On a ‘spring’ morning below freezing, a blacksmith might stay warm if he had his forge fired up for the day and if his log structure was well chinked.
Old Blacksmith Building
Picture of the Day for March 25, 2015
I think the poor pine trees are as tired of winter as I am as they are weighted down with the heavy, wet snow which fell overnight.
Heavy Laden with Snow
Picture of the Day for March 24, 2015
I think the deer is like me and prefers the open grass before the snow yesterday and before it is covered again with more snow predicted for tonight.
Deer Looking for Grass
Picture of the Day for March 23, 2015
The cardinal was singing this morning so I guess he didn’t mind the return to winter but I didn’t hear or see the bluebirds or robins since I think they are wondering were spring went to. But now the robin has had snow on its tail twice so hopefully it will only snow once more and spring can stay.
Doesn’t Look Like Spring to Me
Picture of the Day for March 22, 2015
Built in 1891 on the south end of Superior, Wisconsin, the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church made several journeys. The first journey was just a move of a few blocks down in 1898 but the second move was about 120 miles south to the city of New Richmond to be part of the Heritage Center.
When the church opened, services were held in both the German and English language in the early days as the industrial center of Superior had a large German immigrant population but even before the Great Depression, many factories had closed and membership dwindled until the church closed around the 1970’s.
Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Picture of the Day for March 21, 2015
I couldn’t find any wildflowers yesterday to mark the start of spring but a bluebird was singing notifying me of his return from his winter vacation. So I cleaned out the bluebird houses, which meant evicting numerous squatters whom some would not vacate very easily and may take some more convincing before they decide to move on. And then there were houses where the squirrels enlarged the opening to get inside. I have plenty of hollow oak trees for the squirrels so they are wearing out their welcome by wrecking my birdhouses, eating the bird seed and peeing on my screens.
The bluebird may have headed south since a cooler morning but the cardinal is singing up a storm but I not too sure the female is listening. But I just heard a robin so now it can snow three times this week and spring will be officially here.
Return of the Bluebird
Picture of the Day for March 20, 2015
Three years ago, we had an early spring and some wildflowers were open on the first day of spring like the hepaticas. I haven’t spotted any yet this ‘spring’ so I will have to do a little more trekking around the woods today to see if any opened for the arrival of spring.
Arrival of Spring
Picture of the Day for March 19, 2015
Astronomical winter ends today, but even though there is no snow on the ground, it doesn’t mean there won’t be more snow before winter is truly over. Especially since the robins aren’t back yet and the saying is that it’s not officially spring until “it has snowed on the Robins’ tail three times.” I think this old milkhouse would prefer not getting snowed on again three more times as it is probably as ready for spring as I am.
Astronomical End of Winter
Picture of the Day for March 18, 2015
Apparently the Irish were kicking their heels up last night and spilling their green beer as the sky was a moving green color. One benefit of all those cold nights walking out to check on the sheep during lambing time was that you were treated to the Aurora Borealis and you could watch the changing colors of blue and green light racing back and forth across the sky and sometimes even a bloody red color. The Aurora Borealis were out last night but the display in my area weren’t too dramatic or fast moving like some of the times so I didn’t drive to a lake shore for a pretty scene, especially since it was after midnight and below freezing so the end of my driveway was as far as I went.
St. Paddy’s Aurora Borealis
Picture of the Day for March 17, 2015
There might not be snow today, but no green for the Irish either so St. Patrick’s Day needs to be moved into spring instead of during the winter months.
Forest Flora
