Fall Splendor

Fall is here! The average temperature during the day has been in the high 50's and there have even been 2 frosts overnight. We covered the garden as best we could and seemed to save it. When it hasn't been raining, I've been taking walks with Flora in the afternoon. I love fall! The changing colors and the crispness in the air. When the sun is out, you can almost feel your body soaking it up, regardless of the slight chill in the air. Hands down, this is my favorite season. I was up for the early sunrise last week and captured this picture of our backyard. There is steam rising off the river and the colors on the trees are slightly changed. Beautiful!

Whatever happened to anti-litter campaigns?

I have a recollection of some anti-litter campaigns, maybe in the 80's?   Maybe some of you readers remember.  I specifically have this memory about  learning about cutting the plastic of six-pack beer or soda rings so that they six-pack rings don't get washed out to waterways and strangle birds and fish.  Seems like I haven't even seen those plastic six-pack rings in ages.  I also haven't seen many environmental campaigns as of late, including anything about not littering.  

Lately I feel like I've had this extra awareness about what littering does to the environment.  I have the benefit of working on the East River, where I watch fish, waterfowl, woodchucks, squirrels and some feral cats enjoy the environment.  However I wonder how much they are enjoying the environment since I also have watched plastic bags, balls, shoes, and a Labatt Blue cooler float up and down the river for the past year and a half since I've worked at my window.   At home, we live on the Fox River, where we've had deli containers, balls, styrofoam, toys, and other junk wash up on our shoreline.  Yesterday on the East River I saw a dead goose float by...maybe it was a natural death.  

Today, I was more disturbed.   I had a half day at work and I decided to take the dogs for a walk mid-afternoon down our road which parallels the Fox River.  About halfway through our walk I heard some fluttering from above.  I looked up and gasped.   I saw a bird's nest and hanging from the bird's nest was a blue jay, completely wrapped up on fishing line which was wrapped around it's head.  It was flapping it's wings, but couldn't go anywhere because it was  being strangled by the line.  I looked like a bird had made a nest in spring, partially with fishing line instead of grass.  The blue jay was by the nest and an unfortunate comedy of errors took place.  I didn't know what to do.  I'm not sure if somehow cutting it down would allow it to survive?  It was in a tree in someone's yard and they are people I don't know.  I continued on the walk just a little more and turned around to go home and call the village offices.  Upon calling the village, I explained the situation and she transferred me to the police department.  They said they would send someone out.  I'm not exactly sure what they ended up doing, but I did see the police drive by.    If some idiot wouldn't have littered fishing line behind, this situation never would have happened.  

In present time humans are littering in ways beyond the obvious.  An obvious way of littering is leaving your trash behind, or throwing something out the car window.  We can see the result of this.  Now, we even litter in ways we are unable to see (and have been for a long time).   We recently watched a PBS special about a nonprofit that treats sea lions and seals  that are left to die on the California coastline.  They have researched these animals that are coming in with similar problems like seizures and brain damage and have found that all that exhibit this behavior have a levels of an acid (that develops by chain reaction) which is essentially caused by fertilizer and sewage that flows into the ocean from area rivers, mostly along the shores where the seals lives.  It is just absurd that although fertilizers are clearly deemed as hazardous chemicals continue to be legal, consumed by people, and dumped all over the environment.  

I wonder what it will take for people to realize this planet is not invincible. For people to realize, this is not OUR planet...we share it will all kinds.    

Winter - On the Fox

It's here!  A shot of our backyard upon waking up this morning.  We didn't even know snow was in the forecast.  This is the first snow of the year that's stuck, just 3-4 inches.  What a beautiful surprise.  Outside it was warm, 32 degrees, and so silent.  Peaceful.

Seasons-a-changin'

We sit here helplessly as winter ushers itself in.  Only a few remnants of fall remain and that's the wet leaves on the ground and a few trees that franticly hang on to their last brightly colored leaves.  We have done the majority of the work to get prepared for winter, including pulling the garden out, bringing in all the patio furniture and we still have some pots to bring in.  Strangely, I have 1 geranium that refuses to let go, it's hanging on with 30 degree weather and frost, I can't believe it!  Tim is outside winterizing his motorcycle and the lawn tractor.  Friday night and Saturday we had snow, but nothing stuck.  Now, there is a flurry coming down again. Although I truly love the first winter snowfall that sticks to the ground, I hope we have a mild winter, at least not one with the amount of snow we had last year!  -L

