Flyover and March Report

 

On my walk the other day I saw the first sandhill cranes of the year. I'd seen footprints in the snow, but not the birds yet. And you might remember the place where the cranes nest. The lady who owns that property was outside, and I asked her if they still nested there. She said they do!

I've gotten much better pictures of the cranes other times, but this one is current, and so will be featured.



And now, in other news. My 300 days is half up (of course, I'm fudging and giving myself a year). Not nearly halfway on most goals, but I think I'm still doing more than I might have without any goals.

54 in 300, report on day 159
Number	Category	Item	March	Total
1	WRITING	begin working on North Country Quest again	nothing this month	still about 5 chapters done
2	WRITING	edit Kiss of the Butterfly, submit for publication	nothing	nothing
3	WRITING	100 NC History pages	nothing	just the planning in Nov
4	WRITING	blog about 8 wild foods	none	none
5	WRITING	finish Dead Mule Swamp Druggist	chapters 27-28	10 chapters added
6	WRITING	do 10 book promotion things	1 the big afghan giveaway is in progress (have you entered?)	6
7	WRITING	writing schedule day 50 times	0 (this doesn't mean I didn't write, but this refers to a particular disciplined schedule, and I didn't do any)	9
8	WRITING	5 entries in Off the Sanctuary Wall	none	none
9	WRITING	pursue a contract I can't name yet	follow up contact	no results
10	WRITING	talk to 5 bookstores about carrying mysteries	none	none
11	HOUSE	fix kitchen drawer	DONE	DONE
12	HOUSE	cut down 5 autumn olive trees	none	none
13	HOUSE	clean refrigerator twice	not so soon yet	1
14	HOUSE	replace kitchen faucet	nothing	nothing
15	HOUSE	get lawnmower fixed	nothing	nothing
16	HOUSE	clean terrace	nothing	nothing
17	HOUSE	kitchen light electric box	nothing	nothing
18	HOUSE	replace faucet by washing machine	nothing	nothing
19	HOUSE	put away model railroad stuff	none	none
20	HOUSE	spend 10 hours sorting books	none	2 total
21	FITNESS	increase to 30 pushups	24	increase of 1 since February
22	FITNESS	increase to 100 jumping jacks	75	increase of 5 since February
23	FITNESS	increase to 2 min planking	70 sec	no increase
24	FITNESS	walk, bike, ski or snowshoe 200 times	20	69, better
25	HIKING	NCT Hike 100 Challenge for 2016	3.5	total of 12.5 miles on three SPW hikes
26	HIKING	visit 5 new MI counties to explore trails	none	none
27	HIKING	hike 100 more miles of the Buckeye Trail	maps ordered	this spring
28	HIKING	clear my trail better	0	total of 13 days, wrong season now
29	PERSONAL	Savings Goal	added some	77% to goal
30	PERSONAL	Financial Goal #2	nothing	nothing
31	PERSONAL	lose 10 pounds	0	I'm back to where I was when I started, even the longer walks don't seem to bring results
32	PERSONAL	play music 50 times	4	18
33	PERSONAL	other #1 (200 times)	3	37, not good
34	PERSONAL	other #2	0	1, not on track
35	MISC	make 21 quarts juice	0	7 total
36	MISC	try 10 new wild foods	none	none
37	MISC	some genealogy stuff	reviewed site I started on a while ago	just the review
38	MISC	100 more pix on Shark Shots	8	8 total
39	MISC	2 photo cards documented	nothing	nothing, but backed up some more stuff
40	MISC	give 10 gifts from my kitchen	1	4
41	MISC	eat at Brenda's Burgers	with Ester	DONE
42	MISC	eat at Country Critters	nothing	but I'd better, because it's for sale
43	MISC	take my trailer on 2 trips	none	none
44	MISC	finish monkey booties	1	DONE
45	MISC	get two programs NCT and Kitchen Sink	none	but I have a short program next week
46	MISC	get rid of 100 things	1	9
47	MISC	read or listen to 100 books	17	42 Best one was He Who Hesitates by Ed McBain. This was billed as a simple mystery, but it is almost literary and would make a great play.
48	MISC	move NCC from Josh's garage	nothing	nothing
49	MISC	short bios of 5 relatives	none	none
50	MISC	sort my fabric	nothing	nothing
51	MISC	do something inside my trailer	nothing	nothing
52	MISC	add 50 things to family heritage list	none	none
53	MISC	some VCR tapes to DVD	none	none
54	MISC	some cassette tapes to CD	none	none

	See february Report
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Kale- It's What's for Dinner(s)

 

Kale soup- this afternoon's project. Not quite as good as I'd expected, but good enough. And, I made my biggest pot full, so this means there are about 15 future days (probably not in a row- some will go in the freezer) I won't have to do anything except heat some up.

	See Houston, We Have Soup
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First Turtles of 2016

 
Today was beautiful. Just the right temperature, about 50 degrees, sun shining. I took a 5-mile walk.

There is a small pond/wetland that used to be quite hidden, but there's been some recent timber harvesting that has opened the area up more. Don't know what that will mean for the wildlife in general, but the turtles were sure out catching the rays this afternoon.

Most of them were painted turtles. I saw probably ten of those. However, the best find was a big guy, sharing the same log with one of the painted ones. This is another Blanding's turtle. Considered endangered in general and of special concern in Michigan.



I wasn't sure what it was until I got home and could see the pictures on the computer. They don't usually extend their necks so far out. But when I saw the spots on the shell, that was kind of definitive.


