Author: kokomeau

Mark your calendars!  The first day after the first day of spring here in northern Michigan 2011!  Looking out our picture window across the lake and wishing for spring, I spotted movement!  I actually thought it might be a deer or two since Thom had seen one earlier in the week.  But, no!  They were some kind of humungous bird!  Because there were so many, I couldn’t believe they’d be herons, but I got my bird book out and starting looking.  Sure enough, with those big back ends described as ‘bustle-like,’ they are Sandhill Cranes, my favorite because of their trill!  Then a few took off, and there was that long neck all stretched out!  I’m so excited!!!  It’s beginning!!!

I’m feeling some serious winter blues here, and in talking with some friends, I’m not alone.  It’s the first day of spring.  I’m looking outside this minute and there are snow flurries from an overcast sky where it’s just above the freezing mark.  There was an ice fisherman on the lake today.  What’s with that?  Living in northern Michigan, it’s not like I actually believe spring will suddenly occur on the directed date.  But man, oh man, am I tired of the cold, the lack of sunshine, the … blahs.  I want to go outside and pull some weeds and get the garden ready.  I’d like to work around the yard and pick up the junk that accumulated over the winter causing our place to look like something out of the trailerhood.  I want to have my coffee on the deck and watch the wildlife come back.  I want to leave the door open and let the fresh air in and the stale air out.

Yes, it’s gettin’ old.  And I’m gettin’ too old for it.

Over a year ago I had a lovely blog all about our little Cabbage and the lives lived there.  Unfortunately, about three months ago, it was deleted.  All of it.  All my photos, all the videos, all the wildlife and Christmas, the snow and the redecorating.  Gone.  A little bit of despair on my part.

So I’m going to try it again.

Spring is the best time of year at the Cabbage when the wildlife finds its way back to our little pond (it used to be a lake — no snow and little rain has caused it to become a pond).  This past spring found a doe and her fawn, our duck, Jane, our heron, Hank …and birds!

We had so many different kinds of birds!  Our wonderful pair of hummers came back, but then we started getting different kinds of birds:  nuthatch, goldfinch, flickers, woodpeckers, grosbeak, titmouse, chickadee — we could barely keep the feeder full!

March 19th. This is the last day of winter, 2011. Looking outside I can believe it. What I see is brown and white. White where the ice and snow still linger; brown where the earth has broken through from the sun has warming enough to melt the snowy cover we’ve seen for months. We’re approaching my favorite time of year.

Every morning now I have my coffee in front of my picture window waiting to see the first sign of new life on the lake. Thom said he’s already seen a deer crossing the frozen surface, but that doesn’t count for me. I want to see the babies. The fawns, the ducklings. We’re already beginning to see new birds and hearing geese from another lake. The chickadees are going to have to start sharing the food that’s been theirs alone all winter. And this little guys sits just outside my window close enough to touch. He’s still pretty young, climbing around the logs on the deck and gathering up the spilled critter feed one of his relatives got into over the winter. He’ll fatten up soon enough!

Oh, I just can’t wait!

Baby, it’s COLD outside!  Mid-February, minus degree temps, frozen snow on a frozen lake.  Can you say ‘Northern Michigan Winter?!?”  I’ve decided you really have to be hale and hearty to continue to live through these northern Michigan winters.  Back when I kept my car in a garage, I used to drive around and see those vehicles on the road with snow on the roof, icy windshields and think, “Poor bastards.”  Now that’s me.  And it’s not fun!

But this week we’re looking forward to a break in the freezing cold and will be heading to sunny and warm Arizona for a whole month!  That’s a whole month away from my shop — the first time I’ve ever been away that long.  We’re taking Sadie, and we’re driving cross-country to Yuma to give his mom a hand while she’s getting her knee replaced.  But that’s not the only reason.

Poor Thom suffered through last winter with his back. This winter we’re wondering if the bitter damp cold is slowing his recovery from back surgery.  It’ll be interesting to see if warm and dry weather helps his condition.  If that’s the case, we’re in for some changes.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to stopping halfway through our trek and seeing Drew and his family.  Little Dez turns 1 next month, and I’d LOVE to be part of that celebration.