Working in the Garden Isn’t Work

(click on any picture to see larger version)

Garden Gate

Being able to work in my garden is therapy for my winter-ravaged psyche. While occupied with weeding and planting, the constant stream of birdsong is often punctuated by a gobbling turkey, or crowing pheasant, or passing hawk. Those sounds are always in the distance and make me smile inside.

My plants are growing beautifully, even the potato tops that got frosted last week. The sad thing is that same frosty night really zapped both of my chestnut trees. They are both is shock, I’m sure. Well, nature will have to find its’ way.

Rows of Goodness

This isn’t the greatest photo, but it shows my work is cut out for me. Roy has been helping to prepare the other half of the garden for the warm weather veggies to go in soon.

In the meantime, my lettuce sits next to the onions, for some protection from slugs, which can plague a lettuce bed later in the season. Hey, they repel some people, so why not? To their right is an  all but invisible row of sweet onion, and then parsley. Way down the line of parsley, the row turns into celery. My broccoli is on the far right, and some if it is taking off.

No fertilizing… rotted horse manure tilled in at the start of the season takes care of that little chore, happily.

There is a lack of shade in the garden area, so we took care of that with a brand new canopy that now provides a little respite from the sun, or sprinkles. It offers a great view of the garden, pasture and barn area. I just love sitting and watching my garden grow.

Respite

Right next to the canopy, sitting in the edges of the brushy hedgerow are happy little wild strawberries which produce teensy strawberries, coveted by birds and small animals alike.

Wild Strawberry Flowers

A few feet away there are honeysuckle bushes in full bloom as well. They produce an abundance of berries that don’t last very long when they ripen in mid summer. Birds descend on the bushes and pluck their prize as soon as they are ready!

Fragrant Honeysuckle

Even though we had to add a foot of chicken wire on the bottom of our beautiful fencing to keep the bunnies out, they still love to hang out nearby. This little guy must be getting very used to people, because I got close enough for a decent shot of him on full zoom. I call them my little bun-buns and talk to them all the time.

Hungry Bunny

When roaming the huge greenhouses at the place where we get our veggies, Roy spotted this hanging basket with Aloha petunias that are just stunning. He hung the basket on the garden gate.

Aloha Petunias

My garden is not only growing beautifully, it beckons one. It is truly a magical place for me to spend many hours of sweet work. I’m hooked on gardening and can’t wait to indulge in organic veggies… enough to eat, enough to give away.

Get outside and feel the sun and wind on your skin. Gardening, swimming, barbecuing, playing or just sitting… just get out!

May you find respite and peace in your surroundings.

-Nancy

In Spite of the Weather

New Occupants

After moving this little birdhouse to one of the apple trees in the front yard, it has been claimed by a pair of chickadees, which is a first for my offerings of nesting sites. I discovered the beginnings of the new nest after Roy bonked his head on the low hanging house.

In spite of a number of frosty mornings recently, my garden is coming along. This morning I was surprised to find that my seemingly tender lettuce was still thriving, while the new leaves from the potato plants looked a little rough after last night’s frost. Today marks my first true garden salad, complete with lettuce, tender leaves from cabbage and broccoli plants as well as a few scallions. I made lots of mmmmm’s during today’s lunch.

The season's first greens

Not to be outdone by greens, my columbine, Jacob’s Ladder, lilies of the valley, and a few other flowers apparently laugh at the frost.

columbine

Jacob's Ladder

Fragant Favorites

Sweet Alyssum

Rhododendren

Sunny or cloudy, it’s always good mousie hunting weather. Just ask Nikki, who is closing in on some poor mole or field mouse after I rudely released her first catch of the day.

Here mousie, mousie!

Winter bird feeders are being stored, not because I want to, but because I don’t want any bear incidents. All is not lost, however. The hummingbird feeders are out and are being visited regularly by the newly arriving tiny hummers.

Up up and away...

Even the easily ignored ferns are beautiful as they unfurl their leaves.

Cinnamon Fern

Life carries on; colors, shapes, sounds, smells surround us as we go on with our busy lives. All it takes is to raise your head and open your eyes; you never know what fleeting beauty you will witness.

Passing beauty easily missed...

