A recent Eighty Acres sunset got me thinking about what heaven might be like. Just speculating whether there will always be an awesome internet connection. Just wondering. #Mindfukness #Menomonie #sunsets #Discoverwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Naturephotography #MenomonieWisconsin #photography #Midwest #wisconsin

Over the past week I have spent a considerable amount of time attempting to identify the swallowtail pictured above. To me the world of swallowtails is quite confusing. There are hundreds of swallowtail species and when I attempt to navigate the subtle differences in their appearances I become confused. So I decided I would just be mindful of the butterfly's beauty and enjoy the moment as it rested upon a coneflower in my garden. But, if I had to take a guess, I would say i

The house wren sang it's last song this week. This tiny bird with a gigantic song only sings during the nesting season. Here you see the mother calling to her young, encouraging them to launch themselves from the nesting box, and trust that their tiny wings will carry them to a safe landing spot. How quickly the summer is passing and the wrens will soon depart Eighty Acres to begin their journey south. After they are gone I will remember their songs. I wonder when we are gone

It's not uncommon for a group of bucks to run as a pack during the spring and summer months. During the rut season it is a different story, but tonight it's a boys night out. And I suppose their moms would say," behave yourself, look both ways when you cross the street, and you better be home before the sun comes up." #Eightyacresphotography #DeerinVelvet #Menomonie #Discoverwisconsin #travelwisconsin #Whitetaildeer #MenomonieWisconsin #Naturephotography #Wisconsin #TravelW

Happy father's day to all the dads! This male red-breasted grosbeak has a distinctive and beautiful song. A metallic-like click, its melodious notes float down from the tree tops on Eighty Acres. In an attempt to mimic the grosbeak and maybe join in a duet, I pursed my lips and with gusto, whistled an ungodly rendition. The grosbeak went completely silent. No more duets! Next time I think I'll just stick to softly humming. #Menomonie #travelwisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #Ro

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

Alberta Canada, our northern neighbor, is a beautiful place with majestic mountains, prairies, and many lakes. But now it is an inferno. Fires in Alberta continue to burn out of control. Nearly a million acres are now charred, with the largest fire in the Chuckegg Creek region. The toxic smoke billows, reaches to the skies, drifts to the east, and creates spectacular sunsets over Eighty Acres. I'm sending all the good people in Alberta my prayers and hoping for better days

I always thought this bird belonged to the sparrow family. Wrong! It is a female Red-breasted Grosbeak Each year they arrive on Eighty Acres after their long migration from South America. The male grosbeaks capture most of our attention due to their distinctive black and white wings, plus their unique red and pink patches on their breasts. Today let's celebrate the beauty of the female's brown and dark colored stripes, her pink beak and distinctive white stripe over each eye

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

The spring flowers are in full bloom, shouting for attention, painting Eighty Acres in a wide array dazzling colors. "Look at me." It's their time to shine. To drive away a colorless land. It's their glory days. #Menomonie #travelwisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #DahliaFlowers #EightyAcresPhotography #Naturephotography #wisconsin #Midwest #DunnCounty #TravelWI #SeasonsonEightyAcres

The Scarlet Tanager winters primarily in Columbia and Bolivia South America and is scheduled to arrive back to Eighty Acres in the next few days. Their arrival will be hard to miss. The male will dress in his usual fire red coat trimmed with jet black wings. The female will select a softer olive and yellow outfit. They will feed on insects and will build their nest, high in the forest canopy using grasses, twigs and leaves. Three to four greenish, brown spotted eggs will

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

Traveling from southern U.S. and Mexico, the eastern bluebirds returned to Eighty Acres on April 1st. They are on a mission. Mating. Building their nests. Laying 4-6 eggs. Feeding the young with the baby bluebirds first flight in 21 days. And then....they do it all again a second time each summer. The male bluebird pictured above is taking a well deserved break in the bird bath. Do it quickly. There is much to do! #Menomonie #travelwisconsin #dunncounty #Bluebirds #Di

The Eighty Acres trails are wet with slippery leaves and mud, with patches of dirty snow hiding in the shadows of large oak trees. I shiver as the cold wind bites my face and silently curse the slowness of spring's arrival. I then discover this elderberry bud and realize that the Earth Mother has once again kept her promise of spring. #Menomonie #dunncounty #Discoverwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Naturephotography #EarthMother #Wisconsin #Midwest #TravelWI #Spring

A single drop of water from melting snow began its life journey under a sunset on Eighty Acres. It soon reached the Red Cedar River...then the Chippewa River... and finally the Mississippi. At times the journey was calm and still in shallow waters. Other times the journey was dark, with deep water, raging rapids, fatigue and uncertainty. Each day the droplet moved forward towards its destiny, until the sky and water finally met and there was only peace. #Menomonie #travelwi

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

Hi!. I'm Tom the turkey. Take a good look at me. Come November and Thanksgiving, I'll be hiding and you won't find me strutting across your yard. #travelwisconsin #SeasonsonEightyAcres #Eightyacresphotography #TravelWI #EarthMother #Wisconsin #Winter #Midwest #DunnCounty #NaturePhotography #Discoverwisconsin #wildlife #photography #Bird #Turkey #Menomonie

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

Let me introduce myself. I was born on Eighty Acres and am now nine months old. This is my first winter and my mother told me we set a record for February snowfall. As I reflected upon this achievement, I feel proud to be a part of this historic event. But to be frank with you...overall...it sucks!. #Eightyacresphotography #TravelWI #Discoverwisconsin #EarthMother #Midwest #Wisconsin #DunnCounty #NaturePhotography #WhiteTailedDeer #SeasonsonEightyAcres #Menomonie