Author: michaeljordahl

Retired Miner, loves science, reading, carving, walking, recovering alcoholic

Haibun: Beaver Dam

3dam1

My son Aaron and I are way back in the wilderness of Superior National Forest, and we’ve just stumbled upon a recently constructed beaver dam. Unfortunately, beavers like to lounge around inside their “lodge” where they’re high and dry, and safe from predators during the day. The construction project is all done on the night shift, so we’ll have to settle for some photos of the pond.

3dam2

Mama is most likely tending to some little ones inside the lodge, as beavers have from one to four kits in the spring.

One thing there is no shortage of out here is woodticks. We must have pulled twenty or thirty of the little blood-suckers off our legs already. And then there’s lyme disease.

Well, it looks like there will be no tail-slapping activities here today.

* * *

found a beaver dam

a newly built beaver dam–

and no beaver. damn

3dam3

–Photos by me

 

Einstein Quote

finbike1

My new ride. Harry Potter had his Nimbus 2000. This is my Stimulus 2020.

There are so many nice, winding bicycle trails linking the small towns of the Iron Range now. Paved and groomed, they’re great for the “mature” bicyclist such as myself.

Like walking or jogging, there’s something about doing it that helps you jostle things into place in your head, and keeps the body balanced–which brings me to the quote by Albert Einstein:

“Life is like riding a bike.

To keep balanced,

you must keep moving.”

finbike2

–Photos by me

 

Say Again, Cap’n?

finship

The ship was in great peril;

Her hull had sprung a leak,

And so our captain called the crew

On deck so he could speak:

“We’re working to repair the hull,”

He crooned, clearing his throat,

“Until we do, our big bilge pump

Will keep the ship afloat,

And as repairs may take some time,

I’m making this decree:

All non-essential items

Must be thrown into the sea.”

And yet the ship sunk faster,

And our frantic captain roared,

“That pump is too damned heavy,

We must throw it overboard!”

llama

1llamafin

llama

social, curious

grazing, spitting, playing

may save us all

camelid

 

2llamafin

Imagine my surprise when I ran into this woolly gal out in the woods! She had escaped from a nearby farm, but she happily followed me to it. The farmer told me that they used to have two more, but one wandered off and the other was killed by a bear.

Llamas, with their unique kind of blood, have recently shown an exciting potential for a coronavirus treatment. Go llamas!

3llamafin

–Photos by me