I'm back!

A series of events at home had conspired to keep me busy and needing focus on other things.

Today is the last program of the year for the Wilhelm Reich museum and hopefully after that I will be able to change focus and get on with some other projects. The market is doing well for me,(I'm an equity trader by day). My mom has Parkinson's and there are times that what she needs is more important than my own time. And one of my aunts was diagnosed with cancer. The outcome for her is looking good.

I have spent some time getting pictures and even had a couple of great days out with a friend. So, here goes!

Summer is ending and the goldenrod has been just incredible this year. Down towards Farmington the fields were a carpet of gold. This is one of my favorite flowers, I just love the color and the variety and abundance of insects that visit goldenrod (Solidago spp) is great. I haven't really had the chance to get some photos this year, but there's always next year.

It's also a bittersweet end to the summer when I see the first blooming of goldenrod. It means cool weather is coming, and I always hate to see summer end.

We had some cool nights last week, it did drop down to 40 and after having 70-80's that was too much of a shock.On the day the front was coming through, I went out to Little Kennebago Lake with a friend. It was overcast and threatened rain, which of course it did. There is something about being in a kayak in the rain that makes it more fun.

So I got to see some of the locals. A cow moose, a few common loons and a common snipe.

A bike, a dead mouse and the moose.

Warm and humid this morning. Just perfect for a bike ride.

I went down to Oquossoc,turned off a side road and parked.There is something about a Maine summer morning. Bird calls, the green leafy canopy, the whine of mosquitoes, ahh!

I took off up the road, crossed Rt 16, and continued on up the Kennebago River Valley. About a quarter mile up the road, the alders rustled and then a young bull moose comes running out of the bush. I skidded to a stop, breathless and shaking.

I continued up the road and finally I came to my turn around point, the Kennebago River Bridge. I always stop and look around, catch my breath (it's downhill to the bridge and one has to ride through wet grass to get there, so wet brakes make for a breathtaking ride.)

I was stand on the abutment looking down and scared a young garter snake who them dropped down to the concrete below. Scrambling down,to one, check on the snake and two, I saw a dead rodent. Curiosity always gets me, so I had to check it out. It turns out to have been a Woodland Jumping Mouse, Napaeozapus insignis.

I see one on occasion ,but not long enough to really get a good look. The knife is 6 cm.

Riding back and stopping to look at things, I kicked my bike.

Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
On my shed roof.