by Susan | Mar 2, 2025 | On the Farm
Part way up our driveway, an 18″ culvert allows runoff to flow under the drive. On one side of the drive, there’s a small pond that sometimes goes dry. Other times, it flows through the culvert if it gets too high from runoff and rain. With this...
by Susan | Feb 16, 2025 | On the Farm
Watching the squirrels attempt to scale my bird feeders often provides as much entertainment as watching the birds themselves. Last weekend, to give the squirrels a treat, I hung a simple squirrel feeder that holds a corn cylinder. It’s essentially a long bolt...
by Susan | Jan 12, 2025 | Birds and Wildlife, On the Farm
It snowed for most of Saturday, covering the landscape with a fluffy three inches of snow. I enjoy being a recluse on these snowy days, cozying up on the sofa with a book and watching nature unfold. I am particularly taken with the white-breasted nuthatch that has...
by Susan | Jan 4, 2025 | Backyard Birds, Birds and Wildlife, Dogs, Insect Patterns, On the Farm, Other Patterns, Sea Life, Woodland Patterns
Our house is tucked away in the woods. When we built it 20 years ago, I wanted to bring the outdoors inside as much as possible. If my budget had supported it, I would have had walls of windows. Instead, I have five tall cottage-style windows and a set of French doors...
by Susan | Dec 22, 2024 | Cats and Dogs, On My Mind
Winter Solstice dawned with the promise of a white Christmas. Five inches of snow dropped overnight, with more predicted on Christmas Eve. I relish the silence of the solstice as I shoveled out and wandered down to the mailbox. There’s lots to take in along our...
by Susan | Nov 30, 2024 | Backyard Birds, Family, On My Mind
Thanksgiving dawned wet and dreary in Downeast Maine. It was a quiet day filled with baking and birdwatching from the sofa. This Thanksgiving was particularly poignant for me because it was also Mom’s birthday—the second one we’ve spent without her. She...
by Susan | Aug 26, 2024 | On the Farm
It is a foggy, damp, overcast day here in Maine. Snuggled up on the porch under a blanket with Murphee, I heard a scary commotion from Doodle Duck in the pond. I tossed the blanket aside and hopped up, ready to do battle. It was not her normal quacking; this was a...
by Susan | Aug 2, 2024 | Give-a-ways, On the Farm
On this first day of my staycation, I wandered the yard in my PJs, enjoying my coffee and just being. A “plop” and then a “buzzing” sound startled me. Looking about, I finally spied this dragonfly who landed in my thankfully tepid coffee....
by Susan | Jul 24, 2024 | On the Farm
I’m not a wonderful gardener, but I’ve made a bit of effort to have a few annuals, perrenials, and wildflowers around the house. Yet my favorite blossoms this time of year as the lavender is fading are the oregano and marjoram blossoms. And I have a LOT of...
by Susan | Jul 11, 2024 | On the Farm
One of the things I love about living in the Maine woods is that we see (and hear) lots of wildlife. You’ve seen my bird and deer photos, but here’s a recap of some of our nocturnal visitors over the years. Missing is a Moose (Paul didn’t snap a...
by Susan | Jun 16, 2024 | On the Farm
One of the most cherished gifts I’ve received from my mom are the tiny lilac transplants from her garden. They bring such joy when they bloom each June. Mom planted these Dwarf Korean Lilacs around a tree in her front yard. As they began to spread, she dug up...
by Susan | Jun 11, 2024 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Last year, when I was feeling particularly low and searching for a bit of joy, I splurged on a Bird Buddy. It’s a bird feeder with a solar-powered camera that captures backyard visitors. When it arrived, Paul reconfigure a pole for this little feeder. I went...
by Susan | May 5, 2024 | On the Farm
It’s hard to believe it’s been two months since Murphee (the little itty bitty tiny one) joined our family. She arrived from Texas, a six-month-old rescue puppy, so nervous and tentative about everything. She’s gotten used to us and seems to feel at...
by Susan | Apr 17, 2024 | On the Farm
Today, I had a fantastic experience when I spotted an Indigo Bunting and a Cardinal at my bird feeder. Sitting on the sofa enjoying my coffee, I noticed a flash of bright blue. I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures. I wasn’t sure about what I saw until...
by Susan | Apr 8, 2024 | On the Farm
Today’s eclipse was a once-in-a-lifetime event here in Maine. It was a picture-perfect day–the warmest day since October 28th. I lunched on the porch while waiting for the eclipse to begin. Gidget and Murphee kept me company, enjoying the sunshine. Gidget has...
by Susan | Apr 5, 2024 | On the Farm
This was the scene on Monday, a week into Spring. We had ice-out on the pond and one happy duck. Just three days later, on April 4th, we woke to this. Heavy wet snow fell all day long–more snow than all of our winter snows combined this year. It’s been a year of...
by Susan | Dec 4, 2023 | On the Farm
I felt a bit like a little kid on this first snow day of the season. Paul grumbles. Hannah waffles about working from home or heading into the office. And I’m out at first light filling feeders, snapping photos, and watching the snow fall. I spent much of last...
by Susan | Nov 19, 2023 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I’ve been home for a week, but yesterday was the first day I had a moment for myself. A gloomy but mild morning, I parked on the porch beneath a blanket with my book, coffee, and camera. A band of blue jays descended upon my freshly filled feeder. They dodged in...
by Susan | Jul 26, 2023 | On the Farm
Typically, when Doodle spies me at the French door to let Gidget out in the mornings, she’s honking with displeasure that she’s locked up and there’s a pond but feet away. But lately, Doodle has been broody. And as a lonely duck, I know her mission...
by Susan | Jul 14, 2023 | On the Farm
A Friday morning spent with Hannah on the porch was the first of today’s simple pleasures. She blew through town for work and stayed the night before taking off again. Then there’s the rabbit (or hare) who visits every morning. The milkweed is patiently...
