIbWfh8IA/s320/71cJupyMT9L._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="304" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 2; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-77701108207574771402024-02-16T07:10:00.000-06:002024-02-16T07:10:50.680-06:00It's a wild wild life....<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here are some trail cam shots from a new Trail Cam I got called Garden Pro. I'm not endorsing them one way or the other, but compared to my old camera, they sure have improved.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Coyotes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_1E-SVpPWioNnc8hKC50-qvut1Hs3-rc58sLOIWFyHokGmoTjF_HCo6f2nTGwN2vYuYy2hAeFFTbTxkC73Sm9AW68s3bKZJZgXCyh2Pr8QR-C3ZOE3D6NxM5hudpdrQNHonVsdiIH4rZE9iAywJL4mkgf6jvMz1ohIhfR5sYHoB-Iu3TDXTUIw/s2560/DSCF0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_1E-SVpPWioNnc8hKC50-qvut1Hs3-rc58sLOIWFyHokGmoTjF_HCo6f2nTGwN2vYuYy2hAeFFTbTxkC73Sm9AW68s3bKZJZgXCyh2Pr8QR-C3ZOE3D6NxM5hudpdrQNHonVsdiIH4rZE9iAywJL4mkgf6jvMz1ohIhfR5sYHoB-Iu3TDXTUIw/s320/DSCF0189.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVd8H0qnZPpYoCL1k5q1BJqpM8aLmDTy0f8FpAznlWeDpgGZFmL1Qli3WCGrLuiog-xdrQLPBOQRqCHIzQB3BPQFj2pnKlvOVBhDuPHqcy72N_JVAWbWHiS7SPbmjtdfzcDQd6KvtAFCRQoupo0AJUwvRbH4kGhUJrIOqexr1MxTlhnBLtZGodQ/s2560/DSCF0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVd8H0qnZPpYoCL1k5q1BJqpM8aLmDTy0f8FpAznlWeDpgGZFmL1Qli3WCGrLuiog-xdrQLPBOQRqCHIzQB3BPQFj2pnKlvOVBhDuPHqcy72N_JVAWbWHiS7SPbmjtdfzcDQd6KvtAFCRQoupo0AJUwvRbH4kGhUJrIOqexr1MxTlhnBLtZGodQ/s320/DSCF0252.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />The bucks have not started shedding their antlers, but it looks like there might be some really nice ones out there to pick up once they do. This guy looks like he is scenting a deer. But I have no idea....</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYY5Z2pM7RZdX4vdjkvkrHtJ2M2XI7j261gqweM_nT88bEya3z3HqFHJALqMrkIF6mRvd5STozGda4FQF56PIQy-fVOLzXyZBxo8UDcq_8BBiNLfdIjT7OTRK7baeQzXPQT5icK_r6hq7Tv6-rwkQp28IYIG9kFdeTr5OYmOJNj8qhIOK39qO4Q/s2560/DSCF0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYY5Z2pM7RZdX4vdjkvkrHtJ2M2XI7j261gqweM_nT88bEya3z3HqFHJALqMrkIF6mRvd5STozGda4FQF56PIQy-fVOLzXyZBxo8UDcq_8BBiNLfdIjT7OTRK7baeQzXPQT5icK_r6hq7Tv6-rwkQp28IYIG9kFdeTr5OYmOJNj8qhIOK39qO4Q/s320/DSCF0383.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This spot is like a highway for the does this year. They come and go in groups up to 8 sometimes. They cross back and forth multiple times a day.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGHACpwhMXBLrruKJn5Wb39E2G4KbnC6R23R7HyZPFSvkm76W7R9jwvoxbV-IUQKBp2TUOrFXXet6KwQ05JRkZ_Ul-OzUvk_HfJmHZwv2pt1HwatOHNKNMqmn0x5bH4T-K83Ior7ySKaWm5SVUf2Wb64TIXtRaHr-qFNv6oL4sN_ccJy7lr6h1w/s2560/DSCF0386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGHACpwhMXBLrruKJn5Wb39E2G4KbnC6R23R7HyZPFSvkm76W7R9jwvoxbV-IUQKBp2TUOrFXXet6KwQ05JRkZ_Ul-OzUvk_HfJmHZwv2pt1HwatOHNKNMqmn0x5bH4T-K83Ior7ySKaWm5SVUf2Wb64TIXtRaHr-qFNv6oL4sN_ccJy7lr6h1w/s320/DSCF0386.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then there is always one that loves to stand in front of the camera and smell it. Or do they know they are doing the forest version of a selfie???</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNzqjwyiHdlxuuczvmnlBjvXJ7N1oKQ7BnhxCf8vQkXduKjUDL0D2dQmMkcyp0l1-u7jAdpYGZ29QWn3vVBDz5AsQT1YT4ka26wEeLjtEOr7gpoYU1FugewoJdpDLXLq8iPS99yfuF8JamdmBqnQv-afwATHg2KyiwKakVio0moOcUOOSQ30gIg/s2560/DSCF0493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNzqjwyiHdlxuuczvmnlBjvXJ7N1oKQ7BnhxCf8vQkXduKjUDL0D2dQmMkcyp0l1-u7jAdpYGZ29QWn3vVBDz5AsQT1YT4ka26wEeLjtEOr7gpoYU1FugewoJdpDLXLq8iPS99yfuF8JamdmBqnQv-afwATHg2KyiwKakVio0moOcUOOSQ30gIg/s320/DSCF0493.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We always get a big kick out of these type of shots.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I can't be positive, but I think this was the Big Trophy Buck that all the hunters were asking me about this fall and then again during gun season.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C5e-PjiLeQoAqWYQpplkwchuaFfNOJJtINjM9sNPujEK-Y1_pwrbmsBMCbdzf5I8GblkIB7Z-xPjgJg3S1k4X6-avMIQaIINXrPe1c72Zs6yE1u5XitSHutooPHfXxxDHQnWqy0X-sN8C6AQTgmezmxYW3GZObuE01pd7golPlSwNnVPBqpBNA/s2560/DSCF0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2C5e-PjiLeQoAqWYQpplkwchuaFfNOJJtINjM9sNPujEK-Y1_pwrbmsBMCbdzf5I8GblkIB7Z-xPjgJg3S1k4X6-avMIQaIINXrPe1c72Zs6yE1u5XitSHutooPHfXxxDHQnWqy0X-sN8C6AQTgmezmxYW3GZObuE01pd7golPlSwNnVPBqpBNA/s320/DSCF0395.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjziMWcbuYrkfDPydRINsatfAbzuJze1KjzUeeaxMS3gLgoRjOWR3e4VxP8KJ3999lJZpzb7DcsC8h6h3L1yy6vvjOyFsy-DktVAJbStNxvyXdUuZ_SENtYsiRqB-Zrn4BxQKs2zzkW3EHS515omjEki2sPk6qOgPGETEc_6kCEkSC1vXLnjRvYQ/s2560/DSCF0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjziMWcbuYrkfDPydRINsatfAbzuJze1KjzUeeaxMS3gLgoRjOWR3e4VxP8KJ3999lJZpzb7DcsC8h6h3L1yy6vvjOyFsy-DktVAJbStNxvyXdUuZ_SENtYsiRqB-Zrn4BxQKs2zzkW3EHS515omjEki2sPk6qOgPGETEc_6kCEkSC1vXLnjRvYQ/s320/DSCF0397.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUPLmIsim6HBlMUhWAvEj2s9-DaSrqLordJhoXNlWF9MaqJjYsPCKhZlfqn8j0X4Mfa17GiP6K96FDllq3kkBJodTrs4Y3tWLhw_FTrkz7TVhyphenhyphenRxO1IApoFeOGf_hgpde5KJcV76NwfBNOlTRiQgnTZT-1HUOZnG8yEqos9Fx_8YOS-Y0PUqQcQ/s2560/DSCF0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUPLmIsim6HBlMUhWAvEj2s9-DaSrqLordJhoXNlWF9MaqJjYsPCKhZlfqn8j0X4Mfa17GiP6K96FDllq3kkBJodTrs4Y3tWLhw_FTrkz7TVhyphenhyphenRxO1IApoFeOGf_hgpde5KJcV76NwfBNOlTRiQgnTZT-1HUOZnG8yEqos9Fx_8YOS-Y0PUqQcQ/s320/DSCF0413.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I think this is the same fella I 'shot' in November in the meadow just east of where he is standing in this photo. If it is the same fella, I'm pretty tickled that no one nabbed him during the hunting seasons.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He is absolutely regal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP83GTukKkleFHAbZFLGe07GDMZz8lvzcayrwzLA08EuA8b1aVJlQaQH_v2RGr4SpYZZcF3yjpuC1ZgAlK4UJPS9jAmjIntWRITPS6R1qAE3RYXm2ILnwIpRvT6YAh3RTcUWhnPZJ1iCzZfopBimYnDRlZ9vJZNsVwL1PFQAT5re3_bQvPfP-qRQ/s1280/11%206%20Big%20Buck%20peewees%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1280" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP83GTukKkleFHAbZFLGe07GDMZz8lvzcayrwzLA08EuA8b1aVJlQaQH_v2RGr4SpYZZcF3yjpuC1ZgAlK4UJPS9jAmjIntWRITPS6R1qAE3RYXm2ILnwIpRvT6YAh3RTcUWhnPZJ1iCzZfopBimYnDRlZ9vJZNsVwL1PFQAT5re3_bQvPfP-qRQ/s320/11%206%20Big%20Buck%20peewees%201.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This shot below is him chasing some girls as it was breeding season. </span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNSXBPJ8QKIiqWdvjsMjQ39y2JfgiZxz0FQmjifRAfudfwONua9gi7vyGpi6FjHhxKaAkCdFlTBJ3mBb3zlJJwxmpoXgUNSnUmN8Db9XKWV8PWwjQ6Gg6nP7ifkkBE6LkmdaYCHq0Fc-WimRgoaCh-zmb9xtjdiOvsoNz36DvLfU965ZuWPNdxA/s800/53313792069_eb2a0391e1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNSXBPJ8QKIiqWdvjsMjQ39y2JfgiZxz0FQmjifRAfudfwONua9gi7vyGpi6FjHhxKaAkCdFlTBJ3mBb3zlJJwxmpoXgUNSnUmN8Db9XKWV8PWwjQ6Gg6nP7ifkkBE6LkmdaYCHq0Fc-WimRgoaCh-zmb9xtjdiOvsoNz36DvLfU965ZuWPNdxA/s320/53313792069_eb2a0391e1_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Many other photos we saw from the trail cam included hundreds of photos of does and young deer walking by along with nightly walks by raccoon who travel the same trails as the deer and coyotes.