Siesta Time Is Over 042316

And the Chipmunks have returned from hibernation

with the same old habit of feasting on the bird food.

I'm pretty sure the chick-a-dee is giving him the what for.

No doubt he'll be back tomorrow.

See more Critters at:

Saturday's Critters w/Eileen

Blossoms and Rain Drops 042216

When I see raindrops on flowers I think 'Bling'.

More lovely blooms at:

Today's Flowers w/Denise

Friday's Hunt 042216

Spring Break didn't fail me. The weather was perfect atMuldoon.

For Teresa's Friday's Hunt:   'Q' - Favorite - Rest

'Q'

I keep this word in mind

when I don't draw a 'u'

'Favorite'

Just something about rain drops on a flower

'Rest'

Trust Lucy to bail me out when I need a photo.

Sorry I disturbed you old girl.

Definitely a Warm Heart Here 042016

You know how they say 'children are always watching you'.

Well I guess our 6yr old granddaughter has been watching more intently than I realized.

Just love the seriousness of her expression.

And . . . she composed and shot the three on the right

with no coaching.

Definitely warmed this grandma's heart.

Joining Warm Heart Wednesday

thanks to Teresa at Eden Hills

Just Because

with my camera always at my side.

See You Soon!

A Favorite Tree 041316

Our Service Berry Tree, also known as June Berry, is budding.

 Pretty in the early morning sun.

 When in full bloom, they are sometimes confused with

Dogwood Trees which flower a little later.

Joining:

Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Recent Returnees 041316

to the State Park

Mr. Wood Duck

 and his camouflaged Lady.

Tree Swallow dropping in to say hello.

Decked out in the irridescent plummage.

Front and back.

Joining:

Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Watching 041216

I'll be watching for this shadow to fill in with foliage.

With their small stature, tremendous variety, and four-season beauty, Japanese maples always offer something to see. Dark, undulating branches sometimes crested with snow create a variety of graceful silhouettes in winter. The rest of the year, the branches provide a structure on which a slipcover of leaves spreads colors and textures. Lush, new spring growth emerges, filling the bleak landscape with a variety of hues we usually expect in fall. Summer brings maturity.

Japanese maples offer countless variations in size, shape, and texture.

Read more: http://www.finegardening.com/enchanting-japanese-maples#ixzz45bjHPwSv 
Follow us: @finegardening on Twitter | FineGardeningMagazine on Facebook

Joining 

Trees & Bushes

Barns - Variety of Colors 041016

Nice with the windmill appearing.

Nice lines and like the second story vents.

Well maintained despite the traffic through the middle.

Joining:

The Barn Collective w/Tom

Saturday Critters 040916

Spring - a perpetual astonishment!

Joining

Saturday Critters w/Eileen

Friday 040816

~1~

Relaxed with a novel this week: 

~2~

The BUCS are off to a good start. Winning their season opener and making it a clean sweep three game series. 

~3~

Saw this fun metal sculpture of a large mouth bass 

at a sporting goods store.

~4~

Country singer, Merle Haggard died on his 79th birthday.

~5~

The RG and his long time fishing partner have joined a new tournament circuit this year. 

They will be fishing primarily lakes in eastern Ohio.

With the first one being this Sunday they may find this in the morning.

Joining three memes:

Willy Nilly Friday Five w/Tanya

Five on Friday w/Amy

Random  5 Friday w/Nancy

Friday's Hunt 040816

'O' - Favorite - Spring or Fall

• 'O' - Observatory; Osprey

Can't wait 'til the re-constructed Observatory opens

to watch for my pal the Osprey.

• Favorite

'Attached at the hip' as the saying goes

• Spring or Fall

I chose Fall

This is a favorite photo of fall foliage at the state park.

Joining:

Friday's Hunt w/Teresa

and

Friday's Favourite w/Cath 

Man's Best Friend 040616

Not many words needed; the photos speaks for themselves.

These were two of the photos I used as part of

a Photo Challenge for 
black and white photos-candid shots.

Joining:

Black and White Wednesday w/Adrienne

Outdoor Wednesday

Earlier last year this waterfowl observatory leaned forward

causing a gap between the path and the structure.

It was still accessible but a not a safe situation.

A few months ago it was demolished.

Recently reconstruction began

It is a popular spot for observation and photos.

I'm sure many park visitors will be pleased to find it restored.

I have found it a good place to spy ducks, geese, 

heron and dragon flies.

And maybe, just maybe, my pal, the osprey.

Observe more of the outdoors at:

Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Backyard Birds 040616

The recent return of snow brought the birds

back to the feeders.

American Goldfinch -  Beginning in September, they molt all of their feathers, ending up with a  pristine set of feathers (and drab colors). In the spring, the males  transform into bright yellow breeding plumage, but the wing and tail feathers remain from the previous fall. As these wing feathers get older the pale buff edges fade to white and disintegrate, so that by the end of the summer the wings look essentially all black. And in September another complete molt begins.

 

The red winged blackbirds seem to be here to stay.

More beautiful birds at:
Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Eager Beaver 040516

From the size of this hut

somebody's been a 'busy beaver'.

Habitat

The habitat of the beaver is the riparian zone, inclusive of stream bed. The actions of beavers for hundreds of thousands of years  in the Northern Hemisphere have kept these watery systems healthy and in good repair, although a human observing all the downed trees might think that the beavers were doing just the opposite.

The beaver works as a keystone species in an ecosystem by creating wetlands that are used by many other species. Next to humans, no other extant animal appears to do more to shape its landscape. Beavers potentially even impact climate change.

Beavers fell trees for several reasons. They fell large mature trees, usually in strategic locations, to form the basis of a dam, but European beavers tend to use small diameter (<10 beavers="" cm="" especially="" fell="" food.="" for="" nbsp="" p="" purpose.="" second-growth="" small="" this="" trees="" young="">

Broadleaved trees re-grow as a coppice, providing easy-to-reach stems and leaves for food in subsequent years. Ponds created by beavers can also kill some tree species by drowning, but this creates standing dead wood, which is very important for a wide range of animals and plants. 

Joining:

Trees and Bushes

It's That Time of Year 040416

Joining

Mosaic Monday w/Judith

and

Blue Monday w/Jeanette

Nothing More Permanent . . .

or as a former manager once said: Nothing is more permanent than change.

Lots of things changing at:

Sunday Short and Sweet w/Cath

Hand In Hand

This week I'm combining a Barn and a Treasure

Just because they appeared hand in hand.

As it often does, a country ride led me to the geographic location of my ancestors in the hope that a clue would appear for what family researchers call a 'brick wall'. But I digress.

As I came over the brow of a hill this

thoroughly modern pristine barn appeared

in the company of this

not so new, nor pristine, van.

Seems this company has been around a long time.

http://www.andersontool.com/History.html

My final question is

which came first; 

the bush or the vehicle?

Truck on over to:

The Barn Collective

and

Tuesday's Treasures

both w/Tom

It's Here; It's Here

Spring has sprung atMuldoon

bringing several flowers for Today's Flowers

a few critters for Saturday Critters

and a couple of reflections for Week End Reflections

Pheasant Eye Daffodil - Tulips - Hyacinths

and a Bumble bee

PGM Bush

Trees, Sky and Stones reflected on the Garden Pond

and Gold Fish who survived the winter

Snow predicted for Saturday night

Say it isn't so, sigh