December 21st the official start of winter. It is the shortest day and longest night and signals the beginning of the difficult road ahead for the wildlife to survive on Eighty Acres. This beautiful buck managed to avoid the hunter's bullets and arrows, but deep snow, frigid temps and a limited food supply will require the deer to skillfully conserve its strength through the bitter months ahead. The Earth Mother has assisted the deer's survival by providing a dense winter coa

Far above Eighty Acres the rotund moon marched across the night sky. Just as the sun was about to chase it away, the moon seemed to pause on the western horizon. It was then I thanked the Earth Mother for this special moment and softly whispered goodbye as it disappeared over the hill. #Mindfulness #EarthMotherssecrets #EarthMother #EightyAcresPhotography #TravelWI #Naturephotography #DunnCounty #photography #MenomonieWisconsin #Moonsetting

The black snake softly hissed to me as I walked by the Eighty Acres cherry tree. I stopped and gazed into the snake's deep and empty inky eyes. Its melodious voice tempted me to taste her sweet nectar and promised me all the worldly pleasures. I reached, sipped, and now forever regret. #EightyAcresPhotography #dunncounty #Naturephotography #wisconsin #photography #Midwest #TravelWI #Discoverwisconsin #MenomonieWisconsin #EarthMotherssecrets #Temptations

The story of the crab apple tree began this spring when it awoke with an explosion of red and pink blossoms. Bees and butterflies were frequent visitors to the blossoms as they sipped the sweet nectar. Its branches provided a nesting place for the birds and shade for the hostas below. In the fall, finches and chickadees feasted on the sour and bitter tasting tiny apples. But now it is time for the tree to go sleep for many months. In April, the Earth Mother will gently nudge

Each evening the battle between light and dark begins and each time the sun loses. But the sun is very proud and somewhat vain and often times will not depart until it prepares the most spectacular exit. Like the final scene from a play, the day's curtain begins to fall, the music crescendos and the sun hurls fiery colors across the sky. People stand in awe and often times bottles and champaign glasses are lifted to the sky, with eloquent toasts made in the sun's honor. And t

The clothes line that so often holds bedsheets, flannel shirts, denim jeans, cotton blouses, and strategically hidden undergarments, now has clothes pins holding colorful fall leaves. For two days the crucified-like leaves hang from the clothes line as the breeze gently sways them to the beat of their last dance. As the hours pass, the rich colors slowly drain from their veins and the leaves turn to a nutty brown hue. Finally released, the leaves fall to the ground and become

I dream I am lost in a sea of gossamer. A shrouded world without direction, and I pray for a lighthouse to steer my direction home. Far away a dog barks. A crow's wings slice the fog just above my head. Somewhere a church bell rings. I am trapped and stumble in this smokey vapor. Footsteps are near and panic grabs my soul. Wake up! Wake up! I don't want to dream anymore. #travelwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Naturephotography #photography #DunnCounty #MenomonieWisconsin #

Today I will sit quietly in the sunflower garden. Mindful of my deep breathing, I will bring sunshine into my lungs and soon my heart will be calm. It will be a magical day and I will wear a bright yellow scarf and softly sway as the wind moves the the flowers above my head. Under the yellow canopy I will listen to the sunflower's songs and stories and I will be at peace as I whisper a thank you prayer to the Earth Mother. Today will be a special day. #Mindfukness #travelwisc

I was born in May and weighed 15 pounds. Since that time I have really grown, but mom continues to keep me stashed away in some tick infested brush pile. I've been so bored I even counted the number of spots on my back. Around 300 if you need to know. But today I escaped from mom. On my own. Running. Jumping. Don't know where I'm going but who cares! But..... I am feeling a bit hungry and Mom does feed me 4-6 times each day. I'm going back. I need to find mom. Maybe I'll

Near the heart of Eighty Acres you will find a bench. It was not a complicated building project. Simply an old picnic table board nailed into two sturdy oak logs. It is placed under the out stretched arms of my spirit tree and here you will find me sitting and listening to the land speak to me. I visit the bench often where I read the poems of Mary Oliver, drink my coffee, pray in my own personal way and practice being mindful of the Earth Mother's gifts. Few are invited to

