Last Stop in September

Well here we are at the end of another exciting month of September. Next stop, October. All aboard!

It won't be long now until this isn't the only buck we'll see in the bushes.

Prism Escape at Night.

First day of fall in our front yard at 7:23 a.m.

I've taken several pictures of this old barn over the years.

Harmony Fair - Wednesday, 22 September 2010

Egg sandwiches are the order of the day at 8:30 a.m. at the Harmony Fair.

Harmony School students get community service hours or do a paper on the Grange Fair while helping the judges do their job.

After the judging is over, the ribbons are handed out and attached to the winning photographs and art work.

Driving home from Harmony I stopped on Old Miller Road to get this field of goldenrod and the changing trees. Turning it into an ad for Pennsylvania was a last minute idea.

Harmony Fair - Friday, 24 September 2010

Canned goods filled the shelves at the Harmony Fair.

In this building alone there were over 2,800 entries.

It wasn't until I started to put this week's blog together that I realized David Morgan of Northern Cambria won the first place for the best scarecrow. He won that award last year as well.

Almost every stall in the animal barn was decorated and a few of the horses had an additional food source.

Small town photography don't get much better than this.

Step Right Up!
Get the ping pong ball in the jar and win a gold fish.

I'll finish out the Harmony Fair with some shots taken at the truck and tractor pulling track which is right across the road across from the fair grounds.


This is my first Cadillac at a pulling event.

The track rumor mill had the story that this puller hit a deer on his way to the fair grounds. Some say the truck looked like this when he got it as a graduation gift.

Jimmy just out having a lot of fun on a Friday night.

Keeping an eye on the program the track announcer and the statistician make sure that the contest is running smoothly.

She runs what she brung.

Diesel-powered, big, bad and real yellow.

This is your brain on sunflower seeds.

Sunflower Seeds.

Unfortunately, it's about time to put this little lady away for the winter. I made this about 20 years ago and it doesn't look too bad for it's age. Wish I could say the same about myself!

This is a baby spider growing on one of the spider plants that need to come in the house for the winter.

Fall Comes to the Allegheny Mountains

For the past few days nature has provided us with many visible clues of the coming season of Autumn. This week's blog reflects those changes as you will see in the color and the variety of birds that are passing through on the winter migration. Although I am looking forward to the changing of the seasons, I am not looking forward to the winter snows.

Although not really a rare bird around here we don't often get to see the Cedar Waxwings even remotely close to the house. If we do get to see them they're always sitting in the tops of the trees looking for bugs and insects, especially during the summer.

We might not have the Cedar Waxwings favorite food here on the ridge but we do have fruit bearing weeds like this Pokeweed that draw the birds down from the tree tops.

The 2x4 behind this Red-breasted Nuthatch and the yard stick below puts this 4-1/2" long bird into a perspective that the eye can better comprehend.

Female Goldfinch.

Male Goldfinch.


There are certain things in nature that tell you that the seasons are about to change and one that we see everyday is the male Goldfinch. Beginning about mid September, the male Goldfinch turns from a beautiful golden yellow (as seen in the previous photo) to a ruddy yellow gray seen here.

I passed these three horses in a pasture on my way to New Germany Friday morning.

As much as I hate flash, sometimes it does make itself useful.

What was once a thriving wood business is now nothing more than a memory.

New Germany Arts and Crafts Festival

Of all the ingredients that man needs to make a really good BBQ, hot coals are the most important.

Jewelry Tree.

Kids just love face painting.

Part of the Saturday crowd at the New Germany Festival.

Dennis Doaty works on resizing a leather belt for one of his customers.

A Chipping Sparrow sits in the Pokeweed waiting for a chance at the seed feeder.

Winding Down the Summer

It's only the second week of September and the sun is already sitting lower on the horizon in the morning. The days are getting shorter and before we know it the snow will be falling on the ridges of the Laurel Highlands. Both oil tanks are filled to the hilt, so let the winter games begin!

It won't be long now until we'll be able to see the next ridge through the trees.


I don't know what kind of game Mother Nature is playing but we went from Summer to Fall in a hurry this year.


One of three views from the same place along Ridge Road.


St. Joseph's Church sitting in the mist of a September morning.


View along Ridge Road near Buzzard's Crossroads.


Last of the morning glories.


I hate these guys...they only show up just before it starts to get really cold. Like I need a reminder.


The Larkspur stands out against the black of the pine trees 30 feet away.


Everytime we BBQ, Robin brings the freshest meat.


Zinnia


Eventually everyone comes to the water dish for a drink.


After being chased around by another Chipmunk this one takes a little me time.


Male Cardinal sitting in the Pokeweed keeping an eye on the feeders.


It won't be long now before the chipmunks will all be hibernating underground for their winter and the water heater will go back into the bowl so that the birds have fresh drinking water throughout the winter.



This Titmouse was able to fly away after running into the window.


It's not every day that we have a Red-Breasted Nuthatch at the feeders. Of all the Nuthatches this is the only one with a white stripe above the eyes.


Black-capped Chickadee


A chipmunk enjoying an ear of fresh corn on the cob.