Hummingbird Picture Problems

I have spent part of the summer figuring out how to take a good photo of the hummingbirds that haunt the flowers and feeder. Aside from some easy still shots and a couple lucky flying fotos, I am being humbled into rookie status (again). I have come up with one main conspiracy theory about thoseContinue reading “Hummingbird Picture Problems”

Drought Effects

The bees are thirsty, the grass is dry and flowers that rely on rain are gone. The forests are a tinderbox and wildfires easily break out. Yesterday was clear because of the wind direction. As I write today, the air is filled with smoke from several wildfires a couple hundred miles north of us inContinue reading “Drought Effects”

BWCAW Adventure Expectations

Being it was not my first wilderness canoe adventure trip, I had some expectation baggage. Being human I pretend to have no baggage. I no sooner stepped out of the vehicle and said in my best drawl “well aaawl be, there’s mosquitoes, deer flies, horse flies and black flies here.” I slapped and flailed tillContinue reading “BWCAW Adventure Expectations”

Really Living

I saw the bear coming in the almost dark wilderness campsite. The small band of teenagers I was leading through a long canoe route in the BWCA Wilderness had been exploring the lake shore. They spotted the bear in the woods and ran back for camp yelling “bear, bear”! I ran and grabbed the cameraContinue reading “Really Living”

Life Spice With a Hint of Eternity

Spice. a small dose is usually best. As in food, life needs spice or it gets quite bland.  So, I went fishing (so I could sample some fathers day spices on fish). I highly recommend this life spice (and the seasoning was great too). Then, I heard about a huge patch of Lady Slippers nearbyContinue reading “Life Spice With a Hint of Eternity”

Stalking Beaver

Here I was, drifting in a canoe and minding my own business on an absolutely calm evening with the lake all to myself. I was catching a limit of crappies in the moon lit evening when the water was torpedoed by this angry beaver. Picture a cartoon character almost tipping the canoe over both waysContinue reading “Stalking Beaver”

Cold Beauty

I watched the cold foggy early morning come into the light. A magical fairyland I thought. One could just watch in awe at the transformation. The fog had rushed to form intricate crystals over everything. Odd. Something was odd, yet beautiful. I closed my morning reading, sipped my strong morning coffee brew and silently saidContinue reading “Cold Beauty”

Cold Cold Hands

“Grandpa, my hands are cold and I can’t find my gloves” said a small whimpering six year old voice behind me. I laid down my ice fishing auger and turned to see two little bare red hands extended out to me in the freezing temperatures. No gloves, 100 yards away from the semi-warm fish house,Continue reading “Cold Cold Hands”

Living in Mid-Autumn

Autumn beauty is everywhere around our neck of the woods. Stuff is dying like crazy. Beautiful fall leaves changing color are dying leaves. Most of the worker bees have been chased out of the nest and are gone even though there are still a few flowers blooming. That will end this week as temperatures willContinue reading “Living in Mid-Autumn”

Thoughts with a view

Our dining room, kitchen and living room are all one big open space. To the west through the patio doors is a huge screened in area we call our west screen porch. We have a view and I try to share some of the things we see out the window now and then. Have aContinue reading “Thoughts with a view”