Saturday, June 29, 2013

Foggy Docks and Fishing Boats




We are stuck in a stalled weather pattern here in the Northeast.  It’s been foggy, humid, damp and rainy in Narragansett.  Walking around the port of Galilee, it reminded me of that Scooby Doo episode Go Away Ghost Ship where the cartoon ship would appear then disappear in the fog.

I grabbed my camera and we walked around in the sticky, damp, misty air, taking in the foggy images and reveling in the beauty of the foggy docks and fishing boats. 

I love walking around the docks in the fog...how about you?








Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Beaching It...





The end of June brings the school year to a close, but begins four weeks at my most favorite place in the world…the beach.  While the boys finished their last week of school, I was allowed to move our things in the beach house we rent from the last week of June to the third week in July.  The house is vacant from the end of May when the college kids move out so once cleaned, my landlords (who have become wonderful friends) allow me to move in early.

And while most people will agree at how dirty and annoying the seagulls are, I just adore seeing them because for me seagulls = beach. 




My husband is a city person.  He hates the beach and stays home while my blood pressure and stress levels go down just by being here.   And fortunately the kids love it too, even my big kid who will be 30 this year!  So my husband can stay in the city, we will enjoy every minute we are down here.

Hope you all have had a lovely start to a wonderful summer!

Monday, June 10, 2013

A Gaggle of Geese, A Pair of Swans and A Great Blue Heron



Blackstone River at the Manville Dam in Lincoln


The Blackstone River in Northern Rhode Island hosts a variety of RI wildlife.  I have been biking the route about 3 days a week, anywhere from 17-22 miles per day.  I always grab my Fuji Fine Pix because it is lightweight and has a 30x zoom. 

Gaggles of Canadian Geese are littered throughout the 10 mile part of the path I ride and there are babies galore this spring.  Mother Geese keep a watchful eye on their goslings.  They even run and hiss at the bikers as we pass, although I have noticed these moms have become less aggressive as the goslings get bigger. 













Several pairs of swans are also scattered along the path.  They are so beautiful as they swim by.  I always stop to take a photo.








The Great Blue Heron is my favorite bird on the bike path.  Watching them forage for their meal is so fascinating for this city girl.  They stand in water like statues and I have watched them wait for 10-15 minutes without moving before plucking an unlucky frog, fish or river rat from the water. 

 
Poor Frog
Patiently Waiting, Perfectly Still



Waiting

Can't wait to see what else I'll see the next time I ride!




Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Orioles Have Come to Town






Spring has sprung and the birds are out in force.  We live in the city and see the usual city players; cardinals, sparrows, wrens, robins.  Occasionally a hummingbird will come by my butterfly bush but until a few weeks ago, we never saw an Oriole.  He seemed to really enjoy the bird bath, so much so that he brought back a friend.  I put out some oranges and grape jelly and they have been visiting a couple of times a day.





The robins are enjoying the bird bath too, but a baby robin evidently fell out of a nearby nest.  He had been hiding in my flowers, chirping for the mom to feed him.   And he flew the other day!


Yikes!  Bad Hair Day!



Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Beek Geek and Proud Of It




To know the Fabulous Beekman Boys, Josh Kilmer Purcell and Brent Ridge, is to love them.  My family has watched them from their adventures as two city boys who bought a farm in upstate NY to their exciting race around the world on the Amazing Race (which they won). 

This past weekend we attended the Sharon Springs Garden Party and visited the new Beekman 1802 Mercantile.






The newest addition to the Beekman line is their goat milk ice cream.  Sadly, I am not a big goat milk/cheese fan, but I decided to try the Tart Cherry Almond Swirl ice cream anyway and it truly was Fabulous!  I can’t wait to try more flavors next time we’re in town!




We visited with Josh’s mom Jackie at the Beekman farm, watched Farmer John supervising the milking of the goats, met Faintly, the smallest of the baby goats born this year, said hello to PolkaSpot and met önder, Josh & Brent’s new puppy. 








It's always a treat to see Josh & Brent as well as other friends we've come to know in Sharon Springs.  I was able to stock up on some favorites at the new store as well as purchase a couple of their newer items, tomato sauce and BBQ sauce!  So, until next time...