#island

May 21, 2022 - Catbirds like oranges as much as Orioles do - taken May 16, 2022

May 20, 2020- a few days ago, The oaks started to leaf out. I love the way they look at this stage. It always reminds me of an impressionist painting - taken May 15, 2p22

April 15, 2022 - the Forsythia came into full bloom a few days ago

I have Forsythia shrubs dotted all over my little farm, which lights up the entire area in early spring.

I have often said that it is one of the best covers for chickens to protect them from hawks in a free range situation like mine. The shrub is so twiggy that even in winter with no leaves on it, it provides incredible protection. I rarely lose a chicken to a hawk. Plus it’s just incredibly beautiful in the spring when left unpruned, and allowed to grow in its natural state.

April 10, 2022 - Foxy- exploring the field. The smells are better on damp days +taken Mar 24, 2022

April 10, 2022 -foggy dog walk around the farm - taken March 24th

Over the foggy farm fields this day, for the first time this season, there were three killdeer flying and calling their unique call.

April 5, 2022 - a bit of color finally

These daffodils just opened yesterday, brightening the brown, gray, tan landscape of the last 3 months

April 4, 2022 - the sound of spring peepers-recorded March 18, 2022

Since the invasion of Ukraine and the horrors that are going on in that country, I have not been in the mood to post anything here, but I thought I’d break that silence with a video of the sound of spring peepers in the nearby swamp.

I walk by the swamp everyday on the afternoon dog walk, and this was the first day this season that I heard these little frogs calling. It felt like such a hopeful sound, the way nature can often restore us.

Feb 2, 2022 - it was Deri’s 10th birthday today

Feb 2, 2022 - at the edge of the woods

I’ve written before about the little Christmas tree that I put out every year at the edge of the woods.

It stands out where a number of my dogs, and other animals I have shared my life with, have been buried. I often leave the lights on until March, because it cheers the cold winter nights.

Last fall when I was at the Thrift shop here, I found this set of three deer, two adults and a fawn, for sale. They are made from real twigs, and have small white lights entwined throughout the twigs. I got them because I thought they would look really neat next to the little Christmas tree out there. They do look nice with the lights on, but I got to prefer them during the day, and really like the way they look in the snow.

There are a lot of real deer around here wandering through these woods so it must be sort of funny when they come across these sculptures. Probably ignore them completely :-) I should set up my trail cam over there for a while.

Feb 1, 2022 - a winter afternoon - taken Jan 31, 2022

Feb 1, 2022 - late afternoon sun at the end of January - taken Jan 31, 2022

Jan 30, 2022 - side yard with frozen, snow covered pond, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - west wall of chicken house, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - barn door, and garden tools, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - barn and chicken house, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - bamboo garden, and a forgotten chair, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - part of a perennial garden that I have been renovating, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - beck field, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - vegetable garden, during yesterday’s blizzard

Jan 30, 2022 - back of barn during yesterday’s blizzard