It’s the beginning of apple season around here. This weekend on our drive to Warwick (NY) there was a line of cars turning into the road for U-Pick-Apples at Masker Orchards. This pic was taken at the Warwick Farmer’s Market. I love this particular stand because the owner always has inventive signs to tempt people to buy. Plus I loved the old crate stamped “Kinderhook, New York.”

It’s a beautiful mornin’, Ahhh,
I think I’ll go outside a while,
An jus’ smile.
Just take in some clean fresh air, boy!
Ain’t no sense in stayin’ inside
If the weather’s fine an’ you got the time.
It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day.
Either way,
It’s a beautiful mornin’, Ahhh,
Each bird keeps singin’ his own song.
So long!
—the Rascals

The lyrics from “It’s a Beautiful Morning” by the Rascals seemed to sum up Wednesday’s weather to me. It was cool, sunny, and crisp without the dragging humidity of the past week. I could not make myself stay inside or do anything as mundane as going grocery shopping. So I grabbed my camera and headed off down the forest path to Green Turtle Pond.

It wasn’t the kind of walk one does to get the utmost exercise. Oh, no; this was a leisurely stroll to focus on the nature around me. As I walked along all the worries and cares that I’ve been carrying around with me melted away and were absorbed into the leaves and branches of the trees.

Getting off the beaten path I was rewarded with a few interesting mushrooms. This one was on the side of a hill and because of where it decided to grow, was growing with its top in a vertical position instead of horizontal like it should be, leaving it looking like a big paddle with its spongy pores exposed.

This one was particularly intriguing to me. I think it looks like an Oreo cookie, but one that you wouldn’t particularly want to eat. I had to look it up in our mushroom books when I got home and found out it was an Old Man of the Woods, and edible although mediocre in taste.  But pretty, don’t you agree?

One of my goals on the walk was to visit this tree. I had seen it on a walk with the dogs and knew I would want to revisit it. It was just too interesting with all the shelf mushrooms (or polypores) growing on it. It was off the trail and up a steep embankment. Up close it’s a grand old tree that not only the fungi loves, but also an obvious favorite of woodpeckers. Yet it bears up under all that abuse, and I got the impression it was not unhappy about it.

Further along the path there were a few leaves changing.

And more polypores—growing on the ground this time.

Down by the pond’s edge I found this beautiful pine tree. I had seen this spot from the canoe and had to follow a few paths before I found the one that led here. We have one of these pines in our front yard and our neighbor’s have one too. I’m not certain of the name, but they are huge! The ground beneath its labyrinth of branches was covered with a soft carpet of spent pine needles that was inches deep. A perfect spot to spread a blanket for a picnic lunch or just to sit and relax.

This vine doubled back on itself to make the perfect trap for an unwary creature that happens into its path. I decided not to try the noose out for size!

This spider had a different plan for its prey.

I arrived home two hours later feeling like all was well in my little world. I do hope you enjoyed walking with me this morning.

We haven’t seen turkeys around much at all this summer. Not like last summer when I nearly had “pet” turkeys. Then they were a lot like chickens and I could entice them over by shaking the food in the pail and crooning softly to them. Not so this year, as they’ve been pretty much absent from the yard.

A few weeks ago they started coming round again. We had two groups of three: Big-Medium-Little and Big-Little-Little. Always the same little group of threes. (I know my names for them are not very inventive but merely driven by their size.) I was pretty gratified the other day when Big-Medium-Little were in the other part of the yard, and as I went out to feed the birds I rattled the food pail and they came flying right over! Is it possible they remember me? Here are Big-Little-Little. Can you see the second baby?

Now we’ve had a bigger group of turkeys over the past few days. I’ve counted up to nine at once, but Big-Medium-Little and Big-Little-Little are not with this larger flock. Yesterday when they visited for the morning I took some photos of them. Their heads are pretty ugly, and what’s up with the unicorn look of the turkey in the second photo? But just look at how beautiful and prismatic their feathers are!

When I got ready to go out for a walk this is what I saw—Mr. Tom strutting his stuff with the ladies! I don’t know if he was among the flock in my yard or not because when they are not all puffed up they look pretty normal. There were a couple of really large turkeys in the group, so perhaps he was there.

I love having the turkeys visit my yard. The bears too. Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a wildlife zoo! I never know what I’m going to see next.

It’s that time of year again. Time to don ye ole medieval clothing and get thee to the New York Renaissance Faire! This, of course, means getting laced up into my bodice and being Wench-for-a-Day. I know you must think I’m nuts, but I really could dress like this all the time. (I’ve spared you the full view.)

Here are some scenes from the Faire.

I fell in love with this fairie costume:

Rick wanted his photo taken “getting into m’lady’s panties.”

This sign spoke to me. I wonder why ...

What’s a Renaissance Faire without a joust?

Even a wise wizard needs a nap once in a while.

It was very hot and very humid at the Faire. If we had been dressed in shorts and t-shirts it would have been bearable, but in full costume we were close to heat prostration—whew! We couldn’t wait to get home and jump in the pool even if the water was as cold as it usually is in early June. It felt wonderful and certainly cooled us off.

So, I’ve hung up my bodice until the next time. Sigh. Back to reality.

All I can say is that we must have the tastiest acorns in New Jersey right here in our back yard. Mr. Bear paid us another visit late yesterday afternoon.

I went out on the deck with a glass of wine to watch for Rick’s arrival home (which is my normal daily routine) and I heard the now familiar sound of the heavy rustling of leaves. Not a squirrel. I turned my head and there he was: up the same tree, only this time not quite as close to the top. Silly bear. I ran for both cameras, then down into the yard I went. My plan was to keep him treed until Rick got home, which was in just a manner of minutes. I knew he wouldn’t come down with a crazy lady saying unintelligible things and pointing a funny looking thing at him!

Rick arrived a few minutes later and I motioned him into the back yard. We watched for awhile and were rewarded with this silly sit.

It was obvious the bear was hot and really wanted to come down out of the tree, so we retreated into the house. I watched from the window and saw him start his descent, so I went out onto the deck and took these vids. If you listen closely you will hear a hummingbird buzz by, then I pan to the hummingbird feeder. Throughout the first vid you can hear them coming and going!

Come again soon, Mr. Bear, you’re always welcome!