Feathering the Nest

The animals we see on our hikes always keep 

us entertained, especially the squirrels. For

one thing, there are so many of them and for

another thing, they are crazy!

This guy was feasting on a treasure that was

probably buried beneath the snow all winter.

This guy had been drinking from this big puddle.

I was shooting this from a distance and into the 

light so I thought he was still drinking and it 

wasn't until I got home and saw he had turned 

around to pose for the camera.

These two were so busy, they were stuffing 

their mouths with leaves and trying to run 

up the tree without losing the leaves.

I was distracted by the one still on the ground

when Mr. W yelled, "Look where he is going!"

Into a little hole in the tree, it must be Spring

cleaning time.  I wonder if babies are on the way?

We will keep an eye out for them...

A Natural Confusion

 

 

Hey Mother Nature, what is going on???

 

 

For the past few weeks it has been deliciously

cool.  Far too cool for mid-August.

 

 

I loved it... waking up and wanting to

stay in bed with the covers pulled up

because it was so chilly that early in the day.

 

 

I just got back from a hike and it is

roasting out there.  The weatherman

says this may be the hottest week of

the year!

 

 

But the leaves are changing color and

beginning to fall.

 

 

Acorns have started dropping.

 

 

Some berries are drying but I think most

of them are being eaten by the birds.

 

 

I love finding feathers, I think it is

good luck.  This one was stuck in a

tree trunk.

 

 

No, too early.  I'm not ready to be thinking

about Christmas and snow yet.

 

 

Now it is time to settle in with my field

guides and ID everything I've found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Trail Time

 

The heat is on!  We have had a very

hot week here in the American Midwest.

 

 

We have been trying to get on the trail

early in the day to beat the heat but

since it is Saturday we lingered a bit

longer in bed today and didn't get on

the trail until 8:30 am ~ a big mistake!

It was too hot!

 

 

I wonder who lives there?

 

 

I was complaining yesterday because I was

so hot I didn't want to carry my camera and

of course we saw Great Blue Herons and the

largest turtle I have every seen in our river...

So, today I brought the camera and no herons

or turtles, but lots of canoes and kayaks on the

river.

 

 

In Summer our woods can look like

a jungle.

 

 

I guess we made it home just in time,

a big thunder storm is rolling through.

I hope the canoes and kayaks get off

the river...

 

 

 

 

 

Why?

 

When we can, Mr. Wonderful & I like

to get up early and go for a Bike, Hike, Bike.

 

 

We bike along our town's new bike trail

to our favorite hiking trail and then bike

home again.  The trail is lovely and it reminds

me of the lanes through the tulip fields in Holland.

 

 

We pass by pretty houses decorated for

our holiday next week.  The birds are

singing, we even hear a rooster cock-a-doodling...

 

 

We started noticing there were other

visitors along the bike path.

 

 

Each time we go we see a few more

creatures have been added.

 

 

I find it to be a little creepy,

especially after they have been

in the rain.

 

 

Is this some new "thing" like yarn

bombing or is it unique to our trail?