by Susan | Jul 13, 2014 | Chickens, On the Farm
This is round one of meat chicken harvesting. Yesterday we processed 19 cornish rock chickens for the freezer. Today’s agenda was to finish the remaining sixteen birds. The next round of 50 meat chicks just moved from the brooder into the outdoor pen last week. This...
by Susan | Jul 11, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
While everyone else went to the movies tonight, I tooled around looking at the moon. Yeah, I know. I’m a geek.
by Susan | Jul 10, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
The almost-full super moon rising over the river that runs past one edge of our acreage.
by Susan | Jul 8, 2014 | Chickens, Ducks, On the Farm
Meet Peep. She’s a one-year-old Pekin duck, born in our incubator last spring. She is broody and seems to be doing a good job at sticking to her nest. The only problem is, we don’t need any more ducks! We have eight – three of them boys. That fact...
by Susan | Jul 7, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
I paused along Coastal U.S. Route 1 today when I spied the precious red, white, and blue flying in a most unlikely spot – over the blueberry barrens.
by Susan | Jul 6, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
This morning, I lured Paul and Hannah out of bed early for a drive to Schoodic Point. I wanted to photograph the waves tropical storm Arthur brought to town. As it turned out, this is as big as the crashing waves got. Not too spectacular. I confess that I was a little...
by Susan | Jul 5, 2014 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
There’s nothing like the remnants of a hurricane to keep me indoors on a holiday weekend. It gave me time to create this little scarlet tanger without feeling as if I ought to be outdoors. I’ve only seen this bird once and the sighting was so fleeting that...
by Susan | Jul 4, 2014 | On the Farm
It seems that I have a bit of extra company when I sit on the porch these days. As I was enjoying the view of the ducks on the pond from my Adirondack chair, it became clear that I was not alone. This little bunny has taken up residence under the lilac bushes. The...
by Susan | Jul 1, 2014 | Backyard Birds
The big spruce tree by the pond has been alive with the song of purple finches. Their song, so pretty and loud that they were impossible to miss. A repetitive “cheeping” sound convinced me there was a nest of of babies, but a search with the zoom lens...
by Susan | Jun 28, 2014 | Garden, On the Farm
While tending the garden today, I was struck by how sweet the pea blossoms are. Fuchsia and delicate pink. Demure white. White, that upon closer look gives way to the palest of green. And then, I got carried away. The peonies have popped. Pretty in pink. Wild daisies...
by Susan | Jun 23, 2014 | On the Farm
How can this guy not make you smile on a Monday morning? Look at those ears!
by Susan | Jun 22, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
We celebrated the first day of summer with a hike up Pigeon Hill. The last time we made the trip Hannah and I were on snowshoes. Needless to say, this was a much easier trip! Today, Paul, Hannah, and her friend JP joined me for the trek with the promise of homemade...
by Susan | Jun 19, 2014 | Backyard Birds
It’s been three days since I noticed this year’s round of Phoebes nesting under the lean-to. This morning I took another peek to see how the babies were fairing. There are at least four tucked into that little nest. Aren’t they adorable?...
by Susan | Jun 17, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Increased activity by the Eastern Phoebes out back told me they were likely nesting under the tractor lean-to again. Each time I went out to take a peak, the adult flew off. Since I was in camera mode yesterday I took another look and found a nest full of baby...
by Susan | Jun 16, 2014 | On My Mind
If the color purple had a scent, it would be lilac. The heady perfume of lilac, the embodiment of spring, is luring all manner of flying critters. Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and hummingbird clearwing moths swarmed my garden today. I am fascinated by the clearwing...
by Susan | Jun 11, 2014 | Garden, On the Farm
Sometimes you don’t really know what you have in a photo until you load it onto the computer and have a closer look. I love this picture where you can actually see the bumblebee’s tongue dipping inside the flower sipping at the nectar.
by Susan | Jun 10, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
Cruising home today, I did a u-turn in the middle of U.S. Route 1 and headed back to the river after spying this Canada Goose family out for a swim. A goose, a gander, and three goslings. Papa took the lead and mama brought up the rear with the babies tucked safely in...
by Susan | Jun 9, 2014 | Garden, On the Farm
Gardening in a climate where you run the furnace 6.5 months out of the year can be challenging. Not only are we fairly far north – the 44th parallel – we’re near the coast. That means practically no spring and short, cool summers. Add to that the...
by Susan | Jun 7, 2014 | Out and About in Maine
There’s nothing more fun than touring a beautiful garden that gets you to dreaming. The Incredible Edible Milbridge group sponsored a garden tour at Bear’s Den in Addison, Maine. Geri, our hostess, walked us through her two vast vegetable gardens....
by Susan | Jun 4, 2014 | On the Farm
There’s a new show on kitty t.v. at our house. This little bunny has been visiting after dinner. We first noticed him one evening as he hopped across the porch providing great entertainment for the kitties, Cinder and Snape. And us. Tonight I finally got a few...
