If you’ve been a regular reader, you’re probably almost as familiar with our pond as we are; it’s in nearly every outdoor shot. If you’re not, here are a few pics through the seasons.
What you may not have guessed is that we built it. The year before Cait was born, we reclaimed it from a mosquito-infested swamp. For the first year, there was no life in or around the pond; all was still. In the second year, the … Read More
We’ve had Great Blue Herons visiting our pond for decades. Seeing this pose is a first.
This pose is known as “horning” or sun-baking (often referred to by birders as the delta wing pose).
While it looks like it might be trying to do a yoga stretch or impersonate a dragon, I discovered there are a few practical reasons behind this striking behavior:
1. Thermoregulation (Sunbathing)
On cooler mornings or after spending time in cold water hunting for fish, herons … Read More
If you’ve ever heard a bird song and thought, What bird is that? The Merlin Bird ID app is for you. It’s free and it’s fabulous at what it does. (Scroll to the bottom of the post to get the link.)
This screengrab shows what’s currently singing in my neck of the woods. I’ve used this app for so long now, that I can identify most of the bird songs on this list. The Song Sparrow iw always a little … Read More
Arrow has been dealing with allergies, and getting his meds straightened out has been tricky. Stomach upsets have been a problem. Last night was not a good night for him. At 3 AM he needed to go out. Not my favorite time to be up and outside in the cold. So imagine my delight at being rewarded with getting to see this!
All the while being serenaded by a Great Horned Owl in the background. Mother Nature, she sure is … Read More
It’s that time of year again when the kitchen fills with the sights and smells of freshly picked Asian pears. The baskets are overflowing, the counters are covered, and the rhythm of slice, core, and stir sets the pace for the afternoon. There’s something deeply satisfying about the simple ritual of putting up fruit.
This batch of pears will soon become pear butter. I’m thinking maybe some crisps for the next batch. Those make great holiday gifts. But for now, … Read More
Twice a day, for the past few weeks, the Canadian Geese have been flying overhead from the fields to the lake and back again, as they work to store up food.
Morning and evening, hundreds of them decorate the sky like fluid strands of necklaces. There are so many of them that I can hear the concussion of their wings beating the air like drums. They honk in chorus, flying in formation, getting ready to sing their way south.
The … Read More
Every year, I look forward to this exact moment. Walking out to the backyard and picking the first Asian pears off the trees I planted years ago. You’d think I was harvesting a rare delicacy from some secret orchard in the Himalayas. Nope. Just me, standing in the grass in my bare feet, grinning like I’ve won the produce lottery.
There’s something about that crisp snap when you bite into an Asian Pear that makes all the tending worthwhile. Sweet, … Read More
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