Calm before the storm

 Only 11 birds yesterday at the watch.  We have 3 storms all converging on our area in the next few days.  Hurricane Sandy, a Northeaster and another rain storm.  Figures it's all happening on Bobby's birthday again! 

Pine Siskins

Hundreds of Pine Siskins are eating me out of house and home.  This morning I had a Red-Tail in the front yard and also....White Crowned Sparrows. The bird life at home has been amazing. 

Last night we have a great night at our Tipi.  It was a warm beautiful star filled night, blessed to have that gorgeous piece of land.

Changes

Struggling with so many thoughts as the life changes are taking place....spending so much time thinking and looking into options.  I decided that is not necessary.....my new life path WILL be presented to me when the time is right.  I need not worry about it.  My life so far has been a great one,  and everything has always worked out, and this time will be no different.  One day at a time...and take to the woods every day for soul time.  The answers will come when I'm ready for them. 

Guess what showed up at my feeders at 2:30 this afternoon....PINE SISKINS!  So happy to host them, hope they hand around.  Going to have to bite the bullet and grab a bag of thistle.  I think mine is old and spoiled. 

Amazing day at the Hawk Watch!!! Cold with storms all around and a strong NW wind produced an incredible once in a lifetime count.  I had a total of 258 birds.  5 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Peregrine Falcons, 4 Northern Harriers, 205 Sharpshinned Hawks, 8 Coopers, 2 Redshoulder, 1 Broadwing, 6 Redtails, 14 Kestrals, 4 Merlin. 

Bunny & Squirrels free

On my hike today I saw my first Juncos of the season!  Also a Song Sparrow. There was a Kingfisher at the stream and a Red Shouldered Hawk.  At home on the feeders a nice size flock of Purple Finches continues.  I had a special guest a beautiful female Rose Breasted Grosbeak. There are also a few Grackles still hanging around.  The final 4 baby squirrels were released as was my Cotton Tail Rabbit.  I am hopeful that I'm done for the year. And later on before bed.....sow and 4 cubs pay us a visit....BEST PART OF MY DAY! 

Program

A simple “program” for getting rid of a lifetime of collected and gathered belongings.

If it has a sentimental value of some sort:

Then gift it to a friend or family member.

If it has a monetary value (someone will give you money):

Then sell it.

If nobody will give you money, but it is useful someone:

Then donate it.

If it can be recycled:

Then recycle it.

If none of the above criteria are met:

Then trash it.

 

Winter Finches

Cold front came in last night.  Our yard is full of birds.  Robins, Purple Finches, Gold Finches,  Chickadees, Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Yellow Rumpted Warbler,  Golden & Ruby Crowned Kinglets. Yesterday up at the park there was a flock of W.T. Sparrows.

Friday at the watch I had a couple of flocks of Pine Siskins.  I didn't have a whole lot of birds, but the ones I did have were nice and close.  Beautiful views of Osprey, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcons, Harrier, Shapies, Coopers, Boadwings and Kestral. 

Rain

It's been raining a lot the last couple of weeks.  I don't remember a fall with quite so many migrants stopping over.  Today I had a late hummingbird and a monarch butterfly.  There have been warblers everywhere, including my backyard.  From what I've heard Pine Siskins are down in our area now, I better set up my thistle feeder again to prepare for them.  The bear pulled the pole down.  On Monday Derek was up in his tree stand and had a sow and 4 cubs hanging around under him!  How luck is that?  That would be a dream come true for me.

I am enjoying the simplifying process!  I've been feeling better physically then I have in a very long time, and it sure has given me lots more energy.  I am also loving being on a personal spending freeze.  I shop online and put my items in a cart, then I think about the item for a while before I purchase it.  It is amazing how well that works to completely stop me from frivolous buying.  By the time I think about it for a few days, I've changed my mind and realized, I don't need the item.  I will only buy things that I need.  Body care products and food.  I got hubby a couple of birthday gifts, inexpensive simple things that he will enjoy.  I've also decided that when I have to buy someone a gift it will be food.  No more giving material things. Trying to re-use items in the house instead of buying anymore....it really feels good. 

Today I wanted to head to the Health Food Store to pick up a couple of Items, Paleo Bread and Mimic Cream.  I called the store to see if they had either item in stock before I headed out and wasted precious gas to buy a couple of luxury items.  They had the bread in stock,  but not the cream.  The women who answered the phone was a bit nasty to me about drinking coffee!!! She said that 1-2 cups was a lot of coffee.  I decided that I was not going to shop there for the bread, I could make my own today.  I badly wanted a BLT, so I made up a Paleo style spinach egg flat bread that would hold the BLT fixings.  It was delicious and I found out that I didn't need a $8 loaf of Almond bread, that honestly isn't all that healthy for me.   I also made a delicious coconut cream for my coffee, and enjoyed my first cup since I quit dairy mid August!  Recipe is 1 can Coconut Milk, 1 egg & 1 TBS of Coconut Oil, whip it up and enjoy.  It will keep about a week in the fridge.  The health food stores and Isles at the supermarket are full of overpriced unhealthy foods that people think are good for them because they are organic or gluten free.  They still have tons of calories from other grains, sugars, etc.  Not one wants to have to just eat the things they should, Vegetables, Fruits, Lean Proteins, eggs and nuts.  It really is that simple. 

