Nature's Magic

Not a great picture of one of our babies

Great way to start the morning

I'm still struggling with the early days of having Lyme.  Too many people lead me to believe that after the magical *48 hours* I'd feel so much better!  Well it didn't happen, it still hasn't happened.  I'm in a lot of pain. One good thing that has happened is that my frame of mind and brain fog has cleared a bit.  So while I feel no better physically, I do feel a little better mentally.  I'll take it.  Though the last two weeks I've gained a huge respect for people who are dealing with chronic pain.  It changes your life. Every day is a struggle.  I will never look at another person the same again, at one time or another everyone will be where I am.   If I am lucky enough to have this pain leave me, I will never, ever, take for granted the pain free days I've enjoyed ever again. I will treat my body like a temple and do everything in my power to maintain good health.  

This morning I had a magical nature moment.  I was on FB chatting with a friend.  We were discussing a tough subject, one that is very close to my heart.  The recent ruling that now same gender marriage is now legal in all 50 states.  I had been upset with something the person had posted, but had misunderstood what they meant by posting it. I heard the Blue Jays in my yard start screaming. I got up from my computer, went to the back door and suddenly a immature Red-tailed Hawk was flying straight at the door and me!  It veered up over the roof before it hit the door, simply a cool magical moment.  Reminding me:  (taken from Spirit Animals & Totems)

Hawk spirit animals invite us to be focused in our daily undertakings. When you feel the presence of the hawk totem, avoid distractions and focus on the task at hand.
At the same time, hawks can soar and fly high in the sky. This animal has the power to provide support in gaining a higher level perspective on any issue or project you undertake. When the hawk appears in your life, it’s perhaps time to be less distracted by the details and focus on the higher perspective. Relying on the hawk power, you can see what’s ahead clearly and defy any obstacles that may be on your way. A specific way the hawk guidance works is to use a high level and yet clear and focused vision to guide your action.

   

Oil City Walk

Luck

My luck has finally run out.  I've been quite miserably sick for nearly two weeks. Swollen painful joints, headache, exhaustion, stomach woes, dizziness, foul moods and twitching muscles, I have Lyme Disease.  I'm on Antibiotics as of last night, which scares the crap out of me because of my bad gut.  I have decided after feeling this badly for so long, I will never again take my health for granted.  It is the most valuable gift that we have.  Instead of being a victum to the antibiotics destroying my healthy gut flora, I'm going to fight back.  I did a lot of research today, I will be eating my homemade Kim-chi, real fermented sauerkraut and eating a ton of fibrous vegetables. I might end up coming out of this healthier then ever before.  I'm determined to get rid of the Lyme and stop messing around with bad food choices.  So many people I know are struggling with their health.  While some things are completely out of our control, the vast majority are from our lifestyle choices.  Sadly over the last couple of days while feeling so horrible, I've been back on the internet.  I promise myself that soon as I feel better, I'm off again!  

Today's walk was super fabulous.  I felt like complete crap, but did it anyway.  Lots of great creatures up at the lake took my mind off my illness.  There was a Cormorant swimming on the lake! I've never seen one there before.  On our way home there was a Black Snake laying across the road,  I put my flashers on, got out and persuaded him to get off the road! He wasn't too happy with me.  I noticed he had recently had a really big meal, I'm sure he was using the road to sunbathe to help him digest that meal.    

Tonight we ate dinner on the patio, while we ate I spied a Black-billed Cuckoo in the apple tree. Such a gorgeous bird.  He was eating a Gypsy Moth Caterpillar.   We are overrun with those caterpillers this Spring, they are decimating some of the forests around us.  I also heard a Cuckoo up at the Park today as well.  I'm glad they are being well fed this year.

Black Rat Snake

Black Rat Snake

Bolet

Beavers been busy

Milk Weed & Great Spangled Fritillary

Red Salamander Pseudotriton ruber

American Toad

American Toad

Leopard Frog

Grey Tree Frog Tadpoles

Black Snake Skeleton

Backyard

Bear signs.

We had signs of the big bear mating at Turtle Point Road again, either that or big foots been there!  This trail of foot prints was more then 100 feet long, then separated into two trails. After seeing bears mating last year at the same spot on June 21st I totally believe that is what was going on. They must have mated during the rain or just after, that's why a trail was left.

