Crash Landings

The ducks that gather near us are always so fun to watch! And as I feed them corn they come flying in.

Some land on their feet with a soft whush.

Some patiently wait for some corn to land on their heads.

Some try to land on their feet.

But, land with a thud that sounds like it would leave a bruise. Do ducks bruise?

There’s the one foot landing.

Oops, off balance I guess.

She recovered quickly, ‘Do you have any corn left?’

Maybe running will soften the landing?

‘How about I just land on your hand full of corn?’

And still others, decide that walking is the easiest, less painful, way to arrive at the food.

‘Could you get this snow off my beak?’

I loved how you can see through his nostril. I know it’s hard to tell in this small of a photo, but that white fleck on his beak is his nose hole and the snow beyond.

Spelunking?

Does it look like I’ve been on a visit to the southwest?

Believe it or not, these are the rest of my Ice Cave photos.

Dennis and I have talked about walking out to them for a couple of years now. It just seems that each time we decided to go, we found a reason (it’s too cold, or it’s so far, or I just wanna stay in the warm house. . .) not to.

So one morning, Dennis woke up at some ungodly hour, like 4 am and when he finally tired of tiptoeing around the house he splashed water on my face and pulled me out of the warm covers to go trudging a mile across a frozen lake in 8 degree weather.

The sun was shining brightly and with the promise of warmer days arriving soon, I knew this was one of the last chances to go this year, so I didn’t complain at all too much.

My legs got a great workout, and all the walking did warm me up, and beauty surrounded me!

I can’t say that I regretted one minute of it.

To get in this cave I had to sit down and scoot, but I think it was worth it.

That’s the opening I came through.

SO worth it!

I was sitting at the very back of the cave.

It felt so secluded and quiet that I think I could have napped there. But my butt started freezing, sitting on a frozen lake will do that.

Next year, they will all be different.

Looking up.

Massive sheet of ice. Easy to forget the rest of the world exists.

I did manage to find some dainty little ice crystals, too bad I didn’t have the macro lens with me.

Frozen waterfall.

And the best part is, you can touch it all you want.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Anyone have a huge bottle of wine?

You know I’m attracted to big things, so when I saw this huge corkscrew (World’s Largest?) on the roadside, I made Dennis turn around while I grabbed the camera.

Wanna Play?

The person I stole the cars from. ;0)

Sandhills announce spring

I am happy to say that one of my favorite summer visitors are back!

Maybe this will be the year that I catch a baby Sandhill Crane. In a photo I mean, not literally catch, but maybe, this is the year. Currently, I’m content with just hearing their calls again.