Adventures in the Marsh - Part 4

Hullo again... picking up our Marsh Adventure where it left off a couple of days ago in the nettle patch.

I am following a vague trail... of sorts...

But it's rough going... and I even got my jacket wet!

Holy mackerel is it wet and murky here!

But... at last... success!!! We are at the marsh! And today... we will figure out what the mystery building is...

Hmmm... as I suspected... a bird study area - partners are the University and Ducks Unlimited.

 That would explain all the trails... which seem a bit mucky still.

Ummm... super sloppy in fact!

Oh dear... but I am soooo close to that building!

Made it!! A whole bunch of key tag things (with no keys).

Built in 2016... hmmm....

Let's poke around a bit.

I think "someone" should have brought hip waders...

  Seriously...

Oh look... pussy willows!

Nice ones too... big and fat.

And a Canada Goose hiding out in the shrubbery.

Beary mysterious... lots of bird houses on poles.

Time to go cross-country...

I'm going to try over the dead grass instead of that sloppy trail.

 Numbered bird houses... I wonder if any birds actually use these?

Ummm... is that bird wing??? Ick.

Whew... that was quite the sloppy trek... now we have to head back...

Some of us came out the worse for wear.

But I managed pretty good!

Heh-heh... I am just a clean and tidy bear, I guess.

 Although... I guess I could make a note on the sekrebeary evaluation this year... "gets feet wet to spare little bear".

 What do you think? Is this above-and-beyond service from my sekrebeary?

Adventures in the Marsh - Part 3

A few weeks back, I was on an adventure in the Marsh... it was totally soggy and flooded... but now it is drier, so we are trying again. Wait... do you see that over there??

It's a deer!! As long as it stays down here, I'm fine... but stay out of my yard and leave my tulips alone!

Oh hey, look at this, the trail is actually passable...

Pretty (but stinky Skunk Cabbages are out).

They're so cheery...

And fun to take pictures of.

It's also called Swamp Lantern... and bears love the roots after they wake up from hibernation!! Why? Cause they act as a laxative... errr.... too much information Wikipedia.

Pretty though.

The bush is greening up nicely too.

Ooh, an old shovel...

A patch of stinging nettle! Cool!!

Actually... a huge patch! We should pick some...

 And (finally), Mama is prepared for all eventualities and has packed everything we need...

That's a nice batch... but now, we have to cut our hike short and head home...

Gotta make something with the nettles...

This book suggests blanching them...

Let's give that whirl.

Hmmm... apparently they taste a bit like spinach...

Well... yes they do... a bit chewier maybe... but good!

Sausages at the Campfire

It's campfire time!! Yay!! What with all the rainy weather, it's been tough to find a relatively warm day but... here we are!

Grampa's feeling better and he knows how to hold a stuffie (no squashing!).

Ahhh... a honey beer... it's been a tough week with soil runs and mud-slogging hikes...

I do have to supervise the cooking here though.

We have some potato salad...

And sausages!! Bratwurst on the left and Apple Bangers on the right.

Not sure why they're called Apple Bangers... maybe they make a bang when they cook?

Anyhow... I thought a few of my pals might like a close-up view of them... hehehe

What? I'm not bad, am I? Nooooo... Cause if my stuffie pals showed up right now... I'd share these! So, come on over!

Alright... here we go...

Mmmm... can you hear them cooking???

***drool... slurp...***

OK, dinner's ready!!! Two sausages per stuffie... anyone??

Hmmm... is this blog working? None of my stuffie pals showed up for dinner... oh well... next time!