Just Another Notch on the Porch

Today began with some great news!  The trail cam captured video of Peg the deer, with her companion Cinco the 5 pt buck!  We hadn’t seen Peg in months and were concerned about what may have happened to her.  Animals are so resilient, thankfully.

So as I am rejoicing at seeing Peg, I also see Shadow running across the yard, with another baby bunny in his mouth.  In my nightgown and bare foot, I went tearing out of the house to intercept Shadow and reclaim baby bunny.  Putting it into a cardboard box (still sitting here from last night), I took up a post with a direct line of sight to the thicket … sure enough, here comes Shadow with another bunny, and there I go for another intercept.  Unfortunately, this bunny was limp and cold ~ I think it is the one Shadow “found” last night.  A half hour of holding it in my hands, and I was certain there was nothing I could do.  Sometimes, I am annoyed that the cats are such good hunters, but that is the way of Nature and tears shed for a dead bunny can’t change anything.  While hoping against hope that I could revive the critter, I also keep an eye on Shadow and the thicket.  Apparently there are no more baby bunnies there, as he comes back home empty-paw’d.  Occupied with their Fancy Feast, I slip outside and release the boxed bunny in a different location, stopping to take a quick photo and ask Mother Earth to protect this little one. The day has begun…

Smokey and Shadow are both very soft-mouthed, and before long, I hear another chirp but not a bunny this time. No, a chipmunk!  Alive, dropped in the living room, the chippy promptly ran into the slant fin radiator.  Three hours later, it is apparently still there, as Shadow has taken up residence in front of it.  I can only wait along with him ~ no way to get that guy out unless he wants to come out.  Yesterday I had hoped for a bit more excitement today.  Man, be careful what you wish for … and the morning wasn’t over yet.  Now, there’s a bear at the Hard Rock Diner.

Grabbing cameras and hazelnuts, I head outside to say hello.  Could it be Buddy?  As I walk down, talking and singing, the bear is un-phased and continues happily eating.  Hmmm, about the size of Buddy but no, it’s Notch!  I think she’s a female, but not sure.

It’s beginning to get warm and the bugs are as hungry as the bear, so I move back in the air conditioned house to view the photos.  And do a bit of cleaning.  But wait, what’s that noise outside the front door??  A quick glance out the window, a yell, and an attempt at a quick picture and I am out the door in a flash chasing Notch from the porch and the suet feeder.

I guess she didn't like my singing♥

But she doesn't seem to mind me being in close proximity ... boy she is pretty.  And in this weather, probably HOT!

Yep, probably a girl. Spunky and persistent.  But as soon as I opened that door, she was off the porch and running across the yard into the woods.

Guess it’s time to put the suet feeders away for the summer☺ And, time to get some work done in this house. Maybe running the vacuum will convince Chippy to re-locate.♥

PS: 5 PM ... finally figured out how to take apart the baseboard slant-fin radiator, and Chippy emerged, chased through the house by two cats followed by one hot and annoyed human...through the office down the hallway into the bedroom then into the bathroom and finally into the shower stall, where I successfully grabbed the critter with one of those "I can't reach that high" grabby thingys ...run outside with it dangling at the end of the 3' pole, and release it only to be pounced upon by the cat that had followed me out, which I smacked with the grabby thingy, who let go of the now wet and tired chipmunk. Of course, I picked it up, held it til it revived sufficiently and put it in the box (by which time the cats had slinked off in search of other toys ..), carried it out into the woods and released it on its merry way.  Now I just have to clean behind all the furniture I moved in the chase...

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Indian BlessingLet us walk softly on the Earthwith all living beings great and smallremembering as we go, that one Godkind and wise created all.

MOREL TO THE STORY

It’s 86 degrees just now, after having been in the low 40’s just two nights ago.  The bear haven’t been around since yesterday morning, so I guess they’re off doing their bear things.  I did get a cute photo of the raccoon last night, though!  Seems it is responsible for the ear-captures on the trail cam that looked so much like bear cub ears!!  It's a regular visitor to the Hard Rock Diner these days, well, evenings♥

Before it got too hot, I decided to take a walk about myself … it’s been over a week since I had a chance to go mushroom hunting so I loaded up the bag, camera, stick, some hazelnuts (just in case) and went off into the woods. There are hundreds of acres ~ actually well over a thousand, on this hill  that is owned by hunting clubs.  I have permission to walk some of that land, although I never go far from the house alone.  Today, I went back into the damp area where I’d seen elm trees, hoping against hope that a morel might be lurking.

