Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Out the Back Window – 03-16-13

A couple of days ago the weather in east central Iowa was kind of nice-ish. We have had a fair amount of rain. Melting has removed most of the snow and ice. We are making progress toward spring. But, there are no green things yet.

Melanie and I were returning from a walk and approached our driveway. The neighbors have a huge cottonwood tree. She looked up and asked what that thing was up in their tree. I got the camera and two pictures. It’s about the size of a softball. We had never seen it before. I thought the neighbor boys had destroyed a softball and ripped off the cover. They are wound with string. Maybe they tossed it up there.

Can you help us?

See below for your instructions.

Quiz: Can you ID that thing?

How are things in your neck of the woods today? Are there signs of spring around you? Do you have cabin fever?


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/ 31 Comments

31 comments

  1. GlenThePlumber

    last weekend on SF bay…rode the ferry…it was t-shirt weather…all very unusual.

    is that a one of those pods from ‘the body snatchers’..??

  4. Avilyn

    wasps or something?  Alternately, a large cocoon (although I’d hate to see the caterpillar that built that!)

    On signs of Spring – Thursday was a bright sunny day, even though it was windy and cold.  Came back from running errands, and the grassy area had about half a dozen robins on it.  First ones I’ve seen this year 🙂

  7. JanF

    I have no idea what they will eat. We still have a lot of snow cover so they will not be able to find worms or bugs.

    The deer are starting to get a little bold here. We have been getting them in our back yard foraging near the bird feeders. Last night there was a herd of 7 deer in the backyard. When they saw us looking at them, they (literally) hightailed it out of here and ran down the bike/walking trail that is behind our house, headed towards a nearby neighborhood park. About 45 minutes later, they came back down the bike path then ran off into the wetlands.

    It was neat to watch them but I really don’t like them knocking down our feeders going after the food. Time for a spring thaw to expose some things for them to eat.

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