By the Roadside

On my way back from the post office on Saturday I saw a blue butterfly on the driveway flitting along the pebbles, finding some sustanance there. Luckily I had the camera in the glove compartment and got a few shots, though its tough to catch some butterflies with wings outstretched. I tried to i.d. it later. Red Spotted Blue Admiral...seems to be. Lovely...spotted on the same day as the memorial service of one our selectmen, and member of our Conservation Commission. At the service, his wife said he is still with us in the nature around us and within in our hearts. I think so, too.

Thunk, thunk

This morning we found out that one of our selectman who had been in a very bad motorcycle accident three weeks ago, died on Friday from his injuries. Very sad.

While I was out picking blueberries I notice a bullfrog swatting on an island of forest that had been created when the beaver made a new pond. I watched him for a while and he didn't seem bothered by my presence. I went back to the house and got my camera when I came back he wasn't there, but when I looked down to my feet he was a foot away, intent on something other than me.

Think I will refer to this little pond of a pond as Cook's Pond, in memory of the selectman. We had just been talking about beaver ponds at the last conservation commission meeting before his accident.

Life is thriving in what the beavers have created.

Hot, hot, and hotter still

This past week has been unbearably hot in the Northeast - with some short reprieves of rain here and there. The grass is burnt from the sun in spots. Berries seem to be coming out a bit earlier than usual. The squash is wilting.

Today we had a solid morning of rain and the vegetation is looking a bit peppier. Saw either the otter or beaver out in the murky pond. It disappeared before I had a chance to confirm its identity.

Inside it's very muggy. We need to fix up the basement so we can retreat there on days like these.