The damp areas no longer had a lot of standing water although  the mud did try to suck my boots off a couple times.  The mosquitoes knew where those puddles were though … I have bites to prove it despite long sleeves, long pants, a hat and shades.  Trekking to the area to which Buddy led me a few weeks back, I decided to go up the incline … maybe something was up there!

I was amazed to find some huge rock outcrops and possible den sites, not 100 yards from the road!  I had never been up that little slope, but I suppose I know why Buddy went there.  There were may apples, ferns, and thousands of tons of rock shrouded in mature oaks, pine and hemlock trees.  It’s a great place, with a ridge that would be wonderful for a picnic.

I walked for over two hours.  I saw a deer, and a toad. I found two crow feathers.  And not one lousy morel.  I suppose I’ve actually missed the ‘season’, if there was one this year.  I have a lot to learn about edible mushrooms, so I’ll keep looking. Maybe by next year, I’ll know what to look FOR!!

After the walk, there's not much happening  except heat, humidity and pollen.  Maybe tomorrow will be more exciting!  I think I’ll take the Sierra pick up and get more garden soil ~ still have two beds to plant.



Seems like everything is taking longer to come together in the garden this year because the weather was cold so deep into May; here it is already June and I haven’t even stopped into my favorite local Pennsylvania nursery, Jamison’s.  Wonder if she has any vegetables left.  I see some young fruit on the tomato plants, and we'll eat the last of the asparagus tonight.  The milkweed is growing and I did see a butterfly.

Spring is turning into summer which is all too fleeting in this area of the country.


Yep, tomorrow may be more exciting.  But I’m grateful for the day, and the sunshine, and the walk in the woods I took today.  Even if there is no MOREL to the story ♥

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"Our land is everything to us... I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember that our grandfathers paid for it - with their lives."  John Wooden Legs, 1858 - 1940, was a Northern Cheyenne warrior who fought against Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

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John Wooden Legs (l

Sunday Breakfast at the HRD

6:30AM on a beautiful Sunday morning, and as much as I’d like to stay in bed for a while, I have a feeling I should get up and see what’s happening at the Hard Rock Diner.  The raccoon which, by the way, has the most adorable face, was eating there last night but I suspected there would be some left for overnight or early morning guests.  Hubby is already up, getting ready for his tee time … “You just missed Mama and the cub”, he says.  Thank goodness for the trail cam!  After 33 years, he finally figured out what gift makes me a happy camper.  And all it took was a brick upside his head wrapped with the Cabela’s page (just kidding, I only had to e-mail him the page link and put the torn out page from the catalog in his golf magazine by the ‘throne’).  But I digress….

I’m getting to know more about family break up here in Pennsylvania.  It’s already happening in Minnesota, as per the research updates provided by the Wildlife Research Institute. 
http://www.bearstudy.org/website/research/daily-updates/1297-who-is-that-bear-.html


My first knowledge of Buddy’s presence last year was mid-June; my first photo was taken June 20th.  By comparison, I think Spooky’s cub is a bit larger although I do believe Buddy had spent a few days hungry and afraid before he found me and the Hard Rock Diner.

I don’t know what the remainder of the day may bring ~ there may be surprises in store that make me want to write more later on, but I thought it would be nice to start your day as I did mine … looking at these beautiful, inquisitive bears.

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“What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, 

man would die from a great loneliness of the spirit. 

For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. 

All things are connected“. 

Chief Seattle, chief of the Suquamis 1780 - June 7, 1866 

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 More medicine bags will be added to my shop today!!

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Slow Saturday

Last night’s trail cam images showed that not much was happening … I do think it’s a good thing that the bears are roaming and foraging.  Maybe this is time to concentrate on Flopsy, the tattered-ear doe.  She was here late this afternoon, still looking fat with child.  I wonder if the cold
 snap the past couple nights has to do with the timing of delivery?

Meanwhile, back at the rock … the birds, squirrels & chipmunks are happy campers. Hubby weed-whacked around the Hard Rock Diner, exposing all of the shelves.  At one point, I saw four squirrels, a chipmunk and 2 mourning doves, all peacefully co-existing♥  It’s amazing, how huge that rock is.  Doesn’t look like much with a bear laying on it (well, that looks WONDERFUL ~ oops mind wandering now... ;-) but a D-8 dozer put it into place. It's well over a ton and has layers like shelves where different critters can have their own little space. There’s always something happening at the HRD!

