This and That

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

I’ve been reading Lewis and Clark: Partners in Discovery, by John Bakeless. Some of it is delightful reading. I have to chuckle at some of the quotes. For example, when Clark comments on the abundance of timber in Oregon; he said they made “the straightest and most butifullest logs.” Both Clark and Lewis were not the best at spelling and grammar. Yet I have to admire their courage and tenacity. When they arrived at the west coast they decided to rest through the winter before they headed back; and in just a matter of three or four months they built a total of eight good sized cabins. And they built them sturdy in order to resist any possible Indian attacks. The men, plus Sacagawea, were highly motivated to do everything they had to do to survive.

Painting. I’m back at painting. It’s good for me and is keeping my blood sugar level down—as I have diabetes.

Green. Everything is greener—wonderful! I was thinking about maybe picking up all the trash around this apartment building left over from the winter. A big mess.

The Turtles are out!

Posted on May 5, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

There are so many turtles in this little lake. They just love to bask in the sun.

Seeing Animals on the Trail

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

I saw ducks through the trees.

I saw red-winged Black Birds.

I saw this small deer–quite friendly.

I saw this beautiful swan.

Spring Flooding

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

It was impossible to walk along the shore of the Mississippi, as I usually do–see the flooding full river. The upper trail was nice and dry.

American Coot

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

I saw this bird while walking on one of my favorite trails. I had to look it up. It is called an American Coot. Notice its white beak and long toes. Here is the description I found.

The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks. But they’re closer relatives of the gangly Sandhill Crane and the nearly invisible rails than of Mallards or teal.

Signs of Spring

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

A full and sparling creek. There is a bit of snow still around, but that will be gone very soon.

Another creek.

chirping blackbirds.

Turtles. These are some of the first turtles I’ve seen. The ducks and geese come first, then the turtles.

Wisdom — Proverbs 14:6-8

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,

But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,

But the foolishness of fools is deceit (Prov. 14:6-8).

Last Year at This Time

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Stephen Nielsen

Last year on this day of March it was a lot warmer. As you can see, the ice on the river is thawed. And the geese are happy. So, it seems that we are at least a few week behind. Oh sun, oh warmer weather, please come. Melt all the ice away.