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  We had plenty of sunshine this weekend, enjoyed by what we can only hope is a large proportion of our pond’s turtles. The squirrels — all of whom are as fat as house cats — checked out the new growth. The birds also seemed to enjoy the fine spring weather.  Here is a mourning […]

There were more signs of spring this weekend, including this robin.  Today also marked the return of the barn swallows.  Since 2007, the barn swallows have arrived as early as April 22 and as late as April 28 — an impressively tight range. A less fortunate sign of spring is this capacious front door that […]

Some deer seem to have made it through the winter. This heron stopped by the pond, although, by taking its picture, I scared off scaups, mallards and, less regrettably, Canada geese. Sarah was mostly too cool for scootering. But she was willing to help her mom clear out the old berry canes, making room for […]

Sarah and her friend Michaela played with sticks before heading out to Kids’ Night Out at Bard. Herman the muskrat prowled about, looking for material for his lodge. He is far more photogenic in the water than out of it. A mallard sits pondside, watching the sun set.

We returned to the farm after a month away to find many harbingers of spring. Uncharacteristically negligent deer left us a single crocus, which is enjoying a visit from a bee. We had a visit from some scaups, as well as a pair of mallards (not pictured). We found wild hyacinths … … and a […]

Sarah spent a busy weekend preparing for Thanksgiving, although she did take a little time out to complete her piano homework. Not everyone is excited about Thanksgiving.

Sarah and Jen are already thinking ahead to next spring, planting bulbs that they got from Aunt Julie’s chorus fundraiser. Here is a red-bellied woodpecker, which spent most of the day at the feeder. And below, some of our last remaining leaves.

We climbed Burger Hill this afternoon.  It wasn’t particularly cold, but Sarah  is nevertheless wearing her new earmuffs, which she got at the Sheep & Wool festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.  She and Jen attended both Saturday and today.  Sarah still has a touch of poison ivy from apple-picking last weekend. Here’s a squirrel […]

We had beautiful, cool, clear days this weekend.  Here’s the sun rising this morning over the pond. Later this morning, Sarah and her friend Max went apple picking.   They went all the way into the trees to get them. Here are a couple of pictures  from last weekend: Sarah, out for a walk … […]

This weekend we attended the 165th Dutchess County Fair.  It’s not just about sampling local delicacies, such as fried dough, funnel cake and elephant ears.  We met plenty of animals, from the soulful goats… … to the handsome, prize-winning roosters… … to the miffed-looking, ribbonless roosters. There were many, many piglets. Sarah even learned how to make non-dairy […]