March 5, 2010

Still Having Fun In The Snow

The calendar says that we're inching closer to spring, but when I look out the window it looks a lot like winter. Weekend before last, Phillip and I went to Pamperin Park to do some exploring. The first thing we did was make our way over the bridge that crosses Duck Creek .


We found this tree with big fuzzy buds. I thought they looked like the furry catkins of a pussy willow tree and he thought they looked like tiny rabbit's feet. I remember this tree having pretty white flowers last spring which makes me think it's some kind of dogwood.


Some green was spotted, so we pushed away the snow and found this moss. Green never looked so good to me. Wisconsin has about 400 native species of moss and I don't know where to begin finding out the name of this one.

This cedar tree has been attacked by a woodpecker and it's prognosis for a long life can't be good. Trees with wounds like this are susceptible to insects, diseases, fungi and bacteria. The woodpeckers that I sometimes see in our area are red-headed, red-bellied, downy, hairy, northern flicker and pileated.

These mossy-covered handprints were in the concrete near the bridge. We wondered who they belonged to and made up our own stories. Phillip thought it was a fossil and I thought maybe one of the workers building the bridge left the imprints although they looked small enough to be a child's hands.


Instead of making our way back over the bridge, Phillip convinced me that we should walk through the open water where it's only a few inches deep.  We had fun, but our feet got a little wet and so we headed on home.

"It's spring. I feel it in me blood."

Ken Alexander


22 comments:

  1. Still lots of snow here, too, in zone 3. Interesting pictures ... the one of your grandson in the banner is such a fun one.

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  2. Donna, that was a fun day that you shared with us; lots of discovery and adventures. Lucky you! Lucky Phillip! The picture of the bridge is great -- as soon as I looked at it, I knew your post was going to lead to an adventure!

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  3. That sure looks like a fun day. Phillip sure is lucky to have you to take him on adventures like that. The woodpecker really did do some work on that tree!

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  4. You and Phillip have the BEST adventures! By midweek this week, I started hearing rumblings most everywhere I went, everyone tired of the gray days and dirty snow. Today it was 50 and sunny, and it was amazing how much happier the general population seemed to be!

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  5. Hi Donna, Thanks for taking me along on your wonderful trip. I love every single photo and story. Philip has the best grandmom in the world.

    To bad there isn't a plaque with the story by the hands.
    And I do hope things went out good when Philip did return from the rock in the river, seems slippery to me.
    bye's Dagmar

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  6. Phillip is so lucky to have a Grandma who takes him on such adventures--looks like a wonderful day! It definitely does still look like winter in your neighborhood. Yesterday the sun was shining here, and I could almost feel spring in the air--if it weren't for all the patches of snow still in my garden:)

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  7. What a wonderful yet simple adventure. It's great to see the world through your eyes. Thank you!

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  8. Isn't it amazing how good it feels to know spring will come every year....now matter what we do, it marches on. Cute photos...love that header.

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  9. Do let us know what kind of tree that was that resembled a pussy willow...maybe a followup when it blooms?

    Christine in Alaska

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  10. Glad you were led astray by your grandson, even if it did mean wet feet. Keeps you young!

    I'm always fascinated by the 400 species of moss kind of thing, and the fact that there are people who devote their lives to studying them.

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  11. I wonder what sort of woodpecker did that -- Pileated? I don't know if Red Cocaded live that far north, and they usually nest in pine trees.

    I agree with other posts who have said that Phillip is lucky to have you. :)

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  12. Don't worry Donna, winter never wins the battle with spring! It will come eventually, I promise!

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  13. You two are so cute. I love the handprints, how creative to make up stories. Looks like such a memory maker!

    As far as spring goes... I will believe it when I see it. Feels like eternal winter around here!

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  14. I love the photo of Phillip on the block of snow in the water. Looks like he is having fun. Way to go Grandma for following.

    We have 52 degree temperature here today, so I have to believe spring is in the air.

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  15. I love these kinda walks under any circumstances although this one makes me wish my grandchildren didn't live so far away (Colorado) That was one big woodpecker hole by a piliated no doubt. It usually means an infested tree, often carpenter ants.

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  16. Your adventures with adorable Phillip remind me of all the great times I had with my now 28 yr old son~ who lives too far away from his mamma! gail

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  17. Donna.. today I too" felt spring in the air here in Michigan.

    We had a high of 47 and the ground is a Muddy Mess! Black oil seeds are stuck in gooey clumps all over my yard thanks to the sparrows who are making a big mess!...

    Never the less I cleaned up as much as I could smiling to myself as I thought about Springs arrival..Yahoo!

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  18. Those are beautiful pictures from your adventure. What a fun day that was! Looks like you both enjoyed it so much. That imprints are really interesting.And Phillipe is so cute in the last photo. You always take good pictures, Donna. I enjoyed all of them. Thanks for sharing.

    We are now on our first month of Autumn but days are still warmer but the nights a bit cooler now.

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  19. I feel spring in the air. We are supposed to get ½ inch of rain today.

    What a delightful post. It just made me smile to see your post with Phillip. I have wonderful memories with my grandmother. I think she was a lot like you. She enjoyed exploring nature and we had lots of adventures. You two are good for each other. I hope to see more of your stories together. Thank you so much for taking us with you!

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  20. Donna,
    You are so fortunate to be able to spend time with your sweet grandson:-) What fun the two of you have together! I'm still raising my 13 yr old son...but one day I hope to have some grandchildren to 'explore' with, too! Not too soon though...21 yr old daughter is still in college, so those things must wait a bit!
    I know you are so happy to see the green! We did get more snow than you this year, and it's all gone now...so it doesn't seem 'fair' that you are still looking at it! Maybe winter wants to make one last, firm impression on you so you can appreciate spring all the more?!?! It'll be there soon, just hang in there;-)

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  21. Oh, Donna, your blog somehow moved down my homepage and I keep not scrolling down and miss so much! Love the picture of Philip for your banner. I never tire of your snow stories and pictures. Wow, how about that woodpecker damage!
    Thanks for dropping by my blog and for all of the sweet comments. I lost one of them when I enabled monitoring, which I will never remember to do. Thanks for the compliment for Amy and me. Off to read more!

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  22. PS I keep meaning to ask what camera you shoot with?

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