(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-1163816206856645", enable_page_level_ads: true }); Northview Diary

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Once Upon a Time


We were town kids with no idea of country when we went to stay at that farm house up in Fort Plain one day. I have no memory of circumstances, but it was an interesting new experience for us. We played outdoors all day it seems, wild games of kids with sharp imaginations.

Called in for lunch we stood astounded. There on the table was a great white orb that seemed as large as some of the old trucks we had been playing on.

When informed that we could have a slice with our dinner we were skeptical.

But hungry. Wild kids are always hungry.

Soon the savory scent of butter frying in a hot iron skillet filled the house, smelling golden, brown, and salty and good. That was just how the puffball tasted too, after a bit of sauteing in same. We liked it. Aunt Peggy sure could cook.

I've eaten a good many puffballs down the years, generally cooked by myself or my late mother-in-law, who was also known as Peggy. They sometimes grew by the heifer silo or up on the hill in a hidden bit of field.

But that first one was a good long time ago. I was at least eight, as Mappy was born, but not much more than that.....

Aunt Peg raised a batch of delightful cousins for me, and was beloved by them and their kids and their kids' kids and everyone on the Montgomery side of the family too...all the generations.

She was a wonderful woman, so very sweet to all she met, upstanding and hardworking in the church, just plain good in the most basic sense of the word.

We lost her last night. Hearts are sick and sore all over the area spanned by her family and friends. Condolences to her children, grand, and great grandchildren, to my mother, her only sister, to Larry, my uncle, and all of the family who love them and loved her. I know everyone she met has memories of her love as I do and will cherish them forever.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

3 Minutes of Sunshine

The faint sun makes the laundry steam










The Things you See...Rainy Week Edition



Amishman moving a hay elevator mounted on steel wheels.
not great for the rural roads, alas

Cottonwood leaves...leaving....

Nice guy, waiting

Bald Eagle right over the barn

So wet that crocodiles are coming right into the kitchen
And eating kibble!!!

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Rainy Day Turkeys





Visitors arrived while I was taking pictures of the rain this afternoon......That thumping noise under the traffic sounds is rain on the tin roof of the porch. We have had a trifle more than we needed so far...


The Places you'll Go

This Great Blue Heron and another were skirmishing in a field nearby

To this little wide spot in the road on Brand Road where we park in the swamp

And enjoy Winterberry Holly with leaves still on!
This plant will shine like a beacon in the grey and white of winter
Until the birds eat all the berries that is...

Brand/Rankin Grove Road

Here are a couple of places we visit quite often, partly in search of good county birds, and partly because they are beautiful, peaceful spots full of interesting plants and wild animals. 

A Belted Kingfisher at another wide spot in another road...Goldman Road
We call this place Lykers Pond on eBird lists


One side of the "pond"


This beaver house was built over a couple of weeks this summer and gets bigger
and more elaborate every time we stop

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Quite a Brew Ha Ha


Research for the Farm Side was downright fun this week. I enjoyed several cups of the product discussed while doing the writing.

In fact I am enjoying one right now.

History

Take Ten Steps

And in general

I knew almost nothing of this important crop before looking up articles about it, but I sure enjoyed the learning process. As far as that goes, I also enjoyed the drinking process.

Here's one I will probably use for next week.

Preview

By the way, mom came home yesterday! Thanks for your good thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

A Comfort of Warblers

A Lincoln's Sparrow, today's flying blessing

Things are still not at their best around here, alas. More issues keep popping up with mom, delaying her return home and worrying us all mightily. I know that worry accomplishes nothing but I have yet to find a way to stop doing it.

Then there was that terrible accident this past weekend. If you see the news, you've seen the story. Seriously, I watched the press conferences on the Daily Mail website, which will give you an idea of how far the story has reached. Our kids lost classmates and everyone who lives in the area knows someone who was affected. It is about as sad as it gets, an enormous tragedy. You simply do not know how blessed you are until things you hadn't planned on start happening.

So, as is I am sure the case with anyone with such situations on their mind, I've been pretty down. I still go birding every day because it's what I do, but my heart is not in it.

Last night I went out far later than is sensible, as early as the dark is coming and as dismal as it was yesterday. Just getting out of the house, you know. Didn't see more than a bird or two and nothing special at all until I got up behind the cow barn where we park the hay wagons should it ever be dry enough to make hay.

Birds started chirping at me. Loud....urgent. Okay, I guess I'll take a look even though it's almost dark. A lick of movement here, a little flicker there, and then I found them. There were three Yellow-rumped Warblers, two Blackpoll Warblers, and a single Blue-headed Vireo feeding in the box elders there. Not a great haul by any means, but not bad birds either.

What they were to me was a few minutes blessed respite from fear and worry....a comfort indeed.

Sunday, October 07, 2018

Waiting


For the sun to come up. These short days are hard on some of us folks.

And harder still, a whole lot harder, is waiting for news on my mom, who is still in the hospital.

Prayers would be much appreciated from anyone so inclined. Some of you seem pretty powerful in that respect and we need all the help we can get. If you know my mom in real life, or from her downright frisky online presence, you will know that she is pretty special.

Thank you in advance.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

Thursday, October 04, 2018

Presidential Alert


So...where were you yesterday when your phone went nuts?



Even knowing it was coming....even often getting several other sets of weather and news related alerts....I still darned near dropped my phone on the floor of the car when it hit.



Golly it was loud.

Song Sparrows

We were on a back road somewhere in this county...no idea where...chasing a gorgeous male Northern Harrier trying for a photo. Got a really bad one btw.


Indignant Indigo Bunting

I was typing in eBird when the phone blew up in my hand.

Okay, I'm awake now. How 'bout you?

Blue Headed Vireo

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

NAFTA

Large silage pile we passed yesterday
Check out the size of the tractor compared tot it.

If you are a farmer on any side of our international borders to the north and south you are no doubt interested in new agreements reached under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Here is the first breakdown I have read so far today. I will be looking for more as news and analyses come out.

NAFTA

I have a few opinions, but I would like to read more before I share them. The dairy thing has been much misunderstood on both sides and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. One thing it won't do is fix the mess here in the US. That is going to take more than negotiating a little more market access. 

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Away to the Mountains


One of our dearest friends and for many decades our most trusted veterinarian, who cared for our cows and other animals with ever so much heart and skill, invited us to visit a historic Adirondack camp the other day.



It was stunning.....I won't even try to describe it. If you have ever visited such a place you will know....magic.....



As were the lakes, bays, and back roads she also took us to visit. Such a happy time and such fun to put "faces on the places" we have talked about for years. I never got farther into the 'Dacks than Pine Lake until I was out on my own. My first real Adirondack trip was to camp out in the rough at Tirrell Pond. That was like coming home to something I had never seen before. Deja vu and all. (We were the crazy ones who packed in butter, potatoes, and butternut squash to cook in foil in the coals for a feast. They were heavy but worth it.)


Anyone know what these giant birch-like trees might be?



Another time we went just after dusk on a shockingly cold winter night and heard frozen trees exploding all around us. Something else you could never forget.



This time we went up the other way through Old Forge and Inlet....







And fell in love all over again... this time with a fresh and different aspect of the Adirondacks than where we usually visit. We always tended more to the Speculator, Indian Lake, up to Tupper, side of things for no particular reason.





I also touched heads and exchanged greetings with one of the sweetest kitties I have ever met. Way to go Norman.





Anyhow, thanks Kris, for a day we will remember for a very long time....now to arrange that warbler watch morning......