May you witness the color, the beauty, the life reborn all around us; may it renew, sustain and encourage you in your life.

Life goes on.

Please click on photos for larger version.

-Nancy

Seven Little Goslings Updated X 2

Little Yellow Bobbers With Beaks  Update: Videos

Update 2: 5-7-10  As of this morning, the Goose family has moved on to quieter pastures. Maybe we’ll see them later in the season, when the goslings are bigger; sometimes we do and sometimes we don’t. I’m thankful that we had so much enjoment and downright fun with them. May they find happiness in their Goosie world. Too cheesy? Maybe, but I do wish them well.

New video from earlier today:

I knew that the gooselets had arrived when there was no sign of Poppa goose in or near the driveway this afternoon. So I went down, half expecting the entire family to be gone. Sob.

But to my surprise, there was Momma, protecting her brood on the bank of the pond.

Momma: Who goes there? Babies: "yawn"

Momma: "AACK How Dare You?

After rudely interrupting everyone’s nap, I got a good look at this year’s brood along with a head count: 7 goslings! That’s quite the bunch and I wish Momma and Poppa good luck in caring for that many babies.

"Are we there yet?"

Momma changed her tune as soon as she spotted me dropping feed along the shore. She’s been on the nest for a whole month; barely coming off to nibble on tender sprouts and the occasional foray up to the driveway for duck pellets. She was one hungry Goose! She made a beeline over to the bank where I had dropped pellets.

"C'mon my little ones, it's dinner time"

I slowly retreated to let Momma eat in peace, with her babies all around her. If past years are a pattern, she’ll take the entire brood back out to the island, maybe into the nest, and tuck everyone in under her strong warm wings. Tomorrow is another day, and I hope to get some clearer pics. They are not good enough for the cover of Goosie magazine, but at least you can see the cute little Gooselets as they’re introduced to the world. So cute!

Cute little yellow bobbers all in a row...

Countdown to Gooselets

Today marks the twenty-seventh day that Momma Goose is sitting on her nest. I always mark the date on my calendar because it is right around the twenty-eighth day that the little goslings are hatched out. I know that there is no such word as “gooselets”, but someone near and very dear to us calls them Gooselets and the name stuck.

Momma Goose with Older Gooselets

When first hatched, the Gooselets look like tiny yellow bobbers in the water and the cute factor is off the scale. The problem the past few years is that as soon as the babies are hatched out, the entire Goose family moves across the road into a series of ponds and beaver dams. We think that we have found the reason for their exodus from our little pond; a large snapping turtle who has taken up residence here. The turtle is quite stealthy and difficult to find. It is, however, large enough to pick off the tiny Gooselets one by one.

Proud Parents and Babies, Lounging

When this pair of Geese started to come here to nest, they were a young couple, most likely yearlings who had to learn the hard way how to protect their precious young ones. After all this time feeding them and enjoying Poppa Goose’s company, I’m afraid that we won’t have the chance to watch the babies grow.

Lazy Afternoon

These photos showing just two Gooselets were from the first year that they lost so many babies (4 babies gone that year!) and still stayed around. Actually, I’m glad that Momma and Poppa finally learned how to better protect their young ones. At the same time, I pine for those little yellow bobbers; cute factor off the charts. We have to be happy with these pics taken years ago.

Hey Lady! You got food?

Ah well, such is life. I’m happy that we can accommodate Momma and Poppa Goose during the gestation of the little ones. Oh, by the way, Momma Goose typically has 6 young ones; we’ve seen broods of up to 7 and as few as 5. Those babies will be hatched out soon, very soon. I’ll be hanging around nonchalantly, camera in hand, trying to look non threatening. Wish us all luck; maybe we’ll get those perfect pics this year.

Here’s hoping that all the Gooselets will survive this year, in spite of Mr Snapper.

Click on pics to view larger size.

-Nancy

Return to Assateague Island

Assateague Island (“ASSA-teak”) is a barrier island that extends from Maryland south into Virginia. On the Southern end, the island is very close to Chincoteague Island, Va. (“CHINKA-teak”) which is privately owned and includes the town of Chincoteague complete with motels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants and shops.

