Along a Country Road

A Midday Game of Hide and Seek

jeeoc — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:10:47 +0000

Had spent a number of hours at the computer this am and was getting a little bugeyed, so opted for a walk to the ridge around midday. Came across this little fellow……………

the very same that had been eating flowers out of the pots in my yard a month or two ago.

There was a nice breeze and the sun felt lovely …………

He heard the click of the camera and that’s what caught his attention to begin with….

but he was curious and

took his good old time in the tease………….

before he decided to go and look for mom.

I noticed that his spots have begun to fade…………….this summer season is passing so quickly.

Can’t Help Myself…………….mezmerizing………….

jeeoc — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:10:25 +0000

So the chatter has continued outside my office door…. and distract they do………….. so I took a few minutes today and sat on the stone steps with my camera….

and tried to catch some of the action……..

I was able to catch some of it………………….and at they were quite curious as to what I was doing,

The comings and going were hard to keep track of:but I was able to catch them at times… they were guarding three different feeders

so there were some challenges at each… but sometimes they did stop for a break…short as it was.

and then they were off for another round.

The camera did its best to keep up with things as did I, but it was tough……………..

comical watching them hide from each other.

and no one really wanted to perch at a feeder for very long…

nervous they were or too business minding the other’s affairs to take a long drink.

the time that I sat on the step really wasn’t very long………

but it was intense……………….

and the action never stopped for long. It was a battle of the sexes at times .

or so it seemed……………..

Late Summer

jeeoc — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:07:24 +0000

I remember last August. It felt like high summer at this time of the month. The garden was at its peak and everything felt very lush. For some reason this year it seems the season is further along at this time.

The boneset and joe-pye-weed are in full bloom, the butterflies are floating lazily from one to the next. The bees are the busiest and in full swing. The buzzing is intense close to the flowers.

The shadows are very long and there is a hush over the fields.

A family of deer were grazing together in the late afternoon light.

The summer is passing by ….. so quickly it seems…….I think because of the unusual weather and the lack of strong sun and hot hot days………….

Finally the Sun……………..

jeeoc — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:20:24 +0000

After quite a few days of overcast, rain, hail and such the sun has finally come out today. While it feels great, the first thing I noticed was how the lighting has begun to change……….shadows are longer and the sun is not as strong as it had been 10-14 days ago.

The second family of house wrens left the nest this week. Their flight lesson took place on Thursday morning, before the heavy rain and hail that had passed through this area. That is the last of the season, soon the whole lot of them will begin their migration south.

There are at least 8 hummingbirds, chattering and chest banging at the feeders this week. I am not sure if they are just the young ones from the neighbor hood or if the migration already has begun from further north. But they do put on quite a show and the chatter can distraction one from anything.

They to will be thinking about heading south sooner than I wish they would. They are such a joy to have around.

The songs of many of the other birds has changed as well. Not the courting songs of spring and earlysummer. More just chirps in communication.

It gets so quiet when they are gone………………………

Rain Showers and Turkeys- July 23, 2008

jeeoc — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:28:02 +0000

Lots of rain the past couple of days, with a real doozie of a storm passing through last night. The market umbrella was found at the end of the yard this morning and the teak table was upside down with the chairs overturned as well. A few of the large potted plants along the driveway were also on their side.

but some things remained on schedule. This flock of about thirty turkeys have been visiting the feeders every morning around 8 am. They come from the wooded area across the road, stop here for a snack and then proceed on to the creek in the back of the house and on to the next ridge…

…

I don’t see them again until about 5-5:30 when they pass back through one more time before heading back across the road and through the woods to the field beyond, where the dine before roosting in the trees for the night.

There are three hens and about 26 poults…. They were born between the second half of May and the middle of June. Some look like little adults while others still have the look of little chicks. The three hens keep them all in order. Quite fun to watch and they are like clock work!

…

Webs- July 20,2008

jeeoc — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:10:24 +0000

I enjoyed a early walk along the ridge this morning. After showers passing through last night and fog setting in I was sure to find some of the handiwork that had been done throughout the night.

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Most of these webs won’t last much into the day and they definitely will not be so easy to spot once the sun is up and the raindrops have evaporated, but for the brief moments in the morning, they are here for all to enjoy.

