Alas, Poor Pink Garage Door

Alas, we knew you well. Today's ride around the lake found a pristine white garage door had taken the place of our beloved, quirky pink garage door. The new "look" is clean and lets the beauty of the lot and lake flow around the weathered slate sided cottage, very gentle on the eye and inviting. I guess we'll have to give directions now using the Red Sock-Nosed Deer Mount one house down. If you haven't seen that distinctive decoration, take a drive down Shadyside. Gotta love it!

It was gray and kind of rainy/snowy this morning. We had been seeing deer and turkey regularly on the sides of the ridge along Sunnyside, but the animals and birds kept a low profile today, conserving energy.

Siding Anticipation

For all those following the Findley Lake siding decor story, I am hoping to have something to report soon. Ed Mulkearn's new house has a lovely wrap-around deck now. A little bird told me that the exterior decor was probably going to be "Buckskin", but that could change. Obviously weather has not been conducive to painting. That also affects the pink garage door on Shadyside. It's a nice landmark when the door is closed. The weathered slate siding just looks great on the house. The other houses look cold, waiting for better weather to get the exteriors finished.

Fox Family for Neighbors

Last Wednesday, 3/19/08, caught a glimpse of some animal with big ears. No, it wasn't a wolf and it wasn't Grandma, it was a red fox. Since then, I've been able to see a den and also Daddy Fox. Yesterday watched Mama fox move the kits to a new den and then make Daddy go grocery shopping with her. It was pretty funny to watch. He'd gotten bored waiting for her to finish up in the new den and had wandered off following his nose. Haven't gotten a count on the kits yet. Hope they don't run afoul of the local dogs or hawks, or man. Right now they seem like decent neighbors.

Great Bird Watching in Findley Lake

It's been a great ornithological month in Findley Lake. March 2nd had a very close view of a Pileated Woodpecker working the Beech trees on Shadyside (where it parallels Shadyside Extension). That was on a Sunday. The next day, we actually had one in the Crabapple tree out back (see photo with Robin). Then on March 8th, the Tundra Swans were on the frozen lake. They sat hunkered down in the middle of the lake. I think they usually head north during February and we don't see them much. As usual, when they show up, a bad storm isn't far behind. Sure enough, Sunday saw nasty weather arrive. However, it didn't dampen my feeling that Spring was just around the corner. After all, the Swans had arrived !!

February 9th Storm

Had an interesting time storm watching on Saturday, Feb. 9th. We knew that the weather was going to change radically so made a Jamestown trip to Sam's Club and Home Depot. Heading back on I-86, you could see the clouds on the leading edge of the front coming at us. We had expected to see the temperature start dropping but strangely enough, it didn't. The clouds looked like the animated sand storm in the movie "The Mummy". They formed a roiling line across the horizon with misty gray haze in front, pushing our way. Arrived home safely and decided to drop off some venison and paperwork down at Ed Mulkearn's. There had been some small sprinkling of rain on our drive home, sporadic and light, then a little hail while we were in the house. By the time we reached Ed's back drive, the rain was really coming down. In the time it took to hustle to the back door, deliver the goods, and return to the car, it had turned to true snow showers. As we headed home on Sunnyside, the temperature dropped 6 degrees in less than one mile of driving. You could barely see across the lake. It was a very good lesson in just how caprecious Mother Nature can be. Around here, forewarned is forearmed (and safe).

That Sunday, my nephew arrived on his way from Arkansas to New Jersey. Having been a helicopter pilot in Iraq and now flying helicopters out to the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, he knows a thing or two about weather. He came through the front door saying that our snow storms were the equivalent of the sands storms in Iraq. Dangerous and difficult to maneuver through. Fortunately, we were able to hunker down and ride out the cold weather and icy conditions safely at home.

Turkeys And Eagles - Truly American Birds

Had a banner day seeing both birds. We headed south on Rt 426 towards camp and when we crossed over French Creek (in the town of French Creek), there was a Bald Eagle. It was sitting in a tree on the right side of the road. With Findley Lake frozen over this past week, I had guessed that the resident bald eagle was hunting along the unfrozen creek. Let's hope there is more than one in our area. They are so exciting to see.

Got to camp, checked the propane supply, and saw about 20 Wild Turkeys walking up hill and along the ridge behind camp. Even heard them talking. This was at about 2pm. We tried to use a turkey call but I suspect we are inept with it.

On the drive back home, saw a huge flock of about 30, on one of the farms that we pass on Rt. 27 outside of Garland PA. The cows looked so cute there, hanging over the fence pensively eyeballing the turkeys. They probably break up the monotony of a day at pasture.

It's always exciting to see wild turkeys and the bald eagle was a real treat today!

Bitter Cold Means Time for Furnace Work

I really don't know why it is, but with 12 months in the year, we always have furnace work done when there is snow on the ground. Today will see the start of an experiment. We are adding 8 feet of convector in the family room to try and get some more heat there. It's a miserable day outside for humans or animals. The wind is suppose to be gusting between 25 - 35mph and the temperature is a balmy 19 degrees. With the thermostat set at 70 degrees, the family room is only able to reach 67 degrees. I'm running the pellet stove while the work progresses since they will have to shut down the furnace, cut into the line and install the new convector. It's already brought the temperature up to a reasonable 72 degrees.

Stopped at Sander's Market in North East this morning. It is the former Jubilee Market. They make very good donuts at VERY wallet-friendly prices. With a quick flick of the wrist, an apple fritter and an old fashioned plain fry cake were headed to doom and destruction in Findley Lake. So much enjoyment for about $1 total.

Anyone who hasn't tried Sander's homemade sausages is missing a treat. I think they are the best store bought sausages you can buy locally and, when on sale at $1.99/pound, some of the cheapest. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

Here's a nice Venison recipe that I made up several years ago.

SPICY VENISON SAUSAGE PATTIES
1# ground venison
1# Sander's Jalapeno sausage

Squeeze Jalapeno sausage out of casing into large bowl. Add ground venison and mix thoroughly together. Form patties and fry in pan. Freeze unused cooked patties.

These can be used for supper or breakfast.