White Cliff

The white rock seems to have weathered erosion better than the rest of the cliff.

Cattails

Photos of Cattails in a frozen pond. I found a link about cattails on another blog today from Singapore.

Gray Squirrel

I caught this gray squirrel climbing down amongst the tangle of brush and trees.

Winter Weeping Willow

Pond & Ice

I took a photo of this pond today with the ice. Below is the same pond in the Fall on Thanksgiving.

Cracked Redbud Tree

Here is a Redbud tree that must have been under stress that caused the stem to crack like this. Maybe a branch fell across it.

Cottonwood stand in the Snow

Red Tailed Hawk

Walking along a forest trail road I heard a Red Tailed hawk. I was not looking for birds, I was looking for snow photos. I heard its call first, then I stared searching the sky for it. I saw it flying amongst the trees. I rapidly got my camera out but it was too late. Later I heard it again and tried to get my camera out but to no avail. The third time I got a photo of the hawk flying away.

Sorry but my camera can't do much better than that for wildlife. Click the photo for a larger view.

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done." Psalm 40:5

Tree Silhouette

Tree Silhouette

Snowy Winter Woods

Unusual Tree Sucker

Here is an interesting tree I found that had a sucker growing out of the stump. Further up the tree it becomes incorporated back into the main bowl of the tree.

Sun and Ice

Walking in the woods to find a good photo of glare at first I thought that there wasn't any ice on the trees. I was walking north and the sun was behind me.





When I turned around I saw the glare of the ice from the sun.


It is the same with our relationship with Christ. It is all in the way we look for Him. If we are looking away from His promises we may not see anything. If we are looking in the Bible for His promises we can see the glory of the Lord.

Look to Jesus for help. Those who believe in Him will not be disappointed. Romans 9:33

Snow

If you click to enlarge the photo you can see some ice crystals

Took a break from snow plowing. The whining of the hydraulic motor. The scraping of the blade on asphalt. The squawk of the work radio. Music or chatter from the regular radio.

As I walked in the woods I stopped and listened to the silence. As I listened I could hear the snow hitting the dead winter leaves and tree branches.

Many times the business of life keeps us from listening to God. It is good to get away and be still and hear what God has for us. It will refresh you.

13 Turkey

I drove up on these turkey while plowing freezing rain. They were not bothered by my diesel engine. But flew away when a women came by walking her dog.

Bent Shingle oak

Here is a Shingle oak that is growing unusual. If you look closely there is a stem growing straight up out of where the tree first bends.

I have always wondered how much weight a tree like this could support. All of the weight is off to the side.

KC Willd Lands Christmas Tree Sale

Shawnee Mission Park was where people went to pick out a Eastern red cedar tree. There were many to choose from. The event was held in December of 2006 and was a fund raiser for KC Wildlands.

Some trees were already cut.




Here was the hot cider station.



The hot cider station.


A lot of people wanted to walk back in the woods and cut their own.

Chinquapin Oak

Here is a photo of an intresting Chinquapin oak. I like the branch pattern.
I am shooting north.




This photo shows where a branch fell off and created a large scar. It is now rotton inside and provides wildlife habattat.

Here is a photo of the tree shooting south last month.

Honey locust & Greenbriar Tendril

Here is a photo of a greenbriar tendril grabbing hold of a Honey locust thorn.

The Honey locust seems to try to defend itself with thorns, but its useless against the greenbriar.

Bottom Land Trees

In the top picture I am in the Missouri river bottoms. The tree on the left is a Box elder maple. It is easy to ID by the green twigs. The 2 trees in the middle are Eastern Red Cedars. And the tree on the right is a Silver maple. There is a layer of sand on top of the dirt. I don;'t know when the sand was deposited there but it may have been the flood of 93.




The bottom photo is showing a pure stand of Eastern cottonwood. In the summer you can't see far in these woods.

Hackberry bark

Hackberry bark is interesting because you can see the growth.