Staycation

Over the 4^th of July weekend, we were compelled to have a staycation. A staycation is when you enjoy the activities of a vacation, but stay home to do it. Since gas prices, dining, and lodging are increasing in price, the staycation has become more popular. For instance, you could stay in town, forget the household chores and spend the weekend staycationing by reading a book, golfing, visiting the local museum or zoo. Basically staying close to home rather than going to a destination to get this accomplished. Over the 4^th, we staycationed in our own backyard. We pitched the tent under the walnut tree, BBQ’ed our dinner, enjoyed reading by the bonfire and made s’mores…all before we called it a night and nestled down in the tent. Upon waking up in the morning, I meandered over to the fire pit, pulled up a chair, kicked back and did some more reading. It was incredibly relaxing! The nice thing about staycationing at home is that when we do want to leave, we can just leave the dogs in the house like we normally do.

Since it was a warm sunny morning, Tim and I decided to go kayaking. We got out on the river and it was calm, there was a soft breeze coming through. When we kayak, we typically start the direction that goes against the current (on the Fox that happens to be south). That way the trip back is never hard work because we have the current with us. Well, as we headed toward our kayaking destination we went against the current and suddenly the wind picked up. Then it really picked up! Before we knew it, we had our work cut out for us. It was the kind of wind that’s low bearing on the water and when the gust comes through it makes the water shiver on top. The trip was incredibly difficult. If I looked toward the shoreline I was barely moving forward. If I stopped paddling, the kayak would start moving backward! We were determined however to get to our destination which is down by a non-operating lock. The water there is calm and there tends to be more wildlife since boats don’t go down that way anymore (too shallow for most boats). Finally, we arrived - and with much reward. As we were headed out of the lock channel there was an eagle flying overhead. We went up by shore and hung onto some overhung branches to watch the eagle. Eventually we lost sight of the eagle. As we continued down the channel, we saw a large bird fly from one tree to the next. Sure enough, it was the eagle and it landed in another tree and perched right next to another eagle. It was beautiful. We just stayed there and watched them sit up in the tree and spy fish. Eventually one left and we decided to head home. We floated down the river in our kayaks, like it was a lazy river. It was so pleasant as the sun warmed us and calmed our sore muscles (or at least mine, can’t speak for Tim on that one). We spent the rest of the day chilling out. It was a relaxing, yet adventurous staycation, right in our own backyard!

Try it sometime, you might be surprised how relaxing a staycation can be…and how much money you’ll save! The picture is our tent pitched in the back year. -L

Caution: High Water

So many of you may have heard on the news, or even experienced first hand the recent rain and flooding that came with it. Thankfully up by us, the flooding hasn't been as severe as it has been in the Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and southern parts of the state of Wisconsin.  A lot of people have had water damage in their basement, or even lost their entire homes.  

Because we live so high up on the hill, it would be near impossible to be flooded by the river. However, the river is still significantly higher than normal.  We suspect about 6 feet, which has damaged many things.  Here is a picture of our dock.  You'll see our boat is still tied to the dock. Since the boat launch across the river has been closed for the second week now, we couldn't even get the boat out if we wanted.  The launch is completely flooded.  The picture on the left shows the condition we've been dealing with as of late.  Half of the dock is underwater.  Usually the whole thing is about 3 feet above the water. 

-L

Blogging for Birds!

Today, I'm blogging for birds!  

We are blessed to have a lot of unique wildlife near our house since we are on the river.  When we first moved here 3 years ago, we thought that we were seeing an eagle flying by once in a while. We came to find out that there were 2 eagles nesting together about 10 miles south of here in a nature preserve area, and indeed what we were seeing was a bald eagle.  Very Cool!  

Well, 2 new eagles have moved in!  Just a few miles up the road there is a new subdivision that was poured.  Some farmer sold off his field, so of course, concrete must be poured.   The lots are over priced and crammed together.  None have sold, to my knowledge. Well, in the process of building the subdivision, a clump of trees were left over.   This spring, a nest was built.  A really big nest!

When we first discovered the nest we saw the eagle sitting next to it on a branch.  Upon circulating the area we spotted the top of a white head in the nest.  We knew that they must have eggs, or chicks!   

I drive past them every day, but on the other side of the river. Now that there are leaves sprouting on the tress, the nest is hiding.  Sometimes I'll spy 1 eagle.  This afternoon on the way home from work, I spied two!  I picked Tim up in the drive way with the camera and we drove over to the nest. Sure enough, there they were, both of them sitting there, about 15 feet from their next.  What stoic, beautiful birds!  Enjoy these pictures.

-L