Fall

Fall Table

Window Feeder

Birds moving

This week there is a lot of bird activity not only up in the woods but at home as well.  Yesterday brought some house finches to my feeders and today there has been Cedar Waxwings on the crabapple, and Red Breasted Nuthatch on the window feeder, what a treat. Up in the park I've seen several species of vireo, Magnolia, Black & White, Black Pole, and Yellow rumpted Warblers.  A flock of Canada Geese just flew over.  Blue Jays have been migrating over the last week. Broadwings passed through, last push seemed to be Sunday the 23rd.  Love Fall!! 

Now....if only I could figure out what I want to do for work for the next few years.  I need to earn some income to help out at home until we get all the kids out of college.  I am so hopping to do something that I actually like...is that possible? One option might be Veterinarian Receptionist.  But hubby is still working for himself so he is able to take off when he wants, and I would lose that luxury. Not sure we want to go that route at this point in our lives.  I may walk dogs and doggie sit for them while their owners are on vacation. I have a bit of time before I have to get working and plan on using it to get my health and fitness squared away, and the HUGE task of Simplifying my life, aka....cleaning out all the junk I've hoarded for the last 52 years, I'm so ready to purge it all.  Once I feel better physically and lighter mentally, I will be ready to embark on my next chapter of life, leaving total mothering behind for more self fulfillment.  So task (1)  Start eating right and exercising.  My Diet: Meat, Fish, Eggs, Tons of Raw Vegetables, cooked vegetables, small amounts of fruit, nuts and seeds....simple! Now why can't I stick to it?  Once we are on our path to our new life I think my stress levels will go down and I should be able to get back on track.  As for exercise continue to hike, and add some full body exercises.  (2) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and GET RID of anything that doesn't make my heart sing or that I haven't touched in years.  Books, CDs, Clothing, Kitchen Items, etc etc etc.  JUST DO IT!  A little each day and it will get done.

a simple day

Migrating Monarch

We are going FREE!

I'm next!

Tiny Mushrooms

Colors are starting

Astors

It's going to be a gorgeous Fall

Fall Equinox

Fall is once again upon us.  I have been spending a lot of time up at the Hawk Watch enjoying each and every moment.  The sight of a migrating raptor still thrills me, just as it did 20 something years ago when I first set foot up on the mt and witnessed my first Broadwing flight.  The trees are beginning to turn, and I think it's going to end up a stellar leaf season.  We weren't able to celebrate the Equinox the way I wanted to. due to other obligations, but I did mark it and I'm hopeful we can do a Bon-Fire at the Tipi next weekend.  With Fall we turn inwards and it's coming just as we finish closing the business and start our new lives.  My goal over the next couple of months is to truly *Simplify* my life.  I want to down size my possessions and take good care of what I choose to keep so they last a good long time.  My plans also include a huge clean out off all the junk we have collected over 23 years of living in our home.  I'm looking forward to the feeling of freedom that I know will come after cleaning out my life.  If I could encourage anything in my kids it would be to keep your lives simple, do the things you love and get rid of the rest.  Don't spend money you don't have, and learn the difference between wants and needs. True freedom is available to us all if we listen to our hearts and fill our lives with what is important to each of us, instead of looking at what everyone else is doing.  We are unique and should celebrate ourselves. 

 "Go with the flow in Nature and find your path to success and happiness now."

Not to be taken lightly

A casual friend that I spend time with up at the hawk watch,  retired 4 years ago at the age of 51. He made a remark that really made me think.  He said that when it came time to make his decision as when to retire he asked himself if he would enjoy the ages of 50-60 more then 60-70.  He decided that he loved hiking and doing outdoor sports  far more then having more money and the chance that at 60 he will no longer be able to get out there like he does now.  WOW double WOW!  How very true is this? 

Late Summer

Well I pretty much missed spring and summer birding, so I've been making up for lost time up at the Hawk Watch.  It's our 55th year and I never tire of going up there and looking at raptors.  Today I also got out and took some pictures and saw a few warblers. 

Just be

Today while out on my morning hike with Monty I came to the realization that most of the time I have way tooooo much going on in my head. I'm constantly inundated with thoughts and constant planing.  I need to somehow get to the point of my life where I just start living each day and enjoying where I am at that moment, no matter where or what I'm doing.  I've looked at so many parts of my life as chores...how dumb is it to look at food shopping as a pita? I guess because I have so many limits as to what I can or will allow myself to eat, it has taken all the joy out of food for me..  I wonder how it would feel to go to the store and really think about what I want to eat? I'm heading out shopping today and plan on doing just that.  I'm going to carefully pick each item and enjoy the fact that I am so privileged that I get to eat 3 meals a day.  How many people on this earth have that luxury?   I am truly deeply blessed.  

As for everything else....no more bucket list.  I'm going to spend the next few months just living for today, as if it is my last day here on earth.  I will do what I can with each day and not beat myself up for what I don't do or get done.  This is my life and I'm letting it get away from me. 

My childhood friend has cancer.  I have not seen her in a very long time.  A few years ago we reconnected on FB. Today she posted a picture of herself with no hair.   She has a huge smile on her face, and looks content, not even a tiny hint of fear.  She looks beautiful.  I think she gets it.  She and I shared a deep love for animals which we both continue to this day.  We were best friends until we were about ten.  Our entire block was boys except we each had a sister.  What fun we had.                                                                                    

Bear...

After we arrived home from Maine last night and were unloading the car, I happened to glance outside and guess what was there.....a young bear. Very cute guy. He was extremely weary and took off very quickly.

Branch Lake Maine Vacation

Branch Lake

Monty

Retrieving his ring

Gorgeous evening

Blue Moon

Bon-fire every night

Acadia National Park

Love all the lichens and mosses

Fishing

The wedding Arbor

Sunset

Bye Maine...see you next Summer