The salad bar is open

The deer like the rock garden next door.  Good variety.

"I want to go all the way to the pond..."

Early out from school on Thursday.  Nice weather.  Time to hit the trails again.  This time, Jake wanted to go a different way and all the way to the pond.  There are numerous trails throughout the woods and we agreed we will have to leave some undiscovered for now.  Maddy didn't have the right shoes so she didn't go.  We will need her next time as we attempt to update our map of trails.  Speaking of maps, the bottom image shows in red the first trail we took (see earlier post).  On this day, we followed the trail in blue all the way down to the pond.

Sometimes you have to clear your way.

The trail leading to the  Tai Dam Village.

Part of the village.

The bike trail is just beyond the building.

Pretty view even without green.

You can see the area across the pond where we were last time.

A young explorer.

Click to enlarge.

Pretty snow

Too soon!

I put out some tulip bulbs at Thanksgiving.  Thought it would too late.  Now they are coming up too early!  This photo taken 2/22.

Finally some snow...

We finally got measurable snow on Saturday.  Amounts varied around the metro area but it was enough for Russ to enjoy!  He didn't mind lying in the snow and at time thought his nose was a shovel.  Here is our boy at "maximum fuzz" (at the groomer today) having a ball.

"Early out" from school today and nice weather...

Time to hit the trails.  Maddy and Jake were out early today and it was nice so we decided to see what my map was all about and find our way down to the pond.  Before we got to the trail, we saw three deer wandering in the woods.  No antlers so not sure what all we were seeing.  Jake brought a journal and made notes of what we came across. 

My lucky day!  I found a lens cap to my binoculars I lost in the snow the first time I went out.  It was a little muddy but we made it.  Took a few photos.  Maddy thought pictures with the pond in the background would be good for family photos.

Keeping a journal.

Des Moines River

Down to the bike trail and the river.

Brickyard pond

Al likes this tree.  Look for Jake!

This is another trail we didn't take.  Steep incline.

Dinner for one? A young buck this morning next door.