Tag Archives: nature

Heard Around the Water Cooler

Posted on January 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

aka The Bird Bath. I think that my neighborhood birds are all excited that the Ravens won.

They were gathering in earnest today at the bird bath. They also decided the buffet in my yard must have been worth the visit.

These are just the robins and starlings that descended upon us this morning. And, only a fraction of them. There were more out back and in the meadow. My neighbor’s crab apple trees are the big draw along with my heated bird bath. I think this “discussion” is about why the Cardinals didn’t do so well this year, and what they think of the 49ers.

Add to all these new visitors, the red bellied woodpecker decided to chase away the finch from his favorite feeder.

But then he got all introspective and went off to contemplate whatever.

Just another day in West Howard County. Lunchtime entertainment.

hocoblogs@@@

2 Comments

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Howard County, Nature, West HoCo and tagged birds, commentary, Howard County, nature, photography, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Rearranging the Habitat

Posted on January 14, 2013 by AnnieRie

And driving the birds nuts. They don’t like change. They were not happy when everything came down while they did crown cleaning of our maple tree. When I put it all back up, I had moved things around.

I got a new witches hat at Mother Nature’s the other day. Plus, I wanted to protect the suet better. And, I found a new nugget and peanut feeder to replace my gnarly looking old one. Birds don’t like change, as I said. The downy woodpeckers had to take time to figure out how to get onto this new one.

This young downy launched herself at least a half dozen times before figuring it out. She did finally get there. Don’t worry. It isn’t a girl thing. Her brother had just as much trouble. These are two new young woodpeckers that live in my yard somewhere. With their parents. I watched all four of them this summer. Mama very protective while the younguns were learning. Mom and Dad are not afraid of me. The younguns still are.

See, she did figure it out. Besides her, the young newest generation of red bellied woodpeckers took no time to get back here and find his favorite feeders. Even though they all moved around.

He’s up in the tree here, but came down to the suet and to the sunflower/safflower/peanut mix in my left most feeder. He nails that feeder every morning now. He is also still very shy, and flies away immediately when I come out.

As for the blue jays, they are loving the peanuts. And, they have figured out how to hang on the side of the feeder with the spring loaded closing mechanism. Smart birds.

We have at least six blue jays. They are always chasing the hawks, and they definitely know the sound of the top of the feeder closing. The “jay jay” call goes out immediately after I finish filling feeders and flinging peanuts in the shell.

As for smart birds, we now have three crows here. They love me, as I do the peanuts. I can now take their picture. They will fly away the instant my husband appears in the window. He has to start feeding them and make them happy to see him. Besides, they look almost like Ravens, don’t they?

The crows are our alarm clock in the morning. As are the squirrels who think it is cool to jump from our cherry tree onto our roof and run across it early in the morning. Living in a Cape Cod, our roof line does run right across us on my side of the bed. It sounds like an army when they chase each other across there. They love the new location of the corn feeders. They can munch right from the tree. No sweat. No real acrobatics.

I don’t need to pay for entertainment out here in west county. It is right outside my kitchen window.

hocoblogs@@@

A Busy January at the Conservancy

Posted on January 7, 2013 by AnnieRie

It will be a busy month even though it is January. And, with lovely weather coming this weekend, the Beekeepers Program at the Howard county Conservancy this Saturday the 12th should be very popular. It might be warm enough to go out and see the hives, without freezing.

This Saturday is the monthly Wonder “walk”, which in the winter is a wonder talk. Who knew it would be in the high 50s and maybe 60 this weekend.

Add to that, three lovely Tuesday hikes for the volunteer naturalists. Not a volunteer yet, never fear. We are inviting friends who want to become naturalists to join us. Just let us know.

Tomorrow morning, we have a choice of a fitness hike or a leisurely stroll, followed by an educational presentation on the history of Mt. Pleasant, the farm that became host for the Conservancy.

Next week the 15th, we have a talk on native plants, and the 29th one by Ned Tillman on the geology of Mt. Pleasant. The hikes are at 0930 and the talks at 1100. Call the Conservancy to ask about them, if you would like to become a new volunteer helping us lead field trips for the school children.

