Thursday, December 23, 2010

Tap .. tap .. is this thing still on?

Well, hello there! Merry Christmas!

Yes, I'm still here. Despite my most fervent wishes, I have not been abducted by aliens. I just haven't had a whole lot to say of late. I've been thinking about lots of things, but nothing that lends itself to sound bites or blog entries.

So, in lieu of deep thoughts or controversial opinions, I offer to you a few pictures of the things I've been making lately.






Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Ssssssssssssnakes and swans and shoes, oh my!

While moving closer to the shore to photograph these beautiful creatures ..


.. I nearly stepped on this beautiful creature!



Perhaps I should re-think my choice of footwear for my next adventure in nature photography!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Look who just hopped by!



Nothing like a toad gray tree frog with an attitude! His name is Tony. You got a problem wid dat?

Update: The rough skin led me to believe that this was a toad. My 13 year old gently corrected me, pointing out that toads can't hop more than an inch, and this little amphibian leapt a good 15 inches from the picnic table to the patio wall. A quick consultation with Professor Google confirmed that this is, in fact, a Hyla versicolor. It's a good thing that William is home schooled, or I'd never learn anything!

Friday, August 13, 2010

Why my lawn is un-manicured and chemical-free




This morning, I played hostess to a large rafter of wild turkeys. They appreciated the breakfast buffet of various plants, seeds, and insects, and I was amused by their antics. They're far more interesting to observe than a chemically-laden, "weed-free" expanse of a "perfect" green lawn.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The triumphant return of the summer haiku



tan lines on my feet
hummingbirds at the feeder
summer is perfect

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Prime real estate



Osprey family nest on a shipping lane marker in the St. Lawrence River.

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Thirteen candles.



Thirteen beautiful years with my Sweet William. How lucky we are.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Clever critters

This clever chipmunk ..


.. and this daring downy woodpecker ..


.. have cracked the code on getting the sugar water that I put out for the orioles and hummingbirds.

More power to them!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Beautiful pest control

Every year, it seems, the tree swallows beat out the bluebirds for squatter's rights in the nesting boxes that we have set up in our yard. While I would love to have a family of bluebirds living near us, I can't really complain about the tree swallows. They are beautiful and entertaining in their own right, and they constantly patrol the air, devouring insects as they go.


I'm hungry!



Open wide for Mamma!




Daddy searches the sky for mosquitoes.


Here ya go, kiddo!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Why did the ducklings cross the road?



Because Mamma Duck said so, that's why!

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Friday, June 04, 2010

Sparkly




For just a few minutes this morning, the field across the road sparkled with hundreds of dew-laden spiderwebs.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Sunday, May 23, 2010

If you should go to the woods today ..



The kidlet and I took a hike around Wellesley Island yesterday. I've never seen so many chipmunks!

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Voici Le Mois De Mai ..






.. Où les fleurs volent au vent.

Cheeky!


Chipmunk telling the world how it is!
NYS Zoo at Thompson Park
Watertown, NY

Friday, April 09, 2010

Don't call them birdbrains!






On our nature hike the other day, the Eagle-eyed scientist and I paused to marvel at a pair of Black-Capped Chickadees who took turns pecking at a stash of seeds located in the top crevices of a fencepost. This was no random event. Black-Capped Chickadees have incredible spatial memories, aided by the literal growth of their brains which occurs each fall as they create those caches of food.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

When all else fails, compose a haiku

Planted rosebushes,
lavender, and pansies while
the birds sang for me

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What a day, what a day!

I'll preface this entry by stating up front that I really didn't have a dog in this fight. As the spouse of a retired Army NCO, I have access to excellent health care at a very low price. If that option disappeared, I could pack up and move my family to Canada, where I could easily dust off my Ontario RN license and go back to work. In other words, we're covered, no matter what.

But millions of hard working people in one of the greatest countries on the planet have been denied the benefits that I have enjoyed. These benefits came to me simply by virtue of my place of birth and, subsequently, my choice of a husband who happened to be serving in the US Army. I am not special. I am not better than the millions of hitherto uninsured American citizens and legal resident aliens who share this land with me.

In another corner of cyberspace, I was actually accused of being selfish for praising the work of the American Nurses' Association in ensuring that our profession's voice was heard during the health care debate. I was slammed for applauding the notion that, effective this fiscal year, federal funding will be allocated to increase the number of primary care providers, including nurses. Because these parts of health care reform which pertain to the profession of Nursing are intended to address the critical shortage of nurses and the dearth of spots available in our nation's nursing schools .. somehow that makes me selfish? Really? How does one even address such a toxic attitude?

Meh. Maybe the cyberspace lunatic, and the rest of the hysterical wingnuts out there, are right. Maybe I am selfish for wanting to be able to actually take a few of the vacation days that I have earned over the years. Maybe I am selfish for rejoicing in the fact that some day, I will no longer have to watch a patient be discharged because a bean-counter from an insurance company has decreed that they have received enough health care, even though the health care professionals who are actually taking care of that human being have a different opinion. Maybe I am selfish for thinking that someday, I might retire, knowing that there will be a new generation of nurses to whom I will pass the torch.

What. Ever. Despite the screeching histrionics and the ridiculous posturing by various State Attorney Generals, President Obama signed the bill into law today. And, if I may be so superficial .. My God, but that stone fox is Presidential, is he not?

This is a great day. Welcome to the 21st century, America! Enjoy it in good health!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sunday, March 14, 2010