When I took a walk through he woods yesterday afternoon, there was several chickadees singing in the trees. They always sound so cheerful and happy no matter if the weather is nasty or nice.
Cheerful Chickadee
Picture of the Day for January 2, 2016
After a snowfall, you notice evidence by way of tracks, just how many critters are visiting your yard. The ‘freeways’ in the snow can be found leading to the bird feeder from the trees as the squirrels attempt to steal seeds. While most of the squirrel tracks go from one tree base to another, the rabbit tracks head towards the thicker underbrush. Varying sizes of bird tracks can be found in the snow under the feeder as they look for fallen seeds. The tiny mouse tracks where running around the outside garage walls, looking for a way inside to stay warm or to get away from the fox who wanders through the yard too. This morning, fresh deer tracks led right up to the house to graze on my shrubs next to the porch. So the “pretty” snow doesn’t stay new looking very long before it turns into a maze of animals trails.
Trails in the Snow
Picture of the Day for January 1, 2016
The start of a new year is here, a day when many make resolutions for changes in their lives and make some new choices. Sometimes it is old things getting a new life or purpose, like this old round barn built in 1895, which was moved a half mile and set on a new cement base in 2006 and in 2012, new siding was added and given a bright coat of red paint. While the barn’s old life as a dairy barn ended in 1944, it has a new life as a historical site for education of agriculture for hands-on learning and museum as well as a gathering place for family celebrations.
New Life for Old Round Barn
Picture of the Day for December 31, 2015
The old father time image often comes to mind when the year comes to a close. This pine pine might not be the father time image, but it sure has turned white like father time’s hair. The pine tree looks like a space creature from the original Star Trek series and looks worn out and old with the white frost covering it.
Tree Space Monster
Picture of the Day for December 30, 2015
This huge building (with only half showing) once housed the provisions for the iron-smelting industrial community of Fayette, Michigan, as it was the company store. With the roof and windows gone after the town was closed in 1891, it no longer shelters items or people from the storms.
The Company Store
Picture of the Day for December 29, 2015
Some people complain that cardinals bring the snow since they are often seen at the feeders before a snow storm and the red birds do stand out more more against the white snow. And with four cardinals in my pine tree this morning, they looked like decoration red balls on a Christmas tree.
Cardinal in the Snow
Picture of the Day for December 28, 2015
My grandparents never had the advancing weather forecasting which we have today, so they might not have known to get the sleigh runners on the wagon before a heavy snowfall.
Retired Wheels
Picture of the Day for December 27, 2015
With a winter storm approaching tomorrow and gusty winds, the beacon light may not cut through the blowing snow. The Lake Mighigan thirty-five foot Manistique East Breakwater Light was lit on August 17, 1916. Settlers arrived in 1852 and settled on the Monistique River (name came from the Native American word Onamanitikong meaning “vermilion” as the water had a reddish hue). When the name was registered with the state, an “a” was used instead of an “o” and the town and river became Manistique. As the century progressed, Manistique’s importance as a port waned and the light was automated in 1969. In 2013, the lighthouse was bought by a private individual.
Manistique East Breakwater Light
Picture of the Day for December 26, 2015
The new snow this morning was a reminder that winter has its hold on the land and it will be five months before the irises bloom again.
Beautiful Blossom
Picture of the Day for December 25, 2015
Apparently more people were wishing for a white Christmas than a green Christmas as the snow on Wednesday didn’t melt in time. We get some years with brown Christmas but the majority are white, but with the warm winter the grass has been growing and I wanted to mow lawn on Christmas as that would have been the first for here but missed it by less than two days.
Dreaming of a Green Christmas
