I have always loved nature, and I love taking a walk outside in the woods. Unbeknownst to me, it's even got a name - forest bathing or in Japanese, Shinrin-yoku meaning forest medicine . This is the practice of immersing yourself in nature and using all your senses - sound and smell as well as … Continue reading Why Go Out into the Woods? Shinrin-Yoku, that’s why
I saw a flash of orange, and something orange on the clothesline - a Baltimore Oriole! Most of my spring birds have arrived - the Red breasted grosbeaks, Carolina Wren and Catbirds are all settling in. Hummingbirds flit around. I put out orange halves and have tried an oriole feeder, but the orioles never seem … Continue reading Attracting, and Keeping Orioles in Your Yard
We have a flock of about 12 wild turkeys visiting our yard on a regular basis now that there is over a foot of snow on the ground. It hasn't taken them long to figure out that the songbirds spill seeds onto the ground. We feed the songbirds mostly black oil sunflower seeds, and some … Continue reading Helping out our Wild Turkeys
I don't know about you, but I collect recipes. From magazines. From cookbooks. On line. Anyplace I find something that sounds good I either print it out, rip it out, or more likely now, scan it and save in a computer file. I had 4 4" notebooks at one point, and decided it took up … Continue reading Two great ways to Meal Plan & try all those recipes collected
Okay, so we had our first snowfall - a light dusting but enough to let us know that fall is giving way soon to winter. So as usual I am now rushing around to get things in the yard & house, making things ready for winter, like: Birds baths cleaned, bowls inside (since they are … Continue reading Autumn clean up around the house
July and August means wild blueberries - what my mother would call huckleberries- and here in the Adirondacks where our soil is sandy and acidic, blueberries love it. We have these wild bushes all over our property. I took an hour yesterday to go gather a quart. Only a quart in an hour, you say? … Continue reading How to Blueberry (Huckleberry) in the Adirondacks
This afternoon, I am giving myself permission for some quiet time, having had an extremely busy two weeks at me "real job" of pet shipping. 12 hours days minimum, and if I am not in the van driving, I am at my desk for 9 hours at a clip. Nothing exotic right now, just lots … Continue reading Random Homestead Thoughts on a Friday Afternoon; a life lesson in quiet
This beautiful Luna moth visited me for a couple nights in a row. A fairly large moth, Luna's will produce 2 generations per year in my area. The adults emerge from their larva cocoons solely to mate, and only live about a week. A pity, given how beautiful they are. There are many insects that … Continue reading Protecting Insects, they are so beneficial
My last column dealt with enjoying nature - getting outside and really listening and looking at your surroundings. My husband sparked another thought this week when he said "It doesn't matter where I go, I see kids and many adults on their phones typing away, even when they are walking". Technology has taken over our … Continue reading Can You Ignore Technology?
Our squirrels have it made. Lots of tall red pines to live in, and sunflower seeds galore that fall or are pushed from the bird feeders, as well as our "cabana" where we pile seed just for them. Stone walls for cover and caches. American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) are year round residents, who are … Continue reading Red Squirrel Life at Fox Pines Homestead