Chincoteague

People are friendly, helpful and outgoing.  Assateague is connected by bridge to the mainland in Maryland, and again by bridge to Chincoteague Island in Virginia. Chincoteague is then connected to mainland Virginia by bridge. We travel down from Pennsylvania, and usually stay in Delaware along the coast between Rehoboth and Ocean City. Although Assateague seems just a stone’s throw from Ocean City, one must travel south through some beautiful Maryland countryside to access the bridge that takes you over to the barrier island.

My desire to return to the island of the ponies has started to niggle at me as it always does this time of year. Never forget that the ponies always have the right of way. Never get too close; they may seem tame, but they are wild animals and you wouldn’t want to get kicked or bitten, believe me. There are folks who patrol in summer to make sure tourists and ponies stay safe.

Fred, put your turn signal on!

We once took a boat ride from the southernmost tip of Ocean City to tour Assateague and the surrounding area. If you have time it’s well worth spending an afternoon. The tour guide seemed knowledgeable and eagerly answered questions. Accessing the area by boat gives a unique peek into the lives of the ponies, who look like they’re all spoiling for a horse show.

Young stallion; no mares... yet

First and foremost if you’re going there, be sure to have ample supply of bug repellent. Mosquitos there are very nasty; there are also ticks in the brushy vegetation.

Sika deer love the marsh; so do mosquitos

The beach on Assateague is on the list of the top ten East Coast Beaches and it is absolutely beautiful. We’ve made it there a few times to see the sunrise. Looking up or down the deserted beach, the mist from the pounding surf reflected the golden color of sunrise and just takes one’s breath away. The water appears to be quite deep right offshore and there are always strong currents. Of course, there are lifeguards in summer, ever vigilant.

Pounding Assateague surf

It’s a family spot for sure. Even when the ponies are elsewhere, the ever present mounds of “briquettes” on the sand reminds you of how special this place is.

Deserted Sunrise

There are a few campgrounds on the Maryland side, both campers and tent camping. On the landward side we saw folks wind surfing in the shallow bays. If you’re adventurous, there are hiking paths.

Bug juice applied, ready for adventure

There are gorgeous dunes and pine trees shaped by ocean winds as well as tall evergreen forests and a lot of brushy scrub, complete with marshes, both brackish and fresh.

Wind swept

The National Seashore is accessible from the Maryland side. The National Seashore extends for over 20 miles along deserted beaches and empty dunes and forest. You must have a permit and a 4 wheel drive vehicle equipped for travel on sand as well as a certain list of equipment. You can camp and fish right on the beach, complete with bonfire, as long as you take with you everything you’ve brought in. Bring your own wood for campfires.

Chincoteague has a quaint fishing village atmosphere.

Fishing fleet, Chincoteague

There are places on the island that have ponies in their paddocks. Chincoteague conducts their famous pony swim every July. This year, the swim “will be held on July 28, 2010 – the last Wednesday of July. The exact time is not mentioned until the day prior to the event (due to tidal conditions).” Ponies are herded into the water off  Assateague Island for the swim over to Chincoteague, where select babies are sold at auction. They are very intelligent, gentle and trainable and have been used by their new owners to ride English or Western. If you plan to go to the pony swim, be aware that thousands of folks (over 40,000!) converge on the island. It coincides with the local Fire Dept carnival, complete with barbeques and entertainment. Most of the  proceeds go to the Fire Dept for equipment. It has become a nationally known tradition. Any reservations to stay on the island must be made the season before. You can always plan on staying on the mainland somewhere within striking distance of Chincoteague. The drive there from anywhere is just wonderful, so don’t despair if you can’t get a room too close.

The Virginia side of the island has a great visitor’s center that is entirely “green” and I believe it is self sufficient. There you will find exhibits on all the wildlife that inhabits the island. Assateague Island lies on the coastal flyway, and autumn is the main time to see migrating shore birds by the thousands. You can also readily spot the residents; snowy egrets hunting in the marshes right next to the ponies, gulls, even osprey who may disappear beneath the waves for s second or two before emerging with a fish to feed their hungry nestlings.