Microburst

On June 22nd I could see a storm starting.  As I do often I headed out to my front porch to watch it come in.  With in minutes I could see this was not a normal storm.  I heard what sounded like a plane flying low over our house, next thing I know all the trees in our side yard are nearly blown on the ground, the wind was so strong I thought it was going to break and uproot them.  I jumped up and desperately struggled to get in the house.  A bunch of debris flew in the door behind me.  I ran to the doorway between the kitchen and hall...just in case this was a tornado, because it felt like it was one! I then watched both of my canopies be smashed down, furniture be thrown and one of the canopies lifted in the air and then smashed upside down.  With in seconds the wind was gone.  It proceeded to the two streets next to us taking down lots of trees.  We also lost a pine tree, it feel on our neighbors driveway blocking their garage.  What a crazy experience and a very scary one!  

Snakes and bears oh my!

I found my first N. Watersnake of the year.  What a large beauty. Its rare that I see the older ones as colorful as this snake.  Most are almost black.  I also came across a 5 foot long skeleton of a Black Rat snake. I have a feeling someone killed the poor thing. I could see pieces of what would have been a shed skin.  So many people still kill snakes for no reason.  Truly sad for the snake and for those of us that enjoy seeing them. This skeleton was found where last year I saw a beautiful Black snake. 

My hike got even better, I noticed a bear had recently crossed the trail right in front of us.  I love knowing that we are sharing the forest with them. 

This little one caught my eye. Last years baby. The new tiny toads of the year are already on land.  There is only one spot that still has tadpoles developing.  The puddles are full of grey tree frog tadpoles now and my pond has lots of eggs.  The males have been out singing every night for more then a week. 

Gray Tree Frogs

Welcome Summer

Our tipi party for Saturday night was cancelled due to rain.  We hope to reschedule a bon-fire up on Turtle Point Road in about 2 weeks.  Yesterday was Father's Day and we made it a wonderful day for Bobby.  He went Mountain biking, to the movies, ate steak and then chocolate mousse for dessert. 

Best BLT

Spinach bread

2 eggs

Handful of spinach 

Blend in the vita mix

Pour in a small grease iron frying pan

Cook in a 350 degree oven until set

Cool

Fill with:

Bacon

Tomato

Avocado 

Sprouts

ENJOY!

Intuition

I'm reading the Tom Brown Guide to Edible and Medicinal Plants.  He writes about having a nature intuition. How those of us who are out in the field know when an animal is around, even if we don't see or hear it.  I experienced my intuition at work yesterday.  I took a hike in the rainy, foggy weather.  I thought to myself that this reminded me of the times when I was a child and I was out and about and found box turtles.  As I came upon a spot that I had seen 2 others nearby over the years, and had always wondered why I had never found any on that trail, and there she was.  A large, heavy, very healthy female. 

 Nature on the home front continues to be amazing.  Abstaining from FB and TV has me looking out my windows constantly.  First thing this morning as I looked out my kitchen window I noticed a small animal run very fast from the corner of our yard.  I thought, that looked like a fawn.  I continued to watch and there it was again!  It was a fawn!  I looked over into our neighbors yard and there was our Gimpy Girl.  Her fawn was running back and forth as fast as it's little legs would carry it.  A little later Gimpy Girl crossed into our yard and following her was not just one fawn, but TWO!  GG never ceases to amaze me.  We had a really hard winter with deep snow, and she somehow manages to survive and also have twins.  Later our pair of Mallards returned to the pond and spent most of the morning sleeping and bathing.  Although I always hear Bluebirds in the neighborhood I rarely see one in our yard, well today there was one on the wire in the backyard.  A beautiful male.  I couldn't help but think about my next door neighbor who died from cancer almost 10 years ago, she loved the Bluebirds.  I once gave her a statue of one.  We also have a very large fat Woodchuck living in the far back corner.  I worked on the pond for a little while and discovered that the Grey Tree frogs laid eggs last night.  Many got sucked into the filter, so I potted a water plant for them to anchor the eggs for now on.   Always something to see, just have to be on the lookout. 

