Chilly Tuesday

Apparently chairs are much better than the nice doggy bed on the floor.

Or ...

the dogs have taken over and I am their servant. 

Hannah still has to be lifted onto the chair, she hasn't gotten the jump down quite yet.

They keep me safe and busy.

Charlie is the watchdog and Hannah runs to hide if she hears a loud or unfamiliar noise.

After the scrapper dudes left, we headed out for some exploring. [More about them another time.]

We explored a new area.

 

A sunny bluff that ran north and south.

On the eastern side of the bluff spring flowers were pushing up. 

Spring Beauties
[they should carpet the forests in
about two weeks]

Spring Beauties and
the sprouts of Dutchman's Breeches

Blood Root a very unique
spring flower.

On the west side, there were icicles dripping off from cold bluff. This side of the bluff rarely gets much sunshine as it faces a steep and heavily forested valley.

The cracks in the bluff had frigid air coming out of them.

If it is really hot while hiking this summer, I know where I can go to cool off. All I have to do is stand at this crack in the bluff and feel the cold air venting out.

Natural air conditioning!

Hannah loved the cold so much she had super zoomies.

The bluff has such unique shapes, forms, and colors.

Looking up.

Here is the view of the Kickapoo River retreating from its flood stage. I was standing on a bridge about 10 feet above the river. The bridge still had mud and debris on it.

The pussy willows along the trail that runs alongside the river were bright with their catkins.

On the hike back I saw a pair of swans and a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the wetlands. 

Both dogs slept on the way home.

It was a cold but good day.

Exploring

I know this trail well, I've done it several times but never in the winter. So after discovering this valley of ice one of my friends who I met through the gym asked if she could go along. She wasn't sure if she could handle a long hike but I told her we could cut it short.

I told Pat that my favorite way to hike was to stop and look at things and not hurry as if we were in a competition.

I found out that she is that way also. When she found Turkey Tail Mushrooms on a log she had to stop and investigate and photo them. We found tiny branches with burls on them and she collected them along with some fascinating Lichen we found on a stick in the trail.

This is Pat's winter Lego person investigating mosses we found on an old white pine stump.

I was 'hunting' ice and we found quite a bit of it.

We stopped here and I was enamored with the ice and the pines. Pat found more fungi and interesting pine cones. She explored mosses and whatever else captured her attention.

We marveled at the Hemlock trees that clung to the small bluffs.

We had a pretty good laugh at one of the little stream crossings that had thin ice and water flowing. 

I tested the ice like a goofball and jumped on it.

I broke through the ice. I fell on my butt with my boots in the water and jumped up and across the stream.

I'm not sure what Pat thought, but I laughed with such joy that she decided join in. My one foot probably got wet but my butt was dry.

I asked her if she thought I was crazy and she just smiled. Then she bent down to take a photo of the tiny stream. She jumped the stream and went on.

When we got back to the parking area, I informed her that we'd done just over 5 miles and I asked her how she felt. She said fine. The point was, we were going on an adventure not on a strict hike. The steps went by as we enjoyed nature and each others quiet company.

I asked if she'd do it again. Affirmative. She enjoyed herself.

Through this past year and the death of my husband, Pat has quietly given me support and listened to me without judgement. She doesn't tell me how to get through it and offers none of the platitudes that others give out. On some days when we meet at the gym and work out with the group, she brings me a 'Care Supper'. 

I am finding that this quiet unassuming southerner is probably one of the best girlfriends I could ever have.

I am looking forward to more exploring with her. They will be trails I've already familiar with, but to take another person with fresh eyes is always a special delight.

 

outside

Finally, the temperature rose to zero this Monday afternoon.

So I decided to go for a walk to our creek bottom and see what it looked like. I haven't been there in a couple of weeks which is unusual for me since I used to make it a daily trip.

Charlie is grounded right now. Not because he is a bad boy, but because it is breeding season for coyotes and in our area they can get aggressive with dogs out walking even in the daylight. Now that I said that, I can say that in 30 years of walking with dogs in this time of year, I've only come across coyotes twice.

One was stalking my female Feist Terrier and I the first time 20 years ago. I fired off a .22 round and it skedaddled. 

The second time was only two years ago. I think the coyote was looking for open water and perhaps a mate. It stood and watched us from a distance. I hollered *Boo!* at it and it ran off. In our area coyotes are pretty timid.

I just don't take Charlie into our woods because they are big and he is little so why not? Just a good precaution right now.

It was not surprising that most of the animal tracks were in the narrow valley along the creek. It is out of the winds and there is water in some places where the springs bubble up.

Here the creek it about a foot wide and it looks as though it was flash frozen.

When I climbed under the large downfall and came out the other side I found a solitary sparrow taking a drink of water.

It didn't move off while I squatted there and pulled out my cell phone.

This reminds me why I adore and appreciate the heated bird bath at the house. I even wished I could tell the bird where it was located. I know, how weird am I?

Because this valley is very narrow and very steep, it doesn't get a lot of sunlight. Though there are places where there is open water like below. This is very likely a spring. IF it stays below zero for longer, the surface would still freeze and the water may move slowly under the ice.

Cool ice formations from the quick freeze.

