by Susan | Apr 1, 2021 | On the Farm
It was a long night. I woke around 2:30 am and never got back to sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, I heard a sound outside but was too tired to investigate. When I finally dragged my weary behind out of bed to let Gidget out, I spied something odd at the chicken...
by Susan | Mar 28, 2021 | On the Farm
The video camera was slow to pick up this black bear lumbering passed my bird feeders early this morning. Of course I didn’t discover the video until after I’d filled the feeder with new suet cakes....
by Susan | Jan 14, 2021 | On the Farm
We’ve had a rough year with our farm animals. One night a few months ago, I forgot to lock the duckies in the house at dusk. The next morning I found feathers and our drake missing. Knowing that I was responsible has been hard to accept. I set a ducky alarm on...
by Susan | Dec 28, 2020 | On the Farm
Hannah alerted me the other day that some of the young deer had been nibbling from the leftover duck food. This morning, I spotted a trio of deer in the yard, a baby searching for food. When I stepped outside, they bounded off to the woods. When they paused to look...
by Susan | Nov 11, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Only once have I spotted a Tufted Titmouse here at Downeast Thunder Farm. That made today’s activity at the feeder incredibly exciting. A Tufted Titmouse pair. I love those big eyes that seem to look in your soul. They were very skittish. Their view into the...
by Susan | Nov 6, 2020 | On the Farm
Last night, it was quite late when I put the ducks away. I had to chase them out of the pond, which is never fun. As I closed their door, I spotted a large bird sitting on the roof of the “lean-to” where we keep the duck food. It startled the wits out of...
by Susan | Nov 3, 2020 | On the Farm
This isn’t the earliest it’s snowed here in Coastal Maine. We’ve had some white stuff in October too. It’s been less than six months since our last snow. I love all of the seasons and the first snow of the season feels magical. We got about...
by Susan | Oct 17, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Grackles are beautiful with their inky iridescent feathers. I enjoy them when they are not bullies at the feeder. This guy showed off his color – and good behavior today. They always seem to visit in the fall – or at least that’s when I notice them....
by Susan | Oct 17, 2020 | On the Farm
These are not my best photos. It was pouring this morning. Outside the living room window I saw this odd movement and thought it was a skunk. Upon closer inspection it was not – but I’ve never before seen this. Now I know what that tail is really for.
by Susan | Oct 12, 2020 | On the Farm
Paul built this great Monarch Nursery for me this year, but it didn’t get much use. With Hannah returning to college earlier than usual, we didn’t get into caterpillar search mode the way we have in past years. Yet, at the end of August, I found some...
by Susan | Sep 26, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
A gray autumn day brightened for a few house hours allowing me to work on the porch (under a blanket) for a bit. Somehow laboring away on my computer while outdoors makes it feel less like work. Camera at the ready I enjoyed the Chickadees zooming in and out. Happy...
by Susan | Sep 21, 2020 | On the Farm
This last weekend of summer, I spent two glorious afternoons on the porch. The days are starting frosty, warming up to tolerable by mid-day. Sadly, I took down and packed away the porch screens until next Spring. As much as I loved being able to live on the porch this...
by Susan | Sep 14, 2020 | On the Farm
Since returning in mid-August from the college drop-off in Ohio, it seems like Autumn has made an early appearance. Today, when it felt warmer outdoors than in, I moved my “office” back to the porch. Gidget was first to alert me that we had an unexpected...
by Susan | Sep 7, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I haven’t taken many bird photos this summer; the porch screens interfere with the opportunities. Yet today’s show outside had me washing the sole kitchen window in which I’d left the screen out. A couple of late summer ruby-throated hummingbirds...
by Susan | Jul 24, 2020 | On the Farm
Sitting here last night snoozing through yet another tv show, I woke to a clanking sound outside. My bird feeder pole is about 10-12 feet from the window, tucked between the house and the woods for optimal photograph opportunities. Lately, a giant raccoon has been...
by Susan | Jul 14, 2020 | On the Farm
This weekend I was following the dragonflies around the yard and landed at the duck pond. A passel of Common Whitetail Dragonflies provided lots of entertainment. And then I noticed all the floaters in the pond and looked a little closer. Tadpoles. What have to be...
by Susan | Jun 22, 2020 | Garden, On the Farm
My favorite thing about my disorganized, overgrown, under-tended flower garden is the Korean lilac mom gave me years ago. Planted from cuttings, they’ve grown into lush 4′ bushes circling my birdfeeder. It blooms for all but a week in June. For one...
by Susan | May 9, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
May 9 and the weather forecast called for snow. A polar vortex they say. I can’t imagine what my first hummingbird of the season thought of this turn of events. In this one it looks like he’s thinking WTF! My sentiments exactly.
by Susan | May 7, 2020 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It was so beautiful yesterday that I spent my morning working on the porch. I made it through a Zoom meeting and another couple of hours of work before the sun slipped behind the clouds, chilling things down. It was absolutely lovely. No bugs. The wind chimes were...
by Susan | Apr 18, 2020 | On the Farm
Saturday morning visitors enjoying a peaceful nibble by the pond – until Gidget saw them and scared them off. I wonder if they could be the same mama and teen pair from last fall?
