I have never seen this tree with so many apple blossoms. Actually, all of them are loaded this spring. We might have a good year for apples…as long as the bugs, deer and other critters don’t get to them first!!

Just playing with some thoughts today. I am soooooo tired. I did a lot…mowed the grass, got the hoses out to water plants, sat on the swing and broke it (didn’t get hurt, but scared the crap outta me!) and started more rhubarb jam. We are going to have so much jam!!

Trilliums are everywhere!! Love them!! And, what is amazing to me is that it takes 10 years for a plant to bloom and it can be totally destroyed when picked. We are hoping to get them to multiply heartily out on our back property for future generations. I just find them amazing!

Raindrops on geraniums. I like this one.

Trying to learn how to take a photo of a decomposing leaf. I held it up against the pergola support and played with settings to get these two. It was a start, but not what I want yet. It’s all about learning and doing and trying.

This idea has become the bane of my existence. I am going to figure out how to photograph this leaf using the sky and trees if it kills me…. Any suggestions are good. I may revert to layering one image onto another and cheat.

One of my favorite things to do is watch the sky at night. It’s peaceful…except for critters. Sometimes the critters scare me, but I know they don’t want to run into me just as much as I don’t want to run into them.

Yes. I am 12 in my mind. This is Shrimp…my daughter’s new pet shrimp.

Franklin, my dachshund, has progressive retinal atrophy. We found out this afternoon. It was a shock finding out because he’s my “bestest bud” but I’ll be his seeing eye human. Tonight we enjoyed the sunset. I posted it on BlueSky. So many kind folks gave tips and advice.

In case anyone was unsure, this Finger belongs to Round Frog!

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The forest is my happy place. “If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.” For most days, that is where I can be found. If you’ve never felt what life actually feels like, go out into the forest. Take your shoes off. Be silent and just “be”.

Had a minor, out-patient surgery today, but still made time to grab a few shots outside. Getting old is what it is, but it’s hard as the body errodes and the mind is still 12 to 15…depending on the day, of course. 🤷‍♀️😉

If BYD were allowed to enter the American market, they’d wipe out Tesla overnight— along with the entire U.S. auto industry. I used to support basic protectionism, but not anymore. I’ve come to realize that we’re actually protecting the bad guys, like Elon Musk. Enough of that.

An amazing sunset and I’m annoyed I could not truly capture what I was seeing. Thinking of all the people who are hurting because of no one holding the felon, his family and this admin accountable. I’m literally sick because of it.

I find that I really like flowers…

First full bloom, little forest flower I saw today. I am so excited for summer to come!

Hobbling around today, but I am getting outside. I can’t believe it snowed, but yes it did! Anyhow, the flowers are out there trying to make this old fart happy, so I will enjoy their blooms while I can before they are gone!

I am saddened to see this house fall because it reminds me of how our country is being stripped of it’s resources; this current criminal admin is gutting our “house” and it can’t stand much longer. One gust of wind….

Every day I’d go by this house and it would be leaning: left, right, forward. Today, on the way to my drs appt, I took the final standing photos. With wind advisories hammering my phone, we took a drive after dinner. The house has fallen. I will miss it.

I had planned on doing a challenge on Art or Garbage, but my stupid knee is giving me problems yet again. It started late February and getting in to see a doctor has been slow.

Day 2…is it art or trash? This is one of my FAV art pieces. A frog made of nuts, bolts, silverware and other odds and ends. Creativity. It’s whats for dinner tonight. 🤪

My new challenge: Is It Trash or Is It Art? Day 1-Recycled coasters from old DVDs. My daughter loves to make things from trash. She wants to reuse as much as possible. I agree. We are destroying this world for the future. We need to start saving it. Recycling/upcycling is one way to start.

I’ll be starting up a new challenge tomorrow. I had gotten away from them for a bit. Knee issues and other life happenings. Now I need to get back on it. Meanwhile…I had visitors…

“Working at the car wash….” Sing that tune! I really liked this new carwash I went through. Best pictures I’ve gotten so far, imo.

Flooding is horrible for those who get hit with it, but there is beauty in it too.

I am easily amused….

Well, northern Michigan has gone from crazy snow storms and accumulation in feet to ice storms and now thunderstorms leading to flooding. Dams are being watched for weaknesses, bridges are closing, houses and camps are infiltrated by water. I don’t know what to say.

Finally seeing signs of spring!

We wrapped up boiling sap this weekend. We removed the taps and will be cleaning up the boiler pan and all associated parts to put away tomorrow for next year. We’ll finish boiling on the stove. We got about 2 gallons of syrup this year, so we’re happy! Every year we learn and make a little more. 😃

Happy Easter! Sharing some recipies from my great grandma. Not sure if they are good, but my daughter and I are going to try some of these out. They came here from Germany in the late 1800s.

Yep. Another once in a hundred years ice storm…the same date…following year…2.0. Guess it wanted a redo from last year.

Who let the cows out…who…who…?

Snails. Who knew that watching them would help my anxiety? My gosh they are interesting.

Maple syrup season! We just do enough for us, family and friends, but this is our little set up. We have lots of clean up after we are done!

Whenever I head to town, I pass this building. Every picture I get shows it leaning a little more. This spring, when we get a good wind, pretty sure the photo I get then will be parallel to the ground.

I see many photos of a Japanese Maple tree titled the Tree Of Life. I take lots of photos of my version of it in my back yard. This maple is old and has see much. The stories it could tell…

Squirrel and (mostly) mourning dove tracks just outside the door. They let me know in no uncertain terms that they want their seeds. The poops are many more than the tracks.

I haven’t been around for a bit. Lots of stuff happening, so I took a little time away. Went out to see if I could see any color. Turns out…just a very little bit as the coyotes howled out back. This is what I love about living up north.

Haven’t been able to walk around for a while (leg issues) and today is a beautiful day to get out. We are just ahead of a nasty storm, so I am enjoying as much as I can!

March 10…Day 10 - Food. This challenge was tough for me as I was at the doctor’s office or traveling to the vets office. I thought of a zillion different ways to show i food, but never got to delve into it. Well, it’s called a challenge for a reason! And it made me nuts…thus the ending photos.

March 9 - Day 9…Food. So, yesterday’s food was that of seagulls. I know it was a bit much, but that’s part of nature and the only way I can deal with death. I won’t go down this rabbit hole, though. But this is breakfast for me: flax seeds, greek yogurt, blueberries, cinnamon and honey.

March 8…Day 8 of Food. This whole weekend has been so hard as I have, literally, spent every day in the car traveling for hours!! But today I found a good food shot. Seagulls eating fish on ice. Sushi!! 😉

March 7…Day 7. Food. The finding of and eating of…something…. I love crows.

March 6…Day 6. Food. This pineapple is still extremely young and won’t be food for people for a while. I think a lot of people don’t understand the true concept of food. We begin the journey of maple syrup this weekend. I think I will take you along our journey there as well.

March 5…Day 5. Food. This is white and rye bread up close and personal. It’s homemade. Quite different from store bought.

March 4…Day 4 - Food. I started this challenge photographing my food. Today, while repotting my banana tree, I began asking, what IS food. Really. What IS FOOD? Food is different for each person and for each living thing. This is a picture of food for my banana plant.

March 4…Day 4 - Food. So this was the seed of an avocado. We decided to try and grow it and here is where we have gotten. It’s the very beginning of the “food” journey. I believe that when you take care of the land: the earth, it will take care of you.