EAGLES AND OTHERS

Monday morning's long to-do list was put on hold while I made a quick trip down to Blackwater. I spotted eagles right away, but they were too far for my modest lens to capture. There were two other photographers there already, with lenses like great cannons protruding from their car windows. Slightly envious, I drove around them and headed toward my eagle tree, hoping to get lucky...and bingo! This beauty obligingly landed in the one spot of fall color. I don't have a monstrous lens that needs to be supported by a tripod attached to my vehicle (though I would like to), but I have patience and persistence and sometimes that pays off. Beautifully.

Great Blue Heron

"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own." ~ Charles Dickens

On Friday, I visited Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm again for a few more shots of the crias. One week later, they are thriving and vigorous, with much better command of their spindly legs. Two more were born this week so I will have to visit again soon.

Friday ended with this gift of a sunset...

Trappe Landing

Saturday was for watching skipjack races.

So much outdoor fun to pack into these fall weekends. Trying to spend as much time as we can outdoors, storing up memories to see us through the winter months.

Gotta run. Still working on that to-do list from Monday, cause when Nature whispers and my camera finger gets twitchy, I'm out the door. XO.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~Albert Camus

OUTSTANDING DREAMS ALPACA FARM

It was a great weekend, blog friends! Our daughter and a dear friend from Colorado were home, and they are as critter-crazed as I am, so it was the perfect time to visit Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm in Preston, MD. Owners, Phil and Vickie Liske gave us a tour and introduced us to their award winning alpacas.  We learned so much in the couple of hours we were there. Phil and Vickie clearly love what they do.                                                                         Fell in love with these gentle creatures, took tons of pics, asked a lot of questions, took up way too much of their time, and then shopped in their farm store. 
The Outstanding Dreams Farm Store is definitely worth the drive out to Preston. They sell alpaca yarns and roving, scarves, gloves, socks, gorgeous jackets and sweaters, and lots of other goodies, all made from alpaca fleece. 
While we learned that alpacas are generally not friendly in the way that dogs are, there were a couple of exceptions. Take a look.

Owner, Phil Liske.

 

Patriot (left) and Dudley Do-Right (right)

 

 

Alpaca stink-eye.

Now you're in love with them too, right?
To learn more about raising alpacas or arrange a tour, visit the Outstanding Dreams website here.  Find them on Facebook here.
We still had time for a sunset visit to my beloved Blackwater, where this guy sized me up as if I might be dinner.

Now I have to run. I can see Abby tearing around her pasture like the devil himself is after her. I should go and rescue her from whatever windblown leaf is terrorizing her. To be fair, she was spooked by a pair of does jumping into her pasture yesterday. She doesn't believe me when I tell her deer don't eat horses.
Have a great week, blog friends! XO

BACK TO NATURE

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." ~ John Burroughs

Baby sika deer.

I needed a breath of fresh, if frigid air today. Drove down to Blackwater and was amply rewarded. 
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." ~ William Shakespeare

MAKING CHRISTMAS

Now that I've caught my breath from Thanksgiving, I am a busy little Christmas elf. Or trying to be. The mild weather is a distraction that keeps drawing me outside. On Tuesday, I set off to buy a Christmas tree, but the tree lot I usually go to isn't open this year. Since I was headed vaguely in the direction of Blackwater, and I had my camera with me, I went there instead.

Which, as it turns out, was a very good decision. Got lots of great shots of this guy who seemed as interested in me as I was in him. Possibly, I looked like dinner.
I was more successful on the tree front yesterday, though I did have to search a bit. I did not want a "big box" tree. I am trying to shop small and local. In the end I found the perfect tree at the liquor store, and as I needed more bourbon for the Chocolate Bourbon Pecan pies I was able to "kill two birds." It isn't decorated but at least it's here, sitting in a tub of water in the barn. I wrestled it in there by myself, getting the hose stuck under it and shooting myself full in the face in the process of getting it out. Christmas is hard.

The wreaths are up, one for each front door and the barn.

Now I'm at a standstill until someone brings the rest of the decorations down from the attic, so I've turned my attention to gift bags. We exchange gift baskets with some of the family. I try to be creative with the container/basket. I like to give something useful, and in the past I've used barn buckets because they come in festive colors, shiny metal paint cans from the hardware store because they're fun to decorate, and cloth bags which I've made myself. Feed stores are an excellent source for containers. They have all sorts of galvanized buckets and egg baskets. This year I've opted for bags. Wanted something festive but not specifically Christmas-y, so I re-purposed the living room drapes that I took down last year. They'll make great shopping totes for the rest of the year, and that's one more thing out of my attic. Here's the first one finished. I have four more ready to assemble. I kept it simple and used webbing straps.

I'll fill them with homemade goodies, a few treats from the farmer's market (honey and homemade soaps), a bottle of wine, and tidbits picked up over the last few weeks. Sometimes I pick a theme, sometimes not. 

I like to set up a card table for wrapping in our tiny library. Keeps the clutter from spreading all over the house. I always vow to have the wrapping finished early, and yet, come Christmas Eve, this is where I'll sit. Thank goodness for grown children who can pitch in and help.
How are your preparations coming? I'd like to be one of those people who gets the decorating done all in a day. Instead, mine happens in layers. Wreaths one day, lights another, indoor decorations another, and finally the tree. It will all get done. It always does. I need to be able to veer off course and take a few eagle pictures when the mood strikes, though. Otherwise I get grouchy.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. XO.

SCENES FROM A BIKE RIDE

Our girl bought a bike. We picked it up on Saturday, in the pouring rain, then waited impatiently for the remnants of tropical storm Andrea to move on. Then we rode. And rode. On Sunday, we rode some more.
Take a look...

I'm a little dragonfly obsessed at the moment. This amputee didn't appear hindered by his disability.

Of course we rode through Blackwater. This bald eagle surprised us by landing in a tree right next to the road.

Trying to photograph turtles on a log is so maddening. There were seven when I raised my camera. Four slipped into the water before I could focus. Happens every time.

Added to my window/door collection.

Quite a few of the back roads looked like this. We pedaled through, even though there were SNAKES. Our socks and shoes got soaked, but we felt very adventurous, and squelched our way into Layton's Winery at the end, rewarding ourselves with wine slushies.

Milkweed.

Sweet Goldenrod. I think.

I love country roads in summer. So much fun, cruising along with my camera. I usually bring up the rear, as I brake for ladybugs, and dragonflies, and wildflowers, and such. I can though, be quite speedy when I see a snake. Also, swerve-y and scream-y.
Now the rain is back, so no country roads today, but I have my pics, and I'm itching to start a project with that little honeysuckle door.
Have a great week, blog friends. XO