Thursday, October 25, 2012

Feeders Open, Lunch is Served

For a number of years we have been feeding our feathered friends year round but this year we decided that we would let them fend for themselves until fall.  I've reconstructed the frame that holds our feeders with 1/2 inch galvanized electrical piping in an effort to make it harder for the squirrels, opossums and raccoons from raiding the feeders.  So far we know that the squirrels can climb but they find it hard to maintain their balance on the pipe.  


One of these days I have to go to the feed mill and pick-up some cob corn to keep the squirrels happy this winter.


Blue Jay keeping a wary eye out for competition for a seat at the feeder.


A pair of Mourning Doves sun themselves on a sunny October afternoon.


Male Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoying the first suet of the season.


Mourning Dove fluffing its feathers on an old tree stump in the yard.


Female Cardinal eating seeds off plants growing in the older feeder area outside the family room window.


Male Red-bellied Woodpecker 


Female Pileated Woodpecker, Pennsylvania's largest woodpecker, looking for bugs on a tree covered with lichen.


Gray Squirrel looking for the seeds under the bird feeders.


Black-capped Chickadee that hit the window.   I went outside and held it until it revitalized itself so none of the other critters would get it.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Enjoying Autumn


We spent the last two week's enjoying the beginning of Fall and all the changes the out-of-doors is going through.



Power lines near Chest Springs, PA just as a storm approaches from the West.


One of 8 wind powered generators going up about three miles from our house.


Looking East towards Hastings Borough from St. Bernard's Cemetery.


Fall sassafras leaves on a tree outside the window about 8 o'clock in the morning.


Scobby's Barn along Bridge Street where Elder Township meets Hastings Borough.


A sign on top of Clem's BBQ along Route 22, Blairsville, PA.


Four photographs from Saint Francis University's STAR PRODUCTIONS latest play, Princess Parade.







My first blog picture taken with a cell phone camera showing the dock at the south shore boat launch on Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park.


The good ship Clara -- a home-built, 18 foot long, twin masted sailer that can also be rowed, or powered by a small outboard motor.


The Clara under sail. This is probably the only two masted sailboat seen on the lake.


Tourists get a snapshot of the lake and the autumn trees to take home to Japan.


Grasses growing along the shore provide small fish with a place to hide.


Two guys fishing in a little back water area of the lake.


Leaves floating on the water near the boat launch on the north shore.


The only doe we saw during our four hours at the park on Friday afternoon.