With tottering legs, the fawns arrive on Eighty Acres in early May. Beautifully camouflaged and weighing only 6-8 pounds at birth, discovering one in their natural surroundings is a rare gift. They soon learn that their long legs can be used for escaping predators or just jumping because it's fun! While I was looking for trillium, this fawn was unexpectedly spotted and its instinct told it to freeze; hoping I would pass by. After several photos, I slowly and quietly backed

It's a long trip from Northern South America, but this week the Scarlet Tanager finally arrived back to Eighty Acres. The bird is stunning with a blood red body and deep black wings. Lucky for me it stopped by the feeder for a quick snack and drink of water and then it was gone. I seldom see the bird in the Summer because it spends most of its time high in the forest canopy. Its main concern throughout the season is the Brown Headed Cowbird. The crafty Cowbird raids the Sc

Over the hill!! Grandson Benjamin rolls the holiday tree into the Eighty Acres Christmas Tree Graveyard. For over 20 years the Christmas trees with their bits of forgotten ribbons, tinsel, and tiny ornaments have collected in the same ravine. Family lore now speaks of how the birds and animals gather on Christmas Eve nights to take these forgotten treasures; along with pine cones, dried leaves, and frozen berries to decorate their own Earth Mother's Christmas trees. Skeptica

Each year around April 1st the Earth Mother sends her Eastern Bluebirds back to Eighty Acres where ten Bluebird box nests await their arrival. Immediately the bird battles begin. Bluebirds, Wrens, Sparrows and Swallows all vie for the same property! There are no guarantees who will win the wars, but enough Bluebirds succeed each year to make their home on Eighty Acres. An ample food supply awaits the Bluebirds on Eighty Acres. Elderberries and a wide variety of insects

Over the past 25 years I have seen only a fleeting glimpse of a Red Fox on Eighty Acres. Until last week! While overlooking the valley from my house windows I saw this Red Fox moving slowly and cautiously across the field. Grabbing my Canon camera I raced out, dressed only in my robe and slippers, and quietly tiptoed to the ridge of the hill. Fortunately the wind was blowing in the perfect direction so that the fox was unaware that I stood only forty yards away on the hill

Several years ago my wife Terry and I purchased a parcel of land near Menomonie, Wisconsin. Twenty acres was tillable and sixty acres of rolling hills covered with Birch, Maple, Oak, Cherry and Pine trees. In 1991 we built our home on a hillside overlooking the farmland and prairies. As the years passed, family and friends began to refer to our home and land as “Eighty Acres”. Today I invite you to walk with me on this land. Through my photos and stories I hope to share