Also this month, our new program — Meet Your Local Farmers — on January 20th from 2 until 4:30. Discussions, CSA signups, info on what the local farms produce and how to get it in the winter. A really good informal way to learn where you can get good healthy meat, cheese, eggs, produce, dairy, honey and other great stuff from farms in and around Howard County.

Everything this month at the Conservancy is no charge. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to bringing us closer to nature, the farms, the land, the history and the best in Howard County.

Come join us at one or more of these events.

hocoblogs@@@

The Backyard Hunter

Posted on January 3, 2013 by AnnieRie

This is one of at least three hawks who hunt in our yard. He came in low and fast today trying to grab a squirrel. The squirrel did manage to evade.

And yes, he is quite large. He wasn’t interested in the small birds. He was after squirrel. When he got tired of me trying to take his picture through the kitchen doors, he flew off to his favorite hunting spot on the edge of the meadow.

It didn’t take the squirrels long to return to their grazing through the suet and the corn.

Creating the habitat has presented challenges. Keeping squirrels out of the good stuff. The green feeder where the hawk was standing is where I put the good seed. It is fully squirrel proof. As for the suet, sometimes I put out basic suet and let the squirrels get into it, but I now buy the hot pepper suet. They don’t stop, but it slows them down.

I do put out seed on the ground, out under the azalea bushes, in a somewhat protected area. What is amazing is how quickly the “word” spreads, once I slam the top of the green feeder, birds come swooping in to see what is out there. This is my ground mix.

Fruit and nut mix. Unsalted peanuts in the shell. Some cracked corn. A few safflower hearts. I put this out every few days. The birds mostly come to the feeders but the jays and the resident crows forage around in the bushes for this mix.

The most important thing out there, though, is the heated water in the birdbath. I have a bird spa heater in it. It has to be cleaned out about once a week. You can see how it gets messed up with all the use. Today again the birds are bathing in it. This is something that attracts a very large amount of birds in the winter.

Now I have juncos, downy woodpeckers, red bellied woodpeckers, goldfinches, house finches, titmice, chickadees, wrens, red and white breasted nuthatches, cardinals, blue jays and crows daily. We also get two or three different sparrows occasionally. I have a rare visit from a hairy woodpecker, and the robins come in for water too. We have not seen the cedar waxwings yet this year, and the bluebirds showed up this week for the first time.

When I do the backyard bird count in February, I get at least eighteen different species, when you count the geese and the vultures and the hawks, all who fly over during the day.

To me, having this entertainment outside my kitchen windows makes doing dishes a treat and not a chore. You never know what will be seen next.

I hope the cedar waxwings return as they are really a cute bird to watch.

Bluebirds

Posted on January 2, 2013 by AnnieRie

I always know it is winter when the bluebirds return to my birdbath. Today they obliged.

This is the male I saw. The two females were there earlier, but disappeared up into the trees, once I found the camera. I have to go looking for them the next few days.

The bluebirds never come to feeders, but water is a great attraction, particularly when it is cold and dry. This is their source, and they return every year. If you want bluebirds to visit you, just add water.

These pics below are from last year.

Hoping to get many more this year.

2 Comments

Posted in Birds, Howard County, Nature and tagged birds, Howard County, nature, photography. Bookmark the permalink.

Sixty @ Sixty

Posted on December 29, 2012 by AnnieRie

Yes, sixty years young, today. This is one of those significant birthdays. Worthy of doing something different to commemorate.

I recall one of my fellow volunteers talking about traveling to celebrate a milestone birthday. Something like 50 days for the 50th birthday. We traveled way too much when we worked. We are really enjoying our surroundings and doing things we never got to do while we were in the work force.

So, I decided. Sixty is, of course, six decades. Six times ten. Six things, ten times. Or, ten things six times. I settled on more experiences with less to accomplish in each. It looks simpler to do. We shall see. I have been doing research already to find things that interest me.

This year, no New Year’s Resolutions, just the pursuit of these stretch goals, for lack of a better descriptor. Some are fun, some may be difficult. If I enjoy this journey, I may make it into a page. A journal of sorts. Since I am an avowed locavore, locapour, and still a foodie, many involve cooking, eating, gardening, farming, the county and nearby places.

