Silly Goose

Mikey is always doing or saying the funniest things to make me laugh, so referring to him as a "silly goose" just seems very natural –  in a loving, endearing sort of way.

So, it was super exciting when we recently spotted a real-life silly goose by our pond! 

Here are a few of my silly goose's photos of a real silly goose...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife

We often hear the trademark "honk" of geese and see them migrate in the V-shaped flocks. But, they rarely stop at our pond! 

©Life as an Artist’s Wife

We didn't realize geese have serrated beaks until we zoomed in on this photo!  Let's just say I wouldn't want to be bitten by a grumpy goose – ouch!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife

The goose is taking off and making sure everyone in NE Wisconsin knows about it with his heralding honk!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife

This picture makes me laugh! But, I thought it was important to add this...

Disclaimer: No goose was harmed in the making of this blog post. :)

We hated to see the silly goose fly away, but at least I can always count on my silly goose to keep me entertained!

So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

-Psalm 32:11 

Turkey Trot

No need to check your calendar...it’s not Thanksgiving, but it is Spring, so it’s time to dust off the ol' blog! 

The blog has been MIA for a while. My Renaissance Man has been busy exercising his entrepreneur muscles the past several months consulting with a technology company. But with so much wildlife activity outside, Mikey has been trying to squeeze in some photography time, too. 

So, let's talk turkey...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Turkey posing pretty for a picture on our land in NE Wisconsin.

We have about 40 wild turkeys that call our woods their home sweet home. 

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Just a portion of our turkey flock hunting for snacks of berries, seeds, and insects.

Like clockwork, everyday the funny flock trots through the woods (and our yard) in the morning and evening.

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
This turkey has parted from the pack because he knows their will be some good grub by the bird feeder.

However, things are a little more entertaining in the Spring when the males are looking for love! Check out that fan!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Male turkey performing an impressive courtship display!

In the evenings, the turkeys fly up into the trees to sleep during the night. (Yes, turkeys do fly, although not very gracefully!) We're amazed they can sleep on the branches with their clunky-ish disposition!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Turkey flying up to a branch to snuggle in for the night.

The turkeys usually cause us no issues...except when they block the UPS truck or pizza deliveryman from pulling up the driveway. (True stories!)

But, then there's Gobbles. He's the "troublemaker" of the flock. Gobbles has a tendency to not sleep during the night. He gobbles during the night...loudly...waking us up frequently if we sleep with the windows open. He also picks fights with himself. He sees his reflection in Mikey’s office window, thinks it's another male turkey, and pecks (quite forcefully) at his reflection. Oh, Gobbles!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Gobbles fighting with his reflection outside Mikey's office window.

Quirks aside, we adore these turkeys! And we love that they make their home in our woods. It just wouldn't be the same without them!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Nice and plump. But, this turkey will never be the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving meal! 

If you like turkeys, you'll love baby turkeys!

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Wildflower Wednesday

The last day of September = the last Wildflower Wednesday for 2015! 

Mikey had some editing fun with today's photo, giving it a nice autumnal tone...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

I must say...Mikey is the sweetest husband a girl could ask for! Knowing how much I love wildflowers, he planted me a wildflower garden in the spring, he brought me hand-picked wildflower bouquets throughout the summer, and he took amazing wildflower photos for me to enjoy all year long! 

Thank you Mikey for all you do to express your love and to make my heart happy :)

To see the entire collection of Wildflower Wednesday posts, click here! 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Wildflower Wednesday

Today may be the first day of autumn, but that doesn't mean our summer blog series Wildflower Wednesday is over! We have a long winter ahead of us, so I want to hang on to these pretties for a couple more weeks...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

-2 Peter 1:2

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Wildflower Wednesday

I love today's easy, breezy Wildflower Wednesday. And this beauty definitely knows how to take these late summer warm breezes in stride...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflower photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

I'll be wrapping up the Wildflower Wednesday series in the next couple weeks...just in time for some autumnal awesomeness (a.k.a. fall foliage!)

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

-Titus 3:5

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Wildflower Wednesday

The flowers highlighted in today's Wildflower Wednesday are quite cheery...especially with that ray of warm sunlight shining down on them! Oh, if only the first frost could just wait a few more months! 

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

-John 8:12

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Wildflower Wednesday

With Labor Day just around the corner, it's inevitable that the season for our beautiful wildflowers (and the Wildflower Wednesday series) will be winding down. So, I'm cherishing each and every bloom to the fullest...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

-Hebrews 10:23

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Barnyard Baby Chicks

Mikey stopped by a nearby farm to take photos of some beautiful horses and ran into these happy-go-lucky baby chicks...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Barnyard chicks photographed by Mikey in NE Wisconsin

It would be so fun to have baby chicks running around! Hmmm....I wonder how Mikey would feel about turning our land into a hobby farm?! I mean, why not?! We've already shared our land with baby turkeys and baby Wood Ducks!

Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

-Psalm 25:4-5

Wildflower Wednesday

Today's Wildflower Wednesday photo is a little different. In previous posts, I've featured blooming beauties that Mikey has photographed from our wildflower garden. However, these lavender lovelies bloom every May – in abundance – all throughout our 8-1/2 acres of woods! They are so dreamy...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin

God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.

-2 Corinthians 9:8

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :) 

Bouncing Baby Turkeys

There is never a dull moment living in the woods. For instance, we get to witness wild turkeys trot past our house just about every day – usually twice a day. And occasionally we see baby turkeys! These babies are so adorable...and bouncy! Mikey snapped these little bundles of joy earlier this summer...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Fluffy baby turkeys don't stay this little...or cute...for long!

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
A parade of baby turkeys following their Momma and learning how to navigate the woods.

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Momma turkey searching for food for her hungry babies.

Fortunately, our dachshund "guard dogs" have accepted the fact that the turkeys aren't going anywhere, so they don't bark at them too much...unless the turkeys stroll too close to their designated doggy area!

 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

-Psalm 32:8

Wildflower Wednesday

Today's Wildflower Wednesday features this dainty duo...

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Wildflowers photographed by Mikey on our land in NE Wisconsin.

As shown in previous Wildflower Wednesday posts, there is such a wide variety of flowers in this garden. So, when Mikey spotted these two identical blooms nestled cozily together, he just had to take a photo. Looks like a magenta match made in heaven (...or Wisconsin!)

 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

-Romans 12:12

Disclaimer: I am not a botanist, floriculturist, horticulturist, or any sort of "-ist" so I will rarely attempt to indicate the names of the wildflowers featured in Wildflower Wednesday. These wildflowers are posted simply for your viewing pleasure. :)

Purple Mountain Trees

What?! You've never heard of "purple mountain trees?" Don’t worry…that’s just Mikey's nickname for this blue ajuga – a beautiful evergreen plant that adorns our back patio. This is a rather short plant, but in the photo it looks quite tall and majestic. It's all about perspective!
 

©Life as an Artist’s Wife
Mikey photographed this ajuga (a.k.a. "the purple mountain trees!") in our backyard.

This is another one of our favorites because every year the ground cover spreads (or "creeps") a little bit further filling in more of the garden – hooray! The flowers and leaves are so pretty, but perhaps my most favorite trait is that they attract happy, little hummingbirds! (Still trying to capture that amazing photo...get to work, Mikey!)

When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

-James 1:3-4