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We don't feed any of the wild animals as it is illegal in our county plus they are surrounded by abundant sources of food which include hundreds of acres of corn fields and soy bean fields to glean off from.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This photo is from this summer. I took it while taking an evening walk. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I think we have plenty of deer around here!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has been a mild winter so I think their numbers will increase.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLjtFSvTIrwCbp9PUzzUSmvuqRBLBBbZM_kphEf-o6kX0e4UIuUIziiyCO1ePzEEMeZsm7pQZGliqtWdAcJ8shPix__Bnz8cktDW9oTpYcXv0Cv8oANKZ3kHFbmn5Y-Oc0ANPnarJ9-U3dzW_SdoBHQf-XqjDbKz5ZnO7RYkTj508vnYrFbda-w/s800/53075169750_30f2429e63_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="800" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLjtFSvTIrwCbp9PUzzUSmvuqRBLBBbZM_kphEf-o6kX0e4UIuUIziiyCO1ePzEEMeZsm7pQZGliqtWdAcJ8shPix__Bnz8cktDW9oTpYcXv0Cv8oANKZ3kHFbmn5Y-Oc0ANPnarJ9-U3dzW_SdoBHQf-XqjDbKz5ZnO7RYkTj508vnYrFbda-w/s320/53075169750_30f2429e63_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Oh! One more Wild Life shot!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Eleanor! She is an outdoor cat who belongs to our neighbor. She has been spayed and has all of her shots.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">She divides her time by hunting at my place and at the neighbor's place. He feeds her inside his workshop.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">She likes to sit in the shed and observe me doing chores on most afternoons. She is not a friendly cat as in ... -- don't come near me--. I don't try to pet her, but I do talk to her every time we meet.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfsMz0Gp16_WvCupWodlRZ5gR-x7WDN6VA_F7wCNjyCmj0U9lpaBao3e7rjVRDq9GjwQhsFbC_gtmf471qMMpFtbdBMmo43QEIQR1knL6hVdUanyeYKpxZ-bTw68J7xrS-nUeM-OlJHi8-yaCLeXTdb6k_yR9L9PverAqaGyjpJug8r00M40mVQ/s1048/2%206%20Eleanor_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfsMz0Gp16_WvCupWodlRZ5gR-x7WDN6VA_F7wCNjyCmj0U9lpaBao3e7rjVRDq9GjwQhsFbC_gtmf471qMMpFtbdBMmo43QEIQR1knL6hVdUanyeYKpxZ-bTw68J7xrS-nUeM-OlJHi8-yaCLeXTdb6k_yR9L9PverAqaGyjpJug8r00M40mVQ/s320/2%206%20Eleanor_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-28488534754575536982024-02-11T08:10:00.001-06:002024-02-11T08:10:11.082-06:00Well, that was interesting...<p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrPxbN-iDiOEOTMvZSucyDxdDpDhirDp16U-hxFee4BK_yyL5ZxRi1v3oW64QGGSdFdxgPQKSmC6IUrcqCNi1uuWc_ei8BYPRNfQBn5E9_FOLdh-_TzKSBlgLSLuTZyT994YevxHq_Nh7vnXNYR7Q0K1jnzOwAQeCI2v5YVha9CFZ5C6V2a4eZQ/s800/50938778328_84190a4d6b_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrPxbN-iDiOEOTMvZSucyDxdDpDhirDp16U-hxFee4BK_yyL5ZxRi1v3oW64QGGSdFdxgPQKSmC6IUrcqCNi1uuWc_ei8BYPRNfQBn5E9_FOLdh-_TzKSBlgLSLuTZyT994YevxHq_Nh7vnXNYR7Q0K1jnzOwAQeCI2v5YVha9CFZ5C6V2a4eZQ/s320/50938778328_84190a4d6b_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I had an 'interesting' week. Most of the week felt like it was a half a bubble off. Ever have one of those weeks?</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Some good things happened and so did some very bizarre things. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">We all understand about CareGiver Stress, well, perhaps everyone doesn't. However last week during a meeting with our CareGiver social worker via the VA's version of Zoom, the social worker referred me to a counselor to help deal with some of the things I've been dealing with this winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The VA now offers counseling to CareGivers one on one in their own homes. Before this, I would have to seek out counseling in my home town. There is the stigma of admitting that you have stress while caring for someone along with trying to find one place that would actually take the insurance offered by Medicare and ChampVA is an incredible challenge in itself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I said YES, please! This winter has been difficult.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmj8CrCSejThlRNeR6wWC1bUi_KV-zab1wahyLnhTDJBZPYaZfOnQJEkwyz-J0WjHAHtcC8c_U3-j9Z_8IvSZ1cZw2Oy92msiqHibIyGycr2lUK1bu4kbC-CycXkydko1BzG_SfkdZVassfDpQ_iFYSfNTOsFAUVNckl9XziwWD_6Cn-CBDf4ug/s530/Caregiver-burnout-meme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmj8CrCSejThlRNeR6wWC1bUi_KV-zab1wahyLnhTDJBZPYaZfOnQJEkwyz-J0WjHAHtcC8c_U3-j9Z_8IvSZ1cZw2Oy92msiqHibIyGycr2lUK1bu4kbC-CycXkydko1BzG_SfkdZVassfDpQ_iFYSfNTOsFAUVNckl9XziwWD_6Cn-CBDf4ug/s320/Caregiver-burnout-meme.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I try not to share my 'difficulties' here. So I really won't go into it. However I recognize the symptoms of it all. I want to be Snarky every time I'm asked to help him, is not a good feeling. I get riled at the least little thing and want to yell and immediately feel guilty because it really is NOT his fault!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Wednesday was awesome. I went with a friend on a nice easy hike along the paved section of old hwy 131 on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.<br /> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd6kbAhzDRb_r0thNbl7burhl2PF-hmgXQtZUWley_00xCmIAFaeaktT718F3q3z0DYGRM0Y5qpyY_Ih4HP5XXf5mKrpsMvj-IEfKggkoDO2vZVZP3Lz5nsiWlhj7gJtfl-85Byyw8zpg4A1cx_QVKxvCaWI_2MtgO4C41XyMTB72TU7Yj1z50A/s4032/PXL_20240207_195808537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd6kbAhzDRb_r0thNbl7burhl2PF-hmgXQtZUWley_00xCmIAFaeaktT718F3q3z0DYGRM0Y5qpyY_Ih4HP5XXf5mKrpsMvj-IEfKggkoDO2vZVZP3Lz5nsiWlhj7gJtfl-85Byyw8zpg4A1cx_QVKxvCaWI_2MtgO4C41XyMTB72TU7Yj1z50A/s320/PXL_20240207_195808537.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I was surprised that the ponds were still frozen. We just walked and she talked, I listened. Her mom is in Hospice and has been for 2 months now. It weighs on my friend's mind. She is trying to balance her feelings about quality of life and also has a new grand child which makes her full of joy. Balancing Joy and Sadness is hard.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Part of the way through the hike I started to have dark brown floaters in my one eye. The 'good' eye. I've had this before in 2021 in the opposite eye. It is freaky. Think about dropping food coloring into a glass and watching the dye float about in the water. Then think about that being what you see in your vision. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">When I looked at the sky around me, I could clearly see the floaters and knew it was from a Vitreous Hemorrhage. That sounds terrifying. However, I was told that sometimes the Vitreous has a little pull on it in older eyes and there is a tiny bleed. The eye doctor told me NOT to go to the ER, but to call they eye clinic and get in. ER's don't call in eye doctors or have the equipment to look into your retina.