Here is where the whole creek froze. The spring water seeps up over 

the ice to freeze in lumps and bumps.

This spot is near several springs and I've never seen it totally freeze over in 30 years. 

I found all of these variations in just a half mile of walking in the valley.

Of course I stopped by my favorite Ice Wall which isn't impressive this year as it has been in the past.

Three years ago------>

This was a nice break from being stuck inside. I have been trying out different methods of photography and might have some to share later this week.

Stay warm, stay safe.

 

Body shops and caves

 

So I finally got a carwash and took my car in to see if they could buff out the scratches on the right rear side where that lady hit me two weeks ago. The damage was more than I thought it was, however, it is cosmetic. That said, I'm pretty particular about my 10 week old car.

Talk about sticker shock. Think of your modern cars as Lego cars. If a part gets damaged, they have to take the bumper covers off and repaint it. They can't buff those parts out, they are not metal. 

Okay. That was enough bad news for Monday morning. So instead of doing my paperwork, I took a drive while the body shop worked up an estimate.

I ended up at Wildcat Mountain State Park to visit the very large Ice Cave. It is a short walk and is very popular on the winter weekends so I figured Monday was a good day to go.

It was amazing as usual. Below is a tree root that got ripped off one of the rock bluffs with the last big rain and washed into the picnic area. I didn't have anyone to stand in front of it for size.

Evidence of family fun in the picnic area:

The trail was straight forward and very level. I'd say it is only a quarter mile long to the rock shelter, but once there your jaw drops.

The scale doesn't look that imposing. So I set up my bendy tripod and did a selfie. 

I'm still not next to the rock wall which drops about 6 feet down behind me. But I did walk around the ice curtain and take shots. The piles are where the ice melts and drops and then forms again.

Below.
10 years ago with my stepdaughter in blue and grand daughter in the middle. Me in the skunk hat. By March, the ice curtain is massive if there is a good winter of thaw and freeze.

This is why I find winter so amazing and exciting here where I live and why I learned to dress for the weather and enjoy winter hiking more than summer hiking.

The water comes off the rocks and eventually runs along the rock wall and into a small creek which empties into Billings Creek.

The colors were beautiful.

To get around all of the ice, cleats are recommended.

I left there and took another drive to see Warner Creek. I walked around the rock bluffs and explored some of the rock formations that are so unique.

Charlie wasn't really with me, but I had his Mini in my pocket so I could take a shot at the unusual rock structure.

I am never short of amazed at these rocks. The details almost look hand carved and are so tiny that if you don't look close you'd miss it.

When I got home from my drive and exploring, I felt calm and collected. I was able to sort paperwork and text the lady that hit me.

To my utter surprise, when I sent her the estimate she replied that she would contact the body shop and pay for it.

This indeed has been a very auspicious beginning to 2026.

Land of snow and ice and whatnot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We are pleased not to have to travel today.

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

Here is to enjoying a peaceful winter storm day.
 

Cool beans...

As the sun moves north, I get a great view of the old oak tree to the east of our place. The skies have offered up a few nice sunrises this week.

 

Other projects I have going on are fun and playful.

This Steampunk Character Minifig is one that I've been pining for! So many possibilities for portraits and cool dioramas I can make from junk stuff!

I actually made Digital Backgrounds for this guy...Cog and his dog Gear. 

Oh I do so LOVE Steampunk! If I could dress like that and just walk around our little town, I'd be happy for the stares. 

In fact, I'm looking at getting some tiny craft Steampunk gears to make a diorama of my own for just this character!

Next we have Boooo! How on earth did anyone know that I also secretly coveted this crazy blue monster???

I had even imagined how I'd photograph him in an eerie way.

In the early afternoon I took a break from indoor things to do outdoor things and take Charlie into the valley to see if we could find a skunk cabbage or a Marsh Marigold.

We were 'skunked' on the skunk cabbage, but the Big Spring had a few Marsh Marigolds popping up!

At the start of February, I went to a large dry run that was filled with ice from a small spring. The dry run is a 1/4 of a mile long and filled with boulders and rocks.

In the winter the ice forms in the run and actually covers up the boulders.

The layers of ice formed over the winter are too many to count!

Meltwater has created a canyon in the thick ice.

In this spot I measured the ice. It was up to my hips which is well over three feet thick. I just cannot wrap my mind around the power of ice and the power of water. Nature is simply amazing. I'm almost sorry to see winter go because the ice will leave and I'll have to wait again for cold weather to enjoy it.

Once spring really starts I will enjoy hunting each wildflower in the forest.

Until then I will continue to await the appearance of the skunk cabbage flower. It is quite an unusual flower and generally shows itself in late March and early April.

Meanwhile, my partner in 'crime' is assisting me in some Lego Therapy.

And I am thinking up new ways of presenting Legos. The dirt pictured below is simply dried used coffee grounds.

"Our birds may be small compared to you guys, but they have magical powers too!"

I have these awesome Aarakocra Rangers now who may join with Princess Sara in her quest to save the Magical Dragon Egg from the Rock Monsters...

Yep. Good versus Evil. Who can resist a story like that?

I'm still working on a couple of more 'scenes' for the other minfigs I received as a Happy Up Day Gift!