by Susan | Feb 18, 2019 | Out and About in Maine
A few days ago Hannah mentioned that it was foggy on campus and it made her feel a bit homesick. Of all the things that could make her miss Maine – fog. Fog is such and intrinsic part of living on the Maine coast. There are days I relish the fog. Tucked in the...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
After a half-day of work on this day after Christmas, Hannah and I both felt the need to get out and about. With snow in the forecast for Friday we made a snap decision to hike Pigeon Hill. We didn’t get there until the sun was low in the sky, so we hiked...
by Susan | Oct 31, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
Only when glorious maple reds are bare, and the oaks have faded to brown, does the unsung Tamarack begin to shine. Incognito for much of the year, this tree turns brilliant gold, creating a beautiful contrast against the firs. Another week or two and those yellow...
by Susan | Oct 15, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
This last week has been one of peak color Downeast. On these gray, overcast days the colors seem to pop taking center stage. The Pleasant River peaceful at high tide. The turbulent white bubbles at the Falls – a perfect foil for the color. On old tractor parked...
by Susan | Oct 1, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
It’s ten days past summer and it’s looking a lot like autumn here in Downeast Maine. The blueberry barrens, once seas of blue, are turning crimson in tune with the trees. When the reflection is more true than reality. We’re not in high color yet, but...
by Susan | Sep 28, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
We had our first light frost on Tuesday. The car thermometer read 34 degrees as I scraped ice off the windshield. On my drive to work, I noticed the folks at Lynch Hill Farm had been busy overnight flooding the cranberry bogs to keep the berries from freezing. A...
by Susan | Aug 19, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
With just a week before she heads back to school, Hannah had the chance to cut her work day short. Of course, we went to the beach. I love August and September because the migrating shorebirds visit in large numbers. These Semipalmated Plovers entertained us with...
by Susan | Aug 16, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
It’s blueberry harvest season and Hannah is in the thick of it. This is her third summer working for Jasper Wyman & Son. After her first couple of weeks working with HR gearing up for the season, she’s been in charge of one of the scales weighing blueberries....
by Susan | Aug 1, 2018 | Birds and Wildlife, Out and About in Maine
The blueberry harvest is upon us and Hannah is in her third summer working at Wyman’s. The first couple weeks she worked with HR, then she moved over to operate one of the scales that weighs pallets of berries the trucks bring in from the fields. Since the scale...
by Susan | Jun 19, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
After I returned from an all-day meeting in Bangor, Hannah felt the need to get out and about so we found a spot to lounge on the rocks and take in the evening. Soft light, warm breeze, and good company. Not a bad view for a bit of contemplation. The requisite...
by Susan | Jun 11, 2018 | Birds and Wildlife, Out and About in Maine
Hannah and I went on a brief photo journey in search of goslings. Last summer we spotted some off Beals Island. We returned to the scene and were not disappointed. I admire the goose family unit – mama and papa watching over their babies with diligence. These...
by Susan | May 30, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
One of the highlights of my trip to Ohio and Pennsylvania was photographing Bluebirds. Tucked in the woods I don’t have the wide open spaces they like, so I’ve only seen one over the years at my feeder. This guy was spotted on the Bio Reserve at Denison...
by Susan | May 28, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
Hannah and I trekked to Alaska Cove off Willard Point today – a spectacular afternoon for a hike. I’m not sure why we’ve never explored this trail before as it’s only fifteen minutes from the house. A Wood Thrush flitting about the undergrowth....
by Susan | May 23, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
Traveling down a country road on my way to work – blueberry barrens on one side, woods on the other, I experienced a “first” this morning that kept me smiling all day. Dancing and strutting across the road was this little Timberdoodle (a.k.a....
by Susan | May 13, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
There have been reports of a snowy owl wintering at Nubble Light at Cape Neddic as recently as a week ago. Leaving Portland heading south, I passed the exit for Cape Neddic. Do I stop? Do I keep going? Will I regret it if I don’t stop? I stopped. The hour...
by Susan | Apr 25, 2018 | Birds and Wildlife, Out and About in Maine
On this gray, rainy evening I spotted an Osprey in a tree overlooking the river in East Machias. It was so dark and gloomy that I had to play with the photos to register the details. Two things stand out to me – how crazy long their talons are and how...
by Susan | Apr 24, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
I spotted this pair of birds strutting around in the river mudflats as the tide came in this evening. At first I thought they were sandpipers, but on closer inspection they appear to be Greater Yellowlegs. The shore birds are returning – a sure sign of...
by Susan | Apr 17, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
On my drive home tonight I spied a Great Egret on the salt pond next to the river. She had the company of a Great Blue Heron until I pulled over to snap photos. She stood so still in the landscape as if hiding in plain sight. In a flash she snagged a fish. And took...
by Susan | Mar 24, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
It took six days of driving between Paul and me to bring Hannah home for just five days. Given the phone calls I had during mid-term week, it was pretty clear that Hannah needed to come home as much as I wanted to have her here. Life seems so much fuller when...
by Susan | Mar 19, 2018 | Out and About in Maine
Home from college for a few short days, Hannah and I took off on a drive this afternoon. The proud owner of a shiny new Canon, a gift from her grandmother, Hannah was eager to experiment. It was so fun to be taking photos with her rather having her simply being my...