I see you

There are sika deer that are at home up to their shoulders in fresh water marshy areas. Besides the fresh marshes there are salt marshes, grassy areas, forests, and ponies, lots of ponies. Having said that, there have been times we’ve been there when the ponies are deep in the brush, or way out in the shallow bays away from the heat and bugs of summer. Be patient, be persistent, and eventually you can usually find at least a few, if not herds of the famous ponies. To find the ponies you sometimes have to think like they do.

Tiny turtle on the beach

The Virginia end  has a beautiful beach, but  Maryland’s beach is the real gem. We were told that in the spring time on the southern end, a certain kind of small shark (maybe sand shark?) comes in to the shallow bay near the beach area by the thousands to spawn. During those times the water appears to boil with all the moving, jostling, spawning fish. That must make the heart race and I’d love to see it.

Virginia also boasts a beautiful picturesque lighthouse. Ponies often cooperate and pose nice just so you can get a nice picture for your desktop.

Famous Chincoteague Lighthouse

Nearby, on the Virginia mainland, is Wallops NASA flight  facility open to the public for a small fee. The exhibits are interesting and it’s very close to Chincoteague. Besides, how often can you buy a t-shirt, hat, visor and other stuff with the NASA logo on it? I wouldn’t go again, but once is definetly worth the hour or two it takes to see the place.

when I grow up, I wanna be...

I used most of my favorite pics in my first post on Assateague, which was written this past January. I tried to fill this one with images as well. Although there are no prize winners, at least they can give a taste of the particular salty flavor of Assateague. The place is magical;  its northern Maryland end stands a stone’s throw from one of the most obnoxious beach towns ever spawned, Ocean City. It stands in mute contrast, beckoning to the curious traveler.  The southernmost tip in Virginia offers it’s migrating birds, spawning fish and pony swim. You never know who you’ll meet around the very next bend in the path.

Momma and baby in 95 degree heat

What on earth are you waiting for? It will be a trip you’ll remember always. Who knows, you just may get hooked like we are and go back again and again, pining for the place in between trips.

(click on pics to see larger size)

Bon Voyage!

-Nancy

(note: all photographs taken by either Roy or I)

'Ground control to Major Tom...'

Nikki, Star of Movie Adventures

Nikki’s A Star

Something wonderful has happened since Nikki’s early spring adventure, which I blogged about. She has shown me that she knows where home is and will come in on her own, without me calling in the National Guard to search for her.

She has proven that she is a voracious  mouser. The problem is, she has started to consume what she catches, and that means that I’ll have to get her some worm pills from the vet.

While I was sleeping in this past weekend, Roy took Nikki outside and stayed by her; or she stayed close to him. He took the video camera with him and got some classic Nikki footage, including our heroine plucking up the courage to inspect a dead turkey. I left out the dead turkey.

Wood Duck

While Roy and Nikki were by the small pond a wood duck drake landed on the water and strutted his stuff for the camera. Good stuff; some of it fuzzy, but it’s a wood duck up close.

.

Poppa Goose on Patrol

Here’s Poppa Goose preening.

My Blooming Yard

One of my favorite springtime places to be, the yard.

Today it’s raining and cooler. Nikki is stuck inside and I’m stuck listening to her complain about it. Thank heavens we like each other.

Every one of these videos was taken by Roy on Saturday, April 24, 2010.

You have a great day wherever you find yourself. Enjoy your world.

Update: My Neti Pot

A few years ago, when I had an active yoga practice, I was introduced to the neti pot and its usage. So what is a neti pot?

“Nasal Irrigation with a neti pot

Some people have found relief using nasal drainage with salt to restore tone to the nasal passages. A neti pot can be used to inhale salt water to heal inflamed tissues. Using warm water with a small amount of added salt, nasal irrigation cleanses the passageways. Used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, nasal irrigation can relieve chronic sinus problems as well as acute allergy relief. Oprah Winfrey recently became aware of the benefits and demonstrated a neti pot on her show.”

neti pot

You add half a teaspoon of sea salt to warm water and lean over a sink. Then you pour the weak salt solution into one nostril and leaning just right, it then pours out the other nostril, flushing your sinus in the bargain.

I remember the first time that Roy walked into the bathroom while I was studiously using my neti. He was absolutely horrified and dumbfounded. The look on his face made me start to laugh uncontrollably and I almost drowned.

