I’m very grateful to have been featured in a brief (6 1/2 minutes) video on Nebraska Public Media’s Nebraska Tales. A terrific movie crew spent two days with me on the Niobrara Valley Protect and the ultimate product got here out actually fantastically. I hope you take pleasure in it. (Should you’re studying this in an e mail, both click on on the title of the publish to make the video lively or simply click on on this hyperlink.) Large due to Kelly Rush, Tiffany Johanson, and Emily Kreutz with Nebraska Public Media.
In different information, I did my greatest to benefit from the temporary spell of frigid temperatures we had lately. It’s over now, although, and I went to the grocery retailer in a t-shirt in the present day. That’s not winter! The place’s the snow, ice, and ice? It has all melted away.
I had two nice mornings in late January, although, with some attractive frost and ice. The primary was at my ol’ reliable restored wetland and the second was out on the frozen floor of the Platte River. I’ve been ready all winter for the temperatures to remain chilly lengthy sufficient to make some stable ice for me to stroll out on. Proper earlier than the chilly spell ended, I lastly acquired that probability.
There are lots of images beneath, however if you happen to make it to the top of this irresponsibly lengthy publish, there’s a enjoyable little shock on the finish.
Listed here are the images from the frosty wetland.
There was just a little open water coming throughout one of many many beaver dams on the wetland. I spent a while with an icy department protruding over the water.
Now, listed here are the images from the river. It was properly beneath zero (F) on this morning and I nearly stayed dwelling as a result of it appeared prefer it is perhaps too cloudy. Because it occurred, I had about 10 minutes of sunshine whereas the solar rose up by means of the skinny band of open house between the horizon and the clouds. I scrambled round as a lot as I may throughout that brief window.
As soon as the solar went behind the clouds, I wandered round for possibly 45 minutes with out taking any images – simply having fun with the day. Ultimately, the solar rose excessive sufficient and gained sufficient depth that I had sufficient mild (barely) to work with. It was nonetheless fairly darkish, however that’s simply temper lighting, proper?
Okay, right here’s the enjoyable half I promised. At the very least, I hope you assume it’s enjoyable. I discovered a pair fascinating patterns within the ice and thought I’d test to see if you happen to see what I see.
Mini Quiz Query #1: Within the picture above, take a look at the creature within the heart of the picture with its head on the left aspect of its physique. See it? Okay. What route is that creature trying?
A. It’s clearly seeking to the fitting. Is it Woodstock from the Peanuts cartoons?
B. It’s seeking to the left. Additionally, I’m fairly certain it’s a larval salamander of some variety.
C. Are you speaking about an precise creature or simply one thing your creativeness sees within the ice?
D. It may be no matter you assume. Additionally, it is perhaps Woodstock even when it’s seeking to the left?
E. Somebody made a cartoon about peanuts??
Mini Quiz Query #2: How offended is the chook within the picture above?
A. So offended. Wow. I wouldn’t wish to meet that chook in a darkish alley.
B. You’re speaking in regards to the chook seeking to the left with the slanty eye? It does look fairly mad, however typically it’s exhausting to know. It’d simply be discussing a severe subject.
C. Once more, do you actually see a chook? I simply see ice.
D. That’s no chook. The proportions are all unsuitable. Nicely, possibly a cartoon chook, I suppose.
E. There’s no chook in that picture. That’s clearly a ___________. (Be at liberty to inform me what it’s within the feedback.)
