A Wonderful FB Group

I was out walking with grandchildren last week and one of them noticed a butterfly, we all crowded around to look and I took a few pictures. I had no idea of the name of this type of butterfly so when we got home I posted the pictures on Facebook to see if anyone did know. A good friend suggested I post it in the FB group IN Nature and sent me a link to join. I joined the group and posted my picture and literally within thirty seconds I had the answer, it is a Red Admiral butterfly. 

Red Admiral Butterfly

Yesterday while out hiking with many grandsons, we kept seeing beautiful emerald green insects on the trail who would fly away as we got close. I had know idea what type of insect it could be, the next time we saw one on the trail we all stopped and stood quietly and I started snapping pictures as I crept closer and closer until eventually it flew off. When we got home I posted the picture to IN Nature, and again in less than a minute I had an answer (several in fact) and all agreed it was a six spotted tiger beetle.

I am LOVING this FB group, each day I have learned something new and it is so nice to know that there are many, many other Hoosiers who are out and about exploring our natural environment and are curious about the things they see. And I am really thankful that there are so many knowledgeable people who can answer questions and provide identification as the requests are posted. 

Six Spotted Tiger Beetle

And last of all, on Saturday afternoon I walked to nearby Leo, IN, each time I cross over a bridge over a small tributary to the St. Joe river. The last three times I have crossed the bridge I have stopped to look in the water and have seen a Muskrat swimming around. This past Saturday he was very busy and I was able to take a few pictures of him swimming before he disappeared underwater. 

Mr. Muskrat

These are but a few of the many pleasures of walking, not only does it clear and soothe the mind, it strengthens and tones the body, and because you are walking you notice so many things in nature that you will never see from a car window. Walking reconnects you mind, body and soul back to the earth and all that is wonderful.

Saturday Snow! And, Can You Identify This House Plant?

We are forecast to get quite a snowfall today. I went out at six-thirty this morning to walk and the wind was blowing hard, the snow was falling fast, and the going was adventurous. Funny how a little inclement weather turns my ordinary daily exercise into a battle of me versus the elements, and I just love it. There is something about being bundled up, hunched up to fend off the blowing wind and driving snow, tromping through the drifts, be wary not to slip, everything becomes a challenge in a good way, a fun way.

I usually walk a mile in fourteen minutes, today my average speed was seventeen minutes per mile, a significant slow down, but I feel like it was a good work out, it was more like hiking. When I got back to the house I filled the bird feeders and shoveled the front walk. Right now the temperature is just below freezing, but by tomorrow morning we are going to be down to two degrees and we will remain sub-zero for several days, brrrrr.

Now, can anyone tell me what this plant is? I "won" it in a silent auction at a family reunion this past September. The plant sits on a table in front of a west facing window and seems very happy where I have it. In the past weeks it started to blossom, the first blossom to appear has now turned a reddish/pinkish color. The leaves are some what serrated, thick, but not like a succulent, and the stem is quite woody. The plant is about a foot tall. I really like it but wish I knew more about it.

What Stories Could This Tree Tell

Dave and I took advantage of the unseasonably warm January weather this past Sunday to take a hike through Pokagon State Park near Angola, Indiana. We did a little over 6 miles, up and down hills, through woods and open spaces, around ponds and past creeks, enjoying the scenery and the walk.  We made a slight alteration to our normal route and  at the top of a steep hill came upon the tree pictured. What happened to this tree? How did every branch get broken off? What type of tree is it? What I do know is that even in  death the stark beauty of the tree still gives pleasure. 

A Cold and Frosty Morning and Kimchi Update

I LOVE walking on a cold winters morning. I leave when it is dark, layered up against the cold, and I totally enjoy the hour and half I spend outdoors as I begin my day. The sky is dark, the constellations stand out well, the moon is bright, if there is snow on the ground it crunches pleasingly as I march along. I listen to BBC Radio 4, or 4Extra, as I walk, enjoying a story or play. It is the best time, I think I am a bit of a loner at heart, and I really enjoy being alone with my thoughts and being outside.
As I mentioned it is dark when I start out, but by the end of my walk the sun is rising, and the last part of my walk is due east, so I really get the full impact of a winter morning sunrise, and they are spectacularly beautiful. Here are some pictures to enjoy from this mornings walk, it was 12 degrees, so quite cold, but no wind, and believe me that makes all the difference.

 

 

 

Kimchi update - FAILURE :) Oh my, I followed for the most part a recipe from Epicurious.  I read the recipe review comments after making my kimchi, many noted that the recipe was way too salty. I thought mine would be okay because I omitted the soy sauce and fish sauce, both very salty. Sadly I was quite mistaken, to say my kimchi was salty is truly a gross understatement of the facts, it was so salty it was inedible. And, then the half cup of red pepper, I did a little less, made the mixture so spicy hot it literally burned my mouth. I let the kimchi sit another day and tried it again, it was still vile beyond belief so I had to throw it all away. I feel sad, quite sad, to have wasted two entire Napa cabbages, as they are so delightfully tasty. I did however very much enjoy the small jar of store bought kimchi, but will not make this a regular purchase as it is very expensive. I think if I want to eat fermented food I will stick with my old, inexpensive standby, sauerkraut!