Summer in northeast Wisconsin, 2009

As I believe I have mentioned before, our family has a log cabin in northeast Wisconsin, not far from the upper peninsula of Michigan. It is fairly wild country with a great deal of wildlife including bear, deer, elk, badgers, wolves, etc. There are many small lakes dotted on the map along with waterfalls, farm fields and gorgeous trout steams. Where our cabin is located there is a series of three lakes interconnected by small, navigable streams. These are what I call "wildlife" lakes. There is no public access and only 3 or 4 cabins dot the shoreline. It is a peaceful place that I find to be restful to my soul.

The last time I went there was in August, 2009 and spent a couple of days wandering around, always with my camera, looking at what nature has to offer.

That sunny August day I tool my kyack and went into the middle of the three small lakes near our cabin. Soon I was looking at a monarch butterfly catapillar munching on the leaves of a milkweed. Soon, that catapillar will metamorph into a beautiful butterfly, one of natures miracles.

A little further on, and near the marshy shoreline, I noticed some dark plants sticking up in the grass. I came closer and found that I was looking at a number of young pitcher plants. These insectivorous plants are protected in Wisconsin.

And wile the pitchers themselves are not visible, they are quite striking plants.

Paddling back into the main lake on which our cabin is located, I noticed the reflection of the shoreline in the water. This lake is about 50 acres in size and is relatively shallow all around the edge. In the lake itself are three deeper holes, each reaching about 25 to 35 feet in depth. It is in these holes that local fishermen find northern pike, bass, walleyes and crappies. Our lake has a reputation for good fishing.

Back on land I wander around our property and am startled to suddenly see a small fawn coming out of the brush. Still with spots, this fawn had to be only weeks old.

As I watched, and took photos of course, the fawn's mother appeared as well. A little more attentive to her surroundings, she was carefully keeping track of her young daughter.

I continued to observe the deer for some time as they wandered around picking up an occasional something to eat, and always keeping their eyes and ears wide open. Eventually they disappeared as easily as they had first appeared.

I continued to look around when suddenly I saw a flash of red. Kneeling down on the ground to make myself as small as possible, I began to seek out the source of this color. There is was, a red-headed woodpecker. It was actually the first time that I had seen one of these near our cabin. We had the piliated woodpeker, as well as the Hairy and Downy woodpeckers, but until now, I had never seen the red-headed woodpecker.

The next thing I saw was a small red squirill. We have many of these cute animals around the cabin. They are always busy looking for food and storing much of it away for winter.

Continuing through the woods, along an old logging trail, something tells me to look up. Above the trail and looking down at me, I see a beautiful doe staring at me. We look at each other for quite a while, before she decides that enough is enough and wanders off.

It was beginning to get late so I start back to the cabin. Before I get there, however, I rest along the shore of the lake as dusk approached. Sunsets like this occur often, but are always considered rare and spectacular.