THOUGHTS FROM THE OLD SAGE: "WHOOO"

The beauty of this winter has been this "Bird of Power and Wisdom". He has been around our house for close to three months.

I have enjoyed observing this Barred Owl's patience, agility and ability to adapt to incredible changes in the weather.

  There were times when he seemed to snicker at the cold wind.

       and snooze when the temp. was 10 degrees.

The Arctic owls at the coast were a real treat.... thanks to Robin.

                           

Our snow this winter remained on the ground in spite of those 30 + degrees days in Jan. + Feb.

This was our first real test to see if there is enough room for ALL the snow.  Definitely not! I shoveled space three times and it is still all backed up.

I did have a great day on Coolidge Woods Road.   

Met another photographer, Harry Moulton.

 We had a good time with this Red Tailed Hawk.

Super visit with good friends Ellen+ Jack

 A bit of a shock how much wood we are burning...... 

There were four full rows = 5 cords

One storm of the century turned into 8 hours of heavy rain and 30 degrees.

This poor guy ate bird seed and lots of husks.

The last storm was supposed to be 3 inches. We ended up with a foot.  Glad to have our new snowblower.

                                     

This old sage seems to be questioning ...

"When will those humans stop destroying the only Earth we have?"

NOTE:  Because of "the sequester" the National Amphibian Monitoring program is finished. Amphibians are the key species for giving us a warning when toxins are in our air or in our water. They also indicate the best habitats for capturing CO2.

 If there is no data, there is no climate change.

As Einstein said:   "The difference between genius and stupidity is there is a limit to genius."

 I am being thankful for small things.

Here are some very important articles that I read this month.  I want to share them with you.

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/03/11-2  (economy)

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/02-0
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/education-uprising/i-realized-i-was-wrong  

Let me know what you think!                    

Over the Edge of 2013

The summer ended with some super tomatoes... 

and great times sharing "Nature Under our Noses" at a terrific girls' Camp run by the Circle Program.

Someone touches a snake - for the first time. 

Then, there was the trip to Northampton, Massachusetts with brother Rob. We found a shoe store (and the manager) where I had worked 47 years ago.

After that, the work began on what was supposed to be a simple job - replacing the boards on our deck. Well, the main carrying timber had major ROT.   My man Bill said, "Why bother repairing something that will only need more repairing."

Even to begin the job meant I cleared out under the old deck. Yikes, there's the canoe from the old Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation, circa 1969 (for us).  I moved a stack of firewood and found a HUGE woodchuck den.  ("That's where he was living...)

Bill was fearless as he just lopped off the old deck.

The floor joists went right up.

By September 5 we had our deck.  Can you see our new ramp?

We were also visited by an Ermine .... and to quote Ralph,  "It is the lesser of two weasels."

There are forces out there that have no use for our natural beauty and habitats.  MONEY seems to be their only motivator with no connections or concerns for the value of a healthy environment.

G.A.S.A.N. stated something along the lines of:  Perhaps, those who see no link with our economy and Nature, should try counting their money while HOLDING their breath.

My thoughts on this come from Jackson Pond, a beautiful wild place, now being drained.  

I decided to do an exhibit at the Gordon Nash Library and call it "Life in our Warm Water Ponds".

We had a super group of people at the Opening Reception.

Then, Winter arrived with all its beauty.

We put up our Charlie Brown tree on the new deck.

                            Christmas Bird Count with part of our loyal team.  

Gretchen and I celebrated on New Years Eve with a bonfire (bed by 11:00pm).  We burned some of the old rotten deck along with ancient manuscripts from the lady's years of testing in schools.

I have made a New Year's pledge to bring more fun and creativity into my life. I started by walking down near the Pemigewasset River.   I was rewarded with this amazing scene -- mergansers feeding frenzy. Check out the size of that fish!

       May Your 2014 be Creative and Fun!  

Let me know what's happening where you are...

The Razor's Edge: Interconnectedness and Allowing the Balance to Happen.

I have been watching nesting Loons and hatchlings on Hermit Lake for six years. Look closely (enlarge by double clicking). How many loons are in this photo?

It has been amazing to count the number of species I see on my frequent visits to the nesting area.

  

Our planet has evolved into a perfect working system supporting a multitude of species. For example, over 14,000 species alone live in Galls (oak puffballs are galls caused mostly by wasps). These species are filling their "Niches" and doing their thing to make the System/Habitat work. 

Hermit Lake is large enough to support a single pair of nesting loons.

The pair frequently hatches two chicks, as they did this year. One hatched June 23 just after 8:00 a.m. By 9:34 a.m. the baby was swimming and eating its first solid meal -- a small yellow perch.

In 24 hours, almost to the minute, the second egg hatched. I'm amazed at the look of caring expressed in this adult's eyes.  By June 25 all four of the loons had swam to the "Big Lake", about a 1/4 mile north of their nest.

When I returned to the larger lake on the 30th of June, I was greeted by this massive head. Its head is as large as my two hands folded together.

When I reached the family, I found only one chick and the two adults.

                          
Even though I really like the baby loons, the snapping turtle has kept the population to a family of three.  As will the skunks if allowed to do "their thing" keep the population of snappers down.  All this happens naturally without harming the habitat of Hermit Lake.

This lake represents one small part of the Global System. But humans tend to single out events and attempt to improve or manipulate outcomes to suit themselves. This happens all over our world.

Our Earth and its interconnected systems require balance.  When one species dominates, that imbalance threatens the whole planet.

We can choose to be part of the natural system, or we can deny our very nature and fail as a species. 

There is so much to see and enjoy everywhere we walk, paddle, or peddle. This guy was with me for an entire paddle around the lake. Gretchen was very happy he chose My kayak.

Has anyone seen this beauty flitting about the area?

What would you name it?

Enjoy your niche.  "Share" in nature.

The edge of Summer and Monsanto wants my seeds

Wow it's June 14th and the garden is looking good 3/4 planted.

I am amazed at the wide variety of life that visits the garden mostly for pollination or feeding on pollinators.

Even the flower garden is spectacular and has its pollinators.

On May 24 there was a rally to stop Monsantos attempt to take over our food industry

... I think it has already happened. Here is a list 

I have also done some fun paddling on Hermit  Lake .