Friday, September 3, 2010

Some furry neighbors drop by

The best news today is Hurricane Earl decided to pass us by...but we were visited recently by some furry critters who hang out in the neigborhood.....

These deer pass often at the lower end of the yard, & I was able to go on the deck
and catch them before they noticed me & walked into the woods.....


And no, not a furry critter, but one of the hoya wax flower plants that I have...this is the
first time I have seen the starburst flowers bloom in several years...when I went to water the plant a few days ago...lo & behold there it was...they are very delicate, almost fake looking, so I guess that's why it is called 'wax' flower...probably won't see another for a long time...

And sorry these are not really clear, they were taken looking through the screens one evening a
couple of weeks ago.....I looked out & there grazing on the bird seed I put out was a pretty
healthy, good sized red fox....(hope you can make him out)....he hung around for a little bit, even
stood up at the bird bath, then turned around & trotted down the driveway into the woods....


















60 comments:

Coreen said...

Well seems Earl decided to pass us by...my local weather guy Jeff Fox says maybe some
rain tonite, but no big thing...

So thought I'd share some of my critters that
wander through the yard...the other night
the deer didn't run when I went on the deck
so I was able to get them...

Mr. Fox...was surprised to see
him just sitting in the yard a couple of weeks
ago, but the screens are in all the windows
so I just clicked as many as I could hoping to
see something...If you look to the far left of
the last pic I hope you can see the fox walking
out of the yard...He was pretty good size,much
bigger than your Maggie, Carol, long legs, when
he stood up on the bird bath...I have a pic of
that but not sure you can see him at all....

Carol, you have the gift to get up close to
your critters, mine don't want to co-operate

Carol said...

Quite your own little zoo out there Coreen. Neat pics and beautiful flowers. What took you so long to put these up?

I've been watching your weather and it looks pretty normal. I don't even see much of a breeze predicted. I want y'all to realize that ain't a real hurricane. I guess you Yanks know how to tame those things and I'm glad you did. I also credit our prayer circle. We did have our hurricane prayer posted for protection. It has been interesting how there seemed to be a wall of protection around the US. I like it.

Those guys at the Weather Channel have done everything they can to try to drum up some drama.

Carol said...

Sometimes Coreen I use the zoom on my digital camera to get closer. You have to set it on something to steady it because when you use the zoom, it's more likely to be fuzzy if you shake any.

You did good getting thru that screen Coreen. I can easily see that Fox. Does look to be a good size Fox. Good thing your kitties are inside.

Coreen said...

There was a family of skunks eating out there
for a few days (4), but they show up just before dark...& no way can I get out there
to snap them...sometimes a raccoon & our
chuckles the woodchuck is there, but only before dark...

Yes,the weather guys reporting up & down the
coast all standing near the water's edge
waiting for something to go wrong....on all the local news tonite the reporters are out at the edge of the Atlantic, with really big waves
smashing the sand behind them...they even had
a skype link with a guy on Nantucket who looked
like he was in a real rainstorm, dark, windy
& not to inviting....

I am very pleased & thankful that Earl didn't
like us....your prayer circle just may be working...

By the way, Earl didn't stop the Yankees, they
played in the Stadium this afternoon & won 7-3 over the Blue Jays...no rain/wind there either...

Coreen said...

Carol, I have tried to zoom in, but they usually come out pretty blurry...& I don't have much time to snap, since any movement/noise that they hear, & they are gone....

That fox really surprised me staying as long as he did that night....& yes, all my cats stay
in, there are just too many predators lurking
around...the coyote that had come through about
a month ago, has not been back lately...he was
the size of a german shepard, very scraggly looking & just trots across the grass area where the birds feed or down the driveway...I am glad he hasn't been back for awhile...I don't want to run into a coyote...I even worry
about the cats when they sit on the screened
porch, even though I am in the house with them...

Carol said...

I don't like coyotes. They have eaten quite a few pets around here. Horrible stories. They have even attacked people in some places. I just read the other day that a cop had to shoot one somewhere because he was heading toward his partner.

Coreen said...