Mention the word dandelions to someone and you will generally receive a visceral reaction. Each year homeowners spend huge amounts of time and money in an attempt to irradiate them from the face of the earth. It's a constant battle with the outcome already determined. The dandelions will win. The dandelion puff ball pictured above carries between 50-100 individual seeds and with their parachute like design, allows the wind to carry them up to five miles away. Just imagine th

Once upon a time there lived a very handsome green toad on Eighty Acres. But he was a lonely toad, and had often heard the story of a beautiful princess who kissed the toad and a miracle happened. Then one day a beautiful princess came walking down the trail on Eighty Acres. Their eyes met....they softly kissed...and the princess suddenly turned into beautiful green toad. Ah yes. They fell in love and were married by the toad's cousin, Kermit the Frog. And so, I am told by

A full moon in April is often referred to as a "pink moon," I was up early to capture this photo of the setting moon, but came away wondering why it is called a pink moon? My research revealed that moon names are often attributed to Native American observations of the seasons. April is the time pink ground phlox bloom, thus it became the name of the April moon. Depending on location, the April moon is also know as the sprouting grass moon, fish moon or budding moon. A won

My younger brother was my best man at our wedding, but the fog has captured his mind and he now resides in a memory care unit. A musician, singer, songwriter, once so vibrant, a lover of books. Does he feel afraid? Is there only gray in his world? Does he have another song to sing? Is he hoping for a breeze to blow the fog away? Will he ever remember the day I was married, as he stood so straight, tall, smiling by my side? Damn the fog! #photography #travelwisconsin #Eart

Each dawn and dusk the battle between day and night takes place. From east to west, each side struggles for control. Each side knowing it will win. Each side knowing it will lose. At the end of this day, darkness stretches its long shadows and calls for the moon and stars to make their entrance. But before the sun slips over the horizon, it paints the sky in brilliant red, yellow and orange colors and shouts in its loudest voice. Look at me! I will be back! #TravelWI #sun

Due to the deep snow and cold temps deer are exploring every type of food source available. Pictured above are an adult doe and yearling visiting my bird feeder. A quick right jab from the doe sent the yearling running away. It is now late winter and it has become the survival of the fittest. In order for the yearling to survive, the warm breezes of spring will need to come soon. #SeasonsonEightyAcres #EarthMotherssecrets #wintersurvival #TravelWI #Winter #Spring #Discoverw

A brutal February blizzard with twelve inches of snow and wind gusts up to 40mph pounded Eighty Acres. Drifts made the roads impassable and swirling white-out conditions forced the birds, animals and people to simply hunker down and wait for the fury of the storm to subside. Aching shoulders from shoveling and worries about the pole barn roof collapsing were all forgotten as the Earth Mother sent a beautiful evening sunset and gave me hope for tomorrow. #travelwisconsin #Sea

Upon an trail on Eighty Acres, I discovered scattered woodpecker feathers. I stopped, knelt and tried to piece together this woodpecker's story. I wondered if the woodpecker's eyes had ever met mine? Did I hear its song? Did it taste the suet from the feeder? Did it dance in the sky above Eighty Acres? Soon the wind will blow the feathers away. Others will be covered with snow. Maybe a few will be used for nest building. For a moment I linger and ponder the sadness o

Each winter whitetail bucks shed their antlers. It's then I become a shed hunter on Eighty Acres. During the early spring, I spend countless hours tromping through the woods searching for a shed. But I must confess, I will be lucky to discover one antler every two years. Oh, but what child-like joy I experience when I finally do spot a shiny antler hidden amongst the dried oak leaves. It is then I say thank you to the Earth Mother for this simple, yet special gift given to m

How often have we walked past a simple pinecone laying upon the ground? Why do we become blind to the beauty in the ordinary? Next time you spot a pinecone I urge you to stop. Pick it up! See the subtle shades of tans, browns and blacks so carefully blended into the cup-like seeds. Smell the earthy pine perfume. Touch the seeds and feel the smooth bark and needle-like tips. Rub the pine pitch between your fingers. And understand that these seeds drop for a reason. They a