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Thankfully, I did get an appointment for the next morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I had the exam and this eye doctor was hilarious. He looked deep into the eye to check to see if I had a tear in my retina or a detachment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">His commentary was hilarious. "Ohhhhh Ahhhh Nice! You did a great job! This tiny tear is in the Best Spot! Right next to the Optic Nerve! I think we need to take a picture of that so you can see it!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">What causes it? It can be age. It can be because I've had eye surgeries before, it can be possible that I sneezed and did it...or it just happened on its own. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">What does it look like? I tried looking all over the internet and no good examples came up. So I went into a program and created what I see right now. Speckles and floaters that never stay still and sometimes interfere with what I am trying to read. They wiggle around every single time you look at something.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3RiRV9Sg4zRpR4wf4kriX8OMB7EBaCwBQWUfV_Ch_EJR0ZyAQSyIFRWySnQamkRch2x_LrZhAGGIQOJtOkLhTzTp0kTs_jgMkHqMVTGPmmS502IEw9vHiKXgB39NHijFvp7MqKWb8fzIjoeUGlnPyv9R0_h9nMAgKF_KEklC-mvHRIlaHbBKxw/s1280/vitreaous%20bleed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3RiRV9Sg4zRpR4wf4kriX8OMB7EBaCwBQWUfV_Ch_EJR0ZyAQSyIFRWySnQamkRch2x_LrZhAGGIQOJtOkLhTzTp0kTs_jgMkHqMVTGPmmS502IEw9vHiKXgB39NHijFvp7MqKWb8fzIjoeUGlnPyv9R0_h9nMAgKF_KEklC-mvHRIlaHbBKxw/s320/vitreaous%20bleed.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This is perhaps like just a few molecules of seepage from the little tiny blood vessel in my eye. The molecules will reabsorb like they did in 2021. It takes time but is very annoying.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The big scientific words for what happened sound very scary: Posterior Vitreous Detachment. I will be seen in two weeks to have another look at it to see if it is healing up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">So this week, photography hasn't really been much fun nor has reading. However, I've gone about my daily business and am continuing to keep busy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Typing this was a bit of a challenge, but now I am used to patterns floating through my vision. My brain says it is no big deal and so I am treating it that way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Walking in the forest is nice because of all the brown colors the floaters are not bothersome and I can ignore them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Onward to new adventures despite the coffee thingies in my vision!</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-12892207652866223712024-02-07T07:11:00.004-06:002024-02-07T07:11:48.762-06:00Chill out<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX8dXpOXL3FplLPmvERZdYnm9SND1FYrTNKxg4pfWYUTShx9e5OvCIGZicdX8hO09vhuaXhPUd2VC4PmBSvcxDk0rMSgrLl1XLvHQ7vIM5djdn-521kc6Iwdb4gPs6oQ27AdDmz9BVyLAW3piCvT0BW5N8qX_OqCkP_cNluCXIP6AuiLOlOoeZg/s4032/PXL_20240206_201806314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigX8dXpOXL3FplLPmvERZdYnm9SND1FYrTNKxg4pfWYUTShx9e5OvCIGZicdX8hO09vhuaXhPUd2VC4PmBSvcxDk0rMSgrLl1XLvHQ7vIM5djdn-521kc6Iwdb4gPs6oQ27AdDmz9BVyLAW3piCvT0BW5N8qX_OqCkP_cNluCXIP6AuiLOlOoeZg/s320/PXL_20240206_201806314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Charlie and I took a very different walk yesterday. We went to the ridge and decided to hike the cropland hayfields. This way we avoided slogging through mud. We could have walked along the gravel road but one neighbor choses not to watch their dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This dog has attacked but has not yet hurt Charlie and I just don't want to risk it. The last time this dog attempted to get at Charlie, I held him and sprayed her with Pepper spray. She got a snootful and wouldn't leave us alone....<br />Anyway...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We walked this high ridge and kept to the fields. It was much more interesting for Charlie because of all the critter tracks. So many good smells for a dog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I left my camera at home and just walked with my cell phone, and was a bit sorry that I did not bring my camera with a long lens. We reached the road across the ridge and stopped to admire the fields for a bit. I heard a chirp that I haven't heard all winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And there they were! Bluebirds! [sorry the picture isn't very good!]<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjc38qCC5mENPHGGvi15QcJioqxVpf7bI-H8AgZCSbPRqWP75od9-85wIKRtFK7KJCfzskDfvpOyR9vSoVV2MEM4icNCy7TLhfvknEE0xv4sBowwzQNCz_GXRwimx5GAC-RgzrBu3allACei5G5gzxyuaE4Bzp5y4AngtYSl4LcGhDi4Zc5xzww/s4032/PXL_20240206_195818718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjc38qCC5mENPHGGvi15QcJioqxVpf7bI-H8AgZCSbPRqWP75od9-85wIKRtFK7KJCfzskDfvpOyR9vSoVV2MEM4icNCy7TLhfvknEE0xv4sBowwzQNCz_GXRwimx5GAC-RgzrBu3allACei5G5gzxyuaE4Bzp5y4AngtYSl4LcGhDi4Zc5xzww/s320/PXL_20240206_195818718.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We headed back along the fields and came to a patch of trees in the middle of this cropland. It is in a slight dip where water runs. I got to the deer trail and walked in among the trees. I looked back and Charlie was sitting just outside of the trees. He refused to follow me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeMK4hfXB8NZz5HqWYYRhiex0U0CSAXd4ZynF6rm14Cctg8L5__MOMSLYxdrg1Di0RCpFEKhigf1dyGZ2tDahyQhUJ8tGW1XZoxUJLZssHEDCNI2uRGWbHpnmt2M8gpKif4FzsuQbxPYv2G-GKfw5R8o2_qFsjU7pJ82uvI_pBONO544beBqrLg/s4032/PXL_20240206_200645175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeMK4hfXB8NZz5HqWYYRhiex0U0CSAXd4ZynF6rm14Cctg8L5__MOMSLYxdrg1Di0RCpFEKhigf1dyGZ2tDahyQhUJ8tGW1XZoxUJLZssHEDCNI2uRGWbHpnmt2M8gpKif4FzsuQbxPYv2G-GKfw5R8o2_qFsjU7pJ82uvI_pBONO544beBqrLg/s320/PXL_20240206_200645175.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">More than likely it would have been the fresh scent of a coyote that lingered on the trail that deterred him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So we detoured and walked up one of the waterways and decided to just sit down and enjoy the warm afternoon sun.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWHVuclzOWt1XFf0lb1w1hpuSNmWW2s_hMX-OUwRxDsEXS8bQCYe5Jw64XL0xwdV67JX28bcR414xZeqnqYLxAk5FM8NRjeAC-kdZIVAj0RCBJqyDGZoTyQ9gqxWM-dCaw5qSGGiDxmML9sKpYuBWY1oOhiOanwjPK7-jMlgUBVHFovsTsXZoGw/s4032/PXL_20240206_201514696.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWHVuclzOWt1XFf0lb1w1hpuSNmWW2s_hMX-OUwRxDsEXS8bQCYe5Jw64XL0xwdV67JX28bcR414xZeqnqYLxAk5FM8NRjeAC-kdZIVAj0RCBJqyDGZoTyQ9gqxWM-dCaw5qSGGiDxmML9sKpYuBWY1oOhiOanwjPK7-jMlgUBVHFovsTsXZoGw/s320/PXL_20240206_201514696.MP.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">From here we could see the intersection [if you want to call it that] to our dead end road and the other gravel road that crossed the ridge. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When we got home the two of us sat on the porch bench and listened to the world around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8Xn1YyHoa34wvteLsrjsPmZK9sm9d8tdoH5nTrsUzfw0hyphenhyphenVaXCsrpbz-F09mVa9czHrXrLLgASoNaf_ff8XMlcPju_HFjozTzAu0xNWWi3RDrG8ulw0l2Ub4-WVu8qwfyahgIeEydSZi2COiEvKHbclnc1E1-SOy7noWIJwfdjNuZ0-58iE1bQ/s4032/PXL_20240206_171605709.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8Xn1YyHoa34wvteLsrjsPmZK9sm9d8tdoH5nTrsUzfw0hyphenhyphenVaXCsrpbz-F09mVa9czHrXrLLgASoNaf_ff8XMlcPju_HFjozTzAu0xNWWi3RDrG8ulw0l2Ub4-WVu8qwfyahgIeEydSZi2COiEvKHbclnc1E1-SOy7noWIJwfdjNuZ0-58iE1bQ/s320/PXL_20240206_171605709.MP.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The antique wash table got the addition of some real flowers to mix in with the Lego Wildflower Bouquet.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm enjoying the bright colors!<br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-80096393868333249502024-02-05T05:30:00.001-06:002024-02-05T06:14:18.128-06:00Keeping Track<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I find it interesting that the more technologically advanced we get, the more fascinated with tracking things we get.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had a friend who posted every single day how many 'steps' she took. She wore a fit bit gizmo on her wrist and that told her the information. <br />Some of the folks at the gym have watches they wear that can give them heart rate, blood pressure, steps, oxygen, and track your movements.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am enjoying the fact that I can track my hiking [when I remember to use the app]. But so many folks seem to be over the top with tracking info.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Is it really necessary?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I can see where it has benefits in many cases. Say you have a B/P issue, you can track it right? When I visited the doctor's office in December we discussed that very thing. She recommended that I track my B/P no more than twice a day. Too many readings don't really help she said, and they could actually make a person more anxious and increase the B/P. Interesting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Another time I was sitting in the waiting room while hubby was doing a test. A nurse came out and called a name. She indicated to the patient that she was going to do a 12 lead ECG before his stress test. He absolutely came unglued and shoved his wrist at the nurse and told her not to waste her time. HE had a smart watch and it could tell her all she needed to know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">She rolled her eyes and tried to explain that her test was far more accurate than a watch on a wrist.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Okay. I see the point though. If you can monitor yourself for all of these vitals, it is pretty cool and perhaps a person can see if they are 'in trouble' or not, medically speaking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When I did distance running, I did keep a little calendar notebook to track my training miles. So I do understand why we keep track.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had a friend that was not well, she had a smart watch that she could answer calls on, monitor her steps, and all of those other things. She'd been advised to walk each day for a certain length of time. She figured out how to cheat the system by laying on her bed with her knees at the end of the bed. She then would swing her legs up and down and get her steps in. She fooled her smart watch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hike, I walk. I used to run distance when I was younger. I switched to bicycling distances, then I switched to riding an equine in distance challenges. Now? I like my two feet. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For the past couple of years I did the trail challenge at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. For that Challenge I had to keep track of the trails I did. That introduced me to 'keeping track' in a new way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I didn't just do the 60+ miles of trails, but I also made many many other trips and repeats of trails. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So how far and how often do I move, walk, hike? Maybe it would be interesting to find out. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did track -- mostly -- my hikes since the start of January. It is pretty amazing how far a person can hike or walk within a relatively short amount of time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For example this is the past week's example from MapMyWalk. Most of these walks were completed during hubby's nap times. It isn't totally accurate as I don't always think to take my phone with me or the phone doesn't have enough battery to take along...or it is raining or frigid.<br /><br />However I think I get out and move more than what this indicates.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuR38As8p45NyfOe9aX2De3iB1LtuvigAssqy52ATRJaTYVbVRfJOLzYmtgEddjPa3iRLgievZAnaOYXjwa5qpUMWPqGkRY29jyW0XUL9SGmJAoUihVKJbn58IVpzIpT_M4vegf2K1Hso6gZKsQkAGLQPkKZBJ-SIyzkofIRlOTh1-c0tXmg6YjQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="1143" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhuR38As8p45NyfOe9aX2De3iB1LtuvigAssqy52ATRJaTYVbVRfJOLzYmtgEddjPa3iRLgievZAnaOYXjwa5qpUMWPqGkRY29jyW0XUL9SGmJAoUihVKJbn58IVpzIpT_M4vegf2K1Hso6gZKsQkAGLQPkKZBJ-SIyzkofIRlOTh1-c0tXmg6YjQ" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />I'm fine with not counting chores, walking to the mailbox, or checking fence lines and all of the other things that are day to day stuff.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To me, the walks-hikes are not Workouts. They are times of seeking calmness and mind clearing pleasure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This information is a good thing. But tracking your every movement? Is that really necessary?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Are we better off with devices like this?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now that I am considered retired, the only time I keep track of Time is when I have an appointment to get to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">January stats:<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVyGvFztnFdNJdAkDpkc_irJ8_26QWqHRcMfzR6gQTfgHhXJeGhphH94bDZ-vakjfBsFkEI1bNZ1ab_trhAut7I67WwMszV-tfnQc1W__1rUpW6AJygZWqBie5MQmp8tk8XwDwBjUHgWFyFP_WMAs6Sv8PtLqzhIDMHi6XZ06sZOd8Ns13T4fQ6A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="979" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVyGvFztnFdNJdAkDpkc_irJ8_26QWqHRcMfzR6gQTfgHhXJeGhphH94bDZ-vakjfBsFkEI1bNZ1ab_trhAut7I67WwMszV-tfnQc1W__1rUpW6AJygZWqBie5MQmp8tk8XwDwBjUHgWFyFP_WMAs6Sv8PtLqzhIDMHi6XZ06sZOd8Ns13T4fQ6A" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-12609904094356793772024-02-03T07:39:00.001-06:002024-02-03T07:39:34.730-06:00My Happy Place<p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"> Weister Creek that is.