…

The shapes, sizes and density of web are very diversified. Each magical in their own way.

…

Neighbors July 18,2008

jeeoc — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:40:27 +0000

Since moving to Connecticut two years ago, it has become apparent to me that the human residents of this state have a real love-hate relationship with the deer population in the state. I am on the love side of that relationship. It is rare that I spot a deer and don’t take pause to appreciate their splendor….. even when they are eating out of my flower pots and vegetable garden. ( I was speaking this team the whole time they were dining. As you can see they didn’t seem too bothered!)

….

One day last July, during the middle of the day, while walking along a dirt road, a came across a buck who was feeding on the young leaves and branches of some cherry and maple trees. I was fortunate to have my camera with me.

It was a few moments before we made eye contact…. but he only took pause, he did not run. ….. and then much to my surprise he went back to eating , while I stood there and shot hundreds of photos……

….

He even came out into the clearing of the road and seemed to be posing for the photo op!!

…

….

We spent about twenty minutes together and then he walked slowly into the near field to join a female that had been grazing there. I gathered my things and moved on feeling quite blessed for having such an experience.

I am happy to say, I have seen my split-eared friend this year numerous times in the fields and woods around my home. This year he has 8 points instead of the seven from last year but with that split ear it is hard for mistaken identity…….

Farmers’ Markets- July 14,2008

jeeoc — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:03:41 +0000

Farmers’ Markets are now open throughout the state and the local produce is coming in . Two weekends ago I visited the markets in Fairfield, Westport and Georgetown. Assortments included fresh breads, herbs, lettuces, strawberries, cherries, zucchini, swiss chard and beets. Oh, i can’t forget the pies.

There were also pestos, some cheeses, meats and seafood. This week I went to Ridgefield and Bethel. Zucchini blossoms were my favorite purchase. I made them that night; stuffed with goat cheese and lightly sauted. Yummy. Check out the recipe at my other blog… Long Ridge Kitchens.

Flowers were fresh cut and purchased over a week ago, still looking good on my kitchen table.

The local tomatoes available are greenhouse grown, but they are local and they were picked ripe so they still taste better then anything that has been shipped from out of the area.

Lettuces include romaine, red leaf, green leaf and bibb, along with some of the more unusual greens like cress, arugula, swiss chard, various mesclun, and mustard greens. I always have trouble editing my selection; and generally do so based on how much longer each type’s season still is. I promise myself to return next week to pick up whatever I left behind this week,

At least with the herbs I ‘ just look’ because I have them all growing at home and cut right before using. Parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, and cilantro are regulars in my kitchen. The young fresh onions and garlic though was irresistible, as were the leeks. I like to saute them all in a bit of olive oil and some salt and pepper. Just before serving I drizzle with a bit of basalmic vinegar. The fragrance is the first wave of pleasure. When the vinegar hits the hot vegetable the aroma fills the room. The texture and flavor of the young vegetable reminds me of trips I used to take this time of the year to the south of France or the coast of Italy. There, in the small villages, there are open air markets weekly and the entire village comes out to do their shopping. The atmosphere is electric and everyone has food on the mind. Recipes and laughter is shared. Always a favorite part of the trips.

I hope that more of us learn to come to the market to appreciate the turn of the seasons and the bounty that is offered. Find your local farmers’ market and support their efforts. Enjoy!

House Wrens- July 1, 2008

jeeoc — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:36:33 +0000

Last weekend I watched a pair of house wrens teach their brood of five the finer points of flight. There was a lot of coaxing and bribing and encouraging along the way……………..and while the process was not glamorous, within a span of 2 hours all were airborne and flitting all over the yard.

Next the nestlings were taught how to hunt for insects. The rest of the afternoon had a lot of comings and goings throughout the yard with seven little house wrens all experiencing a great sense of accomplishment for the day. Noone came back to the little bird house that night, or for the week that followed. After the weeks of constant feeding and alot of chirping and racket in the nest, everything became unbearably quiet…………….

However, today the male house wren is back laying claim to the house above the original one and has once again started to build and sing his song of mating, to entice his lovely mate to do it all over again.