mother nature: Another new Visitor to my Rural Minnesota home. - 05/29/12 07:15 AM
North Branch Minnesota is a Bedroom community. Many of the Natives commute to the bigger cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
But just a couple miles out of town and you can feel like you are in God's Country.
We get all kinds of visitors her in North Branch and last night is another example. I saw a shadow in the yard light that was way to big to be a moth.
I got up and sitting in a tree just 20 feet from the house was this...
This owl,which I believe is a Barred owl. (It may also be … (12 comments)
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mother nature: The greatest gift wrapper of all...? - 05/16/12 06:32 PM
The greatest gift wrapper of all...??? Mother Nature.
Who else could take a prize like this...
...and have it all wrapped into a bud like this!
All safe and sound without a tear. It is amazing how such a tightly wound bud can burst open a flower like this.
This is part of why I enjoy Nature so much!
… (6 comments)
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mother nature: Rural Minnesota Living has it's Challanges! - 04/26/12 10:49 AM
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the rural area. I grew up on the farm and living in a house in town is like caging an animal.
I love all the wildlife and when you are kind to them they sometimes take advantage of the generosity.
My wife and I walked out to the flower bed yesterday to admire her Tulips.
This is what they looked like on Monday...
Now looks like this!
It has become apparent that our local Bambi Population also like the tulips. WE need to do some better protection by warding off the … (12 comments)
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mother nature: WE haven't talked about SEX as of late! - 04/24/12 02:39 PM
Sex...In the outdoors can be exhilarating...so I am told! But let's start at the beginning.
It starts with the Birds and the Bees.
That is about the most I can tell you. So, I will concentrate on the Bees.
Someone must have dumped a bottle of 'Love Potion #9' on Mother nature because there is a lot of pollination going on!
This Bumble Bee is getting right into it.
This smaller Bee brought along the entire colony today. The tree was just buzzing.
Even this Painted Lady butterfly was getting some action.
I think … (10 comments)
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mother nature: Busted! - 04/19/12 10:55 AM
You never know what you may see when you live in a rural area.
Today, I walked out my back door to see a pair of Mallard ducks in my pond. I went back in and got the camera and went the long way around to get a few pics.
Well, a click or two from the camera and...
Momma duck was looking right at me and seam to be saying...What yo looking at?
5 seconds later they were in flight.
You don't find sights like this in the city.
… (7 comments)
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mother nature: Minnesota...The Storm is coming! - 04/14/12 07:33 PM
Most people just don't believe that the weatherman may be right for once.
Many believe that the weathermen (persons) cry wolf way to often.
The issue is that they need to. If they don't warn people of a possible weather condition and things get real bad...they get blamed for it. We do give them a lot of grief about being wrong so much....but who reading this wants to deal with "MOTHER NATURE!"
NO ME!!!
So, let's give the guys and gals a break and just cover our heads. If nothing happens, let's just thank our lucky stars or who ever you … (7 comments)
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mother nature: Signs of Spring... - 04/04/12 05:43 PM
I am playing with my camera and can't help noticing the sites of spring...
The budding of a Flowering Crab tree.
Leaves on the tress pushing out.
The new needles of the pine trees reaching for more light.
The old of fall struggling top hold on.
A Pine cone wind blown from the tree.
And a vacant waterfront home that I promise not to foreclose on.
… (8 comments)
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mother nature: You never know what you will find in your yard in Rural America. - 02/09/12 11:35 AM
I heat my home with an outdoor wood furnace. Last night I went out to load the furnace before hitting the sack for the night.
Walking across the yard I saw a larger black colored figure. I thought it was a cat. I yelled, but it didnt' move. So...I walked a bit closer.
I was careful because I had no idea what it was and many animals hibernate at this time of the year. Those that should be asleep but are up and around are usually sick with Rabies being one of the reasons.
Upon closer examination of this critter I … (8 comments)
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mother nature: Nature's beauty comes in many forms... - 01/26/12 12:06 PM
The weather this winter in Minnesota has been very mild . Below zero temps are not uncommon and this year we have only had a couple so far.
The warm weather does bring some of it's own challenges. One of the big ones is fog.
Now fog as we know makes driving a bit more hazardous and with the ground frozen it also makes the roads slippery.
But, if we look past the bad and look towards the beauty the rising sun gives us the hope of a brand new day.
Use it wisely.
… (11 comments)
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mother nature: Another beautiful Evening, so I went hunting. - 11/25/11 08:40 PM
I loved being outdoors, in case you have not visited many of my blogs.
I love to hunt and today, I went out and did some hunting.
Now, my license isn't good until Monday...(Bow and Arrow) But the woods is full of things to shoot.
This deer is the first I thing shot. She had no real idea what I was and slowly walked off.
This fat Fox Squirrel was the nest to show up and offer himself for a quick photo op.
Animals are not the only wildlife that gets shot in my woods.
And I was lucky enough to … (6 comments)
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mother nature: The Snow Bird Migration. - 11/19/11 09:50 AM
Yup, up hear in the Northland, the Snow Bird Migration is in full swing. WE have seen an exodus going on for the last month or so and will see it continue right on through the holidays.