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm0aUDo0C3UqwIEgSmyfDrmFqpDCPOEkS9ZsN6XjXSPXcxaz0KiVJ-AWDcud075tBXmpBDGEXKSS-gTJgDgqcdga0X-swU51SofAAZOI0IIjOOMXBmGczvPubnrGFe_FdiwYpa2CG6QyDg8Tx2E-8t5l2wZVuS7an3xNvb8wipxremYzpQ8C1KQ/s1048/2%202%20charlie%20leads_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm0aUDo0C3UqwIEgSmyfDrmFqpDCPOEkS9ZsN6XjXSPXcxaz0KiVJ-AWDcud075tBXmpBDGEXKSS-gTJgDgqcdga0X-swU51SofAAZOI0IIjOOMXBmGczvPubnrGFe_FdiwYpa2CG6QyDg8Tx2E-8t5l2wZVuS7an3xNvb8wipxremYzpQ8C1KQ/s320/2%202%20charlie%20leads_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I had a 'date' with another hiker who cancelled early Friday morning. I didn't mind, I decided to head out and take Charlie to Weister Creek. The 'Ice' Caves probably were not spectacular with the drought we've had along with the strangely mild winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">But I knew there would be some ice for me to enjoy. I felt that I should go even though the day was heavily overcast again and fairly cold.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I knew that once we got into the forest we'd be out of the cold and damp wind. Then things would get fun. Besides, I'd rather walk on frozen snow, ice, and mud than walk on slippery sloppy stuff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I wore my YakTraks. It only took us about 7 minutes to get to the bottom of the first big gully with the rock shelters that turn into exotic ice caves most winters.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8tKYT30mFOtwwho8NlzPQu3zoch2ul9jYH0c4g-894UU64ZbBX9NSTjIdeILjrKC-rwlACV_PN8jeUB47skR6v7aU81EOZuWoff2Bl5RSWqG35-kdSvFAJdrYX7dVgqAqgbJMiCd1FHN7ss4kvzbbV_v6XMgw5pSNgaNmA8IGTl-wJAnN9nQqA/s1048/2%202%20ice%20caves_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8tKYT30mFOtwwho8NlzPQu3zoch2ul9jYH0c4g-894UU64ZbBX9NSTjIdeILjrKC-rwlACV_PN8jeUB47skR6v7aU81EOZuWoff2Bl5RSWqG35-kdSvFAJdrYX7dVgqAqgbJMiCd1FHN7ss4kvzbbV_v6XMgw5pSNgaNmA8IGTl-wJAnN9nQqA/s320/2%202%20ice%20caves_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The 'caves' at the very top of these formations are over 6 foot tall inside.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This is a shot from 2 years ago to give you an idea at how large the 'cave' in the upper right corner is:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw1xitxZpTNo1YoBFwTCTJmzn5Ka3vWQ0YYZB0oJZsbBI2NE0flpS_euzMXIC8b3ktbn3Soy-k3TAjP8tM0fGO21LttKbkI7o39JPwxUjo8LqdsD6oRgqoENAvQXkaMp0FW_64-9_u3EE38kscCiAgr25orK80itytyULw7EUBm2DwdngUTfnhg/s800/51772450263_72a3660592_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw1xitxZpTNo1YoBFwTCTJmzn5Ka3vWQ0YYZB0oJZsbBI2NE0flpS_euzMXIC8b3ktbn3Soy-k3TAjP8tM0fGO21LttKbkI7o39JPwxUjo8LqdsD6oRgqoENAvQXkaMp0FW_64-9_u3EE38kscCiAgr25orK80itytyULw7EUBm2DwdngUTfnhg/s320/51772450263_72a3660592_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">How was the ice this time? It was </span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">cool....</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9mi5ky7IpEtNUTWzkoynBcxKtIaL3hmjEE7vNq0tpDPNixjCbd66nrHGd1FR99lGZKVMVca1_ZlmhkNpS430AF7NTKu_2AF9lWfXg_3irLzlfd1hVQWwcT9aB4wNKx3hkDrIKjg1JN2Pdgb9LFGvyCxVKazoPboAsjWcR11Mn1aC5ceM1PZwoQ/s4032/IMG_20240202_105737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9mi5ky7IpEtNUTWzkoynBcxKtIaL3hmjEE7vNq0tpDPNixjCbd66nrHGd1FR99lGZKVMVca1_ZlmhkNpS430AF7NTKu_2AF9lWfXg_3irLzlfd1hVQWwcT9aB4wNKx3hkDrIKjg1JN2Pdgb9LFGvyCxVKazoPboAsjWcR11Mn1aC5ceM1PZwoQ/s320/IMG_20240202_105737.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnndkBSyNPF0Bu722DN1EN9_XdTuhv8sNW2F9VVlFk6JIaI1m-iTFdVt1lhxI1lcIM3BGPmc8BL1r_cLrCy2RHb75BeSavumIfgkttdwtCPRDfTphVjRoHpbKvZrsWSV532Ah4nkXLMeAd_Q2UJDRQrDMNxc2_Rkm0nzADbNE3vXwZ_MCipcN-jw/s4032/PXL_20240202_170700750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnndkBSyNPF0Bu722DN1EN9_XdTuhv8sNW2F9VVlFk6JIaI1m-iTFdVt1lhxI1lcIM3BGPmc8BL1r_cLrCy2RHb75BeSavumIfgkttdwtCPRDfTphVjRoHpbKvZrsWSV532Ah4nkXLMeAd_Q2UJDRQrDMNxc2_Rkm0nzADbNE3vXwZ_MCipcN-jw/s320/PXL_20240202_170700750.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">And for a view from end to end... Enjoy the drip drip drip noises. I found them so comforting. 14 seconds long. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvbY3UG5EMTNVflRZ3apmaa5_qu7uJpSfzWgFKuNdlDS6NgWXePxu0mvFMye4MbtINAmiYEcyPdNY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Normally by this time of the year, the Ice Curtain is huge and covers almost the whole rock shelter. The interior of the shelter or cave is also covered in ice. Ice cleats are a must for moving around this area.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Inside the 'cave' a few years ago:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldNyPLoEd_ajCQJEm-DHFUuDrgickLqbY0PdIuK9xXP1iIeugehkUZZ9aCh0XfrQ98xtlO9Bc2s_QETF5P1sr5QhCkEes15pg8k4zw7AotaMnr6-_PLbBiNHWJp9ERRqpKfNgCg7FmlMZe5n2N_0WhEFDN7yc0IHSsUmYB09Rz6v5WwNscOMciw/s800/49454767357_81248a0b94_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldNyPLoEd_ajCQJEm-DHFUuDrgickLqbY0PdIuK9xXP1iIeugehkUZZ9aCh0XfrQ98xtlO9Bc2s_QETF5P1sr5QhCkEes15pg8k4zw7AotaMnr6-_PLbBiNHWJp9ERRqpKfNgCg7FmlMZe5n2N_0WhEFDN7yc0IHSsUmYB09Rz6v5WwNscOMciw/s320/49454767357_81248a0b94_c.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Charlie and I walked over the top of the ridge and looked down on the second ice cave area. There was almost no ice but we could hear the dripping from the top of the rock shelter. We moved on and went further down to where most of the 'tours' end at another ice wall on Weister Creek.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrstP_SuTeVQMDqUYoxxtaAvnm1CtmHxedum87jlcuF0qbE24vwkrvnX-AfrO0Q-XHgP2aLxVKz4fQXW4ZmybrqQdA64vfleWi9c7iz8JIA2WT1nhnmvFdcDT0PwHQUEBUEWcIKae78OwoeklH6OPIzE70d9QLiKNEWD0o8X6fc-bwbtq0E1kjHA/s3300/PXL_20240202_171839712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1876" data-original-width="3300" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrstP_SuTeVQMDqUYoxxtaAvnm1CtmHxedum87jlcuF0qbE24vwkrvnX-AfrO0Q-XHgP2aLxVKz4fQXW4ZmybrqQdA64vfleWi9c7iz8JIA2WT1nhnmvFdcDT0PwHQUEBUEWcIKae78OwoeklH6OPIzE70d9QLiKNEWD0o8X6fc-bwbtq0E1kjHA/s320/PXL_20240202_171839712.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Closer with a long lens.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TAmcYSCaQnFsk7yVjWyJAy-DeTgr9gy8lgdTWsoLxgvxlG3bXd0E1ezDusZQ-vQTdMHRXmpeWxtoDbZpnRZVMwGtsCA3WZXda4PDIMH4p1yBIa8JWlOXArHM8lwxmWypbdMXQvpdaExK7kwTl8VRtCgXrcJAejiWKhrr9f6s1a9i7GBqfPrfUA/s1048/2%202%20ice%20on%20weister%20crk_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TAmcYSCaQnFsk7yVjWyJAy-DeTgr9gy8lgdTWsoLxgvxlG3bXd0E1ezDusZQ-vQTdMHRXmpeWxtoDbZpnRZVMwGtsCA3WZXda4PDIMH4p1yBIa8JWlOXArHM8lwxmWypbdMXQvpdaExK7kwTl8VRtCgXrcJAejiWKhrr9f6s1a9i7GBqfPrfUA/s320/2%202%20ice%20on%20weister%20crk_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">In winter last year when we had subzero temperatures:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBoUhESTojb9_gPMrKrvgHzWh-bSJjuTQnLZekXF6gFFUsZ4PZ6PqRb6pUt3yPhaqcF908ZMaKVaTbOGJiULuGRXkLksaD3JdDXLUbfGKf26XHjKKM2L8pyM-bo7GnXa7Dk1Ty_vh4Rk1sZ1cZZ1AhbjKGUW0V25n0ztugxZUTyDS-yRs1vFB1g/s800/51855379904_2d128a783d_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBoUhESTojb9_gPMrKrvgHzWh-bSJjuTQnLZekXF6gFFUsZ4PZ6PqRb6pUt3yPhaqcF908ZMaKVaTbOGJiULuGRXkLksaD3JdDXLUbfGKf26XHjKKM2L8pyM-bo7GnXa7Dk1Ty_vh4Rk1sZ1cZZ1AhbjKGUW0V25n0ztugxZUTyDS-yRs1vFB1g/s320/51855379904_2d128a783d_c.