ooops, there goes the bird feeder
Mr. or Mrs. Bear scored a hit the other night. We think it’s the same rather large bear that Barry saw a couple weeks ago at 3:50 a.m. He (or she) swiped the bird feeder. We awoke yesterday morning to this sideways view.
Someone suggested it might be a raccoon. But Barry thinks a raccoon wouldn’t have enough heft to bend the pole at such an angle. I think he’s right! Definitely, it was a bear. (We’ve seen similar behavior over the years in regards to the bird feeder and compost bin…and once we actually saw a huge black bear pawing in the compost.)
Today’s outdoor activity involved splitting more wood. However, I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just say we finished the un-split pile behind the house (six sessions thus far) and now we’re ready to move to the huge pile in the driveway. Sigh. Seems like most of my outdoor adventures in June will involve some sort of wood splitting.
Aren't they lovely horses?
Since we won’t be talking any more about wood splitting today, can I just show you some leftover photos from the “end May” folder on this computer? Photos not yet posted, but perhaps interesting to some folks.
The above photo depicts our friends Bertha and Bob’s horses. They were casually munching grasses and weeds in the field yesterday while we lingered at their house enjoying a great potluck dinner. One of the horse’s names is Dawn. I believe that’s the white one. I may have even ridden her years ago. The other horse may be named Ben. I am ready to stand corrected on that name. They are good friendly horses. It would have been lovely if they wandered closer, for a better photo opportunity.
Three new spruce buds (or fingers, or whatever you want to call them)
The woods green up daily. When you look beyond our deck, the forest is starting to take on its impenetrable green hue. Look at the growth on the spruce! Who knows, they may even double this size before the growing season ends.
The intimate inner world of ferns
The bloodroot plant
Finally, a garden plant. From our perennial garden, facing the north in front of our house. It is the primrose plant. Sweet with the morning dew, it beams its red beauty into the world. Hoping you’re enjoying all the lovely blooming flowers this season…and hoping bears aren’t knocking down YOUR bird feeders!
Primrose in the perennial garden in front of our house
8 comments
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May 31, 2009 at 5:54 pm
GheP
I really like your flower pics!
Aw, poor bird feeder!
May 31, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Gerry
One year we stayed in a cottage in Eagle Harbor. The owner warned us not to let our dog out at night. The bears liked to prowl through the thick berry patches that flowed up the hill behind the house. “You’ll hear them snuffling,” we were told. Hmm.
May 31, 2009 at 9:13 pm
sahlah
They just “arrested” a bear in our area for relocation. It had been moving up and down a green belt of about 20 miles.
June 1, 2009 at 5:53 am
flandrumhill
So what exactly are you putting in your bird feeder that would attract bears Kathy? My brother in Northern Ontario eventually cut down an old pear tree that he thought was consistently attracting bears to his property.
Ha ha! I too have an ‘end of May’ folder
I’ve noticed the baby squirrels eating those little spruce buds. I love the look of them on the trees at this time of year.
‘The intimate inner world of ferns’ is such a perfect title for that photo.
I don’t know what I think of the Ponca voodoo, though I have heard that all is fair in love and war. I’ve never noticed the blood root plant in the woods. It certainly is of a beautiful design. I’ll be on the lookout for it.
June 1, 2009 at 6:52 am
Cindy Lou
Your fern photo looks like it could be an entry in Amy’s scavenger hunt with it’s design….can she count it already, Amy?
June 1, 2009 at 7:43 pm
flandrumhill
Good idea Cindy Lou. I think Kathy might be spending Midsummer’s Eve (when the scavenger hunt list is to be disclosed) under an Elder tree in the hope of seeing the king of the fairies. If he shows up, she might be a few sandwiches short of a picnic for a couple of weeks, so maybe it would be a good idea for her to get some photos lined up before then in anticipation
June 2, 2009 at 6:37 am
centria
Yes, indeed, Derek…poor bird feeder!! But it straightened up better than we thought it would.
Gerry, did you hear those bears snuffing? One night we stayed at Copper Harbor and saw a big black bear just outside of the cabin. My mom thought that was a great opportunity to get a picture…this year I would be doing the same thing. Yikes!
Dawn, can they “arrest” bears? ha ha… Actually, some times around here they’ll call in the DNR and lure the bears into a cage and then go relocate them. Last time I remember that happening on our road was maybe ten to fifteen years ago.
Amy, sunflower seeds. That’s what most folks use around here. The bear rarely come this close to the house. This is maybe the second time we’ve had a feeder-swipe in ten years. Otherwise we might be changing our tactics. Actually, we take the feeder down in the summer months and will only put it up again next fall. Do you divide your photos into the beginning of the month and the end of the month? Or do you have more than two folders for the month?
Cindy, that’s what I’m wondering. Do previous pictures count? Or do they have to be new ones? Oops, looks like she just answered this one. Hey do you think it’s going to warm up any time soon around here?
Amy, ha ha!! A few sandwiches short of a picnic….well you never know what that King of the Faeries is going to say or do. Maybe he’ll whisper in my ear all the places to take photos that will win the contest!!
June 2, 2009 at 6:30 pm
flandrumhill
I use beginning and end of the month folders and folders for specific topics, ie. squirrels
‘A few sandwiches short of a picnic’ always gives me a laugh too
Hmmm… I don’t know about letting strange men whisper in your ear at midnight. One is never too old for a chaperone, especially on Midsummer’s Eve.