Wet But Improving

It rained all Friday and into Saturday,  It was patchy enough that I got some chores done Saturday and by Sunday it was turning nice.  As always, I like to get a good walk in.

 I still have tons of stuff to clean up from the ice and wind storm.  The driveway stand has been patiently waiting to be excavated from under the pine branches.

I at least got the stairway cleared and the log off of the roof.

I did some "frost seeding" to try to keep my clover fields going.

I also sprayed the fruit trees and did a little pruning.  I did some spot spraying of roundup for invasives in the food plots.

My Facebook feed gave me a memory from last year on this date that showed daffodils blooming.

I went out there by the pond and, sure enough, they were blooming this year too.

Hard to believe that there was snow on the ground a week ago.  I did put out one bag of corn and a feed block.

Those goodies did attract some attention.

And the bird feeders also continue to have a deer following.

Some of the bucks have clearly dropped their antlers - but I haven't found any of them yet.

The turkeys seem to be more active.

They've been checking out the bird feeder too.

Some nice beards showing.

The usual predators.

I think that this must be an owl - what else would be hunting at night?

Squirrel and crows saying hi.

Soul searching eyes.

Surprising number of bucks still sporting headgear at St Patty's Day.

Winter Came Back!

 Last week, spring was here.  75 degrees one day and rain the next.

This week, it was a little different.

We had 22 degree weather, 3 or so inches of snow, and 20 mph winds.  You can get a sense of it from this video. Cold and Blowing

It was pretty if you weren't too exposed.

Violet and I ventured out into it several times for walks.

The aerator is keeping the pond clear of ice.

I did some of the camera tour by Ranger - that was cold.

We had some interesting artifacts.

I was careful not to leave Violet exposed for too long.  

But she was having so much fun.  Violet 1  Violet 2  Violet3  Violet 4

Total snow was about 3" but the wind blew it to 6" someplaces and zero in others.

Violet liked to get on these deer tracks, bury her nose in the snow, and snowplow to track them.  I've always read/heard that foot-dragging tracks like this are bucks.

I was hoping that she would help me find some shed antlers.  No luck with that.

We found deer beds though.

No "poop of the week" but the "pee of the week" was obvious near the beds.

She was having a lot of fun and didn't want to quit on either day.

She collected ice balls in her whiskers and paws.

We didn't find any sheds but the bucks have been dropping some.  Several one-sided guys running around tis week.

And some still intact.

Even little guys.

This looks like one who has dropped and is already developing bumps.

The does are also about.

Usually, I don't do any supplemental feeding.  But I will put a couple bags of corn out at this time of year.

When the browse has been worked all winter and the green-up hasn't started yet, it's a tough time. Especially when the weather takes a turn like this week.

I have no idea if it makes any difference but they look desperate when they are visiting the birdfeeders.  Which happened again this week.

Bobcat still on the hunt.

And the coyotes.

Not a very good photo but you can see four sets of predator eyes. 

The turkeys were back when the weather was warm.

I've had a "3 amigo" group of Toms for a couple of years.

And some other free-ranging canines.

I think that I might have a missing camera.  Did I move it and forget where I put it?  Maybe it will come to me.