Nancy's Corner

June 7, 2016

Eshqua bog

Jane and I have made a couple of trips to Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT this spring.The first on was on May 27. We had been hoping that the lady’s slippers would be in bloom, but it was too early. We did see other spring flowers.

Soloman's seal, May 27 --Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT — Soloman’s seal, May 27 –Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT

Today’s trip was more fruitful. We not only saw two varieties of lady’s slippers,

Yellow lady's slipper — Yellow lady’s slipper

Showy lady's slipper — Showy lady’s slipper

but also other bog flowers.

The dragon flies, butterflies and a hummingbird also put in an appearance.

June 4, 2016June 4, 2016

On the Connecticut

We spent a couple of evenings this week on the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover and have finally seen the duckings we hadn’t seen when we paddled earlier in the day.

We saw ducklings of varying ages, some families are new born, others are several weeks old.

The geese flew by.

This mallard male had a funny expression.

May 29, 2016May 29, 2016

Birds plus from my kayak

Once again our kayaks have proven to be good platforms for observing nature. Jane and I have be out almost everyday this week, mostly on the Connecticut River between Wilder, VT and Hanover, NH but also on the North Hartland Lake.

We haven’t seen many wildfowl: just a few mallards, an occasional merganser and a loon.

Ms Common merganser --West Lebanon, NH — Ms Common merganser –West Lebanon, NH

Loon -- Hartland, VT — Loon — Hartland, VT

Mallard pair -- Hartland, VT — Mallard pair — Hartland, VT

We have seen and heard numerous song birds

Grackle --Wilder, VT — Grackle –Wilder, VT

Kingbird -- Hartland, VT — Kingbird — Hartland, VT

Catbird -- Hartland, VT — Catbird — Hartland, VT

Red winged blackbird -- Hartland, VT — Red winged blackbird — Hartland, VT

Song sparrow -- Hartland, VT — Song sparrow — Hartland, VT

Hairy woodpecker -- Wilder, VT — Hairy woodpecker — Wilder, VT

and even frogs singing.

Frog vocalizing -- Lebanon, NH — Frog vocalizing — Lebanon, NH

May 14, 2016May 14, 2016

Early spring flowers

Its spring and the flowers are blooming in Kilowatt Park.

I don't know what this is. May 7 — I don’t know what this is. May 7

Baneberry (Doll's eyes) - May 12 — Baneberry (Doll’s eyes) – May 12

Jack in the pulpit - May 12 — Jack in the pulpit – May 12

April 23, 2016April 23, 2016

Oregon

We took Amtrak from Oakland to Portland, a 17 hour train ride. After spending the night in a roomette, we had breakfast in the dining car and watched the sunrise.

Sun rise with snow on the mountain tops.

As we passed a burn area, the snow started to pile up.

Burn area south of Klamath Falls. — Burn area.

and by the time we reached the height of land south of Klamath Falls, it was several inches deep.

Uri picked us up at the station and took us to our room.

Our room at the Residence Inn at the Lloyd Center.

We spent the next several days roaming the different quadrants of Portland with both sons (Nabil drove up from Berkeley). We visited St Johns, Sauvie Island and watched the birds and boats on the Willamette.

We went up Mt Tabor and looked out to the east and west

and visited a friend in SE.

Another side trip was up the Columbia Gorge where we saw several waterfalls and a peanut mobile.

We went out for brunch every day, both in California and Portland. I tried the homemade hash most days. My favorites ranged from one in Santa Rosa that was just potatoes and chopped corned beef and another that was made from pulled pork with greens on top.