Going To Need A Bigger Hat.

 An evening run down to the timber

 This is a new tree that appears to be in the right stage to kick a few mushrooms

 Bingo

 Looks like I'm going to need a bigger hat.

 That looks doable.

Seem like a good idea until you look down.

Now I'm Ready For The Weekend.

 Thursday evening we went to tThe Friends of the Library dinner and listened to Marjorie Swann's  presentation on Izaak Walton.

I always know it's time to get out and search for some shrooms if I run into Old Joey Hip.   He said he didn't find any but I'd say the same thing.

 Friday am I got out in the timber early and found this little gray mushroom (not the lighter)

 The only other mushroom was at the base of this elm 

 I then did some hive work and made three splits.

 To celebrate Earth Day, Mart and I hit the trout stream.

 We each caught a fish and sat in the spring grass celebrating Earth Day as we honored the legacy of Izaak Walton.

Ace and I inspected one of Susie's project for the day.  We agreed it look great!  We finished off  the evening by attending the Dubuque Film Festival

SHAKE DOWN CRUSE.

NOTE to self... When you live on the top of a hill. Make sure you have breaks on your shake down cruse. 

  I was lucky no one was in the intersection as I tried to maneuver the corner. I was hung up sideways in my seat belt (again). Crunched the passenger side pretty well. But like I told my buddy, in the big pic it's just a van and it's only money.

 Sink, fridge and gear all took a major shift to the right.

 Back to the top of the hill with the help of Clean Gene.  One of the Mennonites who live in the area. 

Both doors open and all glass is in tack.

Tis but a scratch - YouTube

SPRING BLOOMS.

The fruit trees are ready to burst open and the bees got here just in time to get Joan and Marty's hive up and going.

 After we got the bees in Mart and I hit the trout stream.

 We each got a couple trout.

 and stream conditions were beautiful

 Cleaned  and in the creel

 This week I had my hat on when I took a panther martin to the back of the head.  Last week I wasn't so lucky.

 Another trout and set the hook.

 So much for the repair job on my fly rod and yes I landed the fish and went on to catch another with a broken tip.

 Still to early for mushrooms but it doesn't hurt to look.

APRIL... TOO EARLY TO MUSHROOM HUNT.

Bird Watching

 We hit the road early this morning and drove down to the Green Island Wildlife Unit to do a little bird watching.


Birds are key indicators of the health of our natural resources and provide significant contributions to our economy through birding, wildlife photography, hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

I had a few that I had hoped to see this morning.  We did pretty well.   Bird of the day was the Northern Shoveler.  Many of the dabbling ducks use their flat bills to strain food items from the water, but the big spatulate bill of the Northern Shoveler is adapted to take this habit to the extreme. 

As we enjoyed our breakfast on the go.





A hot ham and pepper jack cheese on one of Susie's pitas, warmed on the manifold and a fresh cup of Joe.  While we enjoyed the cool morning filled with bird calls.  

We saw lots of Canadians, teal, hooded mergansers and woodies.









And a single sand hill crane.

Mart and I hit Mill creek for a little kayak time

 I love to see the Mill from the water.






Marty is always doing an inspection of the building.   A year or two a go we worked on the windows up on the top floor.

 The fishing was good as always.  It's nice to get out on the water and explore.  The catching?  Not so good.  But, I'm sure it won't be long before the water temperatures warm up some and the fish start to work their way up these little tributaries of the Mississippi.

 We did have some great wild life sightings.

 A squadron of Pelicans flew overhead as well as a Peregrine that was hanging along the bluff chased off a young Bald Eagle 

A Whistle Pig nibbled on some fresh green nettles along the stream bank and we also spotted and otter a little further up stream.

 Back home,
Susie was busy mulching the rhubarb.

 And tending to the lavender bed.










Great day out!  So, I guess I'm ready for a few more weeks of school