Hubby also opened up the trail cam trail a bit, since tall weeds and grass had begun to trigger the camera for no good reason.  When I changed out the SD card today, I switched the cam to ‘video’.  Hope we get some good viewing soon, other than Shadow strolling into the woods.  He has been known to herd turkey and flush out quail … goodness knows the adventures he has!  Hmmm, note to self:  check into critter cam… ♥

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“The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged.…”   

Luther Standing Bear Oglala Sioux  1868-1937

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I know, I know... she's not Sioux ;-)

Earmarks♥

The weatherman predicted patchy frost for last night, I am so glad that prediction was incorrect.  He also said the winds would diminish today. Wrong again! Wind gusts exceeded 35 mph, and the sustained winds are still near 20 ~  so strong, in fact, that the hummingbird feeders are slopping their sugary contents all over the deck!

Last night, the trail cam captured the image of a lone, pregnant deer; she came by again this morning. It’s about time for the fawns to be born, so I’m hoping she will remain in the neighborhood and bring some babies around, she should be easily identified by her battered right ear.   Our yard herd grew to 25 during the harshest part of winter  but I’ve not seen many of late even on the trail cam.  With such lush vegetation, I’m sure they are all quite well fed. Knock on wood, they’ve not devoured my daylilies and hosta this year; whether that’s because there is so much natural food, or  a result of the garlic shoots I put in the clumps of emerging plants, I couldn’t say.

Love the squirrel in the background☺  There are quite a few of them around, including flying squirrels, red and grey squirrels.  I haven't seen a black squirrel in several years though.

The bear who was here yesterday, dropped by again today.   Over a hundred clicks of the shutter later, I found an identifier that I can rely on …  a little notch on the top of the right ear.  Maybe the deer got me looking more closely at the ears … neither Spooky Mama nor Buddy have that, so this is certainly bear #4.  Is it Weiser??? Time (and tons more photos) will tell.  

Shadow and I watched the bear from the window for a bit before he decided to cause a bit of commotion by bringing a critter in from outside.

He enjoyed chasing it around hubby’s golf bags, with me running interference so it didn’t escape into the utility room.  After about ten minutes of this ‘fun’, I was able to retrieve the little vole and carry him back outside to freedom.  I have a hard time killing anything, although I feel it’s just part of nature if the cats kill the little varmits. Rodents are cool, but not in the house!

It's a good thing hubby wasn't home, he would not have been happy  about the game of hide and seek over, under, around and through the golf equipment!!

This afternoon, Notch Ear bear reappeared and despite gusty winds, my camera and I were permitted closer!  It’s awesome to watch them from close up! Looking from 100’ away, they seem rather small.  There’s an entirely different perspective, at their eye level from 25’ away.  I have great difficulty guessing weight though I suspect this bear is at least 200#, maybe more.  Maybe after seeing Ted, Lucky and Honey at the North American Bear Center www.bear.org in July, I’ll have some references to help me with that.  For the time being, I have enough to do to try to tell one from another!  

THIS JUST IN**** Hummingbird flew into window .... I scooped him up from the ground and cradled him in my hand until I feel a heartbeat and some warmth returning... then hubby took a picture before I carried him outside. 


I held out my hand, he shook himself a few times, and flew off into the sunset.  Perfect end to a windy but busy & critter-filled Friday.

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"Listen to the air. You can hear it, feel it, smell it, taste it.

Animals are part of us, part of the Great Spirit. 

The winged and four-legged are our cousins...

There is power in the buffalo. There is power in the antelope. 

There was great power in a wolf, even in a coyote. To us, life, all life, is sacred."

John Fire Lame Deer,  Sioux 

Winds and Weiser

Yesterday was hot, humid, and windy in the late afternoon.  It seemed like nothing was happening at the HRD, even the raccoon who arrived around sundown didn’t make a dent in the seed and corn at the feeding rock, so I wasn’t too concerned about making an early morning trek to check the trail cam.  Trying to catch up on some “business”,  and knowing we were getting a cord of wood delivered this morning, I didn’t pay much attention to the noise until I realized it was coming from near the front door.  I’ll be dipped, there’s a bear removing the suet feeder from the deck.  I was not quick enough to get a picture immediately, but I did snap one as my guest ran across the yard. Score Bear 1, Suet Feeder 0.  But, why would Buddy do that?? It is angrily windy here today and all the critters are spooked, but …

Claw scrape on the porch post

I figured there might be some pictures from the trail cam (Buddy’s MO is to go there first) and I was hoping to find the suet feeder. But I forced myself to finish the business I‘d started, then glanced out the window before heading outside.  The bear was back … and it wasn’t Buddy.  But it wasn’t Spooky either. Hmmm. 

