Sneaking Geese

Hiking along some grass and swamp land I came across these geese. I expected them to fly away as most usually do but they proceeded to sneak through the grass away from my dog and me.


Ephesians 5:29
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear."

Beaver on the Missouri

Today I found beaver signs on the Missouri river. The wood chips by this cut tree show that the work was done not too long ago. The river has not been up this high for a while, but I would guess that this was done during the fall or winter.

Notice that there are no branches. The beaver eat those and must of carried them off to eat and use else where.



Here is an old relic of beaver activity. They worked on a large tree but only felled it into another tree.


Psalm 77:12
"I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds."

Bottom Land Video

Proverbs 16:21
"The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness."

Beavers Cutting Big Trees

Here is a big tree that the beavers might have abandoned. This tree will come down in a wind storm.

James 2:5
"Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

Sprouting of Beaver Cut Box Elder Maple

Here is a Box elder cut by beaver and now sprouting profusely.

Many times a tree will rejuvenate itself from cutting by sprouting from the cut stump. Here is an explanation of how to select the best sprout.

The root system of the old tree will be used for the new tree and it will grow faster than a planted tree or sapling.


Luke 6:20
"And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say,
'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'"

Beaver Dam

Here is a photo of a beaver dam I took in Nov 2001

Below is a photo of a slide where they pulled material into the water to build the dam.



Proverbs 28:27
"He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses."

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Lat month on February 9th I posted some photos of a Kentucky Coffee tree. Today I am posting some more. There is a little variation in the bark but not much. I like the photo of the seed pods below. I looked around for some pods on the ground. None were to be found.




Proverbs 21:13
"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered."

Playing Opossum

I took 3 hours off from work today to hike and enjoy the woods. Today being the last day before rain. 70 degrees was another enticement. My dog (Molly) and I hiked, rested and took many photos.

Close to the end of our hike Molly saw an opossum and ran up to it to check it out. I didn't see what kind of animal it was and was afraid that the wild animal might tear my dog's face up. So I called her off. The opossum was playing dead so I got this photo.

Here is Molly enjoying a creek before we found the opossum.



It was an afternoon well spent. Cold weather and rain return Thursday.

Roundrock Journal has a video on opossum.


Proverbs 22:9
"He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor."

Snow in the Valley

Here is a photo of the last snow we had which started about 10 AM and by the afternoon was melting away. I am required to snow plow during these events and I got this photo in a wooded area of my route. I am thinking and hoping that will be the last snow we get.


Psalm 41:1
"How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble."

Common Merganser

When I saw the bird on the river I knew it was not one I regularly see. I took a photo of it and when I got home and downloaded it on my computer I ID'ed by the red head with white breast. Female Common Merganser.

I was fortunate to get this photo. The batteries to my camera were low and the back up batteries were dead.


Psalm 150:6
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,
Praise the Lord!"

Hole between Branches

What caused this hole to be left when the 2 branches grew together? It could of been a dead branch that was laying between the branches. Or was it hollowed out by a woodpecker years ago and then healed over?


Colossians 1:3
"We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you."

Hackberry and Cottonwood

Here are a couple of photos that show a Hackberry growing up next to a Cottonwood tree.

As the trees matured they have rubbed up against each other.




John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd;
the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

2 Trees One Standing and One Fallen

Here are 2 photos of a double tree but one has fallen already. I find this often in the woods.


Psalm 37:9
"For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord,
they will inherit the land.

Spiral Chinquapin Oak

Here is a video of the swirled Chinquapin. Here is the link to the photos I posted earlier.


Psalm 66:5
"Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men."

Branch Takes The Lead

Here is a tree where a branch takes over the lead when the top is broken off. The tree in the center of the photo I am talking about grows straight then curves to the right then back to the left.



Psalm 65:2
"O You who hear prayer,
To You all men come."

Two Branches Grow Together

White oak, a low forked tree that is now growing together as the tree matures.

Psalm 34:6
"This poor man cried and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles."

Older Black Cherry Bark

Last month I posted a photo of young Black cherry bark. Here is a photo of older Black cherry bark. the younger bark is below.





Psalm 33:6
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host."

Trees to Measure

Here are 3 trees I came across yesterday that I want to go back and measure. The top one is a White oak and the bottom 2 are Bur oaks. I am just IDing these by the bark. I will also double check my ID's.

The area is by a creek so it is a bottom land site.





Psalm 92:5
"How great are Your works,
O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep."

Redbud Growth

Psalm 4:8
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone, O lord, make me to dwell in safety."

Hackberry Roots

Here is an interesting photo of roots exposed by erosion from 2 Hackberry trees.



Colossians 2:7
"Having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude."