The squirrels apparently didn’t like the winter time rain this morning either as this naughty squirrel was enlarging the hole of the bluebird house to get inside out of the cold rain. So now I have more birdhouses to repair in the spring!
Naughty Squirrel
Although the temperature is supposed to get above freezing today, it won’t be warm enough to thaw all the snow and ice on the lakes, unless the lake hadn’t frozen over like parts of Lake Superior this year. This arch is called the Grand Portal located in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior.
The Grand Portal
The sun is out this morning but it is not a warm summer day since it is still winter with below freezing temperatures. So the fields are not full of bright yellow goldenrod waving in the breeze as the sun is sparkling off the white snow instead.
Summertime Color
The last cold spell has allowed some ice to form by the Lake Superior ice caves but there large cracks and places where the ice is only two inches thick so still not safe for sightseers to walk under ice monsters and to explore the caves.
Approaching the Ice Monster
The Great Backyard Bird Count started Friday and ends today and they give you tips on how to count the birds you see but with the hundred or so finches, that is rather tough especially since about the time a majority of the birds land at the feeders, my cats on the porch jump up and scatter the flock and then you have to start the count all over again. It is easier when you see just one bird like this heron, who seems to be ignoring the rushing river in the background.
Heron Near Rushing River
The exact origin for Valentine’s Day is uncertain and may have been a dark and bloody festival, a big change from the romantic holiday it has become now with candy, flowers and gifts. Living in the snow belt, there are no flowers (or even dandelions) to pick for one’s sweetheart so the florist shops do a lot of business. The although cold weather would encourage romantic snuggling but I would prefer chocolates if I can’t have spring flowers blooming.
A Romantic Heart
With stones carefully selected for tight binding, little mortar was needed to build this stone round barn and with two feet thick walls, the expert fitted stonework resisted water, wind and weather. And with the strong winds creating below zero wind chills overnight, a warm snug barn would nice especially back in the days when cattle filled the barn.
The Annala Round Barn
The Arctic cold air is rushing down today with wind chills predicted to be -31 this evening. I much rather see rushing water of a river than to feel the cold air blowing by me. A night like tonight might have chilled Abraham Lincoln who was born 207 years ago in a log cabin in Kentucky. But Lincoln’s birthday is mostly overlook these days with only few states recognizing his birthday as a holiday.
Lincoln might have like rivers too as he is the only president to hold a patent, which was for a flotation device to help riverboats in shallow water.
Water Rushing Over Bonds Falls
Waking up to another crisp sub-zero winter morning has me wishing for a colorful warmer day, like a field of dandelions in the spring, even though they turn white too, but there would be green grass instead of being all white.
Land of Yellow
This morning the sun was sparkling off the new snow crystals on a chilly morning. Last week the trees were covered with frost until the winds picked up which created a snow shower on a clear day.
Frosty Morning
