by Susan | Feb 26, 2017 | On My Mind
In a week overloaded with challenges, stress, and entirely too much work, where the ordinary suddenly goes off track, I’ve been in search of a bit of serenity. Thankfully, I’ve found it in stolen moments. The sun rising over ice shacks on a quiet river....
by Susan | Feb 20, 2017 | On the Farm
I hadn’t thought much about who’s walking in my woods lately. Until I took out the garbage this afternoon and found this. There were two sets of tracks running side-by-side down the drive, bypassing the duck and chicken coups without a pause. Too large for...
by Susan | Feb 18, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
I’ve got a case of cabin fever. I felt the need to get out and about today, but with all of this snow, there aren’t many places to hike. Pondering where to go where I’d have some space to move, I thought of the beach. Hannah and I headed to Roque...
by Susan | Feb 18, 2017 | Family, On My Mind
I know I’ve mentioned before how fortunate I am to have such a handy husband. Paul, a marine engineer by training, describes himself as an engineer, designer, fabricator, and maker. We joke that he’s the idea guy. I, however, have veto power. I always seem...
by Susan | Feb 16, 2017 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Storm three of the week was still going strong this morning. I spent a couple of hours on the sofa with my coffee contemplating the real world. Today was Hannah’s third snow day of the week. I had to decide if it was going to by my third snow day as well. All I...
by Susan | Feb 15, 2017 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Waterfowl and Seabird Patterns
I used Monday’s snow day to finish up this Roseate Tern that I started weeks ago. Summertime you’ll find these little birds scooting across the surface of the water and then diving for fish. I’m not sure where they spend their winters – if...
by Susan | Feb 14, 2017 | On My Mind
We’ve had snowy winters before. It seems like every couple of years we get a doozy – snow up to the eaves. Yet, this last week has been one for the record books. Eighteen inches last Thursday and then yesterday, we got 30 inches in 30 hours. It...
by Susan | Feb 10, 2017 | On My Mind
We have had a very mild winter to date. With temps bouncing from frigid to moderate, the little snow we’ve had has quickly melted. Until today. It seems that with only 38 days until spring, winter has finally arrived. We woke with 18 inches of snow on the...
by Susan | Jan 31, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
If you’ve been visiting me here at my Downest Thunder Farm blog for any length of time, you know I’m passionate about owls. I have yearned to capture one on camera. When I finally spotted an owl that stuck around long enough for me to snap a picture, it...
by Susan | Jan 29, 2017 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
I receive more suggestions for patterns to create than I will ever have time to design. This is a hobby for me and if there isn’t something about a bird or critter that I find appealing, designing feels like work rather than fun. This week I received a...
by Susan | Jan 28, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
I had great ambition for a hike today. The thermometer was above freezing and the skies were blue. Then I stepped outside and realized the wind was whipping. Brrr. My hike plans instead turned into a lunch outing and an afternoon drive. I did leave the car to pick my...
by Susan | Jan 22, 2017 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
Owls have been in my thoughts lately. Although I created a pattern for one a few years ago, recent Barred Owl sightings and the sad loss of one piqued my interest to design another. I only wish I had just the right colors for her, these felt choices are a little off....
by Susan | Jan 18, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
Cruising along US Route 1 today, I spied a bundle on the edge of the road. As I passed I processed what it might be and my curiosity got the better of me. I turned around and headed back. It’s rare to see a bird on the edge of the road, but in this case, it was a...
by Susan | Jan 17, 2017 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
My post-Christmas recycled bird tree crashed and burned in the first snow storm after I set it up. I rescued all of the orange cup feeders and sunflower heads and simply hung them on the birch tree in the background here. In the dark of night, all of the ornaments...
by Susan | Jan 15, 2017 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Owl and Raptor Patterns
Meet the tiny watchful Western Screech Owl. Owl number 18 of my collection, she may be one of my favorite owls so far. I like the way she turned out. She was a good project for a winter day that was entirely too cold to venture outdoors. Enjoy! Right-click on this...
by Susan | Jan 13, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
A three-hour lunch with a good friend at the Pickled Wrinkle (Isn’t that a great name for a pub?) was a wonderful way to spend a Friday afternoon. That’s how I found myself just a couple of miles from Schoodic Point near sunset. I was the only person there...
by Susan | Jan 11, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
I spotted this juvenile bald eagle studying the frozen river yesterday. On my return trip some time later, she was still there, although I almost missed her, she blended in with winter’s bare branches.
by Susan | Jan 9, 2017 | Out and About in Maine
This was the sunrise over the Pleasant River in Columbia Falls this morning. Crossing the bridge, for just a moment, the sun shone through the sea smoke with this other-worldly glow. It was -10 degrees Fahrenheit when I snapped this at 7 am with my Canon. Here is the...
by Susan | Jan 8, 2017 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
Here’s a colorful Canada Warbler to brighten a winter’s day. They summer in Maine as well as Canada, but at the moment they’re likely wintering someplace much warmer than here! Right-click on this link and select “save target/link as” to...
by Susan | Jan 7, 2017 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Despite the fact that my feeders are full, bird activity has been a little slow lately. The squirrels and the mourning doves have been my only regular visitors. With snow in the forecast for this afternoon, I spent the morning setting up bird tree. It’s been a...