Thankfully, I have only seen a coyote once
in a great while, but the most recent, it seemed to be passing through several days in
a row...thats when I don't want to put out any
bird seed since my guess is thats what attracts
them...but as I said he hasn't been back for
more than a month (or at least not when its still light out)....Speaking of that, here it is getting dark before 8 pm now...does your day
get shorter in the fall/winter too...by the time December gets here it will be dark by 5 pm

By the way, its 7 pm & still no rain....we could actually use some rain...& they keep
saying we are going to get some crisp fresh
air after Earl moves out...I can't wait...I really don't like these humid days....tropical
weather is not for me...

Carol said...

I've never heard of or seen any coyotes out around where I live. Thank goodness. Most are south of town or farther north.

jan said...

Coreen, great pictures. You have such wonderful critters that come right up into your yard. I am mad about foxes. I have rarely seen a fox and not for the length of time he was in your yard.

So glad that Earl is passing you by.

I did quite a bit of work with families this week and I feel it. I am glad for a long weekend. John and I are both feeling "poorly" today. I woke up with a scratchy throat and thought it was allergies. It may be but it almost feels like a cold. I hope not. At any rate, I am staying in and drinking lots of hot tea and maybe fix myself some chicken soup (LOL Carol). Here we put lots of green chilis in our chicken soup and call it "Green Chili Chicken Stew" and it is so good. It is spicy enough that it makes your eyes water and your nose run a little. That is probably as good as any netty pot.

I hope everyone here has a good Labor Day Weekend

jan said...

Oh yes, we put some potatoes and a little carrot and celery in our Chic stew too.

Carol said...

I'm watching your radar Coreen and the rain bands seem to be just shirting your area. Didn't you need just a little rain to wet your leaves? Hope you can get some pics of the changing leaves. Our's are never as dramatic as yours. I loved the ones you put up last year. I have them in my pics.

Up north has longer summer and shorter winter days than we do.

Coreen said...

Jan, glad to share the critters with you guys...the fox is cool, but fast...I hope one
day I can get a clear pic of him...it was just luck that I looked out & was able to grab my camera & get any at all...

sorry to hear you guys aren't feeling well either...I know Carol you said you don't
like chicken soup...my mom makes it sometime....I like hers, she puts carrots &
celery in it...& she uses little bow macaroni
not noodles (but she doesn't leave them in
the soup while she makes it, but adds them after when it gets warmed up)...but we don't do spicy...

I think Labor day weekend is a great time to
just relax...summer is on the way out & just
to not do anything sounds good to me....if only the weather co-operates....

Carol said...

Jan, I couldn't do the chicken soup but my gumbo did help alot. I put jalopenos in my gumbo also and it does help to open up the airways. I make a chicken and sausage gumbo but don't eat any of the meat out of it. I just like the juice and veggies in it. I end up throwing away all the meat. I can't give it to Maggie because it has onions in it and doggies can't eat onions.

Coreen said...

I will do my best to get some autumn leaves snaps...been thinking about different places
I can go to get some....several weeks to wait
& see if the colors pop this season or not....

and oh still no rain...& its just about dark
& no critters are outside eating either....

Carol said...

I think I saw a green dot pass over ya Coreen. Did you get a sprinkle yet? I was planning on staying up all night and holding your hand and now, not even a good mist going over there.

Carol said...

I guess you'll just have to wait for a good old noreaster.

Coreen said...

Not a drop...& still waiting for the muggies to leave...

while we might not be big on hurricanes, no
matter whether their guys or girls...we are
known for some good ole noreasters...

Actually I have a tree guy coming tomorrow to
walk around to see what high branches should be
trimmed along the driveway & in front of & behind the house...Right now there are some
broken big branches hanging from the beech
trees behind the back porch (no threat to hit
the house, but they need to get cleaned up)...

Coreen said...

Don't know about you but I am pretty lazy tonite, have no energy to do much & no Yankee
baseball (2 nights in a row)....looks like
they will be playing tomorrow afternoon as well
since the storm is not affecting NY either (except for the eastern tip of Long Island)....

Carol said...

Yep, boring here tonight also. That's why I was hoping for a stormy slumber party. I've been watching the radar so much tonight, yours, that Maggie actually took cover a couple of times thinking something must be going on. She reads my mind.

Carol said...

Thank you God, et al, for protecting us from this potentially serious hurricane! Keep up the great work!

Carol said...

Oh boy, research can find just about anything. "Growing epidemiological evidence indicates that moderate alcohol consumption
is associated with reduced total mortality among middle-aged and older adults."

