Buckets of Rain

Tonight we experienced the first thunderstorm of spring. It has been raining for two days now and we are beginning to feel what it might feel like to really live underground. So far this winter we have been dry in our earth home, but as we’ve recently found – when it rains outside, you better have buckets ready inside!

This milk jug does a great job at collecting rain drops that fall from our sky light window in our bathroom

We had a lot of rain drops fall from the sky light in our dining room

You can see there is a lot of water on the driveway near the roof of our earth home.

Signs of Spring

Things are changing around here…. slowly…. but spring is on its way.

The lake is beginning to melt around the edges

The top of the lake has turned to slush.

Lately we've seen a waterfall magically appear in front of our door step.

The Eagles are Back

For the past two weeks my husband and I have seen a pair of bald eagles fly over Spearhead Lake. We think it is the pair that nest on the lake and have returned. We have been watching their nest near the lake, but haven’t seen any activity on it yet. We will keep you posted when we do!

An eagle nest sits in a large pine tree on the Neilson Spearhead Center property, not too far from our earth home.

Second Day of Spring

My husband and I went for a walk in the woods on March 21, the second day of spring. It felt so good to hike without -20 degree winds blowing off the lake. Spring is finally here!

Most of the snow has melted, but there is still a good amount left in some of the valleys and shady areas.  Everything seemed to be very wet and soggy. Spring is a great time for nature lovers, as the melting snow often reveals great animal signs.

As a wildlife educator, I find myself dissecting a lot of animal stuff, so I couldn't resist dissecting this wolf scat (poo). I found lots of bone fragments and fur in this pile, which had probably been hidden underneath the snow for possibly up to two weeks.

I am anxious to see spring birds check out this querky snag for bugs...

If you couldn't tell already, I am always on the lookout for scat. This is scat left behind by a ruffed grouse.

Ice Ruins

I took a hike across Spearhead Lake on Friday, March 6, and I came across an unusual sight. Frosted tombstones made from chunks of ice carved from the lake by spear fishermen lay basking in the sun before my eyes.

I looked around but saw no one. Suddenly the ice tombstones appeared abandoned in a snowy field. Where have all the fishermen gone? Before the recent March blizzard hit, I would’ve ended this passage with a thought – “These ice ruins leave behind a hopeful message that spring is on its way.” I wish this statement to be true, but it looks to me like winter is still very much alive.

The remains of ice blocks carved out from the lake by spear fishermen. These ice tombstones are left as reminders of a successful spearing season on Spearhead Lake.