Playing hooky

     This is a slow time for monitoring, so we decided to take the morning off and visit Kitty Todd Nature Preserve.  Kitty Todd is a Nature Conservancy property and is in the Oak Openings region.  It's the only place I know of with Orange Fringed Orchids. 
     Orchids are finicky plants who rely on separate specific fungi at different points in their lifecycle.  This makes it impossible to transplant them.  The seeds contain no energy source and rely on fungi.  It can take years for a seed to produce a flowering plant.  

     While there we saw our first Buckeye butterfly of the season.  He was so brilliant, and slow moving, we suspect he had recently emerged from his cocoon.

We also stopped by one of the recently acquired Metroparks properties to check on a wet area where we had counted violets this spring.  We're a pretty subdued crew, but we were all quite alarmed when a turkey flushed just a few feet away.  I've never seen such a heavy bird take flight so quickly.

Perhaps we had disturbed his berry breakfast.

Cape Cod

Kettle Pond in Cape Cod National Seashore

On the pier in Provincetown

Fishing boats off the Chatham pier

Holiday Hot Dog

Hudson and I headed to Side Cut Park early this morning for a walk along the Maumee.  It was already too hot to stay in the sun long and Hudson was happy I brought along ice water.

Even the deer were taking a dip.  This is only the second time I've seen deer in the river.  He was actually walking, not swimming, since the water is so low.

Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!

Uncle Phil's Farm Birthday

My Uncle Phil turned 81 last week and my cousin Mary Lou gathered all to celebrate at the McRury-Tebbe Tree farm in Mt. Gilead, OH.  Uncle Phil used his favorite tractor to give hay wagon rides.

The steer calves Bulls Eye and Buckeye were treated to some corn.

Uncle John found a Chipping Sparrow nest.

Sarah discovered her inner chicken whisperer.

The hearty donned boots, traipsed through the woods and over the creek to a huge White Oak.  Those who completed this task were rewarded with their choice of a peach or pine sapling.

Thanks, Mary Lou, for a wonderful day.

Garden Firsts

First ever Prickly Pear cactus bloom

Prickly Pear in it's native setting in Oak Openings Metropark

First ever Royal Catchfly blooms

First time New England Aster has bloomed before August

Hanging Out

     It's summer time and that means summer vacation for our nephew.  It's also a busy time at my brother's motorcycle repair shop and that means Patrick hangs out with us a bit - for better, or worse.  
     
     Here Uncle Dan gives a few pointers on the range.  It's been a couple of years since Patrick has tried to hit.  He's made impressive strides in controlling  the clubs and in patience for the game.  
     
     Later on, Uncle Dan continued his tutoring, showing Patrick his favorite Monty Python scenes - conveniently available on You Tube.  The Black Knight was far and away his favorite. 

Appreciation

     Last month we had an unexpected call from a real-estate agent.  She wondered if we would be willing to sell our house and, if so, to name our price.  This led to some serious discussions between Dan and I.  We love our home and it would be difficult to find another we could afford on the river.  On the other hand, it is difficult to maintain and we might not have another chance to recoup our investment.

     We decided to suggest what we thought too high a price.  To our surprise, the client did not flinch and scheduled a showing.  I then proceeded to what was near panic.  What if they saw the house and met our price?  Would I be as happy to live away from the river?

     Lucky for me, the client decided our house was not for him. Since then I have renewed appreciation - for our home and the river - and our neighbors and neighborhood.  And that's a good thing.