Late-Life Alcohol Consumption and 20-Year Mortality

Anonymous said...

I love you pictures and where you live Coreen. It's so beautiful - and natural.

Your deer look like ours, but ours are smaller. I don't get sight of them in our yard as often anymore, but am always excited when I do. Your fox is so cute, but I'm sure glad I don't have any (or the coyotes) because I do have cats in 'and' out (except Tazzy, and two others who always stay in - a different part of the house). I worry about them as it is.

Anonymous said...

Jan, Sorry to hear you're not feeling well now. I guess it must be that time of the year, for these things to be going around. I am so miserable, even when it's just a common cold, so am hoping it doesn't catch up to me anytime soon. You have been around more people working lately, and if you have caught something, that's probably where it came from.

Your healthy chicken stew sounds so good.

Anonymous said...

You too Carol - you must be exposed to all kinds of things on your job.

When I shop now, most stores have those wipes near the carts, and I make sure I wip down all the area around where Emma sits - the handle, etc. I think it really helps. Once winter hits though, and more things are going around, well - we'll see.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to read that article when I get back Carol. I know it said 'moderate', but still, it doesn't surprise me. Michael Douglas said alcohol played a large role in his illness. I don't know why it bothered me soooo much when I found out he was stage 4, but it did (and does). I feel like I grew up with the guy.

Anonymous said...

... between my scare with Tazzy, and the news of MD cancer, my week got off to a bad start, and never really got much better.

I'm glad it's the weekend, a holiday, and I'm going to start anew. We're going to take little Emma out and about this morning - and I'm looking forward to it.

Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

-- thanks again Coreen, for the beautiful pictures and post to start of the weekend.

We got a couple of nice rains here yesterday, and I really enjoyed them. I LOVE rain!

Coreen said...

Good morning,

Believe it or not this a.m. is really pretty nice....Earl never showed up & there is a
brisk breeze about 15-20 mph coming right in the windows (yes they are open today, hopefully no a.c. for awhile) low humidity, sunny skies & about 72...

Good to know that Tazzy was ok Chloe...as far
as wild critters, your horses aren't they out & about during the day....& you don't have
fox or coyotes in TX?...

I know what you mean about pushcarts at the
store...I try to push them without touching
the handles as much as possible, lean my arms against the sides & steer & turn touching the sides under the handle area....

if you started thinking about all the places
you come in contact with germs...you would go
crazy though...how about door handles everywhere...& I suppose some exposure to germs
reinforces our immune system....but have to say, I wash my hands many times during the day....

Coreen said...

Jan, Carol...

Are you guys starting to feel any better yet...

Carol said...

Well, I spent the evening with some of my RR friends. We lost a friend of the river this week. He was only 45 but had severe heart disease. Friends got together this evening to say happy trails.

Carol said...

Coreen, I still have a croupy cough, worse when I'm laying down. It seems like this stuff has lasted forever but it's only been about a week. I don't tolerate discomfort very much.

Yesterday we had beautiful weather, very Fall like. I don't think it hit 90 and low humidity. Right now it's 68 with a dew point of 61. Can't get better than that. Seems like I heard on the Weather Channel that just about everyone was going to have a nice weekend.

Carol said...

I was planning on hitting my honey hole today. I finally have the time but....this dude that hangs out next door has brought all these people out and have been sucking every fish outta it for a week now. He's not from these parts. He came down for the hurricane and never went home.

I do suspect this dude for some of the things that have gone missing from both my house and my camp. Just circumstantial evidence, no proof but after I hired him to do some work at the house, my pressure washer disappeared and there were these deep ruts left in my yard, consistant with his vehicle. Since he's been hanging out next door here, things are disappearing from under my camp. I don't think it a local.

Anonymous said...

Not much is worse than a thief (and hard to prove). It's such an intrusive and frustrating feeling to have things stolen.

Was hoping to hear you were feeling better Carol. These things sometimes fell worse right before they get better. All that talk about the caution I take with Emma, then she did seem like she was getting a cold last night. This will be only her second one (since she was born), and they both came after her mom visited her (and didn't bother to tell me she'd felt something coming on - gave 'me' one of those frustrating feelings). Sure seems like a lot of illness going around, for it to be this early in the season.

Sorry to hear you lost your friend. 45 is way too young.

Anonymous said...

Jan, I hope you're feeling better too.

