we have been repairing our dock all week. it’s very long.  thus a whole week.  but it also means we have spent lots of time ankle deep at the water’s edge. we’ve gotten to witness some memorable sights: a bald eagle plucking a live northern pike from the water, and a whole flock of arctic terns recklessly dive bombing minnows in the shallows. the most spectacular sight however came today in a shallow pool hidden in the reeds where hundreds of american toads were singing and mating. the males sang with their throats inflated like balloons, the ladies responded, some chasing ensued, and soon enough they were locked in an underwater embrace. the male appears to squeeze a ribbon of eggs out of the female, and i assume fertilizes them on the way out. eventually the pool is filled with these polka-dotted ribbons floating in the water.  some of them several feet long.

american toad egg skein

turtle lake, minnesota

usually my eye wanders to STILL blog subjects that make a graphic statement. sometimes it is color that catches my eye.  on occasion texture.  and every once in a while pattern.  but today it was none of those.  it was simply beauty.

may (crabapple?) blossoms

saint paul, minnesota

it’s the weeping willows who are stealing the show right now.

saint paul, minnesota

my husband found this peaceful little guy in our chicken coop today.  we think he’s a lincoln’s sparrow. we are somewhat horrified at the thought that our sweet chickens may have attacked him. we intend to follow the cold war strategy, “trust but verify” for several days.

saint paul, minnesota

a quick walk with the dog just before dinner last night offered up the collection above.  right now seeing green is still exciting and special,  yet in only a week or two there will be so much green and it will be so dense that i will be trying to see past it to look for my daily STILL blog inspiration.

a collection of mid-may greenery

saint paul, minnesota