Our new motto - "Get Drunk and Be Somebody" - hat found in an abandoned fire pit.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Down and Out
Friday, August 22, 2008
No, You Do Not Need that New Carbon Fiber Rod

David Hayes caught the record-breaking fish from a private pond while fishing early this month with his granddaughter, Alyssa, 3. The 21-pound, 1-ounce catfish measured 32 inches long — 2 inches longer than the Barbie Doll fishing pole. “After catching two or three bluegill, Alyssa turns to me and says: ‘Papa, I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Hold my fishing rod,’” Hayes was quoted as saying in a news release from the state Wildlife Resources Commission.
“A few minutes later, the float went under, and I saw the water start boiling up — I knew right then that I had my hands full with that fishing rod.”
The fish was weighed on certified scales at a nearby grocery store, and a fisheries biologist with the Wildlife Resources Commission certified that Hayes was right. — WNCN, Raleigh, N.C.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Old Timey Sunday
Original Jerusalem Mill Structure, ca. 1687-1722
Also pretty interesting was that we showed up on "Vintage Baseball Sunday." I previously had no idea that such a thing exists. We watched a pretty entertaining game between the Chesapeake & Potomac Baseball Club and the Elkton Eclipse, two (apparently) local vintage ball clubs. I know very little about baseball history but I was not surprised - no balls or strikes, "one bounce rule," and of course....no baseball gloves.
The amount of base stealing was totally ridiculous, with numerous batters hitting to first, and then stealing second.....then stealing third.
Huzzah, Rhubarb steals second while Shazam looks for the ball in the weeds.
My late grandfather, a Brooklyn native, part-time sports writer, and life-long fan of the long-gone New York Giants (baseball club) and the Brooklyn Dodgers, would have been very pleased. The only thing that could have made it more perfect would to have had my grandfather there.....and possibly to have the Two Man Gentleman Band playing in the background.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
Finger Lakes Amphibians

Green Frog, Annihilator of Tadpoles and Salamanders. First amphibian to colonize newly restored wetlands. Voracious predator.
Young-of-year wood frog on spaghnum moss. A little more sensitive critter than the green frog.

Friday, August 15, 2008
New York Finger Lakes Invertebrates

It was almost too easy to find out that this critter is the "Red Legged Grasshopper. I usually don't have that type of luck when ID'ing invertebrates!
This species is the "Halloween Pennant." Seriously. He's pretty common throughout the east coast.

Sunday, August 10, 2008
Heading North and Upslope





Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Paddling in the Land of Pleasant Living

We also found a few really nice stands of wild rice. Wild rice is a durable but sensitive plant, and it is one of nature's perfect bird foods. The tidal freshwater marshes of Maryland were covered with it 100 years ago....unfortunately one of the things it's sensitive to is cloudy, polluted water. Oops.
The marsh hibiscus can be used to treat urinary tract infections. SWEET!
The swamp princess was more interested in an even tan, than a diverse aquatic vegetation community.

Saturday, August 2, 2008
No Elderberry Wine This Year!
Female Cardinal arrived near the end of the berry binge
Male Cardinal is on top of the situation
The catbirds have gotten so fat and lazy on berries that they are now content to pluck them off while standing on the fire pit. Why work for it?

Friday, August 1, 2008
Garden Update
First cut of tobacco - lowest leaves laid out to sun dry
New England Aster. This plant struggles every year for just a few blooms.
Hard to tell.
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Over 12 years ago, I started this blog. There were very few conservation or outdoor blogs at the time, few websites with fast-breaking con...
