Ruffled Feathers
Sanderling, at least I think that’s what he is. I love his reflection in the water too.
A Laughing Gull laughing at me. lol
Yellowlegs or Willet? I’m really bad at identifying these birds.
I loved chasing bigger birds with my lens while in Florida. The challenge of Wisconsin bird is that most of the ones I see are small and they’re very flighty.
Hosted by Cecily
But, as you can see, this gull seemed as intrigued with me as I was with him. Now I suppose he could be a juvenile Herring Gull, but due to the time of year, I’m assuming this is a Ring-Billed Gull in his winter plumage.
Thankful for the Polar Plunge jumpers
January 9th marked the 10th annual polar plunge for Angel on My Shoulder and we were there, once again, to document the event. 
All the people lined up were jumpers, but Mr Green-britches was the most scantily clad. lol
The first jumper turned to his girlfriend, ring in hand, and asked her to take the big plunge with him!
She said yes, then he scooped her up and they went to take the cold jump.
There they go!
They a quiet, cold, moment to celebrate their choice!
Too funny not to share.
Think that water was cold? Lemme tell you, they have to keep skimming the ice off while waiting, so yeah, it
is cold.
They look a little nervous.
I cropped in so you could see the expressions. I think dad is saying a prayer, wondering what his wife got them in to. The little girl looks like she’d rather be anywhere else. Even mom, seems she might be having second thoughts.
Yay! They did it!
Even the devil took on an angel.
But this hairy angel is taking that devil with him.
I’m truly thankful for the people willing to brave the frigid water, and air, to raise money for such a worthy cause! Sorry this one is a little late. But it was too good to glide over.
Thankful for Starbucks!
I am so very thankfully, daily, to the happy, friendly baristas we have at our local Starbucks! We visit at least once every single day! Most often, twice. . .shhhhh. But part of our addiction are the fabulous people working there! We have become more than customers to them, we have dinner with some of them, shoot pictures of most of them, and absolutely enjoy them!
I think Soua was wishing I would hurry up and take my drink so she could get back in out of the snow. If there’s a second thing I’m thankful for it’s that my tall no whip mocha frappucino is just 200 calories and I can happily have one while dieting and still lose weight.
This is my first time participating in weekly gratitude but I’m thinking I can find something to be thankful for once a week. :0)
Clearing the driveway
When we moved to Wisconsin, it seemed that Dennis was always gone when it snowed – he worked wacky hours, still does, and it just so happened the timing of his work and the snowfall coincided. So, I was the one left shoveling the drive-way. It’s funny, back then we still had 5 teenagers (4 boys!) living at home, but it was mama who shoveled the drive.
Then, the first time he was home when it snowed, get this, he ran out and bought a snow-blower! Wimp! lol I must say, I love the snow-blower! Often, I’m still the one clearing the driveway, and I don’t mind at all, in fact, I think it’s a lot of fun – yeah, I’m weird.
Doesn’t the blower make the edge of the snow so nice and pretty? I love how it leaves the sides so neat.
And look how far it blows! Amazing and fun!
Haden can’t resist helping out with a shovel. Love him throw too! Impressive! I guess you could say he has lots of experience by now, lol.
The only thing bad about using the blower, even without wind, you get a good amount of snow back on you.
And, it’s a lot less exercise than using the shovels. But still, it’s fun!
Uhoh, I better get out of the way!
Haden was a little too slow, oops.
But it’s all good, see he’s smiling.
A high price to pay
So I bought a cute little seed bell for my bird friends. My husband helped me hang it, then the next day we found it on the ground. What happened?
See that pinkish/red? What the heck?
Then we found blood on some leaves.
Ouch – this gave me the heebie jeebies, did I transfer them to you?
Then we looked up and discovered what happened to the seed bell. It had been in the netting. Mr Squirrel thought he would like some and in his eagerness he chewed through the net, knocking down the bell, and apparently leaving behind a chunk of tail. Ewwww!
I feel kind of bad for the squirrel, I have not yet figured out which squirrel is missing a chunk of tail. . .but I wonder, if I hang up another bell, will he be back? Did he learn anything at all?
A carpet of color
As we drove away from our white water rafting, we noticed a hill covered in flowers and since there was also a dirt road up leading up the hill we went closer for a peek.
This stop was not planned, it was purely spur of the moment. Do you allow yourself to get distracted like that?
A sea of flowers holding hands making a colorful carpet.
A blanket of comfort!
Have you ever seen a cemetery literally covered in flowers? We had not. I would love to have a final resting place like this one. Unexpected beauty on a hill amongst miles of green.
So magical and peaceful!
The flowers stuck out their tongues as I caressed them into poses.
Even that little patch of green you see, if you stepped closer you would find flowers beneath the tall grasses.
(Looking down towards the main the road.)
There were also lilacs and azalea. It’s truly like God smiled on the place.
Wild phlox? So tiny, so delicate, yet so many the air was filled with fragrance.
This fabulous place of solitude commanded our attention and we’re so glad we stopped for a closer look.
Just a little beach walk
Not sure what kind of flower this is, the guys found it while hiking near sandy Beach in Acadia National Park.
I explored the water’s edge while waiting for them. Snails, weird water bugs, starfish, and all sorts of nearly hidden creatures.
When we found this little fellow we did not know what it was either.
But we found out later, while on the lobster boat, that it’s a Toad Crab.
He must have been a baby. Such a tiny guy!
So unusual looking!
