Meet Peep and Squeak!
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 things. http://youtu.be/7JEz5xYZR4E
Broody Banty, Broody Buff, Broody Duck
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...
Nesting Robin
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 lushness...
Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch Outing with Dad
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...
A Ducky Mother’s Day
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...
The Littlest Egg
The egg on the left is from an Orpington Buff. The middle egg is from bantam hen. Paul delivered the third egg to my desk yesterday, collected from the chicken coop. At about 1.5", it's the tiniest egg I've ever seen outside of an Easter basket!
What Variety of Hawk?
I "captured" this beautiful hawk on my way home today. Any idea what type of Hawk she is?
Happy Little Nuthatch
Pictures like this are the payoff for wearing a camera around my neck as if it were a necklace. A little cumbersome, but worth the results!
A Pretty Pair of House Finches
A beautiful day spent puttering in the yard. I was kept company by this pretty pair of House Finches fluttering about.
A Portrait of Hannah
Hannah needs an updated photo for 8th grade graduation festivities in the works, so we had a mini photo shoot this afternoon. She's happy with my amateurish attempts. 8th grade graduation already? She's growing up entirely too fast!
So Ugly They’re Cute
The 50 meat chickens moved out of the garage this weekend at 3 1/2 weeks old. They grow so fast that they've run out of space in the brooder. These little Cornish X Rock chickens are so ugly, they're kinda cute. Don't you think?
Eastern Phoebe
I finally got a picture of my mystery bird through the kitchen window this morning. She perched just long enough for me to snap this single photo. My best guess is that she's an Eastern Phoebe.
Spring Bird Show
The past few days have been a delight - beautiful weather and an amazing assembly of birds on the farm. Never have I seen such a variety of birds here at one time. The regulars: Dark-eyed Junco Blue Jay Black-capped Chickadee Crow Mourning Dove...
Burning Barrens
The burning of blueberry barrens is a symbol of spring in Downeast Maine. Blueberry fields are periodically burned to prune the plants and keep pests in check. It's a sight to see!
The Moss-Lined Raised Garden Experiment
Last summer I lamented that my raised bed gardens didn't do as well as my neighbors'. He told me his secret is lining the bottom of the raised bed with moss - plain old moss from the woods - to retain moisture. Eager to begin planing, I decided...
Sharing a Warm Patch of Sun
Cinder and Ginger sharing a patch of sun. These two critters in such close proximity to each other is highly unusual. I don't think Ginger knows what to make of it!
Chicken Corn Chowder
Making Chicken Corn Chowder is one of my favorite ways to use leftover chicken. It's quick to put together and it's filling enough to serve as a meal for Paul along with a salad. In this instance, I was feeling a bit corny and introduced Hannah to...
Dilly in the Lilies
Dilly the Duck resting among the lilies - a picture of Spring.
2013 Maple Syrup Packaging
The bottles we ordered for our Maple syrup arrived this week. I spent hours browsing bottle suppliers looking for something different. We selected a few different bottles to play with. These are the ones I like most. I'm partial to the simple...
Rescue Treasure No. 2
The second of the wooden library counters I rescued from the perils of the dump now has a new home in my laundry/storage room. It's perfect for holding pots, craft materials and Granny Gadget gifts. The right side has a convenient opening - the new...
What to Do with a Rescued Library Counter?
I was in our public library yesterday for a meeting when I saw this counter emptied and sitting on a hand truck. The librarian, a friend, told me it was on the way to the dump! Much to Paul's dismay, I gave it a last minute stay of execution. Along...
Morning Pigeon Hill Hike
Hannah and I were up and out early this morning for our first of the season hike up Pigeon Hill. We'd planned this for tomorrow, but the weather forecast turned on us so we hustled out this morning before the rain set in. We took the Silver Mine to...
Two Drakes is One Too Many!
With a flock of four female ducks, two frisky drakes are a bit too much for them. And particularly for Dilly, our physically challenged duck. We are looking for a new home for Puddles. Puddles is a Pekin drake, almost one-year old. He's a good duck...
A Complete Rainbow
While cooking dinner tonight, the heavens opened up and the rain came down in buckets. In the middle of pan frying turkey tenders I looked up to see this rainbow out the window. I grabbed my camera and ran outside - totally forgetting about the...
Darling Delaware Hen
Inspired by some of our latest chick additions to the farm and a rainy day, here's a Delaware hen felt bird. To download this pattern, right click here and select "Save target as" to save this PDF to your computer. Share your pics if you decide to...