My living room, elevated above the house’s garage and about 100’ from the rock, looks like a photography studio.  Two tripods, 3 cameras … and hundreds of photographs taken on a daily basis.  It seems so much of my time is spent in downloading photos, comparing facial features, and trying to find recognizable marks with which to differentiate the bears who visit.  It’s still a tough job.  Easier with a Mama and cub, easiEST with Buddy because he responds to my voice and presence without skittishness.  I’ve been looking at so many pictures over the past hour, I‘m a bit befuddled.  But, I’m pretty sure, this was Weiser.

The second cub to show up last summer, I actually got a few photographs of the two near the feeding rock at the same time: Bud and Weiser.  I can’t say I saw a lot of her last year, but I surely did in October.  She was the bear who found my Halloween corn stalks decoration and decided to devour them as she laid in the lush grass of the back yard. Inside the fence. By the garden and the greenhouse. Weiser was tolerant of me, but not like Buddy.  She also had different table manners, which was what I noticed last year as I began to realize there were not one, but two yearlings coming around 

I identified her by a ‘beauty mark’ on her right eye.  

This bear wasn't as afraid of me as Spooky Mama (note, me up by the garage doors, taking pictures). This photo was taken by the Bushnell trail camera.  By the way, if you click on the pictures on this page, it enlarges them.  You can see date and time stamp on the bottom.

If this is indeed Weiser, the identifier is less pronounced as she has grown.  If it’s not her, well, maybe they’re related♥ 

This should be in an advertisement for Bushnell!!

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“Teach us love, compassion and honor…
that we may heal the Earth and heal each other.”   - Ojibwe
Click here for Ojibwe Prayer Song

A day without bears...

SPOOKY MAMA AND CUB YESTERDAY

Knowing it was going to get brutally hot with thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon, I was out of the house early for ’town’ … grocery shopping and such.  I could think of any number of ways I’d rather spend my time, but it’s part of my ‘job’, so off I went… no time to supply the Hard Rock Diner or grab the SD card from the Bushnell trail cam.  I needn’t have worried. Later when I did check, the only three exposures it had taken were of me walking up to change out the SD card!  I guess Buddy had other priorities this morning as well ... which is a very good thing. Buddy SHOULD be off exploring, foraging, and mating :-) I want cubbies next year!

It was a beautiful morning here in Pennsylvania, so on the spur of the moment, I put the top down in the convertible.  Now, we’d just taken it out of the garage for the summer and I’m not quite up to speed with what I customarily carry in the car.  No hat, no barrette, nothing to tie up my longish, graying hair.  Oh well, I found that if ya go fast enough, the hair stands straight out and doesn’t get in your face very much☺  I must have been a sight driving those winding rural two lane roads, behaving like a much younger woman.  I FELT younger,  so I really don’t give a hoot if the teenagers at the summer camps saw me and laughed.  I know I was laughing, and singing along with Brad, and thoroughly enjoying the 25 mile ride. 

I think the Universe was having a good day as well.  I found some excellent items on the discontinued rack (including fragrance-free Endust 50% off, score!!!); the stores were not overly crowded, and the rain held off til I had loaded everything in the car. At the garden shop, I grabbed a few more tomato and squash plants, and my fish emulsion fertilizer concentrate.  Two more stops… bought 7 feeder goldfish at the Pet Shop.   Then to Beach Lake Bread for a loaf. Another score, spinach filled croissants ½ price.  And the “Rustic Bread” loaf I got fresh from the ovens ($4.50) is almost the size of a large brown grocery bag.  I’ll freeze half I’m sure. Bread is my weakness, along with cheese, and wine. Mmmm sounds like supper.  Hubby will probably want meat with his bread and cheese though.  Maybe I’ll roast a red bell pepper and onion.  Oh, I also found some BAREFOOT Sweet Red table wine ~ a VERY good, not very sweet red for $7/bottle, and Breyers Dark Chocolate Velvet ice cream on sale for $2.99.  

While I was gone (or so it seemed), my Giant Siberian Iris began to open! I also see the clematis is flowering (and needing some attention), 

and the Hope Echinacea looks like it's about to flower as well.

As I said, the Universe was smiling today.  ‘Except for the fact that I saw no bears. Well, not yet anyway☺

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"A wee child toddling in a wonder world, I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural gardens where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers. If this is Paganism, then at present, at least, I am a Pagan."  Zitkala-Sa

Zitkala-Ša ( 1876-1938), later known as Gertrude Bonnin, was born on the Yankton Sioux Reservation, South Dakota. Her Sioux mother, Táte I Yóhin Win (Reaches for the Wind), was also known as Ellen Simmons. After being brought up in the oral traditions of the Sioux, Gertrude Simmons left home to attend a missionary boarding school in the east. The shock of the transition between cultures is described vividly in her writing.

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