Posts Tagged ‘nature’

Fish Run

Posted on April 3rd, 2012 by Tonia 1 Comment

The rainbow trout are running up the Sioux River near our house.

Mike went down to the bank with the camera yesterday evening and caught this video clip of a little guy alllllllmost making it {it was so sad when he got washed back down!} It would be so easy to reach down and help them out, but Mother Nature needs a way to filter out the weak.

Only the strongest fish get to the calm water above the falls where they mate. They have to swim against the current for miles, and beach themselves on rocks where they rest for a few minutes before pushing on.

It’s pretty incredible to watch!

the frozen lake feat

Posted on January 27th, 2012 by Tonia 3 Comments

We skiied across Long Lake in the Chequamegon National Forest yesterday with friends. And then that wasn’t long enough, so we skied around it too, and down the un-plowed forest road leading to it.

Long Lake is one of our favorite swimming lakes in the summer. It was a little disorienting to see it frozen and snow-covered, but beautiful all the same.

Jack came along. He had a blast running all over the lake with Jenn and Trevor’s dog Coal, and was so worn out when we got home, he curled into a ball on his bed and fell right asleep {very un-Jack-like. He usually has energy to spare!}

After the ski, we headed to the yurt for a potluck of potato soup and an oxtail stew over hot grits- super satisfying after our workout. The dogs laid together by the woodstove and the humans chatted late into the night over red wine.

autumn scene

Posted on September 29th, 2011 by Tonia 6 Comments

The leaves are changing slowly this year thanks to a good amount of rainfall over the summer and a gentle progression of cool-cold-colder days, easing us into the middle of autumn.

Usually when the leaves change slowly like this, it means they’ll last a few weeks before turning brown and dropping off. Something as simple as a drive to the grocery store is suddenly a captivating show of fiery colors zipping by on both sides of the road; A grand-finale of life and color before the long winter sleep under stark white blankets.

Peeking a Pileated Pecking

Posted on June 10th, 2011 by Tonia 1 Comment

Today there was a big Pileated Woodpecker having his way with the old apple tree in our yard by the woodshed. The crest on his head was so bright red! Can you spot him?

I was inside peeking at him through the window, and I could hear the rat-tat-tat of his pecking loud and clear.

It has been a little bit chilly and drizzly for the last few days, which means there’s not a lot of fun garden/farm stuff happening to speak of. But, it’s a good opportunity to get boring inside chores done while I don’t feel like I’m missing out on a beautiful day.

Do you have any tricks for making chores more enjoyable? I like to watch the hummingbirds out of the window while I do dishes, and I tend to set my laptop up with Mad Men episodes playing on it next to me while I fold laundry {a most despised chore. HATE IT.} Something about the perfectly pulled-together, domestic women of the 50s and 60s makes me aspire to keep the house in good order. Of course, they also tended towards severe depression…but that’s probably mostly because they had crappy husbands. But nevertheless, maybe I should stick to just watching wildlife.

Until the next sunny day, happy chore-doing and wildlife-watching to you!