New Moon

Today is the new moon and exactly 6 months until my next Birthday.  Seems like a great day to make firm radical commitments and changes in my life.  I've been off of FB for a month now.  Hockey is over as of last night, the Black Hawks took the cup.  I watched all but one game of the series.  It was nice to see the faces of the guys who won. Of cause I wish it was the Rangers who brought it home to us, but I do feel our time will come.  One of our past NY Ranger players is on the BH team.  It made me happy to see him hoist the cup and kiss it.  I am going to continue to stay off of social media and TV and use my time much more wisely then I have in the past 10 years.  Life is flying by at a speed that I never expected. This Summer I'm going to spend it outside as much as I possibly can.  I'm going to treat every day like Summer Camp.  This is one Summer I am not going to regret not spending enough time outside, like I have every single Summer since the boys were younger.  The time is now.....use it wisely. 

Bye for a little while

FB visit

I this morning had a wonderful quiet hike  with Monty. Not another soul in the woods, just the way I like it. 

I enjoyed helping out my friend who is hiking the Appalachian Trail.  He is hiking the entire trail with his dobe. I picked them up 2 x and dropped him 1x. I fed him, let him take showers and gave them a comfy bed to sleep in.  It was interesting to hear his stories. He has done over 1300 and has another 800 to finish.  I know that there is no way I could do that trail.  The heat he endured the last couple of days would have done me in.  I look forward to hearing more about his journey.

So yesterday after hearing from a few people that I've been missed,   I went on FB briefly. I grabbed and saved an awesome picture of my son who is in Africa. I updated my status and let everyone know where I've been. I found that I don't miss it and I'm going to continue to stay away from social media for longer.  I feel like I'm just beginning to get my life back.  I like the way I feel and I love not feeling compelled to check FB every hour to see what others are doing.  I'm filling my personal time up with fun things to do.  The quiet that is developing in my head is much welcome. 

Plug-in to Nature

3 weeks and counting

So today its been three weeks since I've logged on to a social media site, except to check my sons FB wall, which I've done twice, I didn't read anyone's posts nor did I visit my own wall. Not one person has missed me, so I'm taking that as a message that I should continue to abstain.  I'm beginning to undo my long standing internet habit.  It's been a process for sure, but gets easier with each passing day.   Today I even hiked with out my cell phone, it felt wonderful, although...I was worried I'd see something I wanted a picture of.  I did see something I found really interesting.  A Painted Turtle riding on the back of a large snapping turtle.  Snapping turtles are getting ready to lay eggs.  This one was swimming around the top of the pond.  Maybe looking for a mate.  I also had a crazy experience after my hike.  When I returned home from my hike and a visit to Turtle Point Road, I opened the patio door to toss my wet sneakers out on the patio so they could dry,  out of the corner of my eye I noticed a bear, but it was already too late to stop Monty, he was out the door.  He chased the poor guy and treed him.  Dogs hate bears.  Tomorrow night I have a friend staying with us.  He's actually been a FB friend for about 6 years.  His dog was Petey's full brother liter mate.  He is hiking the AT with his Doberman.  I'm looking forward to hearing about his adventures.  He's definitely off of social media.  I've always been fascinated by those that hike long distances and get away from society for such a long period of time. I'm cooking a nice big dinner for him.

 

11 weeks, 77 days.......

Seeing this pair of sneakers laying on our living room floor this morning made me cry.  It is now official,  11 weeks, 77 days until Bobby and I begin life as *empty nesters.* Soon there will be nothing laying around.  Project Hawaii Aviation School for Alec is now set in stone.  Save $ for a year~check, Apply to school~check, Acceptance letter~check, Job transfer~check, Loan approval~check and plane ticket purchased~check.  He is leaving on August 21st. We are beyond proud of him and how hard he has worked to make his dream come true, but sad that he is going to be so far away.  Brad returns to college classes on the 24th.  11 weeks from today will be my first Monday in 28 years that I don't have a child living at home.  I plan on cherishing every single moment I have with my sons. Being mom to 4 wonderful men has brought me more joy then anything I could have imagined for myself, I've been blessed by the universe four times over.  I've loved every single moment and will imensially miss living with them.