Places less traveled ...

Below, Charlie stands in a wide expanse of Wild Ramps aka Leeks in the forest.

The location of this place won't be shared at all. I wouldn't want JohnQPublic coming in and digging them to sell. 

These plants take 5 to 7 years to mature from seed so they are slow growing. I have some in my forest and I generally just leave them alone. Their beautiful green provides me with joy. I may dig up one or two for an addition to a meal, but rarely any more than that.

They do actually flower and have seeds. In the fall animals walk through the area knocking the spindles of seeds which spreads the plants.

The hillsides were covered in them! In a few weeks the plants will disappear under the forest brush and they will be hidden from prying eyes.

I took a back trail along the river. I came upon some Canada Geese and their new little family. 

These geese were neat to watch ... the river was swift here and I was sure hoping all turned out okay for them in the end.

22 seconds of cuteness!

I assume they made it safely to wherever they were headed.

Below, my fearless leader. Since he has hiked with me since he was 10 weeks old, he knows the trails I take as well as I do. He bounds forward and turns to wait. At a junction he sometimes makes a choice and sometimes I follow his choice.

I finally did get a decent shot at a Red Wind Blackbird. There were several of them hanging out by the pond where I'd met the other photographer. I backtracked on the less muddy trails to the parking area.

I got home and the boys were having a good time chatting and solving all the world problems. I must give it to Jason, he can talk about anything to anyone and he does have a lot of experience and knowledge.

I'll leave you with a couple of shots that are a bit artsy. I have a Lensbaby lens and it has taken a lot of practice to work with this 'art' lens, but I am absolutely loving the challenge.

These were taken after my 'day' off when I went out to check the pasture and enjoy some more sunshine.

PS...we survived the storm, it went past us to the north.

I don't even know what to say....

I've talked before about meeting my Geologist friend on a New Year's Eve hike in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Little did I know how our friendship would develop into a relationship good for the both of us.

Let me be clear. This is a friendship.

This friendship has extended to my husband. Hmmm, let me clarify.

I got a text from Jason asking if I'd like a day this weekend to get out and go hiking. He'd come and stay with Rich and make sure he stayed safe for me to take as much time as I wanted to go hiking and photographing.

He volunteered.

He volunteered to drive two hours to come and spend the day with his fluff ball dogs and care for my husband while I took a DAY OFF. No limits on time. Just go and do what I love to do.

Jason showed up and immediately Rich and Charlie were ecstatic. Rich, because he enjoys Jason's company and gift of gab. Charlie, because he likes his hiking pals Piper and Felix...oh and let's not forget Jason, his other most favorite human who has dog treats.

Rich and Jason settled down with a cup of coffee and I started to chat with them. Rich said, "I thought you were going hiking?" Jason smirked and said, "Get going! We have this!" [or something to that effect]

I grabbed my backpack and hesitated. The guys shooed me out the door with a "Take as long as you like!"

I started down the Visitors Center Trail and then stopped, stunned. This was the first time in 10 years that I didn't have a time limit on my hikes. Always, always before, I tried to get out and back within at least 3 hours. Since my last exploration in the first week of January, I've not been able to go hiking at the Reserve.

I literally had to sit down on a rock when it hit me. Jason and Rich said, "Go do whatever you want and take your time."

Wait. I had a free day with no time restraints. If I wanted to wander about for hours AND take my time, I could. Is this what freedom feels like?

I was able to stop and ponder lichen on fallen oak branches. I could sit in the dirt and gaze at the Kickapoo River and listen to the sounds of the water and the birds. Since I was taking my time I searched the south facing bluff for signs of ephemeral plants.

The twin leaves of the Spring Beauties were emerging from the leaf debris. And then I spotted a patch of Wood Anemones. 

Normally, I would have taken a quick shot and moved on. But I didn't. I swapped out lenses to try out my Lensbaby Sol. 

...and why not? Why not take the time to explore something much different.

