Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above photo?

Happy Holidays!

Wishing Family and Friend a Merry Christmas!

Wile E. Coyote Perhaps...

One night last week, around 10PMish, I watched a coyote cross the road and pass through our yard.  Walked right past our garden, milled around the bird feeder and then off into the woods.

Was the coyote tracking the deer that clearly made their way along the same route?  The picture below shows deer tracks on the left and coyote tracks on the right.

I bet the coyote would have better luck catching said deer if he had an Acme Deer contraption snare...

Ticked Off Vic: Gender-Neutral Santa Claus

"I wanna believe Santa Claus had a penis, okay?!"

I luv me some Vic!

Merry Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas!

Emilie and JoAnne did a fantastic decorating our Christmas tree!

Leaf Covered Snow

We have several oaks trees, and forgive me as I know not the type(s), that hold onto many of their leaves throughout the winter and into early spring when the new incoming buds finally force them to drop.  However, that being said, many also drop throughout the winter too.  The weather and conditions play a roll.  

As you can see below we've had some snow, followed by rain and winds, which forced a lot of the said oak leaves to fall and scatter atop the snow covered side yard.

I'm jonesing to rake them up...

Sing Me A Song (Sparrow)

Caught this young lady poking around where she didn't belong.

Back in the day I'd give "Booga", our awesome cat, a call and she'd come a running to lend a paw...

This appears to be a Song Sparrow, which is fortunate for her.  The outcome would have been entirely different had this been a House Sparrow...

Fly, Be Free!

Christmas Songs on Steel

Change things up a bit!

Just in time for the holidays! 

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

A

The Ice Bucket Challenge

"Be passionate, be genuine, be hardworking, and don't ever be afraid to be great."

 -Pete Frates

No Vacancies

Sorry folks we're all full!  Seats are all taken.  Try back in the Spring.

Just Sitting And Watching

Oliver has chosen a new spot for perching.

These pictures don't show it but he's sitting about 14' up above the ground.

He has a short memory and doesn't remember falling from the deck a couple years ago. The compost decking prolly isn't the best for grabbing and holding on to.  Compared to regular wood anyway.

He blends in well...

Color. Hue. Tint.

Fall into Winter is a blah time of year outdoors.  Most plants have shed their leaves and gone dormant for the coming cold weather, and there's very little color. However, if you look close enough you can still find some...

These red Bittersweet berries pop and stick out like a sore thumb.  However, they're disappearing fast, as the birds and squirrels are eating them up.

Snow Covered Garlic

Not too much happening in my raided garlic bed, other than a thick coating of snow.

Roof Repair

Looks like the roof repair, or rather roof replacement, I did on one of our bird houses is holding up nicely.  Seems the Thompson water seal I coated it with is doing it's job too.

Hoping the Blue Birds return this spring, approve and decide to stay for another season!

Who's Who Visiting?!

The covering of snow we now have gives some insight to the critters that visit and pass though our yard.  I was out and about yesterday and captured the following pics -

Bird tracks -

Two deer passed thorough, eventually hoping the fence, and making their way across the street -

A fox also passed through too -

The handsome homeowners boot print -

I'm sure the prints would have been much better had I grabbed the pics before things warmed up and melting began.  However, still interesting to walk around to see who visited.

She's A Machine Man

After seeing her TV commercials, I finally met Bridge IT!  This exclusive technology scientifically match you to the perfect mattress.

Mattress shopping took me to Jordan's Furniture in Natick last weekend!  One of the first thing the sleep technician did was introduce me to Bridge IT, where my measurements and sleep habits were captured to create a sleep profile. The report identified several mattresses for me to try and select from.

Yesterday morning, at 6:30AM, my new mattress was delivered and installed, and my old mattress and box-spring removed.

Cheers!  Here's to many good night sleeps!

And It's Begun...

 The snow has started falling here in Franklin around 4:00ish -

Let's see what Mother Nature has in store for us -

Hoping not too bad only because,and it's Murphy's Law, I have a doctors appointment in Needham at 9:00AM tomorrow, UGH!

A Red Wine Treat

I don't recall where we got this bottle of wine from or when but it's been here a while, so it was time to indulge.  A nice red wine to go with our Thanksgiving prime rib, sure why not!

A vintage 2015.  Sweet tasting that went down smooth and quickly!

Good For Nuttin

I believe these are adult European Starlings.

"Starlings are boisterous, loud, and they travel in large groups (often with blackbirds and grackles). They race across fields, beak down and probing the grass for food; or they sit high on wires or trees making a constant stream of rattles, whirrs, and whistles."

