5/4/09

"Wind Trees" or Wind turbines









I am fascinated by the new type of "trees" growing in the Wisconsin landscape. As I drive to work at Image Studios,  wind turbines have been erected in amazing numbers. The structures  are very breath taking and graceful but also intimidating.  Growing to four hundred feet in one day. Standing below one looking up, I felt like what an ant must feel next to a human.  Having mixed feelings about this type of  tree for the wonderful clean energy that is produced from its branches but also how the natural landscape has been changed.  
 




4/5/09

Spring is showing up in many ways!





Here are a few hints I have found! 

Enjoy, I am!














Natural Easter Eggs




We have a wonderful yoga instructor named Kate that has a wonderful friend named? Anyway we'll call her Karen. Karen raises chickens which produce the most beautiful and delicious eggs!  I call then natural Easter eggs! What's in your basket?

Wild visitors-Red Fox





In the past spring and fall we have seen Red Fox in our woods. Mostly in the late afternoon hunting near the house seeming to not care if we were outside. Or at dusk coming up from the woods being very quiet and stealth. One night early last spring we were awakened by an unusual loud clicking sound.  Three foxes were chasing after each other in the back yard. Dashing over and under the deck, around trees and the house. What would that sound comunicate?  I hoped they would stick around for the summer but fox must hide well because they didn't show themselves to us again until fall. I have wandered the woods wondering where the den is. This past Monday I was watching with my camera, four deer groom each other when something sent them dashing off. Two foxes were chasing around the house. They seemed to have attention deficit as they raced for one spot to the other.  Luckily to have camera in hand, I shot these photos from inside the house.  I assume this is a male and female? How can one tell? 

3/8/09

Where do the birds go to get out of the storm?


Our home is surrounded by a beautiful woods of sixty foot pines, majestic oaks, maples and birch trees. When we experience weather it seems exagerated by the woods. Wind hits the trees and they begin to dance and sing with creaks and whistles as well as howls and groans. Today's storm began innocently as light rain. Soon the rain became mixed with sleet that coated everything with a beautiful clear frosting. I had thoughts of doing some photography until the wind off Lake Michigan picked up tossing ice and sticks to the ground like sheets of shattered windshield glass. Ice hitting our windows sounded like stones thrown against the glass causing our cats to run for cover under a bed. Stronger gusts sent entire ice covered branches crashing to the ground leaving piles of debree for a summer bonfire.   Enough pine boughs have fallen to make many a wreath for Christmas had it not been close to Easter. The storm continues but now it's snowing adding to the weight of the ice already blanketing everything in the woods. I can only imagine how beautiful it will look in the morning light.