Unusual Happenings at 3109

Several unusual things have happened at 3109 since the visit of the Arkies last Sunday.

This rainbow appeared in the middle of sunny day in the southern sky.  It really looked like a rainbow except it got confused and turned into a rain-cup, an upside down rainbow.

Then my favorite feathered friend of recent times showed up for some sunflower seeds.  Cardinals may not be rare where you live, but they are where I do.

Then there was the appearance of a 30 year old pup tent in the back yard.  It has been faithfully occupying space on the garage shelf since CM was a little girl.  I don't think she ever slept in it, but her kids and spouse seemed to like it.

Then another new arrival announced her appearance over and over again.  We finally have a wren in the house this year.  Why they come back some years and not others is beyond me, but it has been many years since they nested.  My mother loved the wrens and had a nest of them nearly every year in a gourd wren house in Iowa.

Right now there are babies that we can hear chirping and Mom and Pop wren are busy.

I appreciate their diligence in keeping the insect population down.

And the babies must enjoy chomping into a nice juicy spider or two.  It is especially gratifying since several years ago I remodeled the house into an "all electric" palace by adding the switch plate after the entrance hole became too large and sparrows took over.

But probably the most unusual happening at 3109 occurred last evening when the two Grandkids had a moment of sibling caring unrivaled for them.

First of all, to get them sitting in the same chair at the same time is sort of a "grade B" miracle.

But such a demonstration of sibling love (notice the closed eyes) is one for the books!

Mr. M couldn't explain what had come over him...

Even Miss E got into the act.

All good things must come to an end, and as you can see the "more normal" returned rather quickly.

Some Favorite Memories of Lake Time with Arkies

First bites of a first S'more!

First ride in the kayak by these two and first of the year.

This little sweetie doesn't look at me often when I want to take her picture.  I guess she is like her mother.

If I call her name enough times, she forgets I have a camera and will look.

She isn't happy with me.  Can you tell?

Sometimes she thinks I am silly.

Mr. M is giving me his mad look.

But this is more like he looks most of the time.

Little Elle Belle wanted to go with the boys... maybe next year.

I finally spotted this eagle's perch after many cries from close to the house.

Do you think he spotted me?  Usually he flies when he sees me, but not this time.

Lake Critters and Classmates

This is what I call a Hummingbird Moth.  It looks and acts like its fowl relative.  I am sure it has a fancy name, but it is pretty fancy even without a name.

I think that this is a Yellow Swallow Tail Butterfly.  
Look at the colors... God doesn't make junk.

This Pileated Woodpecker comes to my suet feeder.  It is hard to get perspective but it is slightly smaller than a crow.  Speaking of crows, I am thinking that something as big as a crow or maybe even a squirrel took one of my suet feeders off a tree carrying the wire container and its contents.  It was wired loosely to the tree and there is not a sign of it anywhere.  Mystery in the North Woods.  While we visited Itasca State Park just up the road today, someone came into Douglas Lodge and had just seen a bear.  Hmmm...

Mom and Pop Goose out for a swim with just two little ones.... we do have Bald Eagles around so maybe the Mother Eagle wanted goose for supper.

Here are my classmates from Steamboat Rock High School Class of 1962 at our reunion over Memorial Day.  We had a great time!   

The next evening we hosted a reunion of all classes 45 years and up in the school gym.  It even smelled like it used to.  Great memories of good times and friends of 50 years!