Still getting used to being outside

I'm pretty manic right now. This is a rough time of year for me because I still feel like every sunny day is a gift that can be snatched away at any moment and we'll be sent scurrying back to the wood stove. The upshot of this is that every time I see the sun, I want to drop whatever I'm doing and get the bike down, the boat out, lace up my running shoes, put on the hiking boots, head into the woods, down the trail, out onto the road, down the river and away from responsibilities.  But now I am older and more mature, so I can't just head out at every whim.  I mean, I do... but only like 90% of the time, and at least some of the time I feel guilty about shirking responsibilities... at least for a few minutes.

"Papa, slow down!  I'm trying to explore!"  We haven't had a late hard frost for the first time in three years.  As a result, the flowers are in bloom everywhere.  We compared flowers and cones and catkins and buds.  This one here is on a river birch, I think.

At the arboretum last weekend.

Awesome lichen on a tree branch

More lichen and some moss.

On April 23 we celebrated the Earth Day weekend with a big hiking party on a new trail.  A couple of friends met us there, too.  The trail was muddy, but very fun.  We saw trout lilies, hepatica, may apples, trillium, and ramps and lots more.  We also got our shoes super muddy.

It's always nice to have a helper.  "How about this?  Does this need yanked on?"

"How 'bout if I pull on this, here?

"What about that thing?  Want me to whack that thing?"

Grilling has been super satisfying lately.  We bought a couple books, one about cooking with fire and one about campfire cooking.  I've been going through those books and looking for different ideas to try.  Grilling corn is pretty basic, but damn is it good!

And, of course, I have a helper.

Had to pull over the other evening to take this shot.  Our house is just out of the shot on the left about 2/3 of the way up.  That's the swamp in the center there.  I LOVE where we live.

Spring peeper on the door during a thunder storm Thursday night.

Turkey season is here, so not only am I up at 4am (nothing new), but I'm outside listening to the world wake up.  Good stuff.

I came home this morning and picked up my own little turkey to go for a walk.

What alien thing is this?!

My grill helpers this evening.

Looking good!

Anybody remember that lifetime when I was a vegetarian?!  How about a beer boiled, bacon wrapped, grilled brat on rye bread with Ommegang Gouda cheese?  Don't worry, we steamed some green beans and sliced some pickles too. 

Hope everyone is well.