Unseen

We rush around.  Get up, make coffee, run to the dump, work out, clean the pellet stove ,get the mail, make dinner, start our Christmas preparations.  We run a similar pattern the next day.  Our energies are focused and directed.  We go to bed at night, feeling all was complete.

I was going out this morning to follow the same patterns.  I was bringing some boxes to the garage.

And then I saw them in snow . . .

Deer had been by in the night.  We had multiple set of tracks about the barn, following the creek, and then off through some thicket to their next haunt.  We aren't the only ones about who have thins to do!

I followed the deer track about.  Then I came across some prints from a crow . . .

I walked about the house and came across this hole by the foundation. I had seen a chipmunk scurrying about weeks ago.  Now, it is probably in its restless winter sleep.  It is well that they are sleeping, as this entrance will be covered with snow once we get the first big snow.

I hope you get a chance in this busy season to stop for a moment, look around, and see what the other creatures around us are doing this time of year.

Desert Scenery

I was out west on business and got some time to explore the scenery.  The wife and I were in the Tucson, Arizona area.  It was pretty spectacular!

I got up before sunrise to take in the scenery.  The day would get over 70 degF, but it was just around 40 degF before dawn.

Spring will be here in the desert soon.  The fish hook barrel cactus are starting to bloom.

We were staying by the foothills of the Coronado Mountains.  We visited Catalina State Park.  The scenery was incredible, especially for folks like us from the green, forested northeast.

I had been to Arizona before, but had never seen so many saguaro cactus.

The trees were small compared to the spruce, tamaracks, pines and maples on our property.  There were a lot of scraggly mesquite and a few green-barked palo verdes.

Not only were the vistas interesting, but even the smaller scenes were neat.  There were hedgehog cactus . . .

. . . as well as pencil cactus (which were flowering).

It was a dry area.  Off in the distance were silvery threads of water coming of the mountains.  The wash just below us was dry.

We were near the 'Romero Ranch'.  It was an old homestead settled around the mid-1800's.  There were remnants of the foundation about.  This area was also the site of a previous Hohokam village.  There were vestiges of the old rock walls around the area.

I was amazed at the stands of saguaro!

We took a trip to see the Old Tucson Studios.  It is a stage used for western movies and television shows.  John Wayne starred in four films here (Rio Bravo, Rio Lobo, El Dorado, McClintock).  Several TV shows were filmed here, including Little House on the Prairie, and . . .

. . . High Chaparral.

A few day's later a freak snow storm hit the area.  The locals told us it was the first significant storm here in 18 years.

It was beautiful.  The prickly pear cactus were coated.

 The snow brought out stranges clump within the branches of the trees.  What was it?

Desert mistletoe!

The agave were also coated in snow . . .

 . . . as were the cholla cactus.

We were surprised by the amount of wildlife.  We saw rabbits, . . .

. . . gila woodpeckers, . . .

. . . , phainopeplas, . . .

. . . Gambel's quail, . . .

. . . mourning doves, . . .

. . . and a curved-bill thrasher.

We also saw cactus wrens and various sparrows.  The wife might have seen a roadrunner one night at dusk!

This was quite a spectacular area.

Woolly Bear

Folklore states that you can tell the severity of the coming winter by looking at the amount of black on woolly bear caterpillars.  More black than brown means a colder winter, more brown than black means a milder winter.

Looking at this little fellow, it seems we will have a mild winter.  We had a mild winter last year.

It seems to me our autumn has been mild.  We have had a few morning frosts, but the afternoons seem warm.  We still have spinach and kale in the garden.  We put our garlic bulbs in over the weekend.  Most of the leaves have fallen, though we have one small maple the is at peak color.

I'll have to watch what happens to see if the woolly bear folklore rings true . . .

Yard Pigs

Oops, I mean ground hogs.  We don't see them around the barn that often, but we will occasionally see one in the northwest corner of the property by the creek.

We do see them down the street by the river near the hay fields, and over by the museum.

They seem to stay out of the gardens, though the deer did a number on the green beans, the last of the tomatoes, and a few of the hostas.

Oh well.  Its the end of the season and the wildlife is looking to fatten up.  I guess it's not really a problem.

Amazing Gifts

I have been trying to get some good photos of hummingbirds the last few weeks.   I stand around for 15 minutes - the birds zoom in - the camera is not focused - I try to focus - snap a photo - the photo is blurry.

I set up the camera in video mode.  I knew I would sacrifice resolution, but had a chance of getting better focused shots.  I was happy with the results.

I'll definitely do some more experimenting!

Enjoy . . .

Feathered Guests

We finally saw our first hummingbirds for the season.  It was raining out, but the hummers still came to the feeder.

The birds have been eating a lot lately.  I just filled the feeder 2 days ago - it is empty already (the wife snapped this photo with the downy woodpecker nearby).

The wife got a photo of the most beautiful cardinal.  It has the deepest red we have ever seen.

I think she did a good job!

How are your feathered guests doing?

Susquehanna

After the flooding last fall, most of the boat launches near us on the Susquehanna River were closed.  They just reopened a few weeks ago.  It was a cloudy morning, but I decided to paddle on the Susquehanna.

I put in by Hickories Park in Owego.  Much of the park is still being repaired after the flood, but the boat ramp and parking were fine.

The flooing last fall was incredible.  I was parked over 10 feet above the river.  The sign by my car showed the height of the flood waters.  The 2011 flooding was over the 100 year level!

The river was calm, and it looked like the clouds were going to go away.  The air was still.  It was quiet and peaceful.

Some of the houses on the river are still in shambles.  I am surprised that many of these homes are repaired and in use.

There are huge tracts on knotweed along the rivers.  Knotweed loves wet, sunny areas.

There was not much wildlife.  I saw a female mallard of in the distance.  Being a larger river, it is hard to just round a corner and come across wildlife.

The force of last year's flood was obvious by the debris scattered on the islands.

 It was a short paddle.  The skies started to grow darker.  Rain was coming.  That doesn't bother me much (I am in a boat already).  My biggest concern was the chance of thundershowers.  I rounded the large island just east of the park, and headed back to the launch.  About 2 miles to go back.

There were small animals about.  Squirrels and blackbirds were all about.

I saw a female red-headed merganser on the shore.  She was waiting for me to pass by.

The rain came. It was coming down steady.  I was doing a little fishing, but nothing was biting.  The wind was coming up.  I was getting cold and wet.  Time to head back.

Splashing Raindrops

It was nice to get back on the Susquehanna again.  I need to get a long paddle in soon.