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Along the Natchez Trace

Sunday, August 5, 2012

2 Months Gone - 1 Month to Go

As usual the time is just flying by....  not only have we been here 2/3 of our stay, but also summer is quickly moving on.

When I see asters blooming I know that autumn is on its way...


And fields of Goldenrod make me think that a frost might be in the near future....

Turtlehead (no question as to how it got its name, is there?) is almost past its prime already....

The Pearly Everlasting is blooming.....



Yarrow, Black-eyed Susans and Mullein.....
Soon will be withered and gone.....

The wildflowers aren't the only thing to see here.  I don't know if he'll migrate but for now,  this bald eagle is a frequent visitor to E. Loring Lake.
Very grainy photo.... even my 300 lens has trouble getting a good shot of him when he's so far away.

I took this photo from the same photo blind this morning..
Again, a bit blurry...  but I wanted to show you the "wax wings" on this Cedar Waxwing.  

When seen up close, the tips on his wings really do look like they've been dipped in red wax.

When I was changing out my SD cards on my game cameras this morning we were surprised by this bird...
A Northern goshawk came swooping across in front of us and landed in this spruce.  He didn't stay long....  I barely had time to get this shot.

Carolyn asked me if my header picture was taken with the game camera.  No, I had my Canon Rebel with me...  walked out a short trail through a spruce forest that edges a pond.  Mr Bull Moose was having a morning drink

I snapped about 10 shots before he decided to move on.  

I've tried to be consistent and mention which photos that the game camera takes.  Just wouldn't feel right to take credit for a snot shot of a bear...  and besides that, I'd be too scared to snap the picture!

This guy crossed the road in front of me this morning...
Probably the same bull I saw in the pond the other morning.  He has a magnificent rack.  It's remarkable how quickly an animal so big can just disappear into the woods.  I didn't see so much as a trace of him by the time I had driven the Gator to where he'd crossed the road.


Most of my friends are living with temps in the 90's or above.  Up here in northeast Maine it's been getting into the 80's during the day.  The problem now is that there hasn't been any rain to speak of all summer.  Even the potato fields are suffering.  We drive past a field of broccoli that has just quit growing.


My trail maintenance and mowing days seem to have come to a screeching halt.


Guess what project I'm going to start tomorrow?
Yep!  I'm gonna paint the Boiler Room of the Headquarters/Visitor Center!

Everyone knows how much I love to paint...
(liar, liar, pants on fire)
But I actually volunteered to do this job.
It's one that's been on the "to do" list for a couple of years, and really, now that the grass is dying of thirst, I have no excuses.

Maybe I'll even post an "after" picture when I get it done.

That's All For Today!




7 comments:

  1. So much beauty all around you!!
    You're blessed!

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  2. The cedar waxwing is my favorite bird. Thanks for the nice shot. It's really hard to get them to sit still long enough! I'm not fond of painting either; it's messy and frustrating but boy, is it nice to get it done! I'm always impressed with your vast knowledge of plants and animals. It seems like it wasn't that long ago that you were treating us to photos of toucans and monkeys!

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  3. It looks like you have chosen a rich and rewarding life. I love following your blog.

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  4. I cannot believe the summer is 2/3rd over, and it is. I've seen a cedar wax wing up close one time. They are that beautiful. Thank you for all the great pictures and commentary.

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  5. The wildflowers are always so beautiful. Hate to see them go but that is the cycle of life. Thank goodness you don't have to plant them!!

    Did you get your cursor working right. I sent you an email on a possible solution.

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  6. Oh, I think the current paint "treatment" in the boiler room is just fine! Great photos again. Can't believe you're watching for autumn. We should start seeing hints of that in late October!

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  7. Beautiful flower pics - I wish I could remember the names of birds. Too bad about the painting job - hope it's a small one at least.

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