Beautiful Hike

Life continues.....

Words can not adequately express the profound sadness I'm experiencing losing a 3rd canine companion in less then 5 years. Petey was by far the most special of all, we spent hundreds of hours each year out in nature exploring. I do know the sadness will get less intense with each passing day and that I need to get back in the game. I have a 17 month old puppy who all of a sudden only has eyes for me. He is going to become my new side kick. He was always overshadowed by Petey who had a personality bigger then life.

Last weekend a fellow Rehabber needed a squirrel sitter for 4 babies, I was her women! I enjoyed it immensely. They are adorable and I love doing rehab work. I will get them back in another 2 weeks, while their caretaker goes out of town for the weekend. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again, all furry and running around. Later on in the week we also took in two grey squirrels and a chipmunk all victims of the hurricane.

I need to get my Bins on and get out there birding! I'm missing the other best time of the year for migrants. Hawk Watch starts September 1, and I'm signed up for my traditional Friday shift all the way until mid November. Looking forward to seeing all my hawk watch buddies.

My Petey

August 14, 2011 we lost our Petey. We had returned from the vacation to Lake George earlier in the day. Petey had a blast the rest of the week, lots of playtime and very happy. He wasn't acting right on the way home, and seemed out of it the rest of the night. He awoke at 12:55am, I got up to take him out, he collapsed and died. Very quick and no pain. I will miss him forever. What a gift he was for me. He got me outside every day. I loved him so much.

Lake George Vacation 8/6-8/13/11

While this was not one of my favorite nature vacations by far, I some how managed to find lots of little moments filled with natures infinite beauty. The house we rented was in Ticonderoga. Right on the end of Lake George, actually the last water front piece of property possible. It is surrounded by other houses. If I had to choose over again, I would have made a phone call and asked more questions. I was very disappointed after arriving here. I really needed to have lots of nature time to clear my head out and do some deep thinking, and it was immediately apparent it was not going to happen in this house during this week of vacation. Having the two dogs with me, and no easy access to nearby trails other then getting in the car and driving for a long distance was a huge disappointment. I made the best of the situation, and enjoyed the vaca for what it was worth. Lots of people I love were around, so quality times with all of them made up for the lack of deep nature time. I think it's time to take Backpacking up again. I need to get away from it all.....into the wild.

On a bright note the owner of the house left lots of native plants all around the house instead of ornamental plantings, so the bird life was awesome. There was constantly birds around to watch.

I also read an entire book, that hasn't happened in a very long time. *The Nature Principle* by Richard Louv Excellent read and about the very subject I've been thinking about for my entire life. I've always tried to put a name on how I feel when I'm away from nature for too long, and this book describes exactly how I feel. I am at a crossroad as what to do with my life after my parenting is done. I want to find a niche that I fit in to. I need to do some worthy work now that I'm not needed any longer to mother 24/7. Helping people get over their Nature Deficit Disorder seems to me a very worthy way to spend my free time. To give people back the awe and wonder they once felt as children....that alone would be the biggest gift I could give to others.

As I started to spend more quality time with my two dogs,Petey and Monty, letting them swim and have fun, I remembered WHY I took this cottage....for THEM to be able to come along, and also have their own vacation. It isn't always about *ME*. Some day I will have my time, it just isn't now.

Naturalist Class!

I finally was able to sign up for the Cornell Master Naturalist class! I'm so excited. I am officially going back to school in September. I hope this is the beginning of a new life for me.

Wood Turtle Rehab

On June 29, 2011 I took in a female wood turtle that had been hit by a car. She suffered from several breaks in her shell, none of them life threatening. One on her back was very close to her spinal cord. I was able to clean her up,medicate, hydrate, and keep her quiet for a week. By the end of the week she was eating earth worms, and no signs of infection. Tomorrow she goes free. I love doing rehab work.