A Walk In The North Field - Part 2

The dogs and I had walked across the north field to the fence line, then crossed it and began exploring (see also Part 1, posted yesterday):

I noticed a steep but otherwise easy path downhill into the woods, so down we went. There was still some snow lingering down there in the shade:

But there was also some greenery which had kept its color beneath the snow all winter. This, I believe, was Christmas Fern:

Seamus, Clover and Daphne led the way:

We skirted the snow patches, headed east toward an old farm lane:

Most everything was still brown, but it made for easier walking:

And then I found another green fern. This one, I believe, was Broad Beech Fern:

More greenery - a lush clump of moss:

We returned uphill to the field and crossed back through the fence. Jack had by then wandered off but came running full speed when I called for him:

And we began returning home, with the barn and farm house ahead of us as our goal:

Happy dogs, making their way back across the field (Jack is that tiny orange thing in the upper right hand corner):

When we got to the gravel town road, the mailman was just driving by, so I stopped the dogs long enough to let him get past us. Then we crossed the road and returned home:

Redwater Brook Trail - Part 1

We were surprised with another day above freezing. I couldn't stay indoors brooding all day, so I took the dogs back to the trail we'd discovered in the autumn. It began with this bridge, spanning Redwater Brook. There may not have been much snow, but the ice was treacherous in places:

I stood on the bridge and looked out over wild, beautiful Redwater Brook, which inspired me to give the trail its name:


There were still patches of green, like this fern, which I believe was a Christmas Fern:

 And this fern, which I believe was a Hay-Scented Fern:

The dogs joyfully explored a side trail, but we didn't go far:

We did, however, leave the trail and enter the forest to do a bit of exploring. I was always careful to keep the trail in sight:

It was clear that deer frequented the forest:

We came to a grove of magnificent White Pines:


And the dogs seemed dwarfed as they raced between the big trees:

Seamus has trouble stepping over fallen trees, so he was hesitant. But when we kept going on without him, he hurried to catch up with us:

We passed by a number of blow-downs such as this one with its roots exposed, still clinging to the soil and rocks which once anchored it. I wouldn't want to be in the forest during a storm wild enough to take down tall trees:

I had intended to continue on, following the trail but not on it - until we came to this ravine, with a creek and lots of brush. That's when I decided the trail was looking mighty good again and we headed for it. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: