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.

Found the trails behind our house

My neighbor told me there were trails behind the house.  Several members of our Thanksgiving group last fall found trails coming up from the pond.  I wanted to see how I could go from my house to the pond and bike trail.  I knew I could cut through the woods but wanted to map things out.

On MLK Day, I went straight back from my house and ran into a trail.  I found where the trail comes into the woods and also found a fork in the trail.  Going right, the trail drops off very quickly and apparently goes down to the pond and then back toward the Tai Dam Village.  To the left wanders down toward the pond and comes up where we were on T-Day.  Here is an overhead map.  I took some photos in the woods but they didn't turn out very clear.

My attempt at a map.  Will explore the "?" someday...

Brickyard pond

Bald Eagle sighting

The Des Moines Register had pictures of Bald Eagles just south of Saylorville Lake this morning.  While I was driving to work this morning, saw a Bald Eagle flying over the bike trail near our home.  I figure being close to the river we will see quite a few.