A "Scavenger" Hunt

I had the below opportunistic Turkey Vulture drop in my front yard the other afternoon for a bite to eat -

By the looks of it I can only guess that Grey Squirrel roadkill is delish!

It's nice to see this scavenger doing it's part and fulfilling it's roll to clean up the environment. Especially when the clean up needs to be done in my front yard, GEESH!

I Can't Make This Stuff Up...

The frontage to the soccer field, at Dacey Field just up the street from me, has been designated as a "Pollinator Pasture" and has been this way for many years now.

Although, there are some flowers in this area, e.g. Black-eyed Susan's, Golden Rod, Queen Anne's Lace and Milkweed to name a few, it honestly fails at it's intended goal.

However, that being said, I'm sure there have been many insects and critters that have called this area home and completed their metamorphosis there.

Typically, the Franklin highway and grounds division mows this area down in the fall, which has been the extent of their maintenance on and to this "Pollinator Pasture".

Well, that was until a week and a half ago, when some Franklin town numbskull worker mowed it down, see below pic -

Honestly, it couldn't have been cut at a worse time in terms of the critters and pollinators using and relying on it.  I'm guessing there were many an insect in the midst of their transformations, e.g. caterpillar to moth, etc. Perhaps, growing praying mantis and SO much more but no longer, GRRR!

I posted these same pictures to the local Facebook Franklin town page and surprisingly someone from the highway and grounds division responded and claims the area was cut in error and that the person who did it "feels terrible".  HAHAHA, what a crock of BS, the feels terrible thing...

The other issue, which you can clearly see in the above picture, and it's one that I've come to expect from the Franklin highway and grounds folks because it's glaringly obvious in their workmanship most of the time, is the shoddy work they do!

The weeds growing along and up through the fence are STILL THERE TODAY a week and a half later!  Weeds around the trees and telephone pole in that area also still have weeds growing around them AND the cuttings from the mowing are STILL littering the sidewalks!

There doesn't seem to be any oversight from management, supervisors or town administrators and if so no one cares. They all seem okay with lazy half-assed workmanship and the message it sends to all and for all to see, ALAS!

Sadly and frustratingly, this is how the town of Franklin spends my tax dollars.

Therefore, I give the Franklin highway and grounds division AND the putz who "accidently" mowed this area the following merit badge.  It's well deserved for this debacle -

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the below photo?!

Unfortunately, I was only able to take this one pic to successfully capture this critter.  As I stopped the truck and reached for my camera, another car came by and scared these adorable littles off, ALAS.

There were two of these still spotted fawns, which looked like twins to me, but spooked off they went with their white tails held high.

After delivering the mail to this dead-end road, I slowly crept as I drove out looking for these dudes but I was unable spot them again.  They blend in SO well in that environment.

Wile E. Coyote's Return

My coyote friend was back yesterday afternoon!

Seems to be focused on the neighbors chickens and why not?!  Chicken is yummy!

What was a tad concerning about this visit was the time of day.  It was around 5:00PMish AND the neighbor who owns the chickens, well their kids were out in their driveway screaming and playing.  However, that didn't seem to sway the coyote at all...

She's looking in the direction of the kids in the first pic below -

Waited a bit, then still headed towards the chicken coop in their back yard AND very soon after the chickens erupted.  So much so, that the neighbor next to me came out on her back deck and looked in the direction of the squawking chickens (too overgrown for them to see the coop or much in that direction) -

I remained on the deck, camera in hand, and patiently waited and sure enough she trotted up the side yard, with no chicken dinner - foiled again, towards the street and crossed -

Then headed straight back into the wooded area behind those homes -

What you didn't see was me darting room-to-room, from the back deck, to the kitchen bathroom window, then to the dining room window at the front of the house and all in an effort to capture the few so-so pictures above.

And that my friends was the highlight of my day!

Sad and Unfortunately True!

LLV Package Delivery Adventures

My job allows me to get an up close look at many houses, properties, yards, etc., a peak most folks wouldn't normally be allowed otherwise and without raising suspicion or risk of being chased off but let me explain -

The route I've been assigned to recently, route 7 and which has over 450 stops by the way, has me delivering to a section of Millis and a street, Village street, I've driven on thousands of times of the years.  Over that time I've noticed many of the houses along the way but there have also been a handful that are set far back from the road and even some where you're unable to see the houses from the street.

However, I now have the ability, when delivering packages of course, to drive up many of these driveways and get an up close peek at the property, yards and homes.  It's interesting for sure.

For example, there is a large piece of property just off Village street called Cedariver, formerly known as The Baker Reservation, that is a 55-acre open space reserve located on the Charles River.

This property has an assigned gravel parking area and marked trails open to the public to hike and walk.  However, there is a mailbox on post at the entrance to the parking area and a very long paved road, well actually it turns out to be a driveway, that runs through it and into the wooded area, which also has some "no trespassing" signs at the far end.

I've visited this spot over the years and have always been curious as to what's at the end of that driveway.  Well, the other day I had a large package for that address and didn't want to leave it at the mailbox for fear of it being stolen, SO I took the opportunity to drive up the driveway to deliver the package safely to the front door.

This allowed me the chance to finally see what was out there!

So, come along for the ride; Let's explore together, click the link - 161 Forest Road Millis MA

Happy 13Th!

Happy Birthday to my faithful, best friend and roommate!

You all have NO idea how much she helped me get through these last couple of years.

It's difficult to leave you when I go to work but my welcome homes are wonderful!

#Blessed

Today Was A Berry Berry Good Day!

I took today off of work, as I had an appointment this morning, and it turned out to be a productive day all in all.  I was able to take care of things that have been in waiting, as I've been working almost every day for a couple weeks now.  Completed a handful of errands, made several overdue phone calls and finished the day out in the yard - my happy place!

Although it's been very hot this month and we've not had any significant rain in the same time, the lawn still needed to be mowed, so I cut it this afternoon for the 13th time this season - yes, I've been keeping track.  This darn OCD...

I also did some weeding, pruning and hand watered all my annuals and veggies, PHEW!

I finished the outside chores by picking a half gallon of DELICIOUS and JUICY blackberries!  OMG, they are to die for, so so so tasty.

AND there's oodles more to come!

If you're in the neighborhood stop in for some blackberries and don't forget to bring a quart of French vanilla ice cream!

#Blessed

Back Road AM Grid Lock!

A rafter of turkeys crossing Ridge street this morning brought traffic to a screeching halt!

All females with their young'n showing them the ropes of how to safely cross the street.

You'll have to take my word that there were about 6 or 8 adults and their babies. I was too busy enjoying the show live and slow on the draw with my camera, so only able to capture the trailing pairs.

Sorry You Can't "Stick" Around

It's blackberry picking season, YIPPIE!

I picked my first batch the other day with oodles of them to come!

While picking I noticed one of the berries had a stick or something stuck to it but upon closer inspection it was no stick, rather a true "Inchworm".  Very stoic for sure, as it was most definitely trying sell itself as anything but a tasty treat for a toad or bird.

After some prodding I was able to get the dude to move, click the link below to watch -

These caterpillars are accordingly called "loopers", "spanworms", or "inchworms" after their characteristic looping gait.

Check it out live - Inch Worm on Blackberry

I eventually removed the critter and placed him in a different area of the yard, then ate the berry!

OMG, they are SO sweet and tasty!

#Blessed

Passerine Songbirds

I mentioned in an earlier post about an extremely upper class neighborhood that I deliver mail to in Millis.  The development doesn't have a name, as so many do. Rather just known by their street names; Evergreen Terrace, Beech Road and Frontier Lane, with the latter containing the BIGGER and nicer estates, see below -

I'm guessing that this area was farmland at one point; fields and forest.  One indication that there isn't a single tall, older tree on any of the properties.

Anyway, I digress from the main reason for this post and it's kinda a "find the critter" type post too.

Can you find the critters in the two photos below - 

Look closely over the door and windows.  Care to guess at what these critters are?

Different house, same critters congregating over the windows -

I took another picture today, Tuesday August 11, see below.  Look over the doors and windows, oodles of them -

They're Barn Swallows!

I see them flying in and around this development each time I deliver there.  Recently, I noticed how they'd flock to and perch on just a couple houses around the same area; the more open areas.

They are a beautiful bird for sure and SO fun to watch they soar and dart in the open spaces.

As Dr. Seuss said, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"...

Pretty In Pink

 I planted an old favorite this year in the pool area, Cosmos, and they've done great!

The flowers are a variation of pink and there are oodles of them.

The bees absolutely love these flower and I'm guessing they come from near and far to enjoy them.

