The Process of Spring

The Process of Spring

OK, this is the second time I have attempted to write this particular blog and post it.  Some how I deleted the first one I wrote, I'm bummed for I happened to like that one.  OH WELL!!!  Soooo... The first two pictures are taken by me and ones that I particularly like

I like this picture for the colors.  This is a picture of moss growing.  If you look close enough you can see.  Just joking :)

My husband and I had our first campfire this past Friday.  I went out first. This poor duck didn't want me there.  She kept quacking at me, I'm sure, asking me to leave.  But I didn't. And she stopped.

Last Sunday I went to the trail to jog.  It was very very windy and cold.  The waves were crashing against the shore and voila the ice. I hated that it was cold and windy, but I thought the ice was beautiful, and a big surprise to me

Onto buds and birds and a few surprises.  At least they were surprises to me

This is another picture that I LOVE!!  I took this picture from the trail on the very very cold Sunday

The above is a maple tree budding in our yard.  In the fall it turns yellow.

Now for one of the surprises to me.  The following two pictures were taken Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday I found my friend on the trail feeding this chipmunk.  I'm sure there are a lot of people that have trained chipmunks to eat out of their hand but I found this very special, especially on Easter

This is MY hand feeding the chickadee.  This also happened on Easter Sunday.  My friend introduced me to this place where she, must have, trained these birds to eat out of her hand.  To me this was totally amazing and I will NEVER forget it. I was so connected to nature that day.  My Easter miracle. 

This picture and the next two are nature at her best.  Of course these pictures were taken on the trail

Spring IS sprung(ing) and it makes me feel good.

 To my next trail surprise 

 Otters. You have to look closely to find the otter on top of the otter that you can make out (see). And YES, they were making out :) He had her by the neck and she was screaming.  Making a very very loud noise that sounded like a sheep. It was abit un-nerving. Her noise that is. 

Here ya go, you can see a little better.  They were in the river current and moving fast and my camera doesn't click click click to get several pictures in a row. DARN

Now I am on my dock which is on the Mississippi River.  Here is the first Red Wing Blackbird that I could actually capture on my camera.  I'm not sure but----- this bird was talking to other like birds---- and I think they were talking about me. Hoping I would leave

Back on the trail and more buds.

This picture belongs to the Tamarack trees on the trail.  I am anticipating the return of their leaves.

More buds. If you are getting tired of looking at the buds just walk on the trail and experience the  allure of the landscape and I'm SURE you will find them just as beautiful as I do and you will experience the excitement of spring

Today, Tuesday, May 3rd, which is my brothers birthday, it was beautiful out, thanks brother.  And when it is nice outside you will see all of these cars.  If you read my last blog you will know that I am having a difficult time sharing the trail.  And today it was very difficult for look at aaalll those cars. All those people were on the trial.

I guess I better get use to all these people.  Not only is nature coming alive, but people are also

Sharing

 Spring happened all at once today.  I went jogging on the trail, I stopped to talk with a friend and it happened.  All of a sudden spring was EVERY WHERE. and people, oh my, a lot of people running, walking, biking, roller blading.   It was spring over stimulation. 

 At that moment I saw an otter sunning himself on the ice, 

At that moment I saw a wood chuck

At that moment birds were everywhere

At that moment Eagles were screeching  

Time stood still. At that moment I was filled with the sense of a new season that I have never, ever, experienced. I was so alive. I wanted to hold onto that moment FOR EVER! 

That day I soaked up the season of life. However, also at that moment I was upset that I had to share my trail with other people. I DON'T WANT TO SHARE MY TRAIL.  How dare they be "fair weather friends" I have paid my dues and walked the trail aaaalllll winter long.  

So when I got home I told my husband about "those" people. They should have been walking all winter.  He quickly  reminded me of what Bert and Erine would say about sharing. OK OK. 

Saturday, April 2nd

I walked the trial on Saturday.  If you didn't get a chance to get outside that day you missed out on a amazing day. Now, I went jogging today and the above picture is what the trail is starting to look like, clear of ice and snow.  However ....

This is what it has been looking like.  It is trying to melt. 

 Walking has been tricky.  Even jogging today (Thursday, April 7th) there was about 1/4th mile of this stuff.

Just feast your eyes on this sky. The blue, priceless. And those clouds, they are perfecto

The day was so clear, the river was so clear and the wind was windless

I just couldn't ask for a more perfect first Saturday in April

The geese are hangin out, along with ducks (Golden Eye) Otters, woodpeckers, song birds, bugs, yes bugs. I've been told that the fox are out and about, wish I would see one.  Heard that bear are stretching their legs. Bikers are now on the trial. More and more people walking.  AWWWWW Spring.  I saw my first Robin today (Thursday)

Yes, what a happy day

Today I started jogging.  I will try and run Grandma's half marathon June 19th along with my friend Tonya.  I just started training.  Should have been training a few weeks back.  But this Spring I am strong, I can do it.  I feel GREAT when I jog.  Two years ago when I tried running the half marathon I had a very difficult time.  Little did I know that I had breast cancer.  Today I am strong.  Today I can do it.  

A Mix of Seasons

When the fog lifted

We were greeted with the softness

That it left behind

 What a lucky day that was

 Winter sun with a very blue sky.  

Even though I fell in love with winter this year I do look forward to summer

 My yard comes to life

Summer, a fun filled season where the process of going outside isn't so difficult

 Color is everywhere.

Awww.  

Be patient.  Winter will turn into Spring, leaves will appear in that beautiful spring green color. Which will turn into summer, the fun, happy go lucky season.

XC Skiing

Montebello Trail

This is Roger

This is Barb

This is Roger getting ready teach Barb how to ski.  Good luck Roger

Well, this is Barb after 1.5 hours of skiing. Roger is a very good and patient teacher.  He had to be to put up with me on skis.  I had a great time, you will have to ask Roger if he did.  I cannot count the times I fell.  Apparently Roger wanted to teach me HOW to get up after a fall for he NEVER assisted me.  He probably needed a good laugh that day.  For I'm sure I looked like a little old lady trying to get up with these long things on my feet.  I KNOW I looked particularly funny with one of the falls for I really couldn't get up. But he just watched--patiently--quietly--probably started to wonder if he would have to just leave me there.  He taught me how to ski down the "many" mini hills.  I always knew what to expect so I wasn't nervous at all.  Thanks buddy. I will go again.

What is YOUR season?

  What season leaves you breathless?

To me it has become the season of winter.  I am winter.

All my senses come alive

The cold, the bundling up, the extra energy it takes to get around, I love it all. 

 What season takes you away. 

My SOUL fills with contentment when I take my first step onto the trail.  I wonder what gift the trail will give me today

Often I feel like I'm in another place, I must be in heaven for how can I be experiencing such an overwhelming feeling of astonishment

I am part of a miracle