Being trapped indoors can make a basket case out of any outdoor enthusiast.

Stewy is no exception

Last night might be the last of the near zero F temps for a while. These I hope are the last frost pics of the season.

The snow is still skull deep on (another) stone slab on a stump.

I drove to the ‘dump’ today and checked out the Grasse River for ice jams along the way. There was next to nothing below the dam at Madrid. At Chamberlain Corners there was a slight build up but nothing to write home about.

I’ll have to see once the ice breaks up on the flat water sections what this turns out to be. Will this mini jam hold long enough to catch the ice that will soon be here?

Ice was arriving at Chase Mills as I drove by. There’s a good chance this will turn into a nice jam. I’ll probably miss it. I’m planning on taking a hike this weekend to the ice jam downstream of Morley.

Stealth Kitty? Shadow Cat?

Yep, that’s Black Jax
faster than a speeding bullfrog, more powerful than a dust bunny, and able to leap shoulder high in a single bound. She’s a sneaky little kitty with a big surprise. She likes to jump up onto your shoulder if you stand around. Take your eyes off her and she leaps. I think it’s her way of saying ‘sit down and show me your lap’. I’ve got to get visitors seated quickly or they may have to leave right away in order to change their pants. I’ve heard some good shrieks out of both sexes over the years too.

Sun on Friday. Rain on Saturday. Still raining at 4:30 AM Sunday. I go to bed thinking I’ll be able to go hiking in the woods but wake to find my hopes smothered in snow Sunday morning. Monday brings no relief, another 6 to 8 inches of snow got dumped overnight. ARRGH! I never thought I’d be going steady with a snow plow driver.. March Madness has once again replaced Spring fever.

The deer have been making their move. The winter is getting them down too. I caught this one sneaking around in the side yard on Saturday. The more brazen deer have been coming to the house and snacking on the shrubs. Soon as those are eaten I Imaging the deer will ring the doorbell and ask for handouts.

Monday afternoon – the sun is out again but I can’t hike to the river in all the snow. I know the ice jam must be formed by now so I dive down the road to Morley and check the river out. Yep, ice is jammed at the ‘cedar cliffs’.

There’s no hope of getting down to the river anytime soon. Temps are supposed to bottom out around 2 F tonight and just short of freezing tomorrow. Wed – Fri looks promising with temps pushing 40. I might be able to try hiking down on Saturday if lucky.

Tomorrow I’ll do something to match my mood. I haven’t been to the dump (waste transfer station) in 3 weeks.

It’s time for Moss Madness and Lichen Lunacy once again.
March is the month when Cabin Fever turns into Spring Fever. The cure is finding something green growing. Lucky for me the first prescriptions are delivered as the snow melts.

I’ve been ‘growing’ lichen on this flat rock for a couple years now. I rescued the stone from the quarry but have yet decided what to make out of it. For now it’s just a stump cover.

You got any good ideas?

I’ve no idea what species of foliose lichen this is but it does create a great leaf pattern.

What we got here are two low life forms that have learned to cooperate. The fungal side of the association provides the structure that supports the algae that does the work of photosynthesis. It’s a cool relationship in more ways than one. Lichens grow when temperatures fall below 50 F. and in the heat of the summer they go dormant.

As you can see – this lichen can’t wait for the ice and snow to melt to get ready for party time. nudge, nudge, wink, wink

I get to photograph the sexual structures these low life forms erect when they party.

That’s some hot stuff. I’ll be finding others as the snow melts from the stone walls. Won’t be long now before the pixie cups and British soldiers are out