Just another loon picture from earlier in the summer. I am really busy at work, but hope to get somewhere on an upcoming holiday if it works out time-wise and health-wise.
Enjoy these last days of summer. Fall is closing in.
Lessons from a Loon
Spend time at the lake.
Go for a long swim.
Surround yourself with beauty.
Don’t be afraid to dive deep.
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These were on display in a store in Lake Placid. Raccoons are seen as a nuisance to some in New York. I do not know the history of these animals, whether they were trapped or road kill. My understanding from one store owner I asked a few years ago some of these displays are old.
The only place I have seen displays like this is in the Adirondacks. There is a long history of trapping in the Adirondacks beginning with the Native Americans with the Europeans entering the region with metal traps in the 16th century. Trapping still exists today in New York with a designated season to do so.
I have not seen a lot of chipmunks this year. The population of hawks and owls is increasing. They both have it on their menu. One place I usually hike a lot in chipmunks are more rare to see this year. It has owls, and at least three different kinds of hawks claiming it as their hunting ground. I think the squirrel and chipmunk populations were decimated over the winter.
This one I saw this spring at a different hiking location. It had less hawks and owl per acre. Oddly this one was in an area near a great horned owl’s nest. It may have been far enough away to stay out of trouble, but hopefully he has been on the lookout. I had to put up a shorter post in between thunderstorms. Continue to your weekend!
Are you looking for something to do Labor Day Weekend? Barton Orchards in Dutchess County is hosting a Sunflower Festival.
What is at the festival? There is a hayride to the Sunflower area of the farm. Included in the price are 2 sunflowers. You pay an additional fee if you pick more. They have animals, at least one food truck, lobster rolls, and tap room. They also have a farm store that sells pies, sauces, drinks and other items. They also have activities for the kids.
Barton Orchards is located off the Taconic Parkway in Poughquag, NY. The address is 63 AppleTree Lane. It is about 1 1/2 hours north of Yonkers and the Bronx.
They give you a plastic bag to keep the flowers you pick in as well as loan you clippers to use to cut the flowers. There are coolers where you can add water to the bags at the sunflower field. They also sell metal vases for the sunflowers at the field under the tent. One of the bands was playing at the sunflower field area.
There are open 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, September 2nd. Their hours on Sunday and Monday are 11-6.
Get out and enjoy Labor Day weekend. Click on the link below for more information about the activities at Barton Farms..
What can you do with a large concrete wall? You can turn it into a mosaic or mural. This is exactly what they did in North Creek, N.Y.
This mosaic is on Main Street in North Creek. The mosaic depicts the animals and activities that make the Adirondacks what it is. It was artist Kate Hartley’s idea to turn this 180 foot concrete wall into a mosaic. She had the help of over 700 volunteers including students from the area and visitors, so this was a community project.
I could not get pictures of the whole wall. There were cars parked in front of it. Below are the sections I could get. The rest I took closer pictures of sections of the wall.
They did a great job picking out activities that one can do in summer in the area.
Again these pictures do not represent the entire mosaic. I love seeing artwork like murals and mosaics. It is always a bonus to find out it was a community project. I think this mosaic did a great job representing the local area. If you are skiing Gore in Winter or White Water rafting the Hudson River, stop by and check out the mosaic. It’s Purely Adirondack.
I have seen school buses turned into Skoolies. Skoolies are school buses turned into tiny homes or campers. This mini school bus was turned into a vendor space by one of the people behind Mother Nature’s Beauty, a soap vendor. I have not seen school buses used as advertising/ vendor space too often. They have shelves on the inside of the bus that are visible from the other side that hold product on display. They told me they use the bus to go from event to event to sell their wares. I caught them at the Dutchess County Fair. They will be at Stormville Airport’s Flea Market In September, October and November. Check their website for the dates, and for other locations.
Find out more by clicking on the link below.
https://www.mothernaturesbeauty.com
What a cool idea! The ower did a great job on the bus conversion.
4-H is alive and well at the Dutchess County Fair in New York. This was taken in one of the dark barns at the fair where the animals and their owners were resting. The cow was nuzzling with the girl.
Some people go to the county fair to go on the rides. Some go for the food or vendors. I go mainly to see the animals. One event I do not want to miss is Dock Dogs.
Just like humans have competitions at the fair in 4H raising animals, baking pies, and doing artwork, dogs have their events. One of the Dock Dog events at the fair is one in which the owners throw an object, the dogs run the length of a long dog to go after it, and they are judged by how far they jump off the dock before they land in the water.
This dog just seemed so focused on the task and serious. I had to include several images of him.
County Fairs have a lot to see. If you have not been to one in a while, make sure you visit one next year.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
Winston Churchill
The colour of the water appears to change in minutes when out kayaking on a lake. A lot of things come into play such as cloud cover, sunlight, time of day, what is nearby on land will all affect how the colour of the water appears. If you wait around you just may get to see the water appear to be different hue.
This is a loon from Upper St. Regis in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. In other pictures that day, the water appeared green and different shades of blue etc. Change sometimes is good.
Clowns to the left of me
jokers to the right
here I am
stuck in the middle with you.
from the song Stuck in the Middle With You written by Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty and performed by Stealer’s Wheel
These Adirondack loons were pausing for passing planes and eagles as well as motor boat and jet ski action on the lake. I am sure the mom was teaching the baby about safely crossing the lake. The baby should be well prepared for life. Other things I saw the mom do this trip were attempt some fish hand offs in the water instead of above water, and having the baby attempt to fish in the buoyed area of the lake that boaters avoid due to boulders near the water’s surface.
We have had a cooler than normal wet summer. It has rained a little to a good amount most days. Get out and dodge those storms. Enjoy what you can.
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