My list —

Visit six festivals and/or fairs that are new to me
Taste at six new wineries never visited before
Seek out six new farmstands or markets to expand my locavore network
Do something different or visit someplace new in six states other than MD
Eat at six small business restaurants and/or diners
Eat/drink or experience six childhood memories
Log six new birds not seen before
Cook and eat six new proteins, i.e., meat, seafood, beans or nuts
Grow and/or eat six exotic fruits, veggies or herbs
Tackle six rightsizing projects

Some are self explanatory but others will take some initiative. Rightsizing projects include things we inherited from our families and things we accumulated over our 60+ years. Things like pictures, CDs, books, tools, clothes, shoes, whatever lurks in closets and cabinets. Having the space here makes it one of those often avoided projects.

The childhood memories include things like — riding a ferris wheel again, or a merry go round, or eating cotton candy, or a root beer float. Things we did as kids.

For my first project, my husband bought a pomegranate at Wegmans yesterday. I have had pom juice, and pomegranate balsamic, but never tried getting the seeds out and using one in cooking. Tonight’s salad will have pom seeds on it. Maybe using my fennel we bought, and oranges. I am making my own birthday dinner, doing things I want to eat. Rockfish. Salad. Roasted cauliflower. None of it hard to make, and no worries about driving in the slush/snow/ice/whatever we have on the ground tonight.

It is still snowing out here. The red bellied woodpecker and one of the squirrels were out there chowing down this morning while I was prepping the fish in a marinade.

This is a new young red bellied woodpecker, who is more skittish than the older ones are. He bolts when he sees the reflection of my camera. As for the acrobatic squirrel, he is lucky today. I don’t have the two layer baffle system on the large suet holder, and he can defeat just one. Besting the squirrels is a major undertaking here. Or, at least keeping them under control.

Who knows what this year, 2013, will bring to us here. I do know I intend to make it somewhat memorable, and certainly don’t intend to be bored.

hocofood@@@

17 Comments

Posted in Adventures, Birds, Bucket List, Day Trips, Farmer's Markets, Food, Gardening, Hobbies, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, miscellaneous, Nature, Real Food, Remember When, Restaurants, Retirement, Rightsizing, Sixty@Sixty, Travel, Wine and tagged birds, cooking, day trips, farmer's markets, Food, foodie, gardening, hobbies, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, photography, real food, retirement, sixty@sixty, traditions, travel, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Snow Days

Posted on December 26, 2012 by AnnieRie

I don’t mind snow days like these. We needed the rain, and we got almost an inch so far today. It is snow mixed with sleet and rain, so it will be gone soon. The birds are frantically looking for food. It’s junco and blue jay reunion out there. Although the blue jays flew away once the camera came out.

Today was one of those stay inside and do projects kind of days. I am cleaning out the bedside nightstand drawers and doing some shredding. I did put tuna and tomatoes, with a base of canellini beans, in the oven on slow cook. A good hearty cold weather dish. Using some of my oven dried tomatoes that I froze. Plus, that end of the Costco tuna loin. It looks so dark and meaty, you wouldn’t think it was a fish dish.

We are keeping a close eye on the trees to make sure they don’t get weighed down with wet snow. We lost too many branches during those storms a few years back. We were supposed to have the final high tree pruning today, but the weather forced a cancellation. Without leaves, though, the deciduous trees will do OK, it’s the coniferous trees that worry me. We have a wind advisory for tomorrow with a potential for downed power lines again. The big question always is, “Should we fill the tubs with water in case we lose power and can’t flush toilets?” With all the weakened trees after the hurricane, power losses are still possible.

I do have to admit that it is beautiful out there. All Christmasy with the twinkling lights. Glad we don’t commute anymore, but can enjoy the view.

hocoblogs@@@

4 Comments

Posted in Birds, Food, Howard County, Nature, Real Food, Retirement, Weather, West HoCo and tagged birds, commentary, community, cooking, Food, foodie, heirloom tomatoes, Howard County, Locavore, nature, real food, retirement, tomatoes, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Tree and Garden Maintenance

Posted on December 19, 2012 by AnnieRie

Today was a clean up day. We had landscapers come out to do the final clean up of derecho damaged trees, before we put up the crank up tower in the yard. We don’t need trees coming down on the guy wires or the tower. Now that the leaves are gone, you could definitely pick out damaged trees that strong winds could bring down.

