~ Back in Jackson County ~ The Foundation Trail ~

Today I have picked my favorite place to write about. The 4.5 mile trail that wound itself around the small town of Black River Falls. Where we lived on Fillmore Street, we could walk 3 blocks and we were there. Most of the trail was paved, though in some places you walked on sidewalks, through parks, or on the side of the road.

Sitting here staring off into space I can see it perfectly, though I doubt I can put onto paper how beautiful it really is! It is the most unique and diverse place I have ever spent my time; high spots and low spots, wooded areas and clear meadows and an opening above the Black River where one could sit on a bench and see Great Blue Herons land silently on the nearby banks, or watch people paddle down the river in their long canoes. I loved it when the sun would shine straight through the opening and it’s reflection would ripple in the small waves.

But the thing I loved most about the Foundation Trail was the bird life. Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Osprey, various hawks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees and Warblers. Just to name a few! There was never a time when I did not hear a Pileated Woodpecker call through the dense trees. Rarely did I see one, but their eerie yet awesome call was forever echoing through town.

We often named our favorite spots along the trail. The bench over-looking the Black River we dubbed “Audubon Bend.” The small meadow beyond we called “Beatrix Glen.” Beatrix Glen was always full of flowers, tall grasses, flittering birds and an occasional carcass or two. Yes, I said carcass. You would not believe what mammals made the trail in the middle of town their home. There is the black bear who lives near the elementary school, the cougar who wanders the town, the red fox who likes to tease photographers by disappearing into thin air and the many white-tailed deer that run along the little creek in the woods. All of these things I never would have expected to find living in the middle of town and all amazed me. Though the cougar screaming during one of our rare nighttime walks scared me half to death. But it was nothing compared to the last time I heard a cougar.

One of the most memorable times on the trail was when we had our friend Joe Westbrook with us. We had just been telling him about the Pileated Woodpecker when my sister Sara and I spotted a young female darting through the trees. Joe and I had our cameras on and ready in half a second and were after it. After us taking many photographs of it hidden behind leaves, it finally showed itself by flying across the small creek and landing at the base of a tree. Then it did something I had never seen any kind of woodpecker do before - it dipped it’s bill into the water, then brought it’s head up and swallowed. It did this three times before flying on down the creek and disappearing. But it was the best birding day of my life.

And here I shall close. I tend to write these posts at night and find myself going on and on until I realize how late it really is. Tomorrow will hopefully bring another post. Goodbye for now!

~ Mara

~ Back in Jackson County ~ Dike 17 ~

I think I shall continue to write about the things I found interesting in Jackson County, as I did not keep up with the blog I had for a short time there. Tonight I am writing about a place in Jackson County called ‘Dike 17.’

If you continued down Highway 54, heading East, you would come to a Rustic Road to your right - Settlement. That was a beautiful place to drive. We hardly ever ran into another vehicle so we could drive as slow as we pleased. It was a wooded area with a few open areas where small herds of deer gathered to eat. There was a stream to the left of the road and at one place along that stream there was a bend; and in that bend a Great Blue Heron loved to fish. Over the years of birding I have noticed that herons have their favorite fishing spots just like us humans. Further on there was a small parking area to the right. It was a wide open space with trees on one side and hills on the other and a tall overlook almost in the middle. We went there quite often and when we would go around sunset, we would get to see a Great Blue Heron fly in for the night, perched on the high corner of that overlook. There were two levels to it; the lower one being my favorite, as I am nervous of heights. But occasionally I would go on to the higher level where my breath was taken away at what lay beyond. I always knew what to expect… Tall grasses bending to and fro when the breeze changed direction, and the deep blue flowages beyond. But I was always caught off-guard. God paints the most beautiful scenes!

On two occasions that I can remember, we walked back the trail to those flowages. Along the way we saw a porcupine climbing a tree, a garter snake slithered across the path while the Grey Catbird sat in his favorite bush, cocking his head at each person who passed. When we reached the flowages there would be Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks and muskrats.

Sometimes I wish I had been able to spend more time at the overlook and climbed to the very top to see the stunning beauty of the Wisconsin scenery. For not long after they said it would need repair, they instead tore it down with no intent on replacing it. Perhaps someday, they will.

Enough for tonight. I am sure another Jackson County memory will pop into my head tomorrow. :)

~ Mara

~ Back in Jackson County ~

Jackson County Wisconsin is where I lived before moving here to Monroe County Wisconsin. I thought I would take a few minutes and tell my readers about the scenery there since I did not establish this blog until moving.

I lived in Black River Falls. It had been a small logging town and I loved perusing the museum downtown. The old things fascinated me and took my imagination back to 1911 when a horrible flood wiped out most of the town. Walking around the town looking at the dates on buildings amused me, as most of them had been completely destroyed.

