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Nature

One Big Happy Family

White Tail Deer

A white tail deer, half hidden in the tall grass behind our second pond, is munching on an early morning breakfast.

This mama has two kids and they live back behind those trees. They’re part of our wildlife family that shares this land. I’ve gotten to know their schedule and routes through the property as well as I know my own. As I have with the foxes, coyotes, rabbits, herons, geese, ducks, turtles, and sundry other 4-footeds. Even the dogs … Read More

It’s All What You’re Used To

I had a couple of friends visiting from New York City. After two nights of being kept awake by the nightly symphony of our frogs, crickets, cicadas and other orchestra members, my friends said they couldn’t wait to get back  home to the “Quiet” of the city. Mind you, they live on the same block as a hospital AND a police station!

Guess it’s all what you’re used to… : )  Click to listen to Night Sounds in the Northeast … Read More

Changes in the Neighborhood

We’ve lived on our sweet little country road for more than two decades—which is more than twice as long as I’ve lived anywhere else. People who live on this road tend not to move once they get here. And their animals tend to live to ripe old ages. And the wild animals, because they’re left in peace, also live long and have become part of the finely knit fabric of this little community. I often joke that it must be … Read More

Grilled or Pesto — Use Those Scapes!

scapeI’ve spent most of the morning pinching scapes off my garlic plants. And in case you didn’t know it, scapes are quite a delicacy — right up there with fiddlehead ferns in my book!

Both have a short window for when they’re available though. While I’m lucky enough to grab them fresh, straight from the garden, chances are that you can find them at your local farmers market right about NOW! If you do find some, here are two of … Read More

Are Wasps Beneficial for Fruit Trees?

plum tree

My plumbs are growing nicely. But…

wasp-nest

This wasp nest presents a dilemma…

With the general lack of bees, I’m always trying to support whatever bee/wasp colonies I can. While wasps aren’t the handy dandy pollinators that bees are, they do some pollinating. AND they eat lots of other pesky insects.

So, even though they are more aggressive in general than bees, I usually take a “live and let live policy.” BUT– the problem is that they also feed on fruit.… Read More

Sick? This’ll Fix You Up Quicker Than Chicken Soup!

I’ve been a little under the weather, and wanted to make myself a healing soup that wasn’t the usual boring Chicken Soup. This Seafood Curry Chowder, with its Indian spices (which helps open breathing passages) and chicken broth (general fixer-upper elixir) gives a one-two punch!

curry-chowderBUT…

It’s so rich and delicious and special–and SIMPLE to make–that you could serve this at any dinner party and get rave reviews. It’s my family and friends’ all time favorite soup!

1 fillet of … Read More

Early Holiday Gift for You– Go Outside and Look Up!

Early post this week so I can share one of my favorite holiday presents with you. This Thursday night into early Friday morning, we’ll get to watch one of nature’s most wondrous annual celestial light shows–the Geminids meteor shower.What’s perfect about this year is that the moon will have set before the meteors come out to play from around 10 p.m. through 3 a.m., so the sky should be nice and dark for optimal viewing. There could be … Read More

On the Move

I love nature. And I feel fortunate to live in close proximity to all that the great wilds of the Adirondacks have to offer.

But, um, this is perhaps a tad too close for comfort. Yep, this is a very big black bear sauntering through my mother’s front yard. Thankfully, all dogs were safely inside.

And here’s a lovely doe in the backyard. Both passed through within minutes of each other.

Over the years, we’ve seen more and more of … Read More

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