I started using my neti again yesterday because of the difficult allergy season this year. As I bent over the sink, I remembered the look on Roy’s face and just had to tell you all my little story.

If you’re really curious, just Google neti pot then hit images. There are a variety of pics of the neti in use.

-Nancy

Early Morning Mist

Morning Mist

There are some reasons to get up very early. This is one; morning mist enveloping all; muting colors but not the senses. See the trails in the grass and in the morning dew ? Wood ducks. They sure are stealthy little buggers. Still no award winning pics of them, sadly.

For the past few days my laptop has belched and wheezed and spat out my internet connection over and over again. Along with it has gone blog post after post, along with much gnashing of teeth. Finally, my connection seems more stable, so what happens? The formatting in WordPress is cranky and messing with my attempted posts.

So I went for a walk, camera in hand, of course. I wish we had an internet version of “smellivision”, because there is nothing quite like the aroma of thousands of apple blossoms.

Only a few hours earlier, the same trees looked like spectres.

So what do the pooties think about all of this nature? Well, here’s Smudgie. When you’re all white in a green world you can run but you can’t hide. Well, not for very long, anyway.

White dot in a green world

Meantime, the Goose pond has been greening up quite nicely.

Lumpy covers

Speaking of pooties, here’s Friday, who had crawled under the covering of sheets meant to protect our brand new  hand made log bed from… what else?  Pooties. Any time a lump is detected underneath covers, you can bet it meows and looks a lot like Friday.

Keeping with my original theme, here’s the last of the misty pics. Oh, mornings like this almost make up for the fact that all my bird feeders were emptied during the night and I’ll just have to keep bringing them in at dusk.

Take the time to enjoy your world. It’s all so fleeting…

As always, click on any picture for a larger version.

What More Can You Ask For? Updated 2x

This morning my sinus awoke me a tad early and as I glanced out the bathroom window, I spotted our little flock of wood ducks foraging under my back yard bird feeders. Aha! Gotcha… so I thought. I guess I need to learn how to be more stealthy, because no sooner did I begin snapping, they spotted me and all took off with a flourish and much squalking.

wood duck pair

This is the better of two shots. It doesn’t show the incredible red eyes of the male or any of their colors, really. But at least it’s proof that the ‘elusive’ wood ducks can and do kinda get used to people.

I drop a half gallon of duck grower pellets in the driveway every morning. Poppa Goose and the wood ducks peck away at those pellets all day until there’s not one left. Then they head into the new grass and work on those tender shoots like they’re at an all you can eat smorgasbord.

In the meantime, Momma Goose is on the nest. I always mark the day she starts sitting on those eggs and like magic, 28 days later, we have Gooselets. Someone very dear to us calls the babies Gooselets, and of course, that name stuck.

Momma Goose on the nest

Oh, we can’t see her (wink, wink). The nest is on an island in our smaller pond. We believe the same geese come every year to nest here. Hey, the food’s good.

So two nights ago, while out feeding my horses, I noticed that they both were at attention, listening. Well that was my cue to stop and listen too. I heard what I believe was a bobcat, screeching up back in the woods or empty fields behind us. It was a wondrous sound; one I’ve only heard a handful of times.

In the meantime, Poppa Goose is always on alert, always near Momma Goose, watching. He’ll loudly go after any other goose who dares land in his pond. He turns into a mighty warrior. I wouldn’t want him chasing me!

Poppa on patrol

Oh, he waddles up the driveway with the ducks for a little fine dining, but then he’s right back there close to Momma. I was somewhat surprised when I learned years ago that geese mate for life. That’s pretty neat.

This morning as I put out the day’s hay for the horses I noticed movement right across the pasture. It was a young turkey, a “Jake”, heading for the fenceline. Well I let loose with my gobble and he stopped in his tracks for a few moments, then went on his way. Silly as it sounds, that little interaction just made me giddy. Heading back to the house, I noticed that the wood ducks were already on the pellets in the driveway. I burst into song and continued singing until they took off. Of course, they would have flitted away anyway.

Another endless source of delight is watching the wrens (and other birds) nesting.  Here’s my newest entry into the local bird house market.

