Good morning Friday...oh and Saturday too.

I'm giving up on the weed fight. The neighbor's on the other side of the fence don't cut the huge meadow [we used to cut it a long time ago for them and we pastured our mares on it].

The invasive species that keeps drifting onto our land is maddening. This particular area, I would love to have as a 'yard' or picnic area. Right now the mules keep the grasses down and this spring I twice weed whacked the invasive plants. It is too hot to go after them right now with the dew point and temps being the same...along with 80-90% humidity. 

It is like breathing through a wet washcloth pressed to your face.

I may have it professionally brush hogged next year a couple of times and eventually try to reseed this area into a yard. 

Ok. 
I can dream, right?

That swing is one I made last year and I still use it. 

In the afternoon I went out to assess the storm damage from the last few days. One huge old oak came down in one of the sections of the forest without damaging anything. 

I found the mules in the darkest part of the forest where it felt much cooler than anywhere else. It was tolerable.

Some of the downed logs from many years ago were sprouting slime molds and beautiful coral fungi.

I went further into another section that is above the creek and found the 'ridge trail' completely blocked by an old cherry tree that came down. The tree took several smaller trees with it.

Come this fall when the weather is more conducive to working outdoors, I'll take my saw and just make a re-route around the fallen tree through the brambles. I'm not going to pay someone to come back out with a bulldozer and redo the ridge road. I'll let the next folks who own this place do what they wish. 

I can get by with deer trails for my adventures.

The moth below is called a Blessing Moth [common name]. They are pretty beautiful and I don't see them very often.

Our friend Jason, the Geologist is coming for a weekend visit. Both Rich and I are really looking forward to it. Jason can cook a fantastic meatless meal and his company is always interesting.

We had a busy busy Friday but things look quieter for the weekend. Jason is not one we have to entertain. We can just hang out and enjoy.

Have a nice quiet weekend.

Birds and the Bees, flowers and ...

The humming birds don't mind me sitting near their feeder in the morning while having coffee. In fact the bold one doesn't mind me standing next to the feeder. He just zooms in and gives me a look as if to ask if I'll keep filling the feeder.

The bluebirds come around each morning and evening but never very close. So this is the zoom at 300mm. It is soft and not tack sharp, but I don't mind as the distance was about 100+ feet from where I was.

I was delighted. I took a photo of the resident Catbird, but she isn't very pretty and she was just in the yard.
The Orioles were easy last year, they hung out on the humming bird feeder. This year I think the Catbird has chased them into the trees a bit further out. I can see them flipping about in the Buckthorn woods and in the far off apple trees, but they have tended to stay in the upper canopy and hard to 'shoot'. Hmmm.

My next quandry was 'how' to make the bird shot interesting? Well, that certainly is a challenge as birds don't pose. But I'll keep working at it.
We saw a red bird a couple of days ago that was not a Scarlet Tanager, nor was it a Cardinal. We think it was a Summer Tanager. But could it be? They are not usually in this area. 
I've seen the bird a few times since and the song is similar to the Summer Tanager. However, to be sure I really want this bird to stop and show itself!

Tuesday afternoon Charlie and I decided to see how the forest and creek looked. If the mules were better browsers, they would have tons of food.

The creek was dry in two places. Just mud and rocks. I haven't seen that way since 1996. The upper pastures were brown and crunchy yet the mules seemed very disinterested in hay. Obviously they are finding something to eat.

We walked along the rocks and I heard some noises in the tall grass. I spotted what I thought was a dragon fly. This took about 6 tries before I got this. Creeping up on these damsel or dragon flies are not easy! Thank goodness for the better reach of the lens combined with the EM 1!

212mm focal length

The find of the day was The Blessing Moth, also known as Haploa Clymene. Also called the Spiritual Moth, Jesus Moth, and other names. Seriously. I have never seen one before. This was pretty cool.

215mm

I did spot some white but just passed it off as bird crap. But I turned around for a closer look. And there it was. I was thankful for the long reach again. Yes, it did take more than one try, but I think I got it. Some sort of legend says it brings you good luck.

I didn't know it at the time but I did say to Charlie that we really needed some rain.

And no wandering in the summer is complete without bees and flies.

I have no idea what is happening here on one of my white Petunias.

And it wasn't the clearest shot, but I was not going any nearer!

300mm [softer focus at this length]

Wasp and fly? Huh. It shall remain a mystery.

Now I wonder if the Blessing Moth was able to bring the rain we so badly needed? We had two inches overnight. It came down a bit too hard, but we will take it.