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">We headed over these ice formations and went down the stream to look at one of the last easy to get to formations of ice.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAevGEl0Yt49oJRN0fFf_EZjVoUOBr_TVRJlYI4IYFX_I50j040c2e6XQKnYWY8a2yZ_GdRixMU9JKvsitP6gobTL7419vghC9Sylm3JhPOSu00PZT3E7PPdtDDtzKyBhfFwoo71aUajCtd7YsTLquxBevr1lkcXb0bouq3VmvqM3hfUY4kVRBQ/s1048/2%202%20charlie%20leads%20at%20weister_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAevGEl0Yt49oJRN0fFf_EZjVoUOBr_TVRJlYI4IYFX_I50j040c2e6XQKnYWY8a2yZ_GdRixMU9JKvsitP6gobTL7419vghC9Sylm3JhPOSu00PZT3E7PPdtDDtzKyBhfFwoo71aUajCtd7YsTLquxBevr1lkcXb0bouq3VmvqM3hfUY4kVRBQ/s320/2%202%20charlie%20leads%20at%20weister_DxO.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm8XQ0CjgCh1X8V-yD4D7SyYBvjSUxjeeyE6yquX0kpfvDHCR4noPFCwYjCJndy2BeNHYvEQvBuVC6JM5biBxhPkHku0DJvU5_Pf6VURoGF2tiewzOYZChFE8VIFVVG0-B8Ty1-sj_8GWMVI-RZZhQ98ib8n56nEenFzw0BGNaSKm3XJ79guQow/s1222/2%202%20Charlie%20on%20top%20of%20ice%20w%20crk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1222" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm8XQ0CjgCh1X8V-yD4D7SyYBvjSUxjeeyE6yquX0kpfvDHCR4noPFCwYjCJndy2BeNHYvEQvBuVC6JM5biBxhPkHku0DJvU5_Pf6VURoGF2tiewzOYZChFE8VIFVVG0-B8Ty1-sj_8GWMVI-RZZhQ98ib8n56nEenFzw0BGNaSKm3XJ79guQow/s320/2%202%20Charlie%20on%20top%20of%20ice%20w%20crk.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Charlie knows these trails by heart as he has been with me so many times.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuPCa6ZQ_4BimfgwLIcGO-6UulJWJdeRNUrT_azc04d8EhMuRwO3qHXYW0FgXsJkBPwHjuikvd70bxFwn7fmghhRCi6remdMmkStCDvDfgCT64kski6ntQGf3VlJ-JzTLWlyzA1CT1ymYN2GfyuZedAdd3x6VKBN39p6jqBcPq9a48mQFIJLkog/s1048/2%202%20Weister%20crk%20at%20end_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuPCa6ZQ_4BimfgwLIcGO-6UulJWJdeRNUrT_azc04d8EhMuRwO3qHXYW0FgXsJkBPwHjuikvd70bxFwn7fmghhRCi6remdMmkStCDvDfgCT64kski6ntQGf3VlJ-JzTLWlyzA1CT1ymYN2GfyuZedAdd3x6VKBN39p6jqBcPq9a48mQFIJLkog/s320/2%202%20Weister%20crk%20at%20end_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">During a good cold winter, this particular spot fills with layers of ice. The water around the large rock becomes thick enough to walk on and a person cannot see the sandstone behind the ice. the colors of ice will be various with the particulates it picks up. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Curiously there is a cable that be seen when the ice is small. It has been there ever since I can recall. I see it in the spring usually when I hike here looking for Skunk Cabbage, Trillium, and all sorts of spring flowers.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This my Happy Place. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-54074786824898908392024-02-01T18:30:00.001-06:002024-02-01T18:30:00.162-06:00Wendigo <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The weather is warming up drastically and who knows what will wake up in the forest???</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6sPfujYTdW1rgVIm26QM3tWzv95UITEShndqA1Hn2vyX-R2IYLgdGO7-Af2eHGNpjx8Dor4CSgpjoa9b2r-iIbzW8ZYZYKazbXKZI94I2Ur8B6HFnCs6F1kyaMqdVSPKAkEYdStORKO15KrktP-Z08JJFAR44aa_om-8-tLFjYVybRPnA1WTg/s1280/2%201%20waking%20the%20windago%204%20edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1280" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6sPfujYTdW1rgVIm26QM3tWzv95UITEShndqA1Hn2vyX-R2IYLgdGO7-Af2eHGNpjx8Dor4CSgpjoa9b2r-iIbzW8ZYZYKazbXKZI94I2Ur8B6HFnCs6F1kyaMqdVSPKAkEYdStORKO15KrktP-Z08JJFAR44aa_om-8-tLFjYVybRPnA1WTg/s320/2%201%20waking%20the%20windago%204%20edit.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">A Wendigo? It crawls out of a small rock cave.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkFsIVa_8u8G0rCPoDHeQsyId1kSfpb8fSZSylu8vxBt-xlynMFN_IZRWS9izBDM57-jD2nClnmT2HZ1RKdjcUCq0_zmsG_jjz9aOPRya7crCrY-D3B-nQC3QRmpfWAinyBY_ksDrRx1tl36Z_L3owo7uXGT-3thrQriVF6-SFu2u-wrNnC6gyA/s1280/2%201%20waking%20the%20windago%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1280" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkFsIVa_8u8G0rCPoDHeQsyId1kSfpb8fSZSylu8vxBt-xlynMFN_IZRWS9izBDM57-jD2nClnmT2HZ1RKdjcUCq0_zmsG_jjz9aOPRya7crCrY-D3B-nQC3QRmpfWAinyBY_ksDrRx1tl36Z_L3owo7uXGT-3thrQriVF6-SFu2u-wrNnC6gyA/s320/2%201%20waking%20the%20windago%204.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">...and makes its way to the creek...to fish for trout....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXkK7WwJDqRnjLzSgBjwmsE378tI9hZsLKIK4Xh0QHGFUw1hDQ1vT7ZyEGz-G6yhD1vbal1UFQfCMuLf2AtxC4c68cJMq-5yWV4gd3dwNOKIQ3HcEqmAzFOFDag3ARPQtXXE_KOpafDlQx8vjY3GquUWNcMg0ldLFW9KnIvk4XgVprt9KVBaL7Q/s1280/2%201%20windago%20fishing%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXkK7WwJDqRnjLzSgBjwmsE378tI9hZsLKIK4Xh0QHGFUw1hDQ1vT7ZyEGz-G6yhD1vbal1UFQfCMuLf2AtxC4c68cJMq-5yWV4gd3dwNOKIQ3HcEqmAzFOFDag3ARPQtXXE_KOpafDlQx8vjY3GquUWNcMg0ldLFW9KnIvk4XgVprt9KVBaL7Q/s320/2%201%20windago%20fishing%203.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">... good fishing</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2058S1X0uMYKGVNDXblGUAv2b6_MP5jkgbJvoAq4g5wDQ3-p6zajPGo_DQZgkvUM3ZnQIGfuUtxqndoyREDtm-5z3-dx4fen3eERw8zjojYQ3FHkV3S9EnFkUKMLx8kXFV6RtXxN0t2jL3A5O4LHvSU5AZZaRpq8Ajii2po8MdKaKgwSE8Wj0Q/s1280/2%201%20windago%20fishing%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2058S1X0uMYKGVNDXblGUAv2b6_MP5jkgbJvoAq4g5wDQ3-p6zajPGo_DQZgkvUM3ZnQIGfuUtxqndoyREDtm-5z3-dx4fen3eERw8zjojYQ3FHkV3S9EnFkUKMLx8kXFV6RtXxN0t2jL3A5O4LHvSU5AZZaRpq8Ajii2po8MdKaKgwSE8Wj0Q/s320/2%201%20windago%20fishing%204.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">time for a nap...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUVltlZxYd_RjqyBrfm3jYEh0rP86YM_BY_i6c4UWVHqg5GpbYoSNG_-m_rKWA0THSd0O9LrCI82-TlmVe-Tp5hmFksX4RwRm2K-7R9PvBbzixaIahx8bKEiNBi-sXlw-6cbmPGguVSV8OyRcq5eckUaxSYQpv0L6UVkiSpXW71bTDha1DWHIwA/s1280/2%201%20windago%20sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUVltlZxYd_RjqyBrfm3jYEh0rP86YM_BY_i6c4UWVHqg5GpbYoSNG_-m_rKWA0THSd0O9LrCI82-TlmVe-Tp5hmFksX4RwRm2K-7R9PvBbzixaIahx8bKEiNBi-sXlw-6cbmPGguVSV8OyRcq5eckUaxSYQpv0L6UVkiSpXW71bTDha1DWHIwA/s320/2%201%20windago%20sleeping.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">***************<br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The Wendigo is a mythological creature that is an evil spirit according to Algonquin folklore. It is slated as a mythical cannibalistic creature. It sounds absolutely horrid and awful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I found this 3D printed figure at the local flea market. It is said to be a Fidget Toy. It is loose and jointed and floppy. Seriously, you could fidget with it forever to get it to sit correctly and I thought it was bizarre enough to suit my taste. I think I'll sand it and paint it too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">There now I have a Fidget Toy to take on my daily hikes.