It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood! We’ve got two new birds that seem to have taken up permanent residence.
The bald eagle flew right over my head to make itself known. I’ve seen it a few times now. They’re not that common around here, so it’s exciting to get to see.
The turkey… The poor turkey has actually been booted out of its flock. Since it’s mating season and the dominant male doesn’t want any competition, he’s been ostracized. … Read More
I never get tired of the rhythm of the seasons.
As a gardener/forager, just as one season ends, there’s always the next rolling in right behind.
While my garden might be seeing its last days, it’s time to make the concord grape jam. And nearly time to plant my garlic. And then to pick the pumpkins and squash. And so on and so on. Even in winter, there’s maple sugaring.
There is always something to look forward to.
And, yes, … Read More
Because I like to go on walkabouts from time to time, which often means an unplanned, unresearched trip that could land me anywhere in the world, one of the top, always-pack items I take is some kind of water filtration gadget. My go-to for a long time has been the LifeStraw 22 oz, BPA-free filtration bottle. I love it. Easy to use and works great.
But I’m always keeping my eye out for what’s coming down the pike with water … Read More
Cheeky little fellow. Without dogs or cats to scare him away, he’s happy to hang out on our front porch and take in the sights.
Our front and back yard are now overflowing with chipmunks who’ve moved in. Which presents a conundrum. Do I take a live-and-let-live policy (as has been my policy with all outdoor animals) and leave them alone? Or do I find a way to actively move them along? I don’t need more burrowing or house-entering critters.… Read More
There have been a lot of changes in the past year. It’s been interesting to see how Wink’s and Finn’s absence have been telegraphed through our little wild kingdom.
One of the most noticeable differences is in the number of birds that now feel comfortable in much closer proximity to our house.
When Wink and Finn were here, pretty much zero came inside our fence. Just this afternoon, there were several that I could single out by sight and sound, … Read More
If you’re a gardener, you’ve already seen the decline in bees, and maybe even experienced a resulting decrease in crop yield.
Maybe you’ve even resorted to hand pollination, as I’ve had to on a few occasions.
So I’ve become all about the bees, as witnessed by this wasps nest.
You can learn more about why I left them alone in this post which talks about the benefits of wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets.
And letting our lawn go … Read More
At a time when life’s uncertainties abound, I am reminded of the strength and healing of nature through the imagery in this poem.
… Read MoreWhen despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of
Happy days are here again! Nothing blows off the winter doldrums like getting my Bakers Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog. Because I grow organically and save my own seeds, I especially love these guys.
They offer one of the largest selections of 19th-century heirloom seeds from Europe and Asia. So if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary—and sustainable, look no further.
From their website: At Baker Creek, our mission is to provide the seeds of a sustainable food … Read More