Sometimes, when walking through the downtown streets, I would imagine what it was like in the 1920’s - 50’s. The respectable men wore suits and never left without their hat. The women wore beautiful long dresses that, back in their time, were just plain dresses. But to me, seeing the few in the museum that had survived the years, they were the prettiest dresses I had ever seen. And the ladies always wore a hat or a bonnet to keep their beautiful complexions.

The shops must have been very interesting. I would imagine the rolls of fabric and the barrels of food at the main store downtown. I wondered how many saloons there were. Today there are countless downtown bars so that on Friday nights it is almost impossible to get a wink of sleep.

But for now, enough about the town. Let me see if I can put onto paper how beautiful the scenery is around Jackson County during Spring and Summer . . .

If you were in town and drove out Highway 54 heading East, you would eventually come to some flowages. Now, to the typical person driving on the highway, what would they see? Water. But to my family and I it was heaven on earth. To see the rich green grass against the blue water that reached to the far bank where tall pines and firs grew to the bright blue sky was amazing and it always made us feel peaceful and closer to God. I believe that God creates such scenery just for us to be in and feel closer to Him.

The wildlife that visited those flowages was amazing too. There were deer, of course. There were wolves and a cougar at one point. Countless snakes, rabbits, squirrels, etc. Many species of ducks visited the flowages as well as Canada Geese, Loons, Double-Crested Cormorants and Trumpeter Swans. There were always Sandhill Cranes to be found there and even a pair of Whooping Cranes were spotted and photographed. But the main thing we went for were the Bald eagles.

There was a large tree to the left side of the road. And if you looked high up in that tree you would find a very large eagle’s nest. In that nest, around mid-March, you would see a stunning pair of Bald Eagles working on their nest. We always stopped across the road to marvel at (and photograph) the huge raptors so carefully placing sticks and grasses to make their nest a home for the coming months when they would have their young to look after. We watched them every year and I got to know the different eagles. This one had a brown spot on the top of it’s head, and that one seemed only to have one working eye. After the first 2 years, something went wrong. Every time their eggs were laid, one of the eagles disappeared and the remaining eagle would dutifully sit on the eggs until they could sit no longer - and the eggs did not last. Now every year, with every pair, a mate would disappear. It was heart-breaking to see the remaining eagle come back with a very young mate the next year. And the next year another one. I tried to explain the situation to the local DNR, but to no use. They were either incompetent or laughed because I was so young, I must not know what I was talking about! So it went on. No eaglets because there was never a mate to switch with. I will not say what I believe was the cause, for I never do point fingers. But the fact that it happened every year at the same time led to much suspicion.

But let me move on to happier thoughts. The times that the eagles were successful in raising their young was definitely a time to remember! To watch the eaglets go from a fuzzy white blur on the camera, to a huge almost golden raptor was the greatest experience ever! Before Jackson County, I lived in Richland County. There I also had a special eagle’s nest to watch every year. And now, in Monroe County and not far from my house, yet another pair of eagles are nesting. To me, birding is the most important hobby of all. Photography a close second. The two put together make the greatest hobby in the world.

And here I shall stop. I said I would take a few minutes and I have rambled on long enough. Once I discover as many wonders here in Monroe County I shall post like this again. But my mind has wandered as far back as I will allow it to for now. It is late and I am tired. Another big day and another big adventure await me!

~ Mara

~ Pekin Ducklings ~

Today we bought 6 Pekin Ducklings from our local Tractory Supply Co. :D

We also got Crockett moved onto the inside porch at night. Still not very comfortable with him being outside on his lead all night due to the large packs of coyotes. Oh yes, and the black bear.

As I said before, we are getting our assorted chicks sometime in early May and meat rabbits will arrive sometime in the month of June.

Stay tuned!

~ Mara

~ A Lovely Book Give-Away ~

Shining Stars Magazine is having a book giveaway!

The Basket of Flowers.

What Shining Stars has to say about it . . .

This book was written several hundred years ago, and some sources say that the author is Christoph von Schmid, while others say that the author is unknown! Either way, this is an excellent book!

~ Mara

~ Beauty in The Boonies ~

Here is an update on Our Cedar Cottage Farm . . .

We now have two compost bins. Dad did a great job. :D

Pallets put together with long zip ties.

Crockett is on his lead with his doghouse.
And seems quite content digging holes in the yard.

We will be getting chicks this month or next, meat rabbits will arrive in June and we are shopping around for dairy goats. Perhaps a dairy cow?

We have already started seeds in our grandparents' basement. Pictures will be posted as soon as I get some.

When we start harvesting the fruits of our labor, we will sell them at Tractor Supply's Farmer's Market.

Our Cedar Cottage Farm is growing. :)

~ Mara