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I think this Wendigo will be friendly and kind. I can't have horrible creatures living in my forest. Even my Dragons and Dinosaurs get along with my Lego Minifigs. All my toys have to get along, you know?</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></p><p><br /></p>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-23950832297353956372024-01-31T12:00:00.001-06:002024-01-31T12:00:00.198-06:00January is Done...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">January wrap.<br />The first of the year was mild and not very wet. I was able to get into the furthest valley in our area and hike along Black Bottom Creek.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Mid month we got walloped by two huge snowstorms. Next came the cold temperatures and wind chills. These are all normal events for January in a sense. But the winter has been warmer than usual due to La Nina.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">For the past two weeks it seems that we've had nothing but fog, rain, dampness, and more fog. At first I was pretty excited about the fog. I could walk in it and enjoy the ethereal beauty of it. <br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">After a few days though, that wore off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Then we had a dense fog freeze advisory. I spent an hour walking around looking for frosted plants and leaves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ9JEOhR7-Adgkq9WMpqtPaMvMsZaDSwvr2Ebg3NaB6_hCwLigYAkkXhg52zEwNxK778Ggu8lYyMRnobtcGDq4vgtOV9Fb4Gx3F2y6Ym1dzDvofvzovCFBYIJKdi3-ntujoth9Ac1rDUCep-HM3NO9EmW_zgA14Q6vMAfbzGW2_SQLv7R_wtX1g/s1048/1%2029%20frosted%20parsnip_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQ9JEOhR7-Adgkq9WMpqtPaMvMsZaDSwvr2Ebg3NaB6_hCwLigYAkkXhg52zEwNxK778Ggu8lYyMRnobtcGDq4vgtOV9Fb4Gx3F2y6Ym1dzDvofvzovCFBYIJKdi3-ntujoth9Ac1rDUCep-HM3NO9EmW_zgA14Q6vMAfbzGW2_SQLv7R_wtX1g/s320/1%2029%20frosted%20parsnip_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56Hm5iSWDP1m5rWnLJj_VWlQ1yG59llgbRs4cn86QiOkye7XzMP8BVstDn5Jlidy4tt1DTu9H-WudE3JcnFv37Jk9IrvCRgsqE50LUP4IzxGf_1VnogBb5dOKlNxG9ASLfWJS7HLZVtO-KM8voXBwFgZVDeRnAb0QBqyLmreoyMJnlXgZc-7ofA/s1048/1%2029%20Hazelnut%20frosted_DxO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56Hm5iSWDP1m5rWnLJj_VWlQ1yG59llgbRs4cn86QiOkye7XzMP8BVstDn5Jlidy4tt1DTu9H-WudE3JcnFv37Jk9IrvCRgsqE50LUP4IzxGf_1VnogBb5dOKlNxG9ASLfWJS7HLZVtO-KM8voXBwFgZVDeRnAb0QBqyLmreoyMJnlXgZc-7ofA/s320/1%2029%20Hazelnut%20frosted_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan80f1_CdB_lSH8NFSR7G0Pb1fYEZHQl-bTLd7nryIuGaJTgPn9vXJepMrl73hLj5EsoQpoCrkPS7jv3Eow5bDku1OpF4lyWEUtl3wC2CbDzEGBxgj4gcpPUxyuY5V6Y7kJ4yXEsNUfRQC3yBfMoMhutUBhPviI11dmMnwq9rZ_tn7WQKcXXLXQ/s1280/1%2029%20frost%20on%20leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1280" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan80f1_CdB_lSH8NFSR7G0Pb1fYEZHQl-bTLd7nryIuGaJTgPn9vXJepMrl73hLj5EsoQpoCrkPS7jv3Eow5bDku1OpF4lyWEUtl3wC2CbDzEGBxgj4gcpPUxyuY5V6Y7kJ4yXEsNUfRQC3yBfMoMhutUBhPviI11dmMnwq9rZ_tn7WQKcXXLXQ/s320/1%2029%20frost%20on%20leaves.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br />If I'd had my MapMyWalk App on, it would have shown me going back and forth and around in circles. I wanted to find some exciting and beautiful frost formations on plants.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The key word was 'exciting'. I didn't really find anything spectacular.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I went back out right away after hubby was up and had his breakfast. I wanted to take Charlie for a walk while the snow was still firm and he could walk on top of it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I grabbed my snowshoes and off we went on a jaunt to the creek. The deeper we got into the forest, there was less frost.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">By the time we got to the creek, I had to take off my snowshoes and carry them. Since the creek has so many little springs in it, the temperatures can be much warmer near the water. The difference is startling. You walk in mud and green grass as opposed to a foot of snow. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I set my little camera on a log and took a photo of Charlie and I walking along the creek.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IYGaZC9IaJeVjdB580_OAT_8tR0UvBxHyEAu-7Nk6fSqC1BOG7BmBfp_sbGKuP9y-SlZntY4L6xOk6lH3oIVPR5j1NeMPLoLv72gdS6mh5jNGdq-M63VNOL9ZE606caRuBvK2TMos_hEKj0O3fsvqzFJXhBYIC5w-0-K6fqa8dp2QUNfXHSybQ/s1222/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1222" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IYGaZC9IaJeVjdB580_OAT_8tR0UvBxHyEAu-7Nk6fSqC1BOG7BmBfp_sbGKuP9y-SlZntY4L6xOk6lH3oIVPR5j1NeMPLoLv72gdS6mh5jNGdq-M63VNOL9ZE606caRuBvK2TMos_hEKj0O3fsvqzFJXhBYIC5w-0-K6fqa8dp2QUNfXHSybQ/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Our trekking area.<br />This is the spot where I always stop to admire the little trout. Since the last flood that cleaned out the creek bottom, trees have been falling down across the creek and through out the area.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Our walk becomes a bit more adventurous by having to negotiate around fallen trees and nasty multiflora rose.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The only times I can easily walk through this area is early spring, winter, and late fall. In the summer, it is impossible. The weeds and plants grow so high here that they are taller than I am.<br /><br />When cattle grazed on this land, it was easy to get around. But the cattle have been gone since 2005 and the land is not managed very well. So it has a lot of invasive plants and it has gotten very wild.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HqY6nkjIBOhyphenhyphenIaSa01HxrgKDO39CuydloAz-4NhWIczZGpz6bW0zn1KwLRP0OsG03NnXvQrPuPm7mcbRy6zPleuaD5iJtb_avSFEuVA0c8OO6deFio-7u8VQR4WTtr6NuFG-TGV-SCmnbZSNCiStOvPRSxwpao8-sQhTjV2BXP5taFrTLM2pOw/s1222/1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1222" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HqY6nkjIBOhyphenhyphenIaSa01HxrgKDO39CuydloAz-4NhWIczZGpz6bW0zn1KwLRP0OsG03NnXvQrPuPm7mcbRy6zPleuaD5iJtb_avSFEuVA0c8OO6deFio-7u8VQR4WTtr6NuFG-TGV-SCmnbZSNCiStOvPRSxwpao8-sQhTjV2BXP5taFrTLM2pOw/s320/1a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Once we got out of the creek, I had to put the snowshoes back on. We followed the old deer/cattle/4wheeler trail which is growing in now too.</span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAqX_bXnt1-n_aBNAxHkoTG2lensp2jDNX-1e4NofkMtfpKypqGdmKAlGYWwiQrL8JgeBgcB0sTIR8dyIm_BhJbgrJBmbWHjOMTB-DJoELg3uq0CZVnfqx9GaB52Y6mY5c5lEjfcVqUxS6v4-XEDUaxwFZpi224AfgZDpEvqVoAK0C7V-F7xiyw/s960/1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAqX_bXnt1-n_aBNAxHkoTG2lensp2jDNX-1e4NofkMtfpKypqGdmKAlGYWwiQrL8JgeBgcB0sTIR8dyIm_BhJbgrJBmbWHjOMTB-DJoELg3uq0CZVnfqx9GaB52Y6mY5c5lEjfcVqUxS6v4-XEDUaxwFZpi224AfgZDpEvqVoAK0C7V-F7xiyw/s320/1b.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">We climbed the hillside and went out to the meadow just east of our property and headed back home. Charlie was such a champ. The only time he asked to get picked up was when we heard a big boom far off.