Ye Merrie Sudo Faire

Walks have always been a part of our family life. And walking in any of the area parks always gives us interesting things to see. It keeps us motivated to get our exercise! You never know what you'll see! Recently we discovered a merry group of people at the park.

March is Here!

The month of March is here. A snow storm is predicted for tonight. Gray skies and zero sunshine. It's hard for me to find things to blog about. Hurry up and get here, SPRING!

Tidbits of cheer still abound on these dreary days, though. Sudo, the adorable grand-puppy has learned to sit. Here she is, sitting on a stool, and posing for the camera.

Can you see her tongue? She's saying "those frozen chicken-bits were delicious!

One son has escaped the dreary weather for a climate that is hopefully a bit warmer and that teams with SUNSHINE! Flying anywhere in the USA right now, though, can be a bit tricky with delays and jet de-icings. Happily, he arrived safely and in a timely manner.

My baby was happy to go for a walk at the park. She found a squirrel and could stand there watching it for hours if we didn't coax her away. Once away, her attention span is short and she's on to new discoveries.

My mother's handmade and embroidered "heart" quilt was on display in the library 

for the month of February. It looks a bit small in that vast expanse, but it is a lovely quilt that exemplifies hours and hours of careful handwork. It looks more at home displayed over the back of an old oak chair in my house.

The large white maple tree in our front yard has been sick for a few years. We finally decided to cut it down. It was much larger in real life than this picture makes it look! It's being cut and split for firewood...and three trailer loads of branches are being hauled to the local landfill. Exercise!

What's happening in your neck of the woods? 

Any sunshine, warmth, and flowers yet?

My first snowdrops are blooming.

I'll take pictures and show you soon.

I hope you are having a blessed day!

Sweater Weather

Blue skies!

 Puffy clouds!

No wind!

Sweater weather. 

Do you think spring might be willing to show her face?

I hope so!

A Walk in the Sunshine

Sunny days are rare here during the winter months. So, when the sun decides to shine, we like to take advantage of it! With tea thermos packed, the sunshine called for a walk!

A walk along the river is always interesting. I especially enjoy them in the winter when I know the rattlesnakes are hibernating! Clusters of dry grasses are beautiful as they wave in the gentle breeze and bright green mosses and cropped grasses make a beautiful carpet to walk on.

Our happy companion frisks here and there, seemingly drawn to an old concrete foundation which becomes her own private road.

Large white pelicans show up as tiny dots on the river. It seems they are enjoying the sunshine too!

I hope it's sunny for you today, both inside and out! Enjoy it!

Morning Walk

A chilly morning. No sunshine and the weatherman says none for a week. But winter provides its own charm and beauty. A walk about the ponds at the park provide many interesting things to see. There's a beaver trail and fresh chew marks on the beavers chosen tree. A great blue heron flies away because he doesn't like being disturbed. And a pheasant creates lots of noise as Lucy, the dog, flushes it out of the woods. A robin looks puffed up in a tree as he tries to keep warm while a blackbird sings its unique song as we walk by. There's ice on the some parts of the pond and ducks in another. Dried grasses and weeds, rushes, and twigs. There's not much color but monochromatic has an interest all its own. Isn't it fun to find objects of interest all around, even on a winter day?

Nature Speaks

We welcomed spring this year with beautiful blue skies and clouds that seemed to speak expressively as they changed formations and reflected light and shadow.  It was a perfect day for a walk along the wildlife refuge trail.  We've been seeing huge flocks of snow geese from our house, and their presence enticed us to go to the refuge waters to see what else was there.  We were not disappointed, as white pelicans, swans, Canadian geese, and a variety of ducks were enjoying the quiet waters of the refuge ponds.  Red-winged blackbirds and robins filled the air with their sweet sounds.  They seemed so expressive and joyful with spring's presence.  It's been a cold winter, and there isn't much new growth yet along the trail.  It will be a few more weeks before dormant plants really believe that spring is here and respond to its warmth.  But even dried grasses and sagebrush have a beauty all their own in their winter state.  A beautiful sunset pleased us as we completed our walk around the wildlife trail loop.  The gentle lap of serene waters and the sounds of birds chirping as they found places to roost for the night were added delight to our senses at the end of a welcome day.  I'm so glad that spring is on its way, aren't you? 

Click on the pictures for a larger view.