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The gray trees against the white snow are aspens, and there aspens all around, but those are more ash and maple trees there. The caterpillars infest those trees in the summer, and when you stretch your tarp by a stream to have a picnic, they drop by the dozens to join you. I'm glad I have a wife who isn't squeamish.

We have had such a delightful slow transition from spring to summer this year you can go to the base of the snow drifts, and three inches from the snow the flowers are blooming, tiny ones in white, yellow, and purple. They put up a few leaves and a blossom right in the water as soon as the snow melts, and the ground is polka-dotted with life where the snow recedes.

We had fun with two jays who were visiting us at our campsite in the snow, looking for peanuts, cracker chips, bread crumbs, and when I finally opened a packet of oatmeal they loved the stuff, but it wasn't what they could put in their beaks and hide for another day. They had to stay and eat, beautiful smart birds, Canadian gray jay.

I've only been in your neck of the woods during the winter skiing, looks pretty nice there in the summer too (snow in the summer, wow).

As you can see by the pics Gran has so graciously posted for me, I kind of like the water, and for that there is no finer place in the world than here (maybe Hawaii and the Virgin Islands are better).

Thanks for your reply, Doggie dear. If I don't keep up with my “pings”, then they get so far back I miss them all, sigh. I really must thin the load. ;)

Thanks for the answer of ‘what trees those are’. I remember all the Aspens in CO, when we were there. They remind me in some way of our Poplars here.

I've never seen a Grey Jay here, and we are close to Canada. I wonder why all ours are Blue? You're family are better than me, as I wouldn't care for dropping Caterpillars, lol.

I love seeing all the birds that are coming to my bird-feeder, but now the Chipmunks have found a way to it by jumping on our chairs and getting on the railing. The little devils, now I'll have to move it further from my windows.

Our Mocking birds have flown the nest, and I missed the event. I was so sad because I watched and watched for it. I helped ward off the Crows when I heard their warning calls, and hope the Crows didn't get them while I was doing other things. I did notice that Mocking birds only sing while they are mating and building, which I never realized. Now that the nest is empty I hear them singing their whole chorus again.I, like you, love to watch and feed the birds. When we get a sunny day, :( I'll go find a better spot for the feeder, but none will be as close to my windows as this spot, sighhh.

Be good, and enjoy life, (I know you can and do.) and post more pics....please.