Today the crabapple tree's bold summer reds, subdued winter whites, and the early morning sunshine all magically came together on Eighty Acres. And the Earth Mother spoke to the land and said it is time to rest and go to sleep under a white quilt of snow. But do not fear. I promise I will awaken you when it is time for spring. #travelwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #DunnCounty #Naturephotography #TravelWI #Discoverwisconsin #Wisconsin #MenomonieWisconsin #EarthMother #Midwe

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

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

When and how was this path created on Eighty Acres? Was it simply an old cow path? A deer trail? A loggers road cut through the woods? Each day I continue to walk this well worn path as if it is the only road to travel. I know each step by heart. Each tree and each curve are always in their same position. Never lost. Always knowing when I will arrive safely home. But today I will find the courage to travel a new path. No doubt I will become lost. Uncertain. A bit afraid

High in the sky above Eighty Acres, snowflakes formed. Each flake chose its own path downward as it swirled, danced, dipped, and finally settled upon my porch windows. In a short time the flakes disappeared transforming into hundreds of water droplets. With a little help from a piece of black tagboard outside the window, I was able to capture this shot. Beautiful snowflakes changed into another kind of beauty. #travelwisconsin #Winter #photography #wisconsin #Naturephotograph

Evening sunlight touches the tall grass on Eighty Acres. Like a mop of unkept hair or an old man's beard, the wind rustles through the dried fall grass and the Earth Mother whispers to me of the winter to come. #Fallcolors #wisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #EarthMotherssecrets #TravelWI #Winter #EarthMother #DunnCounty #Midwest #sunsets #FallGrass

Seldom seen during the day, a scraggly coyote moves quietly through the snow on Eighty Acres. Coyotes are easily identified by their bushy tails, yellow eyes, pointed ears and long snouts. Clever, mysterious and nocturnal. Frequently in the dead of night the coyotes' howling awakens me. What secrets are they sharing? What plans are they plotting? My nerves tingle. I shiver... and very slowly drift back into a restless sleep. #EarthMotherssecrets #NaturePhotography #Wiscons

The Earth Mother sleeps beneath her white quilt on Eighty Acres. But even while sleeping she continues to share her beauty by casting a thousand shadows across the corn field. She will soon awake. Until then....patience and shhhhhh! #NaturePhotography #Wisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #Discoverwisconsin #Midwest #DunnCounty #EarthMother #TravelWI #Winter

Henry Ford once said, "Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice." By my count you touch each piece of wood six times. Cutting: splitting; hauling; stacking; feeding the fire; and removing the ashes. Maybe Henry Ford didn't burn much wood? So...chop your own wood and you are warmed SIX times! A whole lot of work. But I wouldn't change a thing. #NaturePhotography #Wisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #DunnCounty #EarthMother #Winter #TravelWI #HenryFo

At 8:00 a.m. the first snow flakes appeared, swirled and quietly settled on Eighty Acres. For nearly 24 hours it snowed and when the last flake fell, there was a foot of new snow. Snowbound! Nothing to do but feed the fire, curl up in a blanket, a good book to read, watch the snow grow high on the porch railing, and simply appreciate the wonder and joy of being snowbound on Eighty Acres. The next day, I reluctantly plowed the driveway. #Wisconsin #EightyAcresPhotography #