Yesterday we did the hike to Morrell falls. We usually make this trek later in the month, but it was such a beautiful day with highs in the 80's, we decided to tackle it. Quite a bit of the trail was still snow covered which makes for unsure footing. It's still totally worth it though. The falls were gorgeous.
Because it was so early in the month, this Trillium was the only wildflower we saw blooming. 
I couldn't get very close to this eared grebe and her babies. She kept squawking at me. This was on the 7th tee. We played nine holes, but the birding was better than the golfing for me anyway.
The usual suspects are available in the garden for harvest. This rhubarb was used for a rhubarb custard cake.
The asparagus was used in asparagus mushroom tarts. This is the first year we get to eat asparagus from the garden.
Hubby found these violets in the forest during our morning walk. We noticed several more plants growing right on the path. So pretty.
It was Cali's 3rd birthday yesterday so I made some wheat free dog cookies. They smelled good enough to eat...and she did!
Is this how we get young Douglas fir trees? Cali found an egg shell like this a couple of years ago and I thought it was from a turkey. However, we haven't had any turkey sightings in over a year. It turns out this shell is from a domestic goose. I'm not sure how it got on the Hill. Fox? Coyote? Raven? Who knows, but it's funny about the fir cone.
Hubby spotted this morel this morning in an area near our house. He told me now that I've seen it, I should have my "mushroom eyes" and be able to spot them. He's a trained mycologist so of course he has "mushroom eyes". 
Then he tells me to turn around because I just walked by this patch. Obviously my "mushroom eyes" need glasses.
Out to eat everything in sight. These are all yearlings. There were seven of the little devils grazing in the backyard yesterday afternoon. You can see one of them is onto me. I took this pic from the office window, but he still saw me.
The balsam root is blooming although not in the numbers we used to see. We've had so much rain and snow lately, it's great to see some color--and yellow is my favorite next to salmon, but there aren't many salmon colored wildflowers on the Hill.
Even the bluebird house is snow covered this morning. We've seen at least one pair house hunting the past week. I'm anxious to see nesting activity, but so far they have just been trying out each box.
These radish seedlings will take forever to produce if we don't get out of the 30's sometime soon.
Watering the wild strawberries. Hubby is ever hopeful they will bear fruit.
Notice the absence of snow. We have never had this much lawn exposed in January. Of course, instead of being covered with snow, it's covered with deer poop. The deer must spend all night here ripping up what green they can find.
It was nice enough for Hubby and Cali to play with one of her many sticks. He's not even wearing gloves!
Cali in back of the house.
