Bye Bye Winter, don't let the door hit ya on the way out!!!

I AM SO READY FOR THIS WINTER TO BE OVER..... I thought I was doing well this year, but then we had that warming and melting spell and then ANOTHER big snow storm, and now I am done with this weather..... It appears after looking at the weather prediction for us that we will still have several days of 20ish degree weather...I am so over this, I look forward with great anticipation for the sun to shine HOT and the snow to melt FAST!!

Outdoor fun day

M invited us out to a bonfire, picnic, snowmobiling, sledding fun day at his friend's farm. I was a little worried about the wildlife finding refuge in the brush pile that we burned, but we did see 2 rabbits and 1 raccoon flee the pile as it was burning, and thank goodness it isn't baby season yet. The girls had a real good time and they behaved extremely well, until we arrived home, then Tuki had her typical overly tired crying fit before bed.

Tuki sledding

Ve sledding

eating in the snow

warming at the fire

cool photo

more eating

playing in the snow with M's sister K

Ve in the sled helmet

M taking Ve. He let each take the helm on the way back and he said Ve loves speed..I am all to aware of this and it scares me for the day she will be driving
Tuks

He said she was a good driver

Mim

Also a real good driver

cooking a hotdog

M taking over for her

All in one year?!

I had my taxes done yesterday...and I am getting an obscene amount of money back. I guess the government passed a bill stating that all adoption credit is to given at once rather than over a period of years. Is anyone else as suspicious of this change as me? I am thinking the guv plans to remove this adoption credit all together, so they paid it all out this year, thus allowing it to be shut down...what do you think?

Weird Week

The farm I posted about earlier sold, but not to me.....heartbroken, but obviosuly not meant to be, so I will accept it and move on

My whole state is in uproar over our Govenor's attempt to alter state workers rights.

I have P/T Conferences tonight and tomorrow.

I am tired...ok

not such a good week

I will post later about Ve's conference with her teacher which was a highlight of the week..

Fun Day at CWES

Our friend M invited us to CWES today, an environmental station near our town. It was 32 degrees which felt like a heat wave compared to earlier in the week.

Ve & Mim at raptor program

M & Tuki

a dark phase rough-legged hawk

peregrine falcon

saw-whet owl in a tree stump

a long-eared owl

Just a few years ago, I too, use to travel the state giving programs with non-releasable birds of prey, so sometimes it can be difficult watching others' programs thinking how I would or did it differently. I told the girls today that I use to do this and they were surprised. It amazes me how little they know about my past life. I better get going in educating them about Mom- pre-kids.

group shot

the horse driven sleigh ride

playing with babies

on the sleigh

snow-shoeing

M & Tuks

the threesome
we did alot of this, tightening the straps...it takes patience teaching kids outdoor adventures, but it does payoff in the long run

Tuki tired, so M carried her back to the lodge

Tuki's Teeth and Toe Tragedy

A little over one year ago, late 2009 Ve accidentally pinched Tuki's toe in the door. It bled, tore some skin, etc., but eventually healed. It looked fine until about November of 2010. I noticed there was a granulation that was growing and distorting the toe nail. Well, we saw the Doctor in January and the bump was surgically removed this past Friday. Tuki did real well and so did I, until they mentioned they are sending the tissue in for a biopsy. I am now a little nervous about the results. Could be nothing, could be something since it just started growing all killywonk about a year AFTER the original accident. Tuki also lost her her two bottom incisors this week, so it has a been quite a momentous week for her.

Nervous Tuki in the waiting room

missing her two front teeth

the toe and the growth

getting comfy for the SX

injecting the lidocaine, painful for Tuks

very emotional, even the sucker didn't help calm her

pulling the toe nail off, it is 50/50 as to whether is will grow back

cutting the growth out

cleaning up the toe nail bed

her toe as it is now

covering herself up with the monkey pillow pet

looking over monkey

all bandaged up for home


she didn't want to ride in the wheelchair so monkey got the free ride
waiting for her pain medicine

She did real well considering she watched most of it

Not to spoil it but,

Background and Natural History
Woodchucks are common and abundant. Often called "groundhogs" or "whistle-pigs," they are not in the pig family at all. Woodchucks are burrowing members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae), which includes tree squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks. In the western U.S., there are five related species called "marmots."
Description:
Woodchucks (Marmota monax) are medium-sized, chunky, ground-dwelling squirrels. Males are larger than females, but otherwise the sexes look similar. Adults measure 20-27½ inches in total length, with the tail averaging 4-7 inches. Adult weight will vary widely through the year, from an average of 7 pounds in the early spring to an average of 10½ pounds in the fall. This is because they are deep hibernators, and their weight will differ substantially between den entry and emergence.
The woodchuck has rather coarse, reddish-brown fur grizzled with guard hairs that are gray with yellow tips; brown or black tail, legs, and feet; and a black face. Melanistic (black) animals occur but are uncommon. Woodchucks have short powerful legs and short ears. The incisor teeth grow continually and must be worn down when feeding or else the tooth will grow to a length that injures or impairs the animal.
Habitat:
Woodchucks are an "edge" species, living in hedgerows or brush clumps along old fields, pastures, or croplands intermixed with small woodlands. Burrows are dug in well-drained soil along woodland edges and brushy hedgerows, often on rather steep slopes. The animal will also burrow under sheds, porches, decks, or walkways. Burrows are a critical feature of their life style, and typically include multiple entrances. The main shaft may be up to 50 feet in length, with many side passages. The 'chuck usually piles up a mound of dirt and rocks at the burrow entrance, but the entry may otherwise be well-concealed.
Foods:
Woodchucks are generalist plant feeders, consuming a wide variety of herbaceous (soft or leafy) vegetation. Studies in Maryland identified 34 plants while a study in Pennsylvania found 46 that were eaten by woodchucks. Clover, wild lettuce, grasses, chickweed, and dandelion appeared among the preferred species. The animals also readily eat hay grasses, alfalfa, corn, and a variety of common garden or commercial crops. Woodchucks readily climb trees and may feed on leaves of certain species, such as mulberry. They may also gnaw woody stems or trees, primarily in spring.
Reproduction:
Woodchucks mate in March and April shortly after emergence from hibernation. They can first breed as yearlings (i.e., in their second summer), however only 20-40% of female yearlings do breed. The tiny, feeble young are born in the burrows after a gestation period of 30-32 days. Based on data from studies of captive animals, litter size averages four to five young. The pups emerge from the den at about 33 days and are weaned at about 42 days.
Activity:
Woodchucks are typically daytime animals. During most of the year, their activity peaks in mid-morning and again in the late afternoon, but declines at mid-day. Early and late in the season they may be active only in the afternoon. They enter hibernation in late fall and emerge in early spring. The hibernation period is about 4-4½ months in Pennsylvania and 5 months in upper New York. Their home range is determined by food availability, but is typically between ¾-2¼ acres. Home ranges of adult males may overlap those of females, but usually not those of other males. Woodchucks disperse from their birth area when less than 1 year old, females traveling perhaps ¼ mile and males mile. Woodchucks are quite wary and on the alert around their burrow entrance and while feeding.

Of course he will see his shadow, winter usually doesn't break up at least until mid-March and that is SIX weeks away!!