Our Annual Runge Nature Center Excursion

We made our fall visit to the Runge Nature Center yesterday.  It was gorgeous weather and perfect for hiking the trails.  The lighting wasn't the best (and I didn't feel like doing a bunch of editing) so the quality of the pictures leave a little to be desired.  As usual, we arrived 10 minutes before they closed the indoor part of the Center.  Oh well, it saves money since I didn't have time to browse their little bookshop.  :-(

The little boys love having their picture taken (oh, those expressions!!) with the stuffed cougar.  We had a cougar roaming our neighborhood a few years ago and Son #4 (back right) even spotted it one afternoon in the neighbor's field.

Our group.

Son #3 using a acorn cap for a whistle.  He really could make it whistle--and loud.

His acorn cap.

Stuck in a stump.

We saw LOTS of these.  They were hard at work burying the acorns.  I explained to the kids that sometimes the squirrels forget where they bury their stash and come springtime... viola'--a new tree.  :-)

These gals must be used to people cause they let us get pretty close.  Beautiful.

The herb bed with lots my favorite herbs--lemon balm, thyme, basil, etc...

Me and the boys

And me and the girls.

Daughter #4 at the little pond.