I love how the plants and flowers in my yard pop and come alive, and how they attract SO many bees and insect, including Hummingbirds!

#Blessed

His Test

Find The Critter

Can you spot the critter in the below picture?

Clue and apologies - my watermark is kinda in the way...

A very chatty Red Squirrel -

That remain extremely calm and still as I neared and took these pics -

Admittedly, I am NOT a fan of the Grey Squirrel but luvs me the Red Squirrels!  I hope this doesn't make me as an animal bigot.  The Grey Squirrels are nothing but a nuisance, digging holes everywhere, raiding bird feeders and there are just too many of them.

** UPDATE - Red Squirrel Alerting, listen

Vine Ripen Love Apples!

OH, this is happen'n!

My tomatoes are finally starting to ripen and pop!

I can see oodles of tomato salads and BLTs in my very near future!

As a matter of fact, I made a tomato salad last night!  It's chill'n in the fridge and I'm already, at 6:55AM, looking forward to digging into this salad when I get home from work this evening!

#Blessed

Signature Required!

I had my first package delivery with cremated remains the other day. Thankfully, they were someone's pet remains but it was still sombering and I handled them with extreme care.

They're shipped certified, which requires the homeowner to sign for them.  If there is no one home, we leave a delivery reminder slip (form 3849) directing them to the post office for pick up.  In my case they were not home, so I drove my route all day with the remains along side me.

If I'm being honest, I will tell you that when I first saw this package it shook me up.  It brought back the memory of a notice I received in my mailbox one day of a package being held at the post office for me.  Having NO idea what this package was, off I went to the PO.  I went inside, handed the clerk the delivery reminder slip, then signed for the package - still unaware of the package content.

It wasn't until I got back in my car did I realized that I was holding the cremated remains of my dad 😥.

Driving back home I had to pull over and park.  It hit me hard and I broke down and couldn't drive at that moment.  It was a VERY emotional and surreal moment.

Just A Tad Dirty...

This is what my hands looked like after Saturday's mail delivery!

Once a week we deliver the local market sale fliers.  These fliers are stamped with addresses and need to be delivered to each and every mailbox on the route, which means a required stop at each mailbox. Often times, without these foolish fliers, there isn't mail for every stop and therefore I can drive by many of them.  Stopping and delivering at each box makes for a longer day.

The BIGGEST problem I have with these fliers is shown in the pics of my hands below, GROSS -

They're dirty and gross!

How am I supposed to scratch an itch or eat my grapes with hands like this?!

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?!

Harmony

What A Way To Go

Even though this dude was on the kitchen window screen, inside my house, it didn't prevent it from catching and dinning on a meal!  Perhaps, it was a take out meal and it accidently flew in the house when I opened the screen door to water Trixie.

This is a Robber Fly, also called an Assassin Flies, and it had some sort of bee in it's grasp. They use their sharp, pointy mouthparts, called a proboscis, to pierce their prey and inject a combination of neurotoxins and digestive enzymes. These toxins paralyze the victim, while the enzymes begin to break down its internal tissues. The robber fly then sucks up the liquefied contents of its prey. 

I left the dude alone and didn't bother it, after all I don't like to be interrupted when eating either.  The following morning the dead bee was on the window sill and it did actually look as if it had been sucked dry.

The Robber Fly was also still there on the screen, so I gently grabbed it and set it free outside.  The slim, pruned up bee, well it went in the trash can.

The circle of life...

Psst! Hey You!

Seems I have a couple voyeuristic sunflowers spying on my through my office window -

All these sunflowers self-seed from last years plants.  They randomly popped up, so I transplanted them in a row at the back of the garden and they all took off.

The Gold Finches, Titmouse and bees are in their glory!

I get an up close and personal seat to watch these critters forage.

Pictures to follow...

Homesick!

I came across this quote yesterday and it resonated with me and I 100% agree!  Perhaps, this explains the aches that overcome me at times these days -

It's eerie how the above quote ties into a Facebook posting I saw last week, which I saved because it too struck a cord with me -

As I get older I find myself reflecting on the past more and more.  They were a wonderful time with wonderful memories and all seem to have gone by in the blink of an eye.

There is NO doubt that I am homesick and miss the times and people who were a part of it but I am SO grateful and thankful for ALL the memories I'm able to revisit.

#Blessed