Home sweet home

I can’t wait until one of my wrens takes up residence.

With all this warmer weather, even my older pooties enjoy being outside. This is my oldest, Punkin. She’s 22 years old… yup, you read that right, 22 people years. She has developed a tumour in her mouth that the vet said would kill her within weeks. That was three months ago, and she’s still with us, my sweet little Punky. I liquify all her meals, and clean her face every day. We spend a whole lot of time together. I know that she won’t be around much longer, but when she started asking to go outside after years of being an inside kitty, what could I do but take her out? She’s stone deaf, so I watch her like a hawk.

Punkin

I’m grateful for this extra time we have together. I just love her with all my heart.

Yesterday I started my planting. This morning I’m sore and stiff, but elated. This place just supports me, it renews me, it makes me smile.

Enjoy your little corner of this world. Don’t forget to smell the roses, or the goose poop, whatever turns you on!

_Nancy

Update:Here’s a pic of Smudge enjoying the warm (empty) birdbath, squinting her eyes at Daddy while he took her picture.

Smudgie in the Birdbath

I could just eat her up!

Update 2: Got this image in an email and just HAD to share… words of wisdom:

BOING. Boing boing boing boing.

Boing. It’s the sound of all that spring, sprang, sprung! We here in the northeast have been enjoying a warm, inviting spring.

Boing.

The lowly forsythia shrubs that dot local yards and landscapes are visions in yellow this season.

Yellow dreams

Last year we had a late killing frost and lost many buds of apples, pears, nuts, even some berries. This year the apple trees hold the promise of a bountiful season, if our luck holds.

Future apples

The little carnivores (my cats) have been enjoying the warm weather; catching mousies, chasing bugs and just lolling around in the soft grass. Not all my pooties are allowed outdoors. Every open window is a potential spot for a sweet nap, or a bird watching perch.

Friday

Our stretch of above average temps is coming to an end tonight with a cold front followed by a reality inversion. Back to the 50’s. That’s fine. Spring’s cooler days are ideal for garden work, and there’s a project already started in that category. We’re in the process of making a new garden closer to the house and out of that wet spot that we accidentally chose for the last garden.

Birth of a garden

It’s time to grab the garden gloves, the insect repellent, and the garden tools and make something wonderful happen. A garden is a magical place and watching it happen will be incredibly enjoyable. I hope you join me in the coming months as we slip into high gear.

-Nancy

Wood Duck Heaven

Wood Ducks

Duck photo by Dave Menke

The male (drake) wood duck is distinguished by his variety of colors and brilliance.  The drake’s head shines green, shading into blue and purple, with a slicked-back crest of feather and a white chin-bib. Other male features include bright red eyes, reddish-orange bill, yellow legs and a rich chestnut chest separated from yellow sides by vertical bars of white and black.  The female’s (hen) plumage combines gray, white and brown for a more drab appearance.  She displays a small head crest and a circle of white surrounding each eye.”

They are beautiful, noisy, and love to splash around and forage in the stream that runs along our boundry. They are also incredibly shy. If you are fairly stealthy and lucky, nearby wood ducks just may allow you a glimpse before flying away with a flourish and sharp calls.

Link to audio file of the surprising calls and sounds of the wood duck.

Woodies are puddle ducks which means that they forage at or near the surface of the water so they just love shallow water where they can peck and forage for greens, mast and the occasional bug. That describes the area in and around our small stream.

Wood Duck Habitat

In fact, wood ducks are a fixture in this area, especially in spring. They also will readily use nesting boxes and you can often spot them around the countryside mounted on or near the water. Perhaps it’s time to attempt to attract a nesting pair where we could really observe them. The problem with that is that we really use our land and I’d hate to attract a pair then not be able to approach or use the area for weeks. I would love to be able to photograph the shy little ducks.

Well, should I get to work building a box or two or rely on nature to bring them in as close as possible? It just may be too late for this season, but you never know. It would be heaven to photograph baby wood ducks. I just may have found my next springtime project.

Click here for larger version of Wood Duck nest box instructions via USGS

Duck info from Wildlife Notes, Pa Game News by Chuck Fergus

Duck photo by Dave Menke/US Fish Wildlife