So, what is a Snow Bird?
It is our aging population in the north that pack real heavy into motor homes and trailers and head south for the winter!
Heaven forbid that they see a site like below and still be on home turf.
The southern states will get a financial shot in the arm with this group.
While I understand … (10 comments)
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mother nature: Nature is a great teacher of aging. - 11/15/11 12:48 PM
The older we get, the more we become aware that our mortality is looming closer.
In my 20's and 30's, I was invincible. In my 40's I was still invincible on the outside, but inside I was not so sure.
Now, in my mid 50's, I am a the point..."Be careful, I might break!"
Looking at Nature can give us a glimpse of the aging process.
Juicy berries turn to raisin like morsels for the wildlife that never return to their original glory.
The bark of the trees start to peel off making room for the new growing and expanding bark … (5 comments)
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mother nature: The Annual Minnesota Fall migration is in full swing. - 11/13/11 07:54 PM
Now many of you are thinking of ducks and geese, but there are many species of birds taht fly south fo rthe winter.
Many leave in mid September while other wait until it is almost to late.
This robin is one of the later fall migrators. Many times at this time of year we have snow on the ground making it hard for these birds to find food. Even so, with our warm fall food is still scarce for the robin.
The berries from this Buckthorn bush are not the favorite of the Robin, but it is the most plentiful.
… (5 comments)
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mother nature: What you lookin at?! - 11/08/11 09:49 PM
Ever feel like you are in a fish bowl.
I feel that way up in my deer stand. Today, I am sitting just minding my own business when this little guy stared me down.
He started looking at me as if to say..."What you lookin at? He sat in the same place just feet from me almost daring me to make a move.
I was starting to feel intimidated.
I have been stared down by deer, turkeys a chick-a-dee that sat on the end of my gun barrel for several minutes. (He even looked inside of it...fool)
I know some … (14 comments)
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mother nature: You must be crazy to sit in a tree for hours on end! - 11/06/11 08:25 PM
That is what 2 E-Mails I received eluded to.
But, Hunting, Fishing and other outdoor activity isn't just about sitting in a tree, boat or a stump. it's about the peace that comes along with it.
While I am in a boat or tree, my phone seldom rings. If it does, I can choose if I want to answer it or not. (Depending on the business at hand)
Tonight it was about the ending of the day...
The setting of the sun...
And the rising of the moon.
If the skies are clear in the morning I will watch … (11 comments)
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mother nature: Sights of the fall season....Part Two of Minnesota Fall. - 10/26/11 09:10 PM
There is a second part to this season that most find 'untasteful'
That would be...Mushrooms. There are many varieties that are edible, but you had better know for sure which ones are which.
I know the only spring mushroom that is edible, but not for sure the fall ones.
But, I do find that that fall ones have a lot more color and shapes then the spring mushrooms!
These pink and purplish ones are the size of a quarter.
These orange ones make me think I should be looking for that Leprechaun and his Pot-O' Gold.
I think this is … (5 comments)
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mother nature: Sights of the fall season... - 10/25/11 04:12 PM
The big push in the fall is the color! LEAVES, LEAVES, LEAVES!
That is almost all we hear about.
But, there is a lot more if you get out of your car and walk...
This bird's nest right along the trail was totally hidden when the 'LEAVES' were still on the trees.
This grey squirrel, waiting for us to pass so he can continue collecting is winter forage.
My cell phone sits next to a mammoth puff ball.
This doe could sneak through the brush without being seen when the 'LEAVES' were still on.
And the moon … (8 comments)
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mother nature: So...what is the difference? - 10/15/11 10:32 AM
It is a beautiful crisp morning up here in the Northland. This sunrise caught my eye...
As the sun has just risen over the horizon I think back to this photo from a few weeks before...
This one is from the same place. The sun isn't over the horizon yet, but it has moved over to the right (south) a good distance.
The big difference is that this morning is 35 degrees cooler than when the the 2nd photo was taken. Both are beautiful in their own right, but the best part is that temperature doesn't play a big part in … (8 comments)
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mother nature: Minnesota's Fall Colors are soon upon us. - 09/17/11 08:53 AM
If you are planning on a trip of more than just one day, Call NOW for room accommodations. Many of the places in the north country get fully booked early in the season.
But more to the point. We will be seeing a lot of great color in the coming weeks. WE can drive for miles and see the ever changing colors with no two areas looking the same.
But are you seeing the whole picture. There is a lot to see if you get out of your car. You don'tneed to really get off the beaten path, but looking up … (7 comments)
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mother nature: Out with the old...in with the New - 09/02/11 02:48 PM
The storms all across our nation this year have been enormous. Irene is said to be the 10th billion dollar storm this year for the USA.
With that being said, the clean up still rages on.
Some people are bemoaning their loss of property and I can understand that, but building can and will be rebuilt.
Even more people are complaining about that old tree they lost. Never see that in our lifetimes again. I lost several trees and yes it is a loss, but I am moving on.
This tree was tipped over and so I cut it up. … (8 comments)
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