BullFrogy

This little girl came to us with the name, BullFrogy".

The boy and I would like to keep the name, but Momma and Jordan are thinking about changing it to Harry. They choose Harry because their summer project together is to read all he Harry Potter books. They both are somewhere on book 3.

The truth is, she doesn't look like a Harry or a BullFrogy, so I guess we will keep working on a name.

We Got Snoods Here

I am very thrilled to announce, for the first time here, we finally have a couple of "snoods". At this time they may be tiny snoods, but they are our first snoods so we are very proud of our little snoods.

I was a bit surprised that with my poor eyesight, I was still able to spot my first snood, and ever since I must admit I'm feeling a bit giddy about our snoods.

I can't help thinking, if I get so excited about snoods, what will happen when we get our first Wattles?

I decided to share a picture of our first snoods. Click on the picture below, and If you look carefully at Bob, you will see a little bump on his forehead. This grows into a long fleshy growth that will grow down over the Turkey's bill. The wattle is the fleshy growth under the throat.

This flesh turns red, bright red, blue, and pale depending on the bird's mood and health.

I promise to post pictures of the snoods as they grow and to keep you posted on the wattles.

Maybe Jeanne is not quite as excited about the snoods as I, "but she should be."

Grazing Time

Bo, Bubba, Custard and Pudding enjoying some grazing time.

The Yellow Warbler

The word Gleaning is often used when describing the feeding habits of certain birds.
"The Yellow Warbler is often seen Gleaning insects."

I had to look up Gleaning.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gleaning is the catching of invertebrate prey items, mainly arthropods, by plucking them from foliage or from the ground, or from crevices such as rock faces and under the eaves of houses. Ticks and lice can even be taken from living animals. This behavior can be contrasted with hawking insects from the air or chasing after moving insects such as ants.

Now I know, those wonderful little splashes of yellow flying through our Chestnut tree, are Yellow Warblers gleaning insects.

Ride em Cowboy

Tommy spent a couple of days with his Uncle Will, and now he has a fixation about riding cows.I am not sure what Willie said to the boy, But he came home with a plan for me to buy a new truck and trailer to haul the cows. His plan includes he and I to riding cows around the place.

Early Sunday morning he and I went on a mission up to Uconn to view the cattle. I was hoping the smell would persuade him that cows are not for us. It didn't work, he now wants cows, horses and a job at Uconn.

I decided maybe I should not tell him about the time, 37 years or more ago, a 14 year boy woke up one day, and as he headed out for the day he told his folks he was going out with a couple of friends to ride cows. His mom told him don't get your feet wet and to be home by supper.
It was a different time back when kids could run free, and when parents biggest concern was getting your feet wet.

I'm not going to tell him how those 3 boys hiked about 5 miles across town to a pasture filled with cattle. Or how they climbed on the backs of the cows and rode them around the pasture.

I will not say a thing about the farmer catching them and hauling the 3 desperadoes off to the police station, and explaining to the police how he caught them riding his bulls.

I definitely will not say a word about the Police officer who drove them home, laughing as he rolled down his windows because they smelled like cows.

I won't tell him the look on his parents face as the police officer explained what happened, all the time trying not to laugh.

And I won't tell him how he evaded any punishment because he reminded his parents that, he told them he was going to ride cows, and he didn't get his feet wet.

So if the boy really wants a cow, I say sure, we can keep it at Uncle Willie's house!

River Warning

This is a special warning to those that Canoe or Kayak the stretch of the Willimantic River from Eagelville to the City of Willimantic.

At this time the river is extremely low, 45cfs, which makes the river almost impossible for a good float trip. But be warned that once the river rises to a level that supports paddling, there are a couple of dangerous new snags on the river

Recently 2 large trees have fallen across the river from the Coventry side stretching all the way across to the Mansfield side. Both trees are located within 100' of each other and in between them are some incredibly large tree trunks that have been in the river for a few years..

This danger zone is located about 4 miles south of Eagleville dam and 3/4 of a mile south of the Cider Mill Rd/Flanders Rd Bridge off of rt 32.

With the water levels so low, this is not a threat at this time, but could become extremely dangerous with higher water levels.

What Have I Done

We have a beautiful old Crabapple tree in the front yard. Early this past Spring I would climb the tree and reach down and hoist the boy up with me. We would sit and watch the Chickadees come in for a snack of black oil sunflower seeds and I would let go with the only bird call I know. "Chicka Dee Dee Dee Dee Dee, Chicka Dee Dee Dee Dee Dee. Well actually, I also do a decent Duck and Rooster.

Yesterday the boy was attempting to climb the Crabapple with out my help. He was having a bit of trouble getting started and called out, "Can I get a little help here". Being to lazy to get up out of my chair I hollered back, "Pretend a pack of hungry coyotes are after you", This worked and he climbed that Crabapple for the first time. I think he realized that he had crossed a milestone in a boys life by climbing a tree unassisted, and he raised his fist in the air and yelled, "I AM THE KING OF THE WORLD", My abundant pride was soon squashed when he then started imitating a Chickadee. Chicka Dee Dee Dee Dee.

I thought, what have I done to this boy. What if he does this in the presence of others. I think it is acceptable for a 51 year old man to sit in a tree and imitate a Chickadee. But if the boy ever does that around his buddies at school, he might get picked on, or a reputation of being a bit odd like his uncle.