This was the clincher, however. I managed to sneak around and get a shot from the front without scaring it off the log. That yellow chin is the absolute key. Blanding's turtle. No doubt. Also notice the spots on the leg.

This one is not as big as the one I saw a few years ago that I'm pretty sure was bigger than the state record. But this one was cleaner (easier to see features) and closer (better pictures).

You can see the big one at the link below.

	See The Secret Pond and an Amazing Turtle
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Crocus!

 
Not mine, but I can still enjoy them.



Lots of deadlines this week. Catch you later!

	See the last crocus to appear in my gardens
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Springtime Colors- In Church Anyway

 
Happy Easter!

Still gray and brown outside, although most of the white stuff is gone again. It was really nice to have beautiful flowers in church this morning.






The theme for Lent has been caterpillars to butterflies, so today everyone came forward and stuck a little silk butterfly on a cross as a symbol of new life. Lots of great Easter music.



In the afternoon I took a five-mile walk. All gray and brown, but I did catch something lively. A red squirrel. Pretty sure not one of mine since it was over a mile away.

	See Easter 2011
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Author Promotion and Birthday Giveaway

 
Win this beautiful windowpane afghan, edged in the colors of your choice, on my birthday


In progress, made by me, finished size approximately 60" x 75"
Should be done by the end of April

Enter as many times as you like– here’s how
There are 2 parts to each entry: 1- do it, and 2- make sure I know you did it.

How to do it:
any of the following gets you 1 or 2 entries
      1 entry- share something about my books in a public place (Facebook, a blog, at your workplace, etc)
      2 entries- post a review of any of my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Goodreads, B&N, etc
      2 entries- buy one of my books, print or e-book

How to make sure I know you did it:
      Best method- email me at jhyshark@gmail.com
      2nd best method- leave a comment at Joan of Shark
      Not so good method- tell me in person
      Totally unacceptable- assume I saw that you did something

Example: Buy one of my books, write a review and publish it on Amazon and Goodreads; result, you get 6 chances for the afghan.
Example: Buy a book, share a picture of you reading it on Facebook, you get 3 chances
(a previously purchased book would only get you one entry for the share).
Example: Buy two books, get 4 chances
In all cases you MUST tell me what you did and how to contact you- I have no way of knowing who buys my books online, and I may miss something you share.
Many other combinations, or types of sharing will count

You have until midnight EDT April 24, 2016 (my birthday) to create entries.
Drawing will be held for the winning entry on Monday, April 25, 2016.
      1st place- windowpane afghan
      2nd place- one book of your choice


For all books by Joan H. Young visit Books Leaving Footprints

	See Joan of Shark
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Beautiful Morning

 
Today was really lovely, at almost any moment. The ice and snow was melting from the time the first rays of sun hit. The sky was blue, and it all combined to great effect.

First was the sunrise.



Followed by light glowing on the far trees out back- have to be two more pictures in the series "Moods of My Backyard." I REALLY love that backyard.






Just for a little humor, the ice-coated weeds sticking up through the snow gleamed like popsicles.




I'm off to work very soon.

	See Moods of My Backyard
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Little Pleasures

 
These two pictures are left over from Saturday's walk.

It's not that the snow and ice isn't pretty. It really is. But I wanted to share these with you, and so they win for today.

A little surprise like a very early English daisy, Bellis perennis, was easily enough to bring on a smile. I know they are considered by some to be a terrible nuisance in yards, but I love them.



I had to get help to identify the second little treat. I'm just not a very good birder. I saw a bird moving in the grass ahead of me, and it held still long enough for me to get a poor picture (which is a slight improvement on no picture!).

Well, I could do better than little brown bird. I knew it was a sparrow, but which one? My bird guy says song sparrow, Melospiza melodia. If he'd posed for me at a better angle, I would have known. If he'd sung for me, I would have known! I'm much better at botany than birds. Nevertheless, a little spark of spring wildlife was welcome.

	See Song Sparrow
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Well, it IS Michigan...

 

Monday



Today



That is all.

	See Nasty and Nice
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Mrs. Shoveler

 
Look who was back on the little pond on my walking route.



Yes, it's the northern shoveler duck. And he's not alone. She's not too distinctive, but you can certainly tell what she is from the big bill.



I wonder if they are looking for a nesting spot, or just passing through.

	See Northern Shoveler
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Switzer Lake

 
Found a new little lake today. And I do mean little! But it has a public access, so there must be some sort of fish in it.

This is Switzer Lake looking northeast.



And southeast.



A stream flows out the south end of it, and less than a half mile away that reaches the Middle Branch of (you knew I was going to say this) the Pere Marquette River.

This picture is taken from the nearest bridge, and the creek from the lake is coming in from the left, right at the very bottom of the picture. I took these first, and didn't realize I was going to want to show you the tiny creek.



As you can see, the middle branch is smaller. The prettiest picture is looking downstream from the bridge.



You know I love finding new places!

	See Map of the Pere Marquette
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Bark and No Bark

 
These are just some of the other pictures I took on my walk yesterday.

First is some bark from a fallen quaking aspen that has weathered and is being colonized by a fungus. In the gray and brown month of March, my eye is drawn to anything that shows some color.



The interesting thing about this apple branch is the lack of bark. Someone's been having a feast. My guess is a rabbit. No, not a tree-climbing rabbit. The tree had broken and this branch was on the ground although still living (maybe not for much longer).



Finally, I love the bark on this white cedar. This single tree should be in my series of polka-dots and stripes.


How about those stripes? Wonder what caused them.

	See Six Miles, No Car, No Roads See Polka Dots and Stripes 3
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