The siren song of honking Canadian Geese lured me down to the river. That and wanting to take photographs of anything but moss today. I was hoping to find happy signs of Spring. What I ending up finding was the cruel grip of Winter exposed on the bank of the Grasse River.

There were a few Canadian Geese swimming along the far side of the river. But what I ’saw’ was the ice jam that had until recently choked the river had broken up leaving thick sheets of ice tumbled along the bank. Spring now rules on the north shore. Nothing harsh there – I have to agree with Martha Stewart. Breaking the back of Old Man Winter.
...’that’s a good thing’

The Grasse is greener on the other side of the river. Over on my side of the river a wooded hill shades the ice until late afternoon. On this side Winter still grips the river bank. It’s slowly losing it’s grasp but the ice still extends a good way into the river from the shoreline.

The following photographs are no more gruesome than Mother Nature herself. But your imagination may be. What happened here is anyone’s guess. I certainly don’t have a clue how this coyote got caught in this predicament. There is a run off stream that flows to that spot. Could the body been washed downhill? Or did the varmint slip into the river while crossing and pushed to this point by the ice?

I can’t be positive this is a coyote. I’m just guessing. It’s been ‘no more’ for a long time and is yucky looking. Besides that all the run off has left the coat caked in silt and grit. But whatever it is the image provokes some horrific thoughts.

Pleasant Dreams

Try not to think about it.

Today begins March Moss Madness. Better get used to it. After months of winter anything green and growing is going to catch and keep my attention until something better comes along. So here are today’s moss photographs.

This moss is a lot like me in a way. I can’t wait to get out from under the snow either.

The stone wall is only beginning to emerge from under the snow. It appears the moss goes into it’s reproductive mode as soon as the snow melts from it. Here some spore capsules that caught some water droplets.

I couldn’t resist turning this photograph into my new desktop background. I think it’s one of the cooler photos I’ve taken.

click image for a closer look or to use as desktop wallpaper – 1024 x 768
If you want a different size you’ll have to ask.

After countless tries I did manage to get a focus on this droplet. The photo isn’t anything special but after so many tries I just had to post the water droplet.

How do I make my dog obey the STAY command?
By placing her head between two boulders.

POOR POOKIE

Green at last. It’s not much but after a constant blanket of white covering everything it certainly is a welcome sight at this time of year. Having cabin fever helps but it’s not necessary in order to appreciate the sight. How can you not like this mini moss garden on a rock?

Pixie cups reveal that lichen is growing hidden among the moss.

This is cropped section of the first photo and linked to a larger size (1024 x 768) for a closer view or to use as desktop wallpaper.

Now here was a real surprise. Hard to believe some moss is already producing those fruiting whatchamacallits.

Seeing snow and moss spore pods at the same time is a new one for me. Not the best shot but at least it’s proof that i seen them.

linked to a larger size (1024 x 768) for a closer view or to use as desktop wallpaper.