Up a River Without a Weather Map

Whenever I try to do something outdoorsy with DH, it's always an adventure. Over the past twenty years, we've been stranded in the Everglades on a Hobie cat, we've sailed through storms in the Gulf of Mexico, camped in the deserts of Arizona with no human being around for literally hundreds of miles, barely escaping a monsoon flash flood through the wash we were camped in, and more.

Yesterday, we went for a leisurely canoe trip down the St. Croix....

We saw Great Blue herons, Cliff swallows, the usual suspects like wrens, song sparrows, crows and turtles, and best of all, no people.


We stopped on a little island for a picnic.... and noticed a big storm brewing downriver, heading our way.


Instead of trying to outrun it, we decided to sit it out. Good thing we did. Thunder, lightning and ferocious winds. Yes, we were scared hiding out under our aluminum canoe.

After the worst had passed, we decided maybe it was time to leave. Since the wind was blowing upriver, we didn't continue down to the takeout spot - instead we paddled back upriver to where we started. It only lightninged and thundered a few times while we were in the water. Eeek. When we got out, we explored the glacial potholes.

And did some amateur rock-climbing.

And general sightseeing...

Yes, our adventures... never a dull moment.

Only Child

"You Can't See Me!"

The other two eggs never hatched, so this little guy is getting all the grub for himself. Whenever I go near the porch, I can hear the parents in the tree behind me calling out a warning. Judging from his size, the little dude should be fledging soon.

The hummingbird eggs have hatched. Click on the link to see how cute they are!

Going, going... Goslings!

"Come back, Ma! You're on the wrong side of the fence!"

Six adorable little goslings hatched on May 1, just as predicted.

Hmmm...

Do I have that finchy look?