I did move on after enjoying some quiet time out of the cold wind. It was cold and cloudy with a breeze from the NW. But overcast days do make for good photo opportunities.

I could hear Canada Geese squawking and making noise in the west pond, so I headed through the muddy trails to get close to an area where I could hide on the pond bank behind some brush and photograph them.
To my delight I did find the Trumpeter Swans again this year!

I didn't have my 100-400mm lens as it is pretty heavy to go brush busting with, but here they are!

Ducks are so spooky! However eventually I will hopefully have the freedom at some point in my life to set myself up in a blind and sit for a long time to catch beautiful ducks.

I moved on and went off trail to follow the river. The winds kept me busy putting my hood up and taking it off. The sun would flash out for a moment and then disappear. I wasn't worried. I was happy even if I had to wear gloves.

I heard a Ring Neck Pheasant calling, I heard more Canada Geese, Ducks flew overhead to other ponds, and Song Sparrows sang. Blue Jays complained, and a Northern Flicker chatted from a scrub oak tree.

And after trekking through lowland fields I was amazed to find this bird alighting on a scrub oak!

Further beyond this mystical yellow bird was an area that I knew Sandhill Cranes like to hang out.

Photographing the Cranes was very tricky. They were beyond an area of thick brush next to the Kickapoo River. They were walking along quietly. I felt like I was spying on them. I did get one decent shot I think. They reminded me of secret lovers looking for a place to hold a tryst. 

The highlight of the day was laying on the multi use trail in the sunlight and seeing this fellow.

The black top was warm from the sunlight that emerged and I had the Reserve to myself. So Why Not?

I think I laid on the ground watching this guy for at least 10 minutes. Something I generally don't have the luxury of time for.

I'll stop right here as I've got to get out now and continue with cleaning up gravel and cleaning up the multiple flower gardens I have as well as many other household chores waiting for me. 

There are more photos, but I'll save them for another time.

When I got home, the 'boys' were laughing and having a great discussion.

Sometimes having someone else around to talk to is more interesting as old stories are new to the visiting friend. It worked out so well, we are going to try it again.

Time Off

Well there it is, the Great Two Day Get Away has arrived this morning.

In a few hours I'll 'saddle' up the Subaru and drive 2 1/2 hours to meet up with a cousin. Well, a cousin in law? She is married to one of my cousins. She and I are both Caregivers. She has done this many more years than I have and I thought a little break for the both of us would be nice.

We've been planning this since last October. I don't know Jeanette very well, but we've talked on the phone and emailed quite a bit over the past couple of years. I feel completely comfortable and slightly excited to be able to spend some time with her.

We will be exploring Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The last time I even drove through Eau Claire has to have been years ago. Okay, nearly 30 years ago!

I had to make new arrangements for 'Rich Care' but I got that worked out. I must say, it is wonderful to have good friends. I won't have to worry about Charlie, and the chores either!

Charlie is the ultimate 'porch' dog. He is content to sit on his little rug on the porch and watch the world go by. He watches birds, and listens for the neighbor kids. He can still see them through the leafless trees and underbrush when they are down in the pasture playing. He watches the mules.
In short, Charlie is in charge of his little domain. He needs his rug, a chew bone, and water.

If it is a nice day, he prefers to spend his time on the porch and not watching me do things. I agree with him. The porch is a perfect place to be.

Allison came to visit me yesterday after she got home from the Waldorf clothing swap. She got me a rabbit fur neck wrap and a funky 1930's style mink band with a bow and netting on it for a hat. She is a delightful young lady and we went searching for bugs and bird nests.
Then she showed me the butterfly wings she found at the swap.

And I could not resist making a composite.

So off I go.
I feel pretty good about this. The first time since May 2017 that I have left my husband in the care of others for a short time...
It feels weird.

 Virginia Bluebells emerging!

Delicate yellow crocus

Time to put on my adventure hat.