Friday Night RV Show!

Hey Everyone! This weekend we are at the RV Show in Rockford, IL and have met a lot of great people so far. We are trying to update when we can so these posts will be short. If you have visited us at the Show and played the Frog Jumping Contest, Click on this to see your picture. http://froglogrvshow.blogspot.com/ .Thanks everyone for your continued support!

Female Ruby-throated hummingbird

Female Ruby-throated hummingbird

Correct us if we are wrong, but so far this is a female ruby-throated hummingbird. The male will have a dark ruby colored throat. Thanks to Mendota Hills Seasonals on the swimming lake, this was taken on their humming-bird feeder, as these birds enjoy insects and nectar. These birds get their name from the "humming" noise that their wings make at 50-60 flaps...per second. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards. They usually construct their nest with plant material and spider webs, gluing pieces of lichen on the outside for decoration. Best interesting fact: Their heart beats around 1,260 times a minute and they take around 25o breaths a minute! (check out others in Nature archive on sidebar)

Work Day! April 4th

Hey, Just want to let everyone know that there is a planned workday for Saturday April 4th, 2009 for anyone that wants to participate. Planned work projects include:Raking, painting, staining, cleaning, and many more specific projects. If you are interested, just show up (maybe with rakes or paintbrushes!) and join along for the fun. Potluck will be following also so you can enjoy a free meal afterwards. Thanks for your continued help and hope to see you there!

Muskrat

Muskrat

This muskrat was spotted on the Third Lake. Muskrats usually eat cattails and other vegetation but can also eat frogs, crayfish, and fish. They are unique "water" animals and can stay underwater for 15 minutes. They have the bodies like seals and use their tail for propulsion. They either build lodges, like a beaver, or burrow in the ground with underwater entrances. They are sometimes confused with the beaver, however a muskrat is around 1-4 lbs whereas a beaver is 30-88 lbs. interesting Fact: Muskrats get their name from a musky smell they mark the territories with. (view nature archive on sidebar (#10)

White-breasted Nuthatch

The White-breasted Nuthatch is a common bird in Illinois, especially to bird feeders. These birds have the ability to hop headfirst down tree trunks, which helps them to see insects and eggs that other birds miss. It can be compared to the Red-breasted Nuthatch. Interesting Fact: "Nuthatch" comes from English moniker "nuthack", referring to the bird wedging seeds into crevices and "hacking" it open.

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Sighted on the path to the back woods creek, we saw approximately, and if not more, than 25 birds. These large birds eat insects, seeds, and fruit and can fly almost 60 mph. interesting Fact: They nearly became our national bird, but lost by one vote to the Bald Eagle. Here's to our wild Thanksgiving friends! (Visit Nature Archive on sidebar for more)

Nature Archive

Hey Bloggers! We thought we would start a nature Archive for Mendota Hills. See if you can find all of these at Mendota hills when you come out. If you have pictures (identified or unidentified) of nature (birds, animals, plants etc.) out here at Mendota Hills, we will try and identify it and log them to the nature archive (we will be using Birds of Illinois by Stan Tekiela and Wikipedia as references). Have fun and enjoy! (Email to Mendotahillscamp@aol.com or Jamie7787@aol.com )

More Bunnies!

Spring has arrived! Here is one of Mendota Hills newest arrivals.

Camping Insights!

So if you think that camping is only a summertime event in the Midwest, think no more. During the winter, one of Mendota Hills Campers (we won't mention that he is enjoying the warm weather down south) has been writing some "insights". We figured we would share some with everyone and maybe throughout the summer we will post some more.

Here is one we enjoyed on Camping(by the way, if you want to read more "insights and pondering", visit www.Den2Fish.blogspot.com), enjoy!..........

Camping

Winnebagos, Airstreams, pop-ups, and tents
Some owned, some borrowed, and some that they rent.
The thread that unites is the draw to be outdoors
To relax with nature in a setting that restores.

They arrive on Fridays after a week of toil
Nerves still taught from all the turmoil
Signing in guests they begin to glow
They sense the spirit and join in the flow

It’s all about relaxing here on our grounds
Just sit by a fire and absorb nature’s sounds
Once at their site they begin to setup
Feeling the weeks pressures slowly letup

Each has a task that they handle with ease
While kids wander off to explore in the trees
Once the camp is all settled and a fire is lit
It’s time to relax, breath fresh air and just sit

The night darkens ‘round them and they fully unwind
It’s time to enjoy nature as they fully designed
Sing songs, tell stories, or just reminisce
It’s all relaxing around the fire’s flame and hiss

The roasting of marshmallows can be such a mess
It seems no one can do it with total success
But the tasty tradition can be such a pleasure
Adding lasting memories that you long will treasure

Then it’s time for bed ‘cause they all need some sleep
Soon, except for the snoring, you won’t hear a peep
As stillness descends, natures night sounds take over
Crickets chirp, frogs croak, perhaps a sigh from Rover

Dawn brings a new day, the ground covered with dew
A hearty breakfast then it’s time to decide what to do
Hike in the woods, fish or swim in the lake
So many choices in which all can partake

But camping is all about not having a plan
Just savoring the time, enjoying all that you can
Take time for ‘You’, and if that means a nap
Don’t feel guilty, let time fill the gap

Absorb all that you can at whatever your pace
Just make it relaxing instead of a race
Enjoy time as a family because these are so rare
Create memories that later you will all love to share.

Dennis

Copyright @ 2009 Den2Fish

Rockford RV Show

Hey Blogland!
We just wanted to say that Mendota Hills is going to be at the Rockford RV, Camping & Travel Show on March 27th-29th, 2009. If anyone is interested in coming, contact Mendota Hills for coupons and they will try and send them ASAP. Here is a link to the show: http://www.showtimeproduction.net/rvshow/.