Global Warming 2008

Welcome Summer Visitors

In the last 5 or 6 years we started seeing the Sand Hill Cranes in our area. Generally see them feeding in the grain or hay fields. There are two that seem to stay around our house. Their sound is like no other sound that I can remember.

A Skink? Skink in Michigan

Terry Tatarchuk sent me this picture of a blue tailed skink, Eumeces fasciatus, the only lizard that lives in our section of Michigan. I assume that it was taken by him on the Mansitee River.

I must confess that I have never seen one and frankly did not know they existed. Never too old to learn. =========================================
Below is some more information from the Michigan DNR.

Life History & Michigan History

Lizards in Michigan! Believe it or not, Michigan has two resident species of lizards. They represent an interesting part of our native Michigan fauna. The five-lined skink is the most abundant, while the six-lined race runner is known only from a small area in the Thumb area of Michigan.

The most common of the two species is the five-lined skink. This species of skink is known from most Lower Peninsula counties and has also been reported in the mid-section of the Upper Peninsula. They can be locally abundant in good habitat, but many Michigan residents go years without encountering one. They are named for the five cream or yellow-toned stripes running from their nose down through the tail. Another interesting characteristic is the bluish color in the tails of juveniles. Female adults often retain some of this blue throughout their life. Tails on mature males will turn a gray color.
Skinks are most likely to be encountered in wooded or partially wooded habitat. One important component is basking areas where the lizards can sit to increase their body temperatures. Favorite basking areas include stumps, logs, rocks, or outcroppings. Moist habitat areas are preferred.
Because they are cold-blooded, skinks are most active from May to about October. During this period, they will hunt many types of invertebrates including crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, centipedes, and beetle larvae.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the skink is its predator escape system. When a predator grabs a skink by the tail, it will break off. The tail continues to wiggle after being disconnected and distracts the predator until the skink can escape. The skink later regrows a new tail.
Skinks pose no negative impacts for humans and are beneficial in eating insect pests. Working to manage woodlands and provide the forest edges and sunning spots needed by skinks is the best way to ensure their survival.

Whitetail Watercolor

The deer, being at a distance and in the shade, did not come out that well on my little digital camera. But it seemed to me that the lack of resolution gives it the impression of a watercolor. Anyway it was a nice buck and the does were pretty.

Climbing for Fun

Our Grandson Jack has been visiting us from Lake Tahoe for 10 days. 10 wonderful days! He has such a positive attitude that he is a real joy to be around.

Like most three-year olds, he loves playgrounds. We were able to visit almost all the playgrounds in the Cadillac area. He also climbed on Elizabeth's Mountain at the Sound Garden on the Greenway. The rock pile has become a popular climbing spot for young children.

Cadillac has a large number of nice playgrounds. The playground on First Avenue was built by the Kiwanis Club and is very nice, especially for younger children. The Kenwood Beach playground is very extensive and has a wide variety of activities. All of the elementary schools have nice playgrounds also.

Whitetailed Deer

There is a reason that they are called White Tails!

It is Morel Mushroom Time!

Spring is here and mushroom hunting season is here! The Morel mushroom is not only one of the tastiest fungi around, but it is easy to identify. Hunting them is lots of fun. Like any type of hunting, the anticipation is as enjoyable as actually finding them.

For the most part, I look for them but do not pick. In many cases I actually hide the mushroom with ferns. I am hoping that they will spread. While I am told it is not possible, I think our area was over picked. When the kids were young, we searched for them throughout the season. Their eyes were outstanding and as a result, I think we may have picked too many.

But that does not mean I always do the catch and release like the trout fisherman. (More correctly referred to as "torture and release".) We certainly always have a meal with the morels and I dry some for the kids to use.

We have a wide range of delicious, edible fungi. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to identify. Some look very similar to mushrooms that are poisonous, or will at least produce a severe reaction in some people.


I am told that the shelf mushroom is very good but I do not have a clue as how to prepare. I would appreciate your recipe for any of our fungi.