Morning With The Eagles

As some of you know if Kim and I don't see the sun come up, we feel like we have been cheated or that your whole day you feel behind and are trying to catch up on the lost time. This past week, I got up and the looked outside to see not a cloud in the sky and I knew that I could make it to the river before the sun would come up.  So I headed down to the river, to enjoy a cold +8 degree the sun rise  with the Bald Eagles. Now some of you might think that I am nuts doing this, but how many of you can say you started your day with the Eagles.

Red Green and Snow

Red Green and Snow and the back yard is complete for Christmas.

Calm Before The Storm

The sun was out, the wind was light and I felt the need to check to see of the Swans were back along the river and I was not disappointed. As I found my spot to sit and watch, it was great to see at least 40 Trumpeter Swans might be calling this location home, for the winter. But I no sooner got my butt in a nice tall stand of marsh grass, the Swans got spooked and off they went. I waited for two hours for them to return and nothing. Then over the trees, one immature Swan come over the trees, circles the area as if it was looking for the something or the rest of the flock. This lone Swan, made the loneliest honks that I have ever heard. Then about 15 minutes later, one mature Swan came over and landed. It was either Mom or Dad and with a single honk from the parent the world was good and they moved together as one. Not something that you see every day and I was fortune enough to see it.  I am sure that as I child I felt the same way, when I was lost or separated from my parents.

Snow! we now have snow! as of this post we have about 12" on the ground and it is still coming down!

Tree Is Up

 

The Christmas Tree is up and shinning in all it artificial glimmer. That's right, artificial! every bone in my body is telling this is just wrong. I swore that I would never have a artificial Christmas Tree in my house, but after three years of both Kim and I being allergic to fresh cut trees, we had to make the change. With the change to a new tree, comes a new color this year. This years Christmas theme Red and Green. More photo's to come of Red and Green.

What a Bill

One more stop before the sun sets and what do we find? One of my favorite ducks, a Northern Shoveler. But as luck would have it, the sun set just as we found him. One of these days, I will get a good photo of a Shoveler!

A sure sign that Winter is on it's way, was the arrival of the Redpolls. The Redpolls only come south, when the Boreal Forest in Canada is running short on Birch Tree seeds. This happens about every three years. The last time this occurred, we had record snow fall for our area. Could this be a sign?

The First Blast

The first true blast of cold and snow arrived on Monday and with that came all the birds to the feeders. Since I had Monday off, I spent most of the day in one of the National Wildlife Refuges in the area looking for something interesting. But by the end of the day, this Junco summed up how it felt most of the day.

The Road To Quiet

Since I don't have much to say this week, I thought I would revisit the road to quiet. If you ever want to find that place, were it is so quiet it hurts the ears. Then is is the road.

What's Behind The Door

With a Blue Door hanging in your back yard, you are bond to get questions about it. But one of the questions people will ask is, what's behind the Door? I always tell them, that it is anything you want it to be. But the truth must now be told in this photo. Deer what else would be in our back yard.

And if you look close, you will see snow coming down in the photo below.

The Big Birds Are Back

On Sunday, Kim and I where walking along the MN River and what did we come across. But in the distance, but Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans. The Cranes stand about 30" tall and have a 72" wing span. We see the Cranes fly over head from time to time, but this is the first time we have seen them on the ground, in our area. With the arrival of the Swans, it can only mean one thing and that Winter is on it's way.

90th Birthday

Look who is turning 90! That would be my Mom Liz. Don't tell her that she is turning 90, that's just what old people do and I am not old! We held a Birthday Party for Mom this weekend in Eau Claire WI, with friends and family and was a great time.

AZ UT Fall Trip

We are back, after spending the past ten days in the desert southwest. The trip took us to six National Parks and two State Parks, 1,200 miles of roadways and about 25% of that was down gravel, sand and dusty powered roads. Never purchase a rental SUV after we get done with it. We had a great time and are aready planning our next trip to that area. You can find some of our photos, my following the Ted and Kim photo link on right side of this page about half way down.

White Squirrel ?

Once again, we have a White Squirrel visiting our backyard. So what does that mean, if anything other than it's a White Squirrel. According to the MN DNR, the reason for Albino Squirrel's is due to shallow gene pool. To many squirrels and to much inbreeding. Looks like we need to get a few more Hawks in the neighborhood again.

Up Early

I know that some of you have never seen the sun rise, but we feel cheated, if we don't. But getting up and out the door you often see things, that others miss or that is just coming out of the bushes.

Turkey in our back yard

Nelson Sparrow

Oven Bird

One More Day At The Fair

One more day at the Minnesota State Fair in pictures.

At the Minnesota State Fair

The Minnesota State Fair has started, an event we look forward to all year and plan for. From entering canning and baking, but what new and familiar food will we eat. From Scotch Eggs to Walleye Rolls and all the different beers. And since there are no nutritional labels on the food at the Fair, you can eat anything you want.
This was an okay year for us, as far a the ribbon count goes. Kim received 12 and I received, (1) 4th place ribbon, but then again I only entered one item, my new BBQ Peanuts. But that okay, it was a new recipe.