I'm not Sure if I'm Ready for my Sandals Quite Yet

The sun is staying up later and later into the evening and the temperature is warming up ever so slightly. Here we go again, bundling up and getting our walk on.

We've braved the chill here and there on evenings, but nothing like the regular amounts of walking we had been doing in the summer and fall. This evening it almost felt like we were getting the bounce back in our step and can sense spring is on its way.

We walked a little further than normally we do on these cold evenings, and I snapped a pic. made available from a hidden woodpecker.

My mind is jumping to summer by the lake as I look at these beach-esque snowy surfaces. The slow thaw is making some textured forms out of the built up ice and snow. A couple of these remind me of those rocks you can break open and find quartz hidden inside.

Again, what incredible sights awaiting to be seen if only we take the time to do so (including the sight of one bundled toddler with rosy cheeks and nose).

Sandy Winter Boots

The snow melted throughout the day and has left our yard with with spotted slushy handfuls.

Mike had gone out later to finish shoveling the drive way and was visited by our elusive red headed woodpecker. Bacon Bits and I got to see him and get a decent snap shot.

After the driveway was clear, we took a brief drive into Ironwood and headed to Black River Harbor. What a perfect day it turned out to be. Just one degree cold enough to need hats and mittens, but perfect for an exploration up the beach. The snow had not hit Lake Superior and fall colors were still hanging around. Of course, there was much driftwood to be gathered as well.

Bits is truly a great little hiker; we traveled quite a distance along the sand and he eagerly and happily kept right along. Whenever we hit up the Big Lake, Mike and I revert to being little kids. I get excited with all my beachy finds, and he skips stones and sneaks big tosses of driftwood back into the lake whenever Mr. Xenopus is not paying attention.

We love escaping to the lake on these special weekends.

So What if Grand Haven had Temps in the Low 60s

What a beautiful nature sight! The rain turned to slush, the slush turned to snow, and the snow came down like cotton balls resting like crocheted doilies on the grass and trees. The big pines provided a canopy over their portions of the grass and created huge untouched circles beneath them.

As I was taking in this elegant display of snow, two deer came walking into the backyard eating acorns beneath the trimmed up pines. They moved behind a wall of fluffy snowflakes.

I considered taking photos to share, but I hesitated with the idea of scaring them off by opening our back kitchen door that always sticks. I decided to take it all in for my memory alone.

Oh and if that isn't enough, earlier in the day I caught sight of an impressive red headed woodpecker on the trunk of one of the pines. I had never seen a woodpecker so close (if ever), although I've heard them knocking in the yard to the point where I had to open the door and peer out to see if the UPS man was at the door (he wasn't).

The snow is already melting down into clumps and will probably be nothing more than soggy, muddy soil by day's end, but for now the big pine created circles are still in their place in the back yard.