Panther Pond

Went hiking just over a week ago to Panther Pond in Adirondack Park just outside of Lowville. We were on our way to pick up our son from camp. It is a beautiful and absolutely peaceful place. Wish I was there now.
My job search has not been very successful thus far. It's a tough job market out there for librarians. There have been job cuts and many librarians looking for work. I have had two interviews out of the 14 job applications I have sent out since June. I did not get either job. I'm trying to keep my chin up and ears open for more leads.

Lago de Papallacta

I wanted something beautiful to look at when I opened my blog page. (Not me...but the scenery) Here I am with my Spanish tutor, Franklin in Ecuador. We are sitting in front of el Lago de Papallacta. I am up and awake at 2:30 AM and thinking about Spanish and how I have not really spoken it since Ecuador. How am I ever to become fluent without practice?

Robert Treman State Park

On Wednesday of this past week, Jamie took the day off from work. I suggested that we go to Letchworth State Park, but Jamie decided that we should take the kids to a park that they had never been to before. We decided on Robert Treman State Park. I hadn't been there since I was about 12 or 13.
We hiked the beautiful gorge and enjoyed the outdoors.
About half way up the gorge, we could hear the rumbling of thunder and it seemed to be drawing closer along with darkening skies.

When we got to the top of the gorge, we went in the old mill just in time to be sheltered from a torrential downpour. It rained for quite a while. I amused myself by taking pictures of the old gears, signs and other relics.It was a wonderful day! I'll post more about our hike down another day.

New Neighbors (part 2)

I have been enjoying watching my new neighbors-the house wren family. Usually I watch them from the kitchen window as I eat my breakfast. I also like listening to their pretty little songs. Alicia joined me in watching the show this morning. We were watching both Mr and Mrs House Wren chase Mr Grackle away from the house. Bad Mr Grackle!!!
After I walked with Alicia to school, I decided to try to take pictures. They are quite challenging to catch on camera because they are really quick. I think they like to duck into and out of the house before anyone sees them. (or can take a picture) I was very patient though.
As you can see, I caught this one in flight. I was waiting for him to poke his head out of the hole and I missed him.

New neighbors!

We have new neighbors. I was pleased to discover that a little family of house wrens has taken up residence in the birdhouse that my father made for me last summer. I was really hoping someone would. I thought it would be very special since my father is gone now.
I think this caterpillar is treading dangerously close to becoming the next meal. I don't know if house wrens eat caterpillars...but assuming they do, this caterpillar better take off in another direction.
I didn't stick around to see what the eventual outcome was.
Once this little family moves out...I will re-glue the calipers onto the peak. It fell off onto the grass below last week. Check out the original post about this birdhouse here and you can see the calipers.

Amish Tourists

So you think the life of the Amish is all work and no play, huh? Nope. Sometimes they tour waterfalls.

Just before this pic was taken, a group of Amish teens came down with all the typical energy of kids that age...way ahead of the old folks! LOL!

Watkins Glen

We went to Watkins Glen State Park on Friday. Just an incredibly beautiful place! Our Lord is the most amazing sculptor. I would highly suggest that anyone visiting NY state go to see this incredible natural wonder!

The hike up the gorge trail is not for the weary as there are many steps to climb. It is well worth it. There were quite a few tourists on the trail. I think I heard about four different languages being spoken.

This is Rainbow Falls. At just the right time of day, when you are hiking down the trail, you can see a perfect rainbow. I saw it on the way down. I had handed the camera to my husband (who was hiking slower a ways up). I trusted that he would certainly get a photo as he passed it. He didn't. (I really have forgiven him of the oversight)

There is just no way to capture the beauty of this place on film. You just have to go there. I hope to go again this fall when the colors of the foliage are amazing. You may join me if you promise not to mind stopping at antique stores on the way down.

Here is a photo taken while standing undernieth Rainbow Falls while looking up.

Are you ready for a trip to NY state yet? It is much more than that big city everyone hears about.

Pretty in Pink

I thought I would show you my neighbor's tree today. Isn't it pretty? There are all sorts of flowering trees all over town lately. They flower for such a short time. I'm glad I took this picture before it is too late.

Babies!

Mommy and Daddy mourning dove have been very busy caring for 2 babies. Here is Daddy sitting with his youngsters. You can tell it is Daddy and not Mommy by the rosy color around his head and breast. Mommy is more of a tan.

Here are two little tykes looking out at the big new world out there. So far they haven't seen much but my porch. It's new and big to them just the same.

Mrs Mourning Dove says "It's spring!"

It is hard to believe that less than a week ago our back yard looked like this. Monday and yesterday the weather was beautiful. Warm and sunny! It was about 60 degrees yesterday morning when I walked the kids to school. Everyone was wearing spring jackets. There are tiny buds on the trees and I saw signs of a few flowers poking through the earth. This morning the temperatures were back down to about freezing and I chose my winter coat again. This is typical NY spring weather. It could snow one day and be 70 degrees the next. As the days go by, the cold will come less and less and it will be warmer and warmer.

We might be confused about whether it is winter or spring around here, but the birds are definitely not confused. They know that it is time to build nests and lay eggs. We have a new little resident on our back porch. Mrs Mourning Dove has taken over an old nest. For several years there were robins in this nest. But last year...it was empty. I missed watching them last year and I am glad to see someone has moved in.

Flying Flower

My ten year old daughter took this picture at chimney bluffs on Saturday. I thought it was pretty good.

Wild Flowers

These are wild flowers that grow everywhere. I see them along side of the road as I drive. I pulled off and had Allen take some pictures for me.

Aren't they beautiful?

Ironically, these particular ones are located along one of the ugliest roads around here. Directly across the road there is a dump, junk yard and town transfer station. That's what's nice about blogging...you can choose to not display the not so beautiful.

Blossoms

There are blossoms on my crabapple tree now. A robin has made a nest there. I attempted to take a picture and she scolded me severely. I apologized to her, telling her that I would never hurt her or her family. She didn't believe me. She is suspicious of everyone who comes near. Sherman and I were on the porch. I was working on my Bible study homework and Sherm was laying at my feet. Suddenly we heard a ruckus! Sherm jumped up with all the hairs on his back bristling. He began barking...but neither of us were exactly sure what it was he was barking at. Then I saw it. Two squirrels running for cover. Mrs Robin was dive-bombing them and flapping her wings like mad!

Bunny

Allen took this picture the other day in our back yard. It's beginning to finally get nice here. It was warm and sunny today. Almost all of the snow is gone...but not quite.

Couple of gobblers

On Tuesday morning I saw these two fat turkeys walking along the side of the road. They are funny creatures! When I got out to take a picture, they really raised a ruckus and started walking much faster.

Foggy Morning

It was very foggy here this morning. Stopped by the lake on my way to work and took this picture. I don't know whose boathouse this is, but it looked neat in the fog.

Icy Lake

Stopped by the lake on on of those warmer days last week. This was taken on the northern tip of Canandaigua Lake. That is all ice you see out there.

Traveling south along one of the lake roads, I stopped again to take this picture. This was taken on the east side of the lake. I liked the sign. It would have been a pretty brisk swim!

The only ones crazy enough to try it were the canada geese. There were large flocks of them out. I tried to get close to these guys...but they all started honking and some started flying away. I was about 30 feet from them.

I zoomed in on these two. Don't they look like they're having a conversation? Probably about the crazy woman with the camera!

Chickadees

I have been having a wonderful time painting chickadees. They are one of my favorite little birds. They are so cute and quite social.

I had a special gift from the Lord the other day. I was painting in my "studio" (lots of laughs) and the windows were open and I heard a chickadee singing to me.