I've noticed this to be the case too but also add their droppings to this annoyance.  When you have so many amassed together, all eating berries for example, there's gonna a poop mess everywhere too.  These were two of the many, who had their beaks down and probing my lawn, that I took some pictures of.  They blended right in with the brown leaves from the pear tree.  I believe they were foraging for the dropped fruit from our pear trees or whatever scraps was left behind from my mowing and raking.

The Starling falls into the category as the squirrel, the sparrow and pigeon.  Cool markings but noisy, messy, good for nothing birds.

Tail Mohawk?!

I'm gonna be upfront with you all, I'm not a fan of squirrels.  They're a nuisance for sure, dig holes all over the darn place and tend to scare the birds off from the feeders that they so desperately try to get into.  One caveat to this dislike is the black squirrel.  You don't see too many black squirrels but when you do they stand out and catch your attention.  There's one running around the office building I work at.  In the end still a squirrel and good for nothing.

I share this picture only because I thought it cool how this tree rodent has it's tail draped up and along it's back all the way up to and over his head. 

Just A Jay Try'n To Get A Nut

I spied this Blue-Jay working on an acorn, peck peck pecking away trying to get it opened.  Never saw that before.  Interesting.  I'm really not a big Blue-Jay fan.  They're bullies, loud and too nervous a bird for my liking.  However, in the now drab surroundings, a Blue-Jay blue stands out an is attractive.

Ever nervous, this dude didn't stick around too long before dropping his spoils and heading higher up where he could keep a better eye on things.

What Tics You Off?

Let's see what Vic has to say, and by the way, I'm a BIG Vic Dibietto fan, especially his mini rants on YouTube, very funny and spot on!

Holidays & Money

I have to say I completely agree with Vic!  I miss how thing were when I was growing up.  I miss the big family gatherings, seeing everyone, catching up and spending time laughing and reminiscing.  Today, holidays are too commercialized.  They start too early.  Oversold.  Too rushed.  No one seems to know or hold the true spirit or intent of these special days.

That being said, I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving.

Big Things Coming!

Good news, SO proud!

Emilie has been accepted to The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York!!

She applied for early acceptance to (4) colleges.  This is the first one to respond, the others are still pending.

Anticipation!

Gutters Clean As A Whistle!

Made my way over to Dedham yesterday and spent a couple hours doing some fall cleanup for an elderly family friend.  Although, she has a person who bags up some leaves, he doesn't do the best job.  My main goal was to clean the gutters on the house, porch and garage, which I've been doing every spring and fall for years now.  However, since I was there I took care of a number of others things too and addressed the poor raking of my predecessor.  I always clean off the driveway and push the leaves back from the edges and get them away from around the house.  It doesn't take long and I know she really appreciates it, which is what mattes most!  Plus I get to spend some time chatting with her, which makes my day.

And We're Off!

Here's a really cool picture of a Red-shouldered hawk in flight.  The hawk was sitting atop the bird house for the longest time, perhaps looking for a meal. Emilie was ready with the camera as it took flight. Notice it's shadow too in the foreground.

Snowblower Prep

Getting ready for the winter snows, UGH.

I changed the spark plug, topped off the oil and tires, replaced the auger and drive belts and replaced a rusted and broken brake spring.

Added some fresh gas and two pulls later she started up!

Bring on the snow...

Curiosity Killed The Cat...or Turkey

We had close to a dozen turkeys in the back yard this morning.  Perhaps, they heard I filled the bird feeder, for the first time this fall, and hung some suet and wanted to check things out.

They proceeded to march into the woods, onto bigger and better places I suspect.  However, the three Toms below lingered, thought about heading towards the street but turned back.

Something caught their eye; something in the pool area. Low and behold it was Oliver. They cautiously started making their way up, straining their necks forward, as if the extra neck length distance kept them safer.

Oliver was statuesque-like and didn't move, which had the turkeys all the more inquisitive, so the closer they came.  The eventually got tired or were satisfied there was no threat and moved along.

It was interesting to watch.

Offsite Event

Welcome to the Putnam Club!

I attended Cisco Connect Boston 2019, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

A good take.  One for staying closer to home and still getting credit for working.  I was a super cold day too but make for a couple great pictures of where the GOAT and Squirrel play...

#CiscoConnectsUs

As They Whisper (Help Us)...

I'm fairly certain this could be considered animal cruelty, if Trixie and Oliver could talk.

This is what happens when the cold weather arrives and day light savings time ends.