by Susan | Jun 8, 2013 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
The past couple of days, a cute gray bird has perched on the fence outside my office. I’ve never seen him visit the feeder in the front, he just sits on this fence and surveys his surroundings. Studying the grainy pictures taken through the window and screen, I...
by Susan | Jun 7, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
Exciting things are happening here today. Little Shadow, our Bantam hen is still on her nest. She’s my favorite chicken because she’s so sweet and even tempered – and a good mama. Hannah’s chores include feeding and watering the Bantys each...
by Susan | Jun 5, 2013 | Out and About in Maine
The bees are back – a sure sign of spring in Downeast Maine. Bee keepers have deposited their hives all across the region to pollinate the blueberry bushes. Everywhere you look, the barrens are covered with lush carpets of green and mauve. The prelude to...
by Susan | Jun 4, 2013 | On the Farm
The sun was shinning and my appointments for the day cancelled, so I took the afternoon off to putter at home. It was too beautiful a day to stay inside watching the clock. As I wandered around the woods by the pond I found lots of white wildflowers. Upon closer...
by Susan | Jun 3, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On My Mind
Sitting on the porch yesterday, I spied what may have been a bit of courtship going on between these two unidentified birds. There was a lot of posturing and hopping about going on. Cute!
by Susan | Jun 2, 2013 | On My Mind
After two beastly hot and humid days, today was a gem. Still quite warm, breeze off the water kept the things comfortable in the shade of the porch. I had a bit of work still sitting on my desk, so I bounced back and forth from my office to the porch, fitting in some...
by Susan | Jun 1, 2013 | On the Farm
We created the pond last year for the ducks. At the time, we didn’t appreciate that we’d be creating an ecosystem. I’ve always enjoyed the night sounds here, but this new ecosystem is NOISY! With the windows open last night, we had to crank the...
by Susan | Jun 1, 2013 | Chickens, Garden, On the Farm
I’d noticed that my Phlox was looking a little sparse. Just the other day it was in full bloom, and today, only a couple of the plants had flowers on them. I justified this by telling myself that the ones in bloom were planted later last year – therefore...
by Susan | May 31, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
The new girls on the block are ready to leave the brooder and be introduced the the rest of the farm critters. Last year taught us that a gradual approach is the best way to merge new chickens with an existing flock. So Paul built the new girls a mini-coop – a...
by Susan | May 30, 2013 | Out and About in Maine
Pictures from Route 9 also known as the Airline Road from a couple of weeks ago. At certain points along the way the vistas are stunning.
by Susan | May 28, 2013 | Out and About in Maine
Today’s mission was to find dress shoes for Hannah to wear to her 8th grade graduation dance. We power shopped our way through the task of purchasing her first pair of heels. Mission accomplished! We rewarded ourselves with a visit to Birdsacre – Stanwood...
by Susan | May 26, 2013 | On My Mind
It has rained for seven days straight. And not just drizzle, but on and off steady, solid downpours. I wouldn’t be surprised if the peas, beans, and squash I planted last weekend have drowned. I’ve been busier than I’ve ever been on the work front....
by Susan | May 21, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
The ducks have provided lots of inspiration for posts lately. Broody ducks, cute ducks, new ducks. No ducks. That’s what I found when I arrived home – no ducks. Nada. After checking with Paul who said, “They were just there a little while ago,”...
by Susan | May 20, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
The baby ducks started out with a basic chick waterer. I wanted to give them a waterer where they could dunk their heads, but keep things as dry as possible. After doing a bit of research, I cut a hole in the side of a gallon milk jug. I guess I should have cut a...
by Susan | May 19, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
Shadow, our broody Banty, takes a moment to stretch her legs. While she enjoys her break, Salty temporarily takes over the broody duties. The two Banty hens seem to be taking a tag team approach to sitting on this clutch of eggs!
by Susan | May 18, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
Hannah named the first ducklings to hatch at Downeast Thunder Farm “Peep” and “Squeak”. Here they are taking their first swim in my bathtub! They are the cutest little...
by Susan | May 16, 2013 | On the Farm
I locked myself into the chicken coop this morning. On accident. But that’s not what this post is about. Just thought I’d share. I arrived home late last night from a week in Pennsylvania only to have to turn around and leave again on business this...
by Susan | May 14, 2013 | Backyard Birds, Photography
I don’t see many Robins at my house. That’s probably because I don’t really have a lawn. I’m hopeful that someday I will have a tiny patch that might require mowing instead of scrub and clover. While here in Pennsylvania I’ve enjoyed the...
by Susan | May 13, 2013 | Family
This week in Pennsylvania visiting my folks has been blissfully slow-paced. On the first sunny day, Dad and I went for a drive in search of a mountain overlook where he thought I’d enjoy taking pictures. After two hours of driving, we admitted defeat and...
by Susan | May 12, 2013 | Ducks, On the Farm
Four weeks ago, we tucked twelve duck eggs into an incubator. For 27 days Paul accepted egg duty and faithfully spritzed and turned the eggs multiple times a day. While in Pennsylvania for Mother’s Day weekend with my mom, I received a phone call on Saturday to...
