Time Flies

I know its been awhile since I last posted. Life got busy with the holidays and work.

I went home for a couple days over Christmas. Like every year, Christmas Eve day was spent with the Mattmiller clan. It was nice to see everyone - I had lots of fun playing with my cousins and had my Grandpas amazing ham. Christmas day was then spent at our house and the Grandparents came over. It was a great relaxing couple of days with good food. I also discovered a new way to enjoy my coffee - add mint hot chocolate. Delicious and tastes a little like a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha :)



Apparently, I was super good this year because I got lots of really fun gifts - a bunch of books from my wish list, a thermarest, some new socks and Blue Planet / Planet Earth. If any of you have not seen the Planet Earth series it is worth checking out because the footage is breathtaking!

Following my much to short visit to Wausau, I returned to the Audubon Center where I had to psych myself up for Family Escape Weekend. Basically a bunch of family descend on the center for 4 days full of activities. My favorite program was called Animal Care and Handling. Basically, families could come into the barn and see the critters up close. It was super cute to see the little kids holding salamanders and getting excited to feed a frog or touch a snake.

And with that, another year draws to a close. 2009 has been a year with ups and downs but I am certainly enjoying where I am now. Hopefully, 2010 continues the positive note that this year is ending on. Until next time...

~*~HAPPY NEW YEAR~*~

Minnesota Zoo

On Sunday, I went down to the cities and went to the Minnesota Zoo with Omi and Renee. The zoo had a really nice mixture of indoor and outdoor exhibits. My two favorite exhibits were Discovery Bay and the Minnesota Trail. Discovery Bay was home to the sharks, dolphins, and other fun aquatic critters including a touch pool.

The Minnesota Trail was filled with animals found in Minnesota. Many of the animals were out and about in the wintery weather which also made the visit very enjoyable.

The trip was really great and was rounded out with a quick run to Barnes and Noble and a Starbucks drink. At the end of the day, I was a happy camper!

A Sand County Almanac

For several years now, the Aldo Leopold book A Sand County Almanac has been on my list to read. While I have read some passages before, I have finally read the book in its entirety.

As I read, it amazed me how far ahead of his time Leopold was. Written in 1949, many of the concepts brought up in the essays are still relevant today.

Perhaps my favorite essay is Prairie Birthday where Leopold talks about watching prairie plants bloom in a cemetery that he drives past daily. "Tell me of what plant-birthday a man takes notice and I shall tell you a good deal about his vocation, his hobbies, his hay-fever and his the general level of his ecological education." It really intrigued me because it talks about the desensitization of people. We can often overlook the beautiful things that are right in front of us simply because we are not paying attention.

If you are interested in nature and haven't read this book yet, I would highly recommend it.

~*~ aquarium fun ~*~

Yesterday, I got the chance to go up to Duluth and see the Great Lakes Aquarium. This aquarium has primarily freshwater fish native to the great lakes area. Right now, they have an exhibit on seahorse which was fun to see. Who doesn't like seahorses?

The visit was great because for the most part, the aquarium was empty. This meant that I could meander around at my own pace and have full view of the tanks :) In addition, I got a behind the scenes tour of the filtration and some of the holding tanks. One of the neatest things of the entire trip was watching the SCUBA divers feed the sturgeon. It looked really fun and is something I hope to try someday!!

BIRDIES!

Meet my birds.

Ok, they are not mine but rather reside at the Audubon Center where I get to train them. Both of them are imprinted which is why they are non-releasable.

This is Nero, the male American kestrel. He is a dirty little thing - always has food hanging from his beak and/or talons and can make his mew a pigpen. When you go to his mew he starts twittering at you as if to have a conversation.

This is Isis, a female American kestrel. Sometimes I think she is angry with the world because she can have an attitude (Isis is the bird that footed my ear). Even with the attitude she is super cute - when I stand outside her mew she often flies to meet me. When I feed her, she makes little chirping sounds and has the cutest sneezes.

winter's here

I fear that the start of winter has arrived. Snow has started to fall (and stick), temperatures are declining and signs of Christmas are popping up everywhere I go.

The animals are getting ready for the season. Mice are trying to find shelter, unfortunately some are in my car. Today, I saw a shorttail weasel in its bright white winter coat chase a shrew across the field. Predator - Prey in action.

I wandered out to my transect this afternoon and saw that the woods is well prepared for the upcoming season. Deciduous trees have lost all their leaves and the wildflowers are no longer visible. Perhaps the most depressing change was the lack of wildlife - nothing had crossed my transect by foot recently.

I can see the snow still falling outside my window but am going to curl up in bed and be in denial of winter's arrival for just a little bit longer.

underwater basket weaving

OK, it wasn't underwater but I still managed to make a basket.....with alot of help.

It is made from birchbark strips woven together.

It turned out nice but tested my patience. This process also reminded me that I really am not a crafter.