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Along the Natchez Trace

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Sort of the Same...

Kirk works four 10 hour days and is off Fri/Sat/Sun.  But with the holiday this Saturday, he had to take either today or Monday off.  Since the culvert is arriving on Tuesday, he's taking today off so if any last minute adjustments need to be made he'll be here on Monday for that.

Look what I saw on my way to work..  guess he was on his way home from a night of carousing.

Bill & I are the only other volunteers here this summer...  in fact, we're the only other "personnel" around at all.  Bill always works the 10 hour days with Kirk, then works whatever hours he wants over the weekends.  Usually he puts in a 50 to 60 hour week.  I usually work those 10 hour days but sometimes quit early or take time off because of rain or whatever.  I work the Visitor Center on Sundays...  my choice...  I like the opportunity to meet visitors, offer tours and the such.  

Caught on the game camera...  this White-tail deer looks like she's "on point".
Wonder if she has some bird-dog in her?

Today the company that is delivering (and installing) the new culvert is sending a man up from Bangor to look at the preparations that Bill & Kirk have made.  Bill will take him down to the road site and they'll check it out.  I know Kirk would like to be here, but he can only spread his time so thin.  It will work out fine, but this is a job that started in 2009 and is finally going to be finished this summer.

That's Spotted Knapweed...  the lighter green stalks....   that is growing along side the road.  

We've had enough rain that the soil is soft enough to allow me to pull up plant, roots and all.  Until the biologists recommend something else, I am bagging what I pull, (heavy plastic bags) and tying them shut...  and they go in the dumpster and then to the landfill.  Hopefully they are decomposing in the bags, never to see the light of day again.  I think eventually the biologist will have to do a massive spray job.  The plants will be in flower soon...  no spraying then as we'd be killing off our pollinators...  Whatever plan they put in effect will not happen this year.  So we continue to pull them up.

This little frog hopped out of the undergrowth.

I scared up this frog, a Wilson's Snipe, 2 Upland Sandpipers and a couple of Killdeer when walking along the road pulling the knapweed.  Sure wouldn't want to kill off any of these guys!

Can't a girl eat her breakfast in peace?

I saw this cow moose having breakfast on my way to work this morning.  Actual sequence was 1) Upper right... looking for just the right stuff  2) Lower right....  aha!  got this great piece of algae or weeds... I'll just let the water run out of my mouth   3) Left....  So, what are you looking at?  I want to get on with breakfast!   (I know, moose can't talk, but I can pretend, can't I?)

It rained again yesterday afternoon, but looks like it just might clear up today.  I'm sure most folks would love to have a sunny 4th of July weekend.

That's All For Today!


11 comments:

  1. Our weeds seem to be out of control this year--I get one patch sprayed and two more patches pop up! We are expecting a very hot July 4.

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  2. Some sunny weather would be wonderful about now.

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  3. I vote for sunny weather too, and no fog!

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  4. That's a lot of pulling, if you catch my drift. We've had sun and heat. You might have heard. The Grand Heatwave I'm calling it.

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  5. Happy Fourth of July to you, too. Love how the excess of rain makes those weeds come up roots and all.

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  6. Is that a Northern Leopard Frog? They are greener than the ones down here. OH yes, maybe that is because they are sunburned (grin).

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  7. What a wonderful adventure you two are having. Glad to hear the rain will stop for your 4th celebration. Enjoy.

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  8. I like the frog. Never seen that species before.

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  9. You guys are hard workers, and the NWR system is very lucky to have you, since they seem short staffed in places, like there. That frog is awesome.

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  10. Ha, love your post as always. I'm back from Alaska, my photo program is back in working order (after an update to my OS on my iMac. I posted a little video of a Moose in a pond right off our daughter's backyard.

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  11. I think that is exactly what the moose would say. Love your pictures and all you and Bill are doing for the Refuge. Becki

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