A Glorious Tufted Titmouse Pair
Only once have I spotted a Tufted Titmouse here at Downeast Thunder Farm. That made today's activity at the feeder incredibly exciting. A Tufted Titmouse pair. I love those big eyes that seem to look in your soul. They were very skittish. Their...
A Most Unusual Visitor
Last night, it was quite late when I put the ducks away. I had to chase them out of the pond, which is never fun. As I closed their door, I spotted a large bird sitting on the roof of the "lean-to" where we keep the duck food. It startled the wits...
Downeast Thunder Farm Moose Christmas Stocking
I'm still struggling with ideas for this year's WHRL Christmas Tree Festival. I seriously lack inspiration for trees and wreaths beyond the Joyful Owl Wreath I do in some form each year. I could repeat some of the other felt bird and critter trees...
Autumn’s First Snow
This isn't the earliest it's snowed here in Coastal Maine. We've had some white stuff in October too. It's been less than six months since our last snow. I love all of the seasons and the first snow of the season feels magical. We got about three...
Sweet Snowflake Ornaments
I'm searching for inspiration and playing with ideas for WHRL's Christmas Tree Festival. I designed these snowflake patterns with thoughts of decorations for a Christmas wreath. I'm not sure where that idea is going but thought I'd share the...
A Grinch-free Christmas
Despite COVID-19 the WHRL's Christmas Tree Festival is a go for the first weekend in December. It has to look different this year. We'll be open for viewing of trees and wreaths over a more extended period with limited admission at any given time....
The Greedy Grackle
If you've ever had Grackles at your feeder, you'll understand why in bird-speak that flock is called a "plague." They will clean out a feeder faster than any other bird I've seen. Yet yesterday, a beautiful, inky, iridescent Grackle came to visit....
Iridescent Grackle
Grackles are beautiful with their inky iridescent feathers. I enjoy them when they are not bullies at the feeder. This guy showed off his color - and good behavior today. They always seem to visit in the fall - or at least that's when I notice...
An Unusual Umbrella
These are not my best photos. It was pouring this morning. Outside the living room window I saw this odd movement and thought it was a skunk. Upon closer inspection it was not - but I’ve never before seen this. Now I know what that tail is really...
Autumn Panoramas
Cruising along US Route 1 today, the ocean shined a bright sea green - almost a verdigris - the perfect foil for the autumn leaves.
October Monarch
Paul built this great Monarch Nursery for me this year, but it didn't get much use. With Hannah returning to college earlier than usual, we didn't get into caterpillar search mode the way we have in past years. Yet, at the end of August, I found...
October at Red Point
This weekend we were blessed with sun and temps in the 60s. After working much of Saturday and ending the day feeling disgruntled (ask me sometime about losing me losing my temper over the missing meatballs), I needed to get outdoors. We went for a...
Chasing Geese
I very much enjoy the Canada Geese, who summer in Maine - especially the babies. In spring and early summer, Hannah and I will venture out in search of goslings. It's a bit of a different scenario at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park. WHRL, in...
Announcing Downeast Thunder Farm’s Backyard Birds Book
Welp, I've pulled the trigger, and my second pattern book, Downeast Thunder Farm Backyard Birds I: Felt Ornament Patterns, is now available for pre-order. This book has been in the works since February. You'd think COVID-19 quarantine would have...
Autumn Chickadees
A gray autumn day brightened for a few house hours allowing me to work on the porch (under a blanket) for a bit. Somehow laboring away on my computer while outdoors makes it feel less like work. Camera at the ready I enjoyed the Chickadees zooming...
Last Days of Summer
This last weekend of summer, I spent two glorious afternoons on the porch. The days are starting frosty, warming up to tolerable by mid-day. Sadly, I took down and packed away the porch screens until next Spring. As much as I loved being able...
The Covert Common Yellowthroat
I first spotted a Common Yellowthroat Warbler in the marshy area next to the beach. A few weeks later I spied one lurking in the branches of my lilac bushes. I haven't seen once since, but I've heard the song. Enjoy! [sdm_download id="36553"...
A Captive Target
Since returning in mid-August from the college drop-off in Ohio, it seems like Autumn has made an early appearance. Today, when it felt warmer outdoors than in, I moved my "office" back to the porch. Gidget was first to alert me that we had an...
Happiness in a Sunflower
I'm not the only one who finds happiness in a sunflower. I snapped these pictures this afternoon while checking in on the WHRL's Incredible Edible Garden at the Red Barn Motel. A pair of goldfinches feasted on the sunflower seeds. They were shy,...
Late Summer Hummers
I haven't taken many bird photos this summer; the porch screens interfere with the opportunities. Yet today's show outside had me washing the sole kitchen window in which I'd left the screen out. A couple of late summer ruby-throated hummingbirds...
Sunflowers
Two hours from home, in Bradford, Maine, is a sunflower maze. I've wanted to visit a sunflower farm, and this sounded like a close second, so Paul and I adventured there this afternoon. My timing wasn't ideal as it was late in the day, and all of...
A Hawk Amongst the Shorebirds
It's shorebird migration time here, Downeast. I've not had time to get to the beach to watch, but I paused today when I saw them in the marshy area near the river today. I'm not sure if they are Sandpipers, Yellowlegs, or something else. The red...
Blooms and Bees
Nothing to see here but a girl who spent a happy hour today photographing blooms and bees.
Full Moon Pigeon Hill Hike
I've hiked Pigeon Hill dozens of times - usually with Hannah - but we've never ventured out for the full moon. Downeast Coastal Conservancy organized a full moon hike this evening. I asked Paul if he wanted to go with. He said, "You're not getting...
The Maine Mourning Cloak
I first discovered the Mourning Cloak butterfly during my trip with Hannah to the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden this summer. I learned that this big, bold, butterfly actually overwinters in Maine. This is a one-sided ornament that I turned into a...
