The Joke’s on Me
Many mornings I take a short detour through Columbia Falls to study the river. It's a beautiful spot. This morning I spotted a juvenile bald eagle chilling on the ice. As I looked around, I saw a large bird sitting atop a chimney. You can imagine...
Sunny Sunday Snapshots
Yesterday was a beautiful, mild day. I was quite lazy, spending much of the day on the sofa reading - something I rarely do. My vantage point from the sofa gives me a bird's eye view of three feeders. I don't think I've ever seen so many Nuthatches...
On the First Day of Spring
This was my greenhouse at the height of winter. The snow on the roof makes it look a bit lopsided, but the greenhouse stood strong to February's heavy snow. It scares me to think of what little beings were taking refuge in there. Yesterday, on the...
Full-circle with Beauty and the Beast
The movie Beauty and the Beast has a special place in my heart and in our family. Hannah has never been an over the top girly-girl. As a kid, she enjoyed Legos more than dolls. She was never into princesses but rather thought she'd be a...
The Bodacious Beaver
During my travels Downeast I've seen many beaver lodges - the pile of sticks peeking out of an estuary, pond or marsh. On occasion, I watched a beaver swim along, but I've never seen one actively working on their home. Yet it's clear that they've...
The Downeast Thunder Farm European Robin
This one is for you folks across the pond - a European robin to help welcome spring. It wasn't until Nancy from the Netherlands shared a picture of her robin did I appreciate that the American and European robin varieties differ so much. The trick...
The First Robin of Spring
Enjoying my first cup of coffee while watching the flurry of activity at the bird feeders is a lovely way to start the day. I just about spilled said coffee scrambling for my camera when I spied this newcomer. My first robin sighting of the season...
The Bonny Budgie
Although spring is all but around the corner, it was entirely too windy and bitter cold today to venture outside for long. I opted to play with a pattern and thought I'd try something that brings warmer climates to mind. This little Budgie pattern...
In Search of Serenity
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...
Who’s Walking in my Woods?
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...
A Winter Beach Walk
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...
Downeast Thunder Farm “Honey Do” List
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...
Snowy Morning Visitors
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...
The Roseate Tern
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 they're...
The Morning After
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...
With February Comes Winter
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...
Barred Owl on the Barrens
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...
The Superb Fairy-wren
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...
The Surf at Schoodic Point
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 Woodland Barred Owl
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...
When Worlds Collide
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...
Bird Tree Revisited
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...
The Watchful Western Screech Owl
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!...
Sunset at Schoodic
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...
Morning Eagle Sighting
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.
