Critters Around the House

The snow piles are so high we can watch the red squirrels from our chair. The snow is so deep I have just been tossing black sunflower seeds onto the snowbanks because I can't get to the bird feeders.

Yesterday was Steve's birthday. He got a birthday surprise! We know there are turkeys in the neighborhood, but they never come this far down our road. Yesterday, twelve turkeys came out of the woods. As I said, the snowbanks are so high I couldn't get a good picture of all of them. But I did get two pictures of some courting going on.

Its the time of the year where Tom starts strutting his stuff to attract the ladies. Spring is here!

Mackinac Island Winter 2019

Steve and I had the opportunity to go to Mackinac Island on our snowmobiles twice this winter. We just followed the discarded Christmas trees which line the ice bridge. People cross by snowmobile, foot and fat tire bikes. All credit for these pictures go to Steve.

There I am sharing the road with the horses. That is the Grand Hotel in the background.

I'm being passed by another snowmobiler while Steve takes a pic. That is Fort Mackinac up the hill behind me. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island except snowmobiles. Though we did see a county plow truck, a large loader hauling away snow from main street, and a sheriff driving around the island in a truck.

Like everywhere here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Mackinac Island has a lot of snow. In the distance you can see the Mackinac Bridge.

So many snowmobiles...There are only two restaurants open on the island during the off-season. On this day many visitors wanted lunch!

On our way back to the mainland!

On one of our trips to the island, we encountered this scene in the town of St. Ignace. Nobody got hurt except the snowmobile. Yikes.

The Happy Hour Bar and Restaurant in Hulbert Michigan

Most people call it the "Deer Bar", but the official name is The Happy Hour. The deer yard up here for the winter months and you can enjoy a beer or your beverage of choice while watching the deer chow down on corn and hay.

George is throwing out corn.

And they LOVE it. They come in from all directions.

If you're ever in the UP during winter, stop by the Happy Hour and enjoy a burger (or something else off the menu. They have a great prime rib dinner on Friday nights, too.) while watching these amazing creatures enjoy their meals right out the window.