Poppies are just starting to bloom, the foggy day was just pretty.

Gorgeous.
My Wife and i have been starting our backwoods walks again.Lovely weather these past few days in SW Michigan.

Yes, it is, we have some friends that way.

Today we took about a mile hike and ran across an old snapping turtle.I will post a picture when i get them on the computer.
The turtle was about 11 inches across its shell.A pretty old feller. I would guess at about 40 yrs or so.

It might have been related to me, those things are vastly underestimated. They're extremely strong and lightening fast. I've encountered several in my lifetime on the river. I'm as tough as one, as fast, as ill tempered, and almost as cute.

Beautiful day in NW Ohio, although I like it a tad warmer. Went for a 4 mile walk at the local park, and got some gardening done.
GMS, I love the way you have done the poppy, very artistic.

gms9810: those are beautiful pictures! fog is lovely to look at and i like what you did with the poppies. my mum would probably like it even more, she's obsessed with poppies . i never met a snapping turtle, but i can very well picture you as one of the old pikes that live in the small ponds in the woods in dalarna .

Are there any underground springs in your part of Missouri, I had family members that had property 24 miles from the Ark and Missouri state line. There were Indian burial mounds on their 50 acres and the springs were small 2 foot openings that came to the surface, just clear clean water, and cold! In those years there were plenty of sassafras trees lining the acreage, we would pull the young trees up and chop the roots for tea sprigs. In earlier years you could buy the tea in local markets in the south but someone decided it was poisonous never mind the Indians and us drank it for hundreds of years, no one in my family got sick or had any reaction other than, man that's sure good tea.... probably interference from the large spice companies don't like the competition, much like imaging software ;0)

Here are the images i told you about.

I see these everyday where I live "LA", only about 4 miles from the achafalaya river basin. Strangest thing I've seen was in Nevada while living there a few years ago, they have the desert tortoise there and you will find them as high up as 6000 feet. They usually stay buried most of the time. They are on the endangered species list for the US and if you keep one you need to have the permission papers or risk a very steep fine. I think the nicest thing I saw while there was those little ground owls that take up residence in caverns and nooks and crannies on the ground, they never dig their own homes but they love to move in where there are underground utilities buried, any kind of opening on the ground and they will take over, they come out at sundown and eat mice and other small things. The bureau of land management has an instruction sheet to show home owner there in Nevada how to build an underground home if they want to host a family of these precious birds, really pretty simple and it consist of a few cinder blocks and a few planks, the depth and length are key to enticing them to move in. Since the Mother and Father kick the young out soon after they are able to fly and feed they have to go out and find a home for themselves. It's a very nice sight to drive up your driveway and see a family of these little owls all gathered at the door of their cave.

Yep, Rod, I think that's my cousin Clarence. He wandered away from a family reunion (he was intoxicated) 4 years ago and we haven't seem him since. Tell him where he is and the direction home. Give him a hug for me, dear cousin Clarence.

Well he has disappeared again on our way back. Alas i had no time to talk with him.He seemed a bit busy with his laying in the sun soaking up rays and all.Guess he just isn't very social.Probably why he ran away in the first place.To be a hermit in my woods.No doubt he heard i never bother the nature except maybe to ask for a picture a time or two, and once in a while grab a mint plant for my garden.A very invasive plant by the way if you need something to take over a bare area in your landscaping.
Perhaps he was angry with me for taking his photo.I never did ask although he didn't seem to mind and even winked at me a few times.