From Morning 'Til Night

The morning started off with a fresh layer of snow on Monday the 5th, and the deer were foraging around the backyard looking for acorns.

Several individuals were caught on camera, but my imagination led me to envision this particular doe thinking,"Shhh, maybe if I hold still she won't see me", as if the wisps of ice laden weeds would add to her incognito mode. Definitely a smile maker as the sun came up for the day.

Deer weren't the only ones looking for food. Squirrels were in the front yard... Squirrels in the backyard,  kept Sadie on alert at the windows. Those little critters have been harvesting acorns off the ground consistently since the drop last Fall. You would think by now with all the acorn eaters in the neighborhood the supply should be exhausted; apparently not. Their tunneling skills has created a symbiotic relationship with some of the birds when it snows - the squirrels loosen the snow for the birds to reach the ground.

After lunch ,walking down the drive to get the mail led to dodging mud, and running water, as the sun heated up the ground.

The return from the mailbox took me to the trail camera ; then a visit to the fence line nearest the neighbor's pond. I was out to catch some migrating birds again.

Standing, watching the birds gave me the chance to watch flocks on the move. A few dropping onto the pond in front of me.

This group of Mallards took off, circled to get into formation, and headed for another pond in the next field.

I stayed around for awhile to watch a bunch of Mallards return over the pond,  they didn't take time to drop down to the surface. It became apparent to me why they were  agitated, and headed away in an extreme hurry towards the Marsh, an Eagle was in close pursuit. From my vantage point I didn't witness any close calls.

This day started around 4:30 A.M for me....heading outside for the first time I watched the moonset;  I tried my skill at catching it before it  totally disappeared below the horizon. No success at that time as it slid swiftly away.

In the evening Sadie wanted to get some time outside as the sun was setting, deer in the field grazing, geese in the air looking for a place to set down; all spurred me to get camera in hand once again.

My attempts to catch the moon led to different settings ,with the best exposure on automatic this time around.

The Canon PS3 IS camera I use has moments when it performs well outside of its capabilities. At those times I can only give God the credit; must be the picture he wanted me to get.

Moonrise at Timber Life 3-05-2012

 So went the day at Timber Life, March 5th, 2012 ....

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Lovin' IT !

How do you do?!? Sure enjoying this weather we have been getting lately, at least I have. The wind is shaking things up today and sounds like maybe tomorrow as well. Let me list all the nature that has made it's appearance in the last 4 weeks. Migratory birds - Turkey Vultures, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Orioles,Wood Ducks , Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush and more. The timber has come to life again the trees are filling out with the leaf covering of the season. Last Wednesday,May 9th, I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the year. All these things confirm Spring has sprung here. Some other events we have had are the awakening of the mosquito population, spiders, rabbits are busy chewing off my tender plants that haven't found a place in the ground yet. The plants were placed inside my fenced garden; still not a deterrent to those lithe little creatures. My 1996, Belarus model 572 tractor has been keeping busy moving some logs, dirt and rocks. So much more to do but with the price of diesel currently it might be awhile before anything else will be attempted. The DR Brushmower that has been apart of our family since the latter 1990's, almost ten years if memory serves me correctly, has been getting a workout after it's refreshing oil change. The pasture calls...actually mowing off the rosebrush before the summer baling season about the middle of June is what needs to be accomplished. Then down at my husband's grass airplane runway so we can keep it under control... Clouds are coming in from the developing severe thunderstorms due later tonight. The cold front is going to bring us some cooler temperatures for a few days; more conducive to being outside for longer intervals. Going to stop here. Wishin' you some good weather fishing , picnicing and enjoying life.

Wild Honey Bees Waking Up

How are things going for you this fine first week of April? Today it appears the weather will be wonderful. The change is coming later today, back down to the more typical temperatures for this time of year, maybe a little cooler than normal. Last week I didn't stop in for a chat because the outdoors was calling...Working on getting fallen wood from our ice storms of February moved out of the way for the farmer who rents our ground. The hay baler may not function properly with limbs in its path. The yard looks better without the extra twigs etc. Amazingly after picking up underneath two trees I filled a quarter of the bed of a long box ,full sized, Ford pickup. It has been fun to see the animals enjoying the changes of the season. The wild honeybees are out looking around for some nourishment. They come to investigate when I am out working around the house. They live in a tree, in a hollow part, not far away. Seven years ago this May we experienced an awesome sight. Apparently the hive was getting to big to support itself. We watched the bees gather on the side of the birdbath. Later the Queen led the way of a large contingent away into the timber. After watching that event I looked for the new home that I expected them to make. What I found was lost bees, they were lifeless only a few days later, clinging to plants or foliage within line of sight. Since the mass movement seven years ago we haven't witnessed anything of that magnitude. In the summer we do treat the bees with respect. When it is hot and dry they do become more agitated in the heat of the day so we mow around their tree in the cool of the day - either in the morning, or late afternoon. We are looking for the Hummingbirds and Orioles to return very soon. A whole list of other birds have come back to be apart of the woodland and open ground population. Last week there were some wood ducks making their presence known. What a joy to see the "New Beginnings" for another year...