In Florida the bright green tree frogs are everywhere. Until recently I didn’t know that here in New England we also have northern tree frogs.
The gray tree frog has skin that looks like the bark of a tree in fact. A few weeks ago, this little guy sat on the edge of my outside chair for most of the day. The cats ignored him, and he rested on the chair undisturbed. I’m glad I got his (or her) photo.
The colored splotches are so interesting. It would be difficult to spot this frog if he were clinging to lichen covered tree!
This frog photo is my own, but I’ve donated it to Pixabay for anyone to use, so help yourself.
Photos have been sitting in my camera all winter, but I finally downloaded them and managed to get them a bit organized. This barred owl was a regular visitor to my backyard. He had a favorite branch where I’d watch him sit for hours, but one day he perched up on this post. If he caught me moving around in the house he’d stare right at me with those dark eyes. He sure is beautiful. I know that they are common where I live, but I enjoyed it when he’d keep me company while I worked at my desk.
I’m not a good wildlife photographer at all, but this photo came out pretty good. I don’t see him any longer now that Spring is here, but I do hear the cry, which is very distinctive. I suspect there are many living in the woods around here.
Lately a red cardinal has been showing up late in the evening to pick through the dirt for who knows what. And I suddenly realized it’s May, and I need to hang my hummingbird feeder. Funny how the time just sneaks up on us.
My thoughts have been on gardening and putting up my mini deck-greenhouse. I also ordered another fabric pot to fill and plant in again this year which will expand the planting areas in my small backyard garden space. But birds are a big part of gardening and I want them around to help control the bugs. Owls are welcome too to keep the mouse population down. This year I had very few mice in my basement – that I heard / saw anyway. So we all have to work together – owls included.
Indian Pudding is a traditional New England dessert which can be traced back to the 18th century. I developed a fondness for it when I lived in the Boston area. For some reason, though, it is relatively unknown outside of New England.
Here is a brief history of the dish …
When British settlers moved to this country they brought their Hasty Pudding recipes with them. I’ve never had Hasty Pudding, but apparently it is a dish made from wheat cooked in water or milk until it develops the consistency of a porridge. Wheat was in short supply in New England, so the settlers adapted to the new world by substituting corn meal – which they called Indian flour. Being along a trade route with plentiful molasses and spices, they embellished the dish with these flavorful additions as well as with dried fruits and sometimes nuts … and thankfully, the…
As I was walking near Gregg Lake in New Hampshire last week getting some foliage photos, I kept hearing the “plop” of turtles leaving their sunning platforms as they heard my footsteps on the road.
I had my eyes open for the heron that can usually be found in the area, but never saw him / her, and then I caught two painted turtles still sunning – but ready to leap at any moment. I managed to get four shots before they had had enough and dove underwater to hide from me. As you can see, they were nervously eying me and my camera!
I’ve made this photo into a huge size poster. You can buy it as a 53 x 40 inch size. Or just enjoy looking at it below.
New England's Narrow Road 