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">We came up through the back of our land and walked through the area where the mules had dug up snow and had browsed during the the snowstorm.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This photo shows the back of our shed and the long hill driveway. The mules really dug things up, I was surprised at how much the snow had melted in this particular spot.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt8ad4wC6wGuBdcS3L5n6kzktGvsfv4RZC9unTeY1fkQ0NrP0cZ-czf17XXCaYp9S4lNKc9nXWrX28lmrgJqHh8FHCW36AWTPzXZh13O_XA37WeABwqMYE_s9pruPaKJTqqEk1EH2LecfnEyDU-_UxjHsdzoulKaEK-aPsI6D4jn8h8tzuBl30w/s960/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFt8ad4wC6wGuBdcS3L5n6kzktGvsfv4RZC9unTeY1fkQ0NrP0cZ-czf17XXCaYp9S4lNKc9nXWrX28lmrgJqHh8FHCW36AWTPzXZh13O_XA37WeABwqMYE_s9pruPaKJTqqEk1EH2LecfnEyDU-_UxjHsdzoulKaEK-aPsI6D4jn8h8tzuBl30w/s320/2.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">However!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The sun came out late in the afternoon to provide us with a stunning sunset.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">I was pretty excited since we haven't had an evening with a beautiful sunset in ages:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC8tPc9GAQ2BiQa4h2dnPiKnD2AGxWlSxCm7iYxGP1-EQ1nkhzQuEhh7ivgYCGEH9lN2EmYLxz7leyWbrFYPLR1DnO7dmU9n4A78wBeD8PpHQGkbFVQErUpJf55rk7b0QP7t-Q6FoiCZ-q3RQfl85aBwcndu4W13G5UeIzJJmBgBvqhUVtPwnQw/s1048/1%2029%20sunset%201_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="761" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC8tPc9GAQ2BiQa4h2dnPiKnD2AGxWlSxCm7iYxGP1-EQ1nkhzQuEhh7ivgYCGEH9lN2EmYLxz7leyWbrFYPLR1DnO7dmU9n4A78wBeD8PpHQGkbFVQErUpJf55rk7b0QP7t-Q6FoiCZ-q3RQfl85aBwcndu4W13G5UeIzJJmBgBvqhUVtPwnQw/s320/1%2029%20sunset%201_DxO.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Ba0Ukn4rgslMgRO3M4Ix-a_3poWxgTjcyAw_7A-7fHnT6WLbDa_Sev39bKdI2fzEQO6x8vTJIYQhBq3wxe7bR30zRhlFDp632dvZ7EZL1K0WWTkrPfjaUs8TJrno6xK7Gi4MT3P9kklSY9VLfjQuZoJjHtmgxceBYKvnyu_i93LTG9VcKeynQ/s1048/1%2029%20sunset%202_DxO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1048" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Ba0Ukn4rgslMgRO3M4Ix-a_3poWxgTjcyAw_7A-7fHnT6WLbDa_Sev39bKdI2fzEQO6x8vTJIYQhBq3wxe7bR30zRhlFDp632dvZ7EZL1K0WWTkrPfjaUs8TJrno6xK7Gi4MT3P9kklSY9VLfjQuZoJjHtmgxceBYKvnyu_i93LTG9VcKeynQ/s320/1%2029%20sunset%202_DxO.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">Let's see what February brings!</span></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895469.post-20317711722239517902024-01-30T03:00:00.000-06:002024-01-30T03:00:00.143-06:00Mobility and working out<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFhRLORbV243NImd1iN3dVubYfIXZ15laj4xERTwzOGq_NBEkGX-ycB_eAfGmImg9j8JMnD4pFw7-0ceEgb93g46iforPrJkeuW8cmSBso3BN3NVOijvvqhWU7XL1DA-oHzFlMHZA8LjorSNKKdXxvAsgPZ9w9fSbJeGAjJshNrqq6_HphwlHLA/s4032/PXL_20240123_180035316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFhRLORbV243NImd1iN3dVubYfIXZ15laj4xERTwzOGq_NBEkGX-ycB_eAfGmImg9j8JMnD4pFw7-0ceEgb93g46iforPrJkeuW8cmSBso3BN3NVOijvvqhWU7XL1DA-oHzFlMHZA8LjorSNKKdXxvAsgPZ9w9fSbJeGAjJshNrqq6_HphwlHLA/s320/PXL_20240123_180035316.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> What can simple exercises do for you? </span><div><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My simple exercises at home don't need more than a chair, a wall, a floor, and sometimes even a couch. I can sit on the kitchen chair and do leg raises. If I want, it can be one leg at a time or both. I can use the chairs or go free standing to do squats. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The hardest part of exercising is sticking to it. It sure is easier to just go for a nice long walk.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Right now I am doing chair sit ups, one legged balance exercises, and a variety of other exercises to keep up with my Mobility and balance. I'm having fun trying to do a work out at home. Other times I just say: Heck with it all and go for a hike.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm not at the gym this winter because of the weather and the colds, flu, and Covid that is traveling around our community. I can't bring home any illnesses to the other half. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I could just hang out and nap most of winter away.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But I need feed for the critters. Those 75 lb. bags take some technique to heft up and into a feed barrel. Thankfully, I've been taught a great way to do it without harming myself [thank you coaches!]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last Friday, I moved washing machine and dryer to clean under and around them. I also took apart the vent and gave it a good once over. Hubby asked if I needed help and I did ask him to hand me a few things after I'd climbed over the washer and was in behind the dryer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I didn't want to pull everything totally out, but made enough room so I could get in behind the washer without disconnecting the water.<br />I took a milk crate and tied twine to it. I used the milk crate to get up and over the dryer. Then I pulled the crate over with the twine when I was done and used it to get back out. Clever me! Rich's comment?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"I married a monkey."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Maybe this is unusual for a person of my vintage and maybe not.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The month of January is almost over and I am trying to see what I have as far as hiking and walking for distance. Right now I am using the free app which adds everything up for me. I don't count steps, they are deceiving. Ok. Let me qualify that statement. Steps are great and necessary to help us keep track of moving which is essential to keeping our abilities to MOVE.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My steps include inclines of 150 to 300 feet. If I hike for a mile or less, it can be in very steep terrain, so each step could be much harder than a person walking on a sidewalk or on a flat easy surface. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Does that make sense?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So far in January? What are the miles I've actually accounted for?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">25 miles on the Map My Walk app -- and I didn't account for walking to the mailbox through the woods or the times I went out and checked fences. I'll see what January 31st brings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I'm hoping to actually <i>GET</i> off the farm this weekend and go to Duck Egg or perhaps KVR and tromp around for some different scenery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Fog is still here. I'm beginning to think that Stephen King made up this weather for this week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">How is it going with you?</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Val Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11773318159420863765noreply@blogger.com13