Anonymous said...

"Good to know that Tazzy was ok Chloe"

I'm still watching her closely Coreen. No real signs of illness, but she doesn't seem to be her old self to me - may be a little paranoia, on my part. Plus, she has reached that adult age of about one year lately, and they do calm down a lot. The Amoxycillin may also have an effect on her. No signs of illness left - just a little too calm. She's such a great cat, and I love her so much.

Carol said...

Well, I'm locked and loaded. Whew, I need a nap. Now to see if the sucker will start. I got three Crappy and three Bass rigs ready. Wish me luck.

Carol said...

Oh, and those things from next door...they beat me out there. I shoulda prepared yesterday.

Coreen said...

Wow...a really fall-like morning....it was
58 earlier, heading towards about 75, NO humidity, breezy, sunny....can't ask for a nicer day, and yesterday was just spectacular...

Carol, had to chuckle when you said it was
fall-like there, didn't hit 90!!!

You guys would be looking for a down blanket
if you were up this way today...& maybe a coat...

Sorry, your sinus infection is still hanging
on Carol...this seems to be the time of year
for all those symptoms to come out for me...lots of sneezing, etc...which I attribute to the seasons about to change...& I know
its changing, since the sun is now casting
different shadows then in the summer....little
things you notice....

Disturbing to hear about a 'neighbor' stealing
from you...is that person living there
or just visiting...I did not quite understand
what you meant by he came for the hurricane
& stayed...did you mean back to Rita...do these
riverpeople you mention work or are they around all day while you are away?...

Coreen said...

Chloe,

I am also very cautious about my cats...& I can't imagine how I would be if I was reponsible for the care of a child...I'm afraid
I would have difficulty 'letting go' of them
for a minute...

Hope if Em has a cold, it will be short & not
too upseting for her & you...

Carol said...

Well, the boat God doesn't want me on the river just yet. Boat won't start. Don't know what the problem is today. Everything looks OK.

I will try later. Motors sometimes have a mind of their own.

Coreen those this guy did come down for Rita and stayed. I don't know if he is the one who is responsible but it seems when he is around, things go missing. He doesn't live next door but visits often, even when neighbor and I am at work.

Carol said...

Morning. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The weather was great here even though I've still been under it. My boat motor is also sick, which gave me the blues yesterday. I think the Universe said no, don't get out there. It was probably best I didn't since I'm still having those bad allergy symptoms. But like a kid, who has to stay in, I pouted all day yesterday, had the blues.

There is something I'm allergic to this time of year but I thought I had outgrown it since I haven't had any significant problems for almost 10 years. I think it may have been worse this year because we haven't had much rain to settle it and rain does have a tendency to clear the air.

Carol said...

I just heard a news report that you don't have to change the oil in your vehicle every 3000 miles. New research said you are wasting your money, around $1000 after several years. They say ""double it at the very least. They analyzed the oil from a car at 7000 miles and said it still had a couple of thousand miles of good left in it. It also said one vehicle manufactorer said you could go 20,000 miles. Well, I'll have to admit I'm in that somewhere between 7000+ miles before I get around to it. Glad to know that my procratination works for something.

Carol said...

This morning, I decided I'm gonna bring my minnows and the rods I set up down the road to a friend's camp where there is deep water off the wharf. There just might be some crappy over there. The water off my wharf is not deep enough for Crappy even though I do have lots of brim. Too much work eating them.

Even though my big motor is not starting I could have trolled over to my honey holes but they have been fished out. I didn't see those guys catching anything yesterday. They fished it out.

I got three dozens minnows yesterday morning and I can't let them die in vain. It wouldn't be fair. Also I do need a fishing fix. I've had a serious hankering for it for a while now.

Carol said...

Caught two and high period doesn't start until 10a. Already feel better.

jan said...

Hi Carol, Glad you are feeling better today. You have had a bout with your allergies and sinus infection. Mine turned out to be just allergies.

Coreen, I am happy for you that Earl passed you by.

Chloe, thanks for the well wishes. I am really back to work, because I am really enjoying the weekend LOL.

jan said...

It is interesting to look back at my writing. I have the word "really" twice. When I grade student papers, I spend lots of time marking out their words such as "really" or "very" Please know I don't pay any attention to how anyone on here writes. I can't help editing my own writing.

jan said...

