The Wild Life

Even though we live in the city, we see our share of wildlife.  Last weekend an eagle was circling over our house.

Bald Eagle

Ducks and geese were getting ready to start nesting at a nearby pond.

Duck Duo
White Goose
Grey Goose

And this morning two deer were resting in our neighbor’s backyard.

Taking A Break
Deer Duo
A Leg Up

We definitely live on the wild side.  😉

A Smattering Of Recent Days

A look through my iPhone camera roll and recent pictures on my Canon didn’t provide anything amazing, but at the same time gave a glimpse of the last week or so.

This iPhone photo was taken in my neighborhood on a drive home from work.  Notice the hood of my vehicle on the bottom right.  I did stop and park before taking the picture.

Freshly Fallen Snow | March 21

 

Here’s an iPhone photo of Sophia before she headed off to Wolf Ridge Environment Learning Center for three days last week.  She was super excited for the trip with her 4th grade class.  She returned home with wonderful stories and memories which included seeing a porcupine, starting a campfire and looking through owl pellets and assembling the skeleton of a mouse.

Packed & Ready To Go | March 26

 

Here’s another recent snowstorm photo.  The sun had just come up and the tree to the far left was glowing in the morning light.

After The Storm | March 28

 

Sophia took this picture of the race car Sebastian made in his PTLW class at school.  He learned how to use power tools to create it and then finished it off with a fancy paint job and red tires.  Very cool!  (p.s. He got an “A” on the project)

Hot Rod | March 28

 

It has become commonplace to see a Coast Guard Cutter out on the lake.  Sebastian spotted this one on Friday coming back in towards Duluth.

Across The Lake | March 28

 

We have an ongoing tradition of Friday night “pizza & movie night”.  This past Friday was a bit hectic – Sophia had just returned from Wolf Ridge, Mike was coming home from a day trip to the Twin Cities for a funeral and Sebastian was heading out to a preseason baseball team gathering.  Despite the chaotic day, I took out my awesome Kitchen-Aid mixer and whipped up a batch of pizza dough.  Mike and I shared a tomato-basil pizza.  We finished the whole thing that night.  I think Mike ate three-quarters of it himself.  I guess he liked it as much as I did – or maybe even more.

Homemade Margherita Pizza | March 28

 

We attended a fundraiser brunch this past Sunday.  This is one of the beautiful ice sculptures that was on display.  The food was amazing and we all went home very full.

Nice Ice | March 30

 

With baseball season just around the corner (or when the five feet of snow on the field melts), Mike and Sebastian went shopping for a new baseball bat.  Sebastian wanted to try a few swings at the batting cage after brunch.  There is also a huge game area in the complex and Sophia was very happy to kill some time there.  She ended up hitting two jackpots and accumulated over 500 tickets to redeem for “fabulous prizes”.  She came home with a large stuffed frog, a green ball, two Thin Mints and a spinning top.

Winner! | March 30

 

In order to work off all of the brunch food, I took Daphne for a long walk on a trail near a pond.  We spotted some ducks and geese (not pictured).  I think they migrated north a bit too soon.

Snow Ducks | March 30
On Frozen Pond | March 30

 

While I was busy walking Daphne, Mike and Sophia worked on creating a snowman.

Building Olaf | March 30
Sophia & Olaf | March 30

 

Upon my return to work this morning, another Coast Guard Cutter was docked in the harbor.  The Morro Bay had returned from its journey out on Lake Superior and was in need of repairs to its rudder.  With the ice as thick as eight feet in some areas, the Cutter was no match for Lake Superior.

In Need Of Repair | March 31

Trio

Looking out towards the lake on Monday evening we spotted a Coast Guard Cutter headed in the direction of  the Aerial Lift Bridge. Then we saw another one and another one.  A trio of Coast Guard Cutters were coming in to get fuel and provisions before leading a convoy of two or three lakers (boats) from Two Harbors, back across the lake and  to the Soo Locks.   My 70-200mm lens helped to bring them into focus, but they were still very far away.  I was fortunate to see them up close this morning on way into work as they were docked and getting prepped for the next leg of their journey.

Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw
Coast Guard Cutter Morro Bay

I missed getting a photo of the third Coast Guard Cutter, Katmai Bay.  I wasn’t expecting to see a third one until my view was partially blocked by trees.

Here are all three boats docked this morning.

Trio Of Coast Guard Cutters
Katmai Bay
Morro Bay
Mackinaw

 

Ice Blossom
Ice Flow

Temperatures were in the single digits this morning with a below zero windchill.  Although spring is here according to the calendar and shipping season on the Great Lakes is underway, the weather is not cooperating.  Judging by all of the ice still on the lake and in the harbor, the Coast Guard Cutters will have their work cut out for them. (Pun intended)