As I type out this post, I can hear him at his computer imitating a Crow.

I am so sorry!

Our First Squabble

In the 15 years Jeanne and I lived together, we have never had a fight or argument. We tend to agree on everything, except about keeping snakes in the house.

We may be approaching our first battle!

During the project to elevate our home above flood waters, we will need to live elsewhere during the construction. We both agree we would like to stay on the property and we would rent a trailer or motorhome for that purpose.

I must say, I was a bit taken aback when she dismissed my ideas of motorhome living. I think she might have a attitude problem.


Why not get an old truck chassis and build our own. We can then travel like gypsies during school vacations. Maybe we could buy a old school bus and paint it like the Partridge family bus
I was expecting a warm show of support and a little bit of enthusiasm, maybe something like, "what a wonderful idea, you are so smart and resourceful, I am so lucky to have you", What did I get? NOTHING!!!! the only thing I heard was something about making a doctors appointment for me.

Jeanne said, having a bathroom was very important, so I honestly thought she would be thrilled with the classic moterhome with matching outhouse.
And furthermore, "I don't want you to put a pillow over my face while I sleep." It must have been a typo when I said 15 years, I think I knew it was more like 5, or was it 6? I will never understand women!

Not Just Another Pretty Face

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."
(Solomon 2:1)


Take a somewhat common shrub found in many home gardens, a shrub that goes somewhat unnoticed by most, until summer brings its seemingly endless 5" blooms. Now add curiosity!
Hibiscus syriacus is a ornamental shrub and in North America the common name is Rose Of Sharon. We have several here and are dazzled by the show they put on every summer.
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The Hebrew origin of the name Sharron refers to flat land at the foot of Mount Carmel, a very fertile plan with an abundance of beautiful flowers, where the original Rose Of Sharron was most likely a Crocus of some type. In the above verse, The Rose Of Sharron was a beautiful young woman, and apparently was one of Solomon’s brides.

It is a native to Asia, and is the national flower of South Korea. The flower's Korean name is mugunghwa, meaning endless flower. In Korea the flower is a symbol of immortality.

I doubt I will ever take the Rose Of Sharon for granted.

Mistaken Identity

In the early morning hours I sit on the back porch and through the slight fog on the river, I catch a glimpse of a very large winged creature flying below tree line following the coarse of the river. The prehistoric sound of this creature tells me we may have a Terradactyl visiting. Because I have become a expert on the sounds and calls of all the local avian species, I knew for sure this was the call of the elusive Terradactyl. But who would believe me? I kept my thoughts and suspicions to myself, until I had irrefutable evidence supporting my historical breathtaking claim.

I guess I will try to think of something else that I can claim as my expertise.

The Blue Heron is always an awesome sight here. Rumor has it that down river and close by, there may be a heron rookery. I must find it someday.

As for the fresh set of tracks I found down by the river, I still think they may be of the Sabre Tooth Tiger.

Beauty Is In The Eye.

With all the incredibly beautiful birds around here,You gotta love a bird that goes through life with a face like this

Jamming

We did some Jamming here yesterday. After Jeanne, Tommy, Jordan and her friend Miranda picked 14lbs of Blueberries at a Connecticut Blueberry Farm, we decided we would try some Jamming.

Jeanne and I thought this would be a fun family type thing to do. Well maybe it is for some folks, but with the boiling water used to sterilize the jars, the boiling blueberries, the large pot of boiling water used to soak all the jars once they are filled, and the extremely hot blueberry sugar mixture, we found ourselves surrounded by so much hot boiling stuff, we decided to let them watch from afar.

Considering Jeanne and I were somewhat clueless when it comes to making jam, I think we turned out to be somewhat competent Jammers.

I can see the future now, blueberry rhubarb jam, strawberry rhubarb jam, blueberry strawberry rhubarb jam, blueberry banana jam, pickle jam, watermelon jam, the list could be endless.

We all had Jam for breakfast this morning and will be monitoring each other for side effects through out the day, and if we pass this test, we may use some friends as test subjects.

Support Your Local Connecticut Farmer

Tick Bite Remedy

Does anyone not remember their Mom rubbing Vicks Vapo Rub on them when they had a cold? It is with great soothing pleasure, that I remember those days.

Vicks is a staple in our house, and although I don't rub it on myself for a cold anymore, I use it often for many other ailments.

I must say, I do not, and never would endorse any type of animal torture, but,I get a certain amount of satisfaction when I smother a embedded tick with Vicks. when it comes to ticks, anything I can do to irritate them gives me pleasure.

Whenever we find a tick has drilled its disgusting little head into our skin, the first thing we reach for is the Vicks. Not only does it force the tick to pull its
head out of your skin, the soothing Vicks formula attacks the annoying itch left by the tick. We also use it on other bug bites and get really fast relief. It also is great for athletes foot.

It wasn't long ago that Vicks came in a beautiful cobalt blue glass jar. Now like many other products the blue glass has been replaced with plastic. I remember the hours spent combing the beaches for beach glass and finding a piece of blue beach glass was like finding treasure.

Because of recycling and the use of plastic replacing glass containers, beach glass has been on the decline and becoming harder to find. It has led to counterfeit beach glass, and possibly an end to a treasured past time.

Not sure way I felt the need to ramble on about beach glass. Just remember if you want to make a tick miserable, rub a little Vicks Vapo Rub on him.