HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween!!! We gave our birds some pumpkin enrichment just for the occassion :) After they figured out the pumpkins wouldn't explode, most quickly grabbed the food!

Destroying the pumpkin

New Perch!

I had way too much fun making this mouse pumpkin!

Leaning as much as possible to get the food!

Back to the Northwoods

This past weekend, I headed up to visit friends and critters at Audubon. It was great to catch up with folks and see a few of my favorite animals :)

Spike investigating some raspberry

Spike and I

Northwoods Cookies!

Coffee Table

So, I got this really awesome birthday gift. My grandpa built me a coffee table for my apartment using reclaimed wood. I guess this wood is about 130 years old and has lots of cool looking knots and holes. Its awesome!

Me and my grandpa with the table

The table in my apartment - looks great!

View of the table from the top

My Drive to Work

I am lucky - I get to drive to work following the Mississippi River. Many mornings, I am easily distracted by the beauty, the birds and other critters. Occasionally, I have enough time on my drive to or from work that I can pull over and take a few pictures. The past week in particular has been awesome!

Cormorants (I think) having a party

Juvenile Bald Eagle

River on a cloudy day

River perfectly calm and glass-like

Love the reflections!

Hike to Buena Vista

There is a fantastic city park right in the city of Alma. Its called Buena Vista. You can either drive up and enjoy the view or hike to it right from my apartment building. The trail is good and the views are great the whole way up. Here are a few pictures from my latest hike!

The Trail

Oak Tree

Aspen Tree (I think)

Me along the trail

Almost to the top

Made it!

Deliciousness!

I have been busy baking things over the past week. Some things I found on pinterest, some are recipes I have had for years. Love spending days were the weather is crappy baking up goodies. I didn't take pictures of everything but here are 2 of the standouts!

On the top is my attempt at "Dr Seuss cookies" - tasted just like sugar cookies but I didn't quite get the swirl effect. On the bottom are my northwoods cutouts - notice the porcupine!!

Cinnamon rolls from scratch for dinner - AMAZING!

Whitewater State Park

I love fall. The cool crisp air. Beautiful leaves. Sweatshirts. Lots of blankets. Hot beverages. Whats not to love?

Today was an amazing fall day so I took advantage and headed over to Whitewater State Park for a hike. I hiked to Inspiration Point and it was fantastic.

Bald Eagle - one of the many raptors I saw today

Stopped to enjoy the view on my way up the bluff

Its fall and Whitewater was just about at its peak for leaf color

Inspiration Point - totally worth the hike. AMAZING views!