Living in the moment

It is so easy to let life pass you by. We get ourselves so busy with every day life that we really do forget to smell the roses.  We forget to just be where we are, our minds are almost always somewhere else and even worse we are constantly doing something else, like checking our phones.  We feel if we aren't being productive it's a big waste of time.  Ultimately what are we being productive about? The amount of time we have here on this beautiful earth is so very short.  Today is the day that you need to stop wasting precious time and enjoy and embrace the moments.  The insect activity in my front yard is stunning.  I finally took a moment to sit on my tiny front porch and see what was going on.  A simple beautiful gift to see so many interesting creatures. 

Hummingbird Wars

I always look forward to this time of Summer when the Hummingbirds have finished nesting and all the young are using the feeders.  There is a constant blur of activity at all the feeders, they chase each other all day long.  Sometimes multiple birds will feed together.  Usually parents and their young.

We have had a extremely pleasant month of July.  Temps barely reaching 80 degrees and nighttime down in the 60s.  Last night it was 53 degrees.  Low humidity completes the awesomeness.  Great hiking and sleeping weather. 

Beauty

Incrediable

I am living a life I never could have imagined as a child. I have always been so deeply connected to animals and nature.  Each year I see more wildlife then the year before, it's all been a dream come true for me.  Last night I transported and released 3 Screech Owls for a Rehabber.  Two were released on my land and the third was released where it was found two weeks ago.  While we were at the land two different bears foraged their way down the river.  My friend Matt Zeitler gets credit for these pictures.

 

 

Bears at Turtle Point Road.

My gift from the squirrels

Once again the squirrels have done a magnificent job planting sunflowers all over my yard!  They are all blooming now.  I get to enjoy the beauty of the flowers now, then the beauty of the birds eating the seeds later. 

Doe

I had a wild adrenaline nature moment this morning.  I was just starting my hike with Monty, when he ran up the trail ahead of me. Moments later he comes barreling down the trail, and I thought to myself, what has he done because he looked scared?! Seconds later a doe is coming right behind him.  She is chasing Monty!  I had to make my self look big, wave my hands and YELL to get her to stop coming at Monty.  She would not let us continue up the trail.  I actually picked up a stick.  She was pawing and walking towards us. She must have a fawn, she is some good mom!   I have seen this doe many times over the last few weeks, she is not overly wary of humans and stands her ground and watches as you hike past her.  I have never seen her with a fawn.  There are no pictures of this incident as I was about to crap my pants!  LOL

Todays Nature

On this mornings hike I noticed how many of the mushrooms had been eaten overnight.  There must be a amazing amount of species of animals and insects that depend on mushrooms for food. 

More mushrooms popped up overnight. 

Monotropa uniflora, also known as the ghost plant, Indian pipe, or corpse plant, is a herbaceous perennial plant although it reminds you of a mushroom. 

 Garter snake on trail.

Garter snake at home, feasting on our toads. 

 Resident Bull Frog. 

A couple of Green Frogs. 

Fungi type of day!

Seemingly overnight the forest is full of all kinds of fungi.  It's been very humid with lots of wonderful thunderstorms several days out of each week.  The temps have only been in the low 80s, so far a wonderful Summer.  The forest is so lush and green, berry bushes loaded with fruit. I'm enjoying each precious moment that I get to spend hiking with my pup.  Life is good.