While out there, I took advantage of the mild weather and finished the haircuts on the spirea. Cleaned out those flower beds.

I really cut them way back. Not a bad idea. They come in more vigorous every summer and have created almost a hedge of sorts. This is what they looked like in the summer. The bunny is a bonus. Baby bunnies, birds, chipmunks, all love to hide in the spirea.

I also made my first attempt to clean out the veggie garden. It is a real mess. Full of dead tomato plants and overtaken by morning glory vines. I pulled out many of the cages and cleaned them.

I was careful to salvage my tomato ties and not throw away any sticks, ties or rope. The tomato plants will not go into compost. I don’t need them growing in the compost pile. The twisty ties were collected and brought in the house to put away for next year.

This garden plot is going to become herbs, lettuces and cool weather plants only. There will be a new garden next year. I need to get out into the field where I get more sunshine. The trees have now grown to a point where they shade the current garden site. Morning sun doesn’t come in until after 7 am. The sun starts disappearing behind the maple after 3 pm. Next year it will be worse as the trees get even taller.

There will be a new plot dug in and fenced. 20 by 40 is my goal. My 30 by 10 garden will now have a very large neighbor. This is the year I will do pumpkins, watermelon and lots more squash. Off into the field we will go. Oasis, who did today’s tree maintenance will be tilling and creating my new one. Ron is a local business owner, just a few miles down the road on Triadelphia Mill Rd. He and his crew did a great job today.

The new home for the garden.

The tall grasses are my neighbor’s property. We cut ours so we can put the radio towers there. Now, I just have to find a way to keep these visitors from jumping the fence.

The deer think nothing about galloping through our meadow and racing across my other neighbor’s front yard. The day I caught this one with the camera there were four of them out there.

Well, winter will be here in two days. I think this year is the earliest for my plant pruning, and I have a head start on garden maintenance. Time to hibernate for the winter, and hope we don’t have ice storms. At least if we do, we have pruned the trees to keep them from breaking off.

3 Comments

Posted in Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged gardening, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, nature, photography, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Eight Years In

Posted on December 15, 2012 by AnnieRie

December 2004. The first time we saw our house. After months of frustrating searching and one bad experience with misrepresentation on a disclosure form. We drove by at night to check it out. It is dark out here. Really dark. But, the house was decorated and looked great. On the 16th we came back to tour it.

And, fell in love. It was probably the kitchen that did it for me.

450 square feet. OK, so we have replaced the refrigerator and ovens. They were 18 years old when we moved in. I still love this room. The heart of our home.

My husband fell in love with the family room. The paneling. That manly thing. The fireplace. The entire back of this house is kitchen and family room.

We had no idea how different things are, in west county. Learning to be self sufficient. Thankfully, with a gas fireplace, and a wood stove in the basement. With snow throwers, tractors, pick up truck. Way different than living in Columbia. Things really are different out here. And so worth it. Nights are dark, yes. No glow from lights anywhere. Amazing sunsets.

Peace and quiet. Privacy. I can’t think of any better place to live. Far from the noise and light. Even when it is crazy with the snow.

So glad we made the leap into living here.

1 Comment

Posted in Adventures, Commentary, Howard County, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged commentary, community, Howard County, nature, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

The Predators are Back

Posted on December 10, 2012 by AnnieRie

Yes, the hawk has returned. And not your garden variety wimpy hawk.

The other day I found squirrel feathers in the side yard. This has to be the hunter. He decided to plop himself on my feeder tree, and he proceeded to ignore all the little birds out there. He was looking for bigger rewards. The little hawk was out there a while back, but this is the first visit for our large hawks. He looks to be one of the Cooper’s hawks. We shall see if he decides to stand out in the meadow and hunt. Last year it was the favorite spot for mouse hunting.

Two weeks ago, the little sharp shinned hawk was out there. So, now both predators have come home for the winter. It should be interesting out here. We will see if these visitors get as bold as the ones a few years ago. The ones that liked to hang around on my patio furniture about five feet from the back door and make way too much noise.