Spring is in the Air

The time change is making me angrier and angrier with each passing year, being out in the cold and dark, and the snow seemed to stick around forever this year, so this beautiful cotton candy sunrise was a most welcomed reminder that it would not last forever!

Tiny green leaves poking out!

The blood moon was pretty splendorous this year!  The clouds gave it a lovely halo, but it was very clear, and very large, when we spied it before school one day.

There have been a few precious days this year, so far, that I could comfortably walk to drop off and collect the twins.   On the first of these days, the river looked as still as a lake!

Another of these days was sunnier, and the tiny flowers peeking out added color and glee to my walk!

Looking forward to warmer days, more walks, and plenty of natural wonders to enjoy.

later days

Nature

It's cold here, like, hasn't been above freezing in over a week cold, so we aren't outside much other than shovelling.

However, the mornings, are cold, but stunning!  And we're getting more daylight each day, so my mood is also improving. lol.

Since there is ongoing construction each morning at drop off, this picture is a great representation of this year!

Grace rolled down the window for this one!

We have a storm brewing, it's supposed to hit tomorrow, and the clouds were just roiling in the sky.  If you look closely, you can also see the moon! I was taking the picture through my windshield though, and it looks like it may have distorted what I saw.

And this was so pretty, I ventured out into the snowy backyard to get it, because I didn't want to take it through the window and screen!

I am thankful for beautiful sights, year-round.

later days

Outside

Most days this time of year, it hurts to be outside, so the pictures are fewer and further between.  We did have a few good pictures of nature this round though!

Grace really liked the sky after we finished our robotics day, so she was the one who took this picture.

The moon peeking out on the same day.

The bush right outside of our kitchen window had lots of berries this year, and the birds came visiting often!  But on the day of our first sticking snow, we had lots of visitors!

 The berries are gone now, and so are the birds*. = (  Hopefully I'll get to see them again soon!

later days

*Yesterday I saw several groups of geese flying north!!!

78 Michigan Parks: Sterling State Park #78

We enjoyed our time at Belle Isle, but really wanted to fit in a second state park, so we drove, southwest into the sun, to get to Sterling State Park, off of Lake Erie.

They had a proper sign. lol. 

As we pulled up, the parking lot was mostly empty, but the view was stunning!

I have never seen such a beautiful moon rise!  The colors were surreal!

The pictures don't even come close to doing it justice.  I took soooo many pictures, because it was just so astounding!

Goose prints!

The moon was HUGE!!! It just didn't come across well on the camera, but it was breathtaking.

The kids could have happily played here for a good long while, but when we exited the interstate, we saw a sign for a National Battleground site.  We thought, why not, while we're here?

But one more picture of Lake Erie in the moonrise.

These pictures are also a bit misleading, it was proper dark at the Battleground.  It was also getting cold.

William in front of the moon, holding a pretend gun.

The building on the battle ground site was permanently closed, so we headed over to the new site.  Sadly, we were caught by a stopping train, and waited there a looooooooooong time.  But we did find the new site, and I do love my signage, so here they are by the official sign!

At home, a few days later, I used my CD scratch remover (that may or may not be older than Alice) to fix the Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakal DVD, without success.  We were able to skip chapter one, which was mostly company logos and things, so they got to watch the rest of the film here!

It was a long day, but made for quite the adventure, and none of the kids fought me when it was time to get up the next morning!  This project is making for quite a few fun memories! = )

later days

If you want to see all the ones we've visited so far, here are the links to the posts:

Tahquamenon Falls #15
Keith J Charters #33
Silver Lake State Park #49
Muskegon State Park #50*
Newaygo State Park #51
PJ Hoffmaster State Park #52
Grand Haven State Park #53
Ionia State Park #54
Sleepy Hollow State Park #55
Holland State Park #61
Island Park State Recreation Area #63b
Dodge #4 State Park #66a
Bald Moutain State Recreation Area #66b
Fort Custer Recreation Area #69
Waterloo Recreation Area #70a
Pickney State Recreation Area #70b

Belle Isle Park #72

Van Buren State Park #73

edit 10-26-24: backdated for continuity. 

A Very Short Nature Post

It's been getting a little chilly, so I've been walking less, but had a few fun things to share.

The first was a picture that Alice took of the harvest moon.  It was HUGE!  I was not able to get a picture on my way to get her from band, but it was impressive.

I think I may have actually taken this picture at Horrocks, but they flowers were so pretty, I couldn't help myself.

This leaf in our yard was giving me Land Before Time vibes. = )

 See, short and sweet!

later days