Carol, you must send us pics of your "catch" I have been working double-time on the quilt trying to get it finished. I will take pics of finished product and post.

Sewing and quilting relaxes me - sounds like fishing relaxes you Carol.

jan said...

Coreen, what knitting projects are you working on or planning. I would have loved to see a pic of the knit angel blanket you did last Dec.

jan said...

We have had a quiet weekend. We did go to a movie sat. afternoon. We saw Inception. John hated it. He said it "wore him out." I thought it was interesting, but had a difficult time catching onto the concepts. It was a lot of work to watch this movie. I did find myself dozing off in the early part of the movie.

We watched "The Graduate" on TV yesterday. I had not seen it for several years. I perceived some of it differently than when I watched it years ago. I have the book on order from the library. I want to see how the author of the book developed the character of Mrs. Robinson. When John and I go to a restaurant where they take your name, John likes to give the name "Gladstone." If you have seen the movie, that is the name that Dustin Hoffman gives the hotel desk clerk when he is checking in.

Carol said...

This headline on Huff Post hit me this morning.

"Election Spending Sets Records: No Recession Here"

Ya wanna know where our money is??? Also people keep electing the wealthy suckers thinking they might help the rest of us??

"Billionaire Republican Meg Whitman leads the way, pumping $104 million of her own money into her campaign for California governor"

Why do these people pump so much of their own money into their campaigns?? Don't ya think they plan on getting it back many times over??

Carol said...

Jan, I only caught 4 fish but it's the therapeutic effect of fishing I needed. I was limited to wharf fishing.

I am still fighting these allergies. We caught several little rains yesterday. I didn't get more than a quarter inch but I hope it did settle some of the pollin.

Carol said...

Anyone seeing lots of hummers? I needed air traffic control out here yesterday.

Carol said...

Looking forward to your quilt pics Jan.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I've been seeing more hummers, but not at the rate you're talking about. It may be partly because I haven't been able to be in that room that my feeders are outside of, as much.

All this possible rain we're expecting probably will settle down your allergies a lot.

.... glad the fishing was therapeutic.

Anonymous said...

"I have the word "really" twice."

Jan, I'm constantly using the same word repeatedly when I'm here. When someones talking quickly, we don't notice it, but when it's in writing, it pops out at you. What often happens to me, is my sentence structure or thought pattern will change in the middle of a sentence, but I don't go back to correct the first half, so the sentence makes sense. Plus I leave off the ends of words. Many of my problems (here and in real life) stem from being in a hurry.

Anonymous said...

"I'm afraid I would have difficulty 'letting go' of them for a minute..."

But Coreen, you're right. At this age you 'have' to be like that - not even blink - especially when out anywhere with them. They can disappear in the blink of an eye. When they're this young, there's no real discipline - they're just wild, free little spirits that want to experience everything (all at once, with no rules), and the have little comprehension of pain or danger (or in many instances, cause and effect). I'll never know how people with 3 or 4 small ones do it.

Emma and I are more or less joined at the hip, and love is the only thing that makes that easy (and fun) - much easier than it was when I was young (and much more enjoyable now too). She understands a lot more words than she can say yet, but I know her so well, that I can always sense what she needs - although sometimes what she needs conflicts with what I need. That's when we both work on the art of compromise. :)

Anonymous said...

... an interesting little tidbit:

"A mistake has been made in the Oval Office makeover that goes beyond the beige.

"President Obama's new presidential rug seemed beyond reproach, with quotations from Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. woven along its curved edge.

..... Parker said in 1853: "I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one. . . . But from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice."" Oval Office rug gets history wrong

... I like that last quote. It's what I prefer to believe.

Anonymous said...

Solar,
Are you in Orland Park?

Anonymous said...

Emma seems better, Tazzy seems fine, last weeks over -- the world is good.

I have high hopes for a good week for all of us. Have a great day everyone!

Coreen said...

Glad to see that everyone made it through the
3-day labor day weekend, the unofficial end to summer...it was nice to do very little, but hang out & enjoy the beautiful days....

and I agree with Chloe's high hopes that good
things are ahead for all....

Are you guys feeling better, Carol & Jan....

As far as knitting projects, none in my head right now, just experimenting with some different patterns making scarves...on a slow
day here I will put up some pics of the angel afghan & the little doll in her sweater at her baptism...