On the Road Again

South bound and down (in a couple of hours.)   I don't mind the ride, it's the lack of "facilities" that gets me every time.... I really need a small, van camper with 4 seats and a bathroom... I've only said that for 20 years......Maybe that's why I like home so much.  It's not the trees, the falls and the wildlife....it's the toilets!    So be it, on our way soon.....porta potty and all;-)  Will catch up next week..... Happy Warm, Weekend!

I'm IN:-)

Living across the road from the Owasco Lake inlet is wonderful.  I lived on Owasco Lake from 1952- 1970 and then frequented our lake house often until we sold it in 2007.  In all those years, I only traveled the inlet ONCE!.. Lee took me in his small johnny boat powered by a 5 horse motor.( in my words, his small Johnson;-)... It was amazing!  As soon as we left the lake, it was like entering the Amazon River.  Such tranquility... Now, my beloved eagles have made the banks of the inlet their home along with many species of ducks, geese, cranes, herons and other wonderful creatures.  recently a birding group walked the inlet trail and here is what they saw and heard on one short hike. Here's there list!
Good evening,

I just wanted to report out on our birding trip around the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve on Saturday, April 18. Thank you to those that attended! It was a beautiful morning despite it being fairly quiet and muddy! We started around 8:45 AM and ended about 11:30 AM, following the 1.0 mile loop trail that started at the Rte. 38 pull off.

For those that aren't familiar, from the parking lot, the trail follows an old railroad bed before winding towards Owasco Creek which you follow until you reach the southern end of Owasco Lake. The trail then proceeds along a gravel road before circling back onto the railroad bed again to the parking lot. So there is a great mix of habitats to bird along the way...forested wetland, open marsh, the lake and upland forest. In short, all species heard or seen were very common (32 total), except for a lone calling Virginia rail along the north side of the gravel road.

We saw...

American robin

White-breasted nuthatch

Wood duck

Red-winged blackbird

Black-capped chickadee

Blue jay

Downy woodpecker

Mallard

Great blue heron

Canada goose

Tufted titmouse

Hairy woodpecker

European starling

Song sparrow

Tree swallow

Common grackle

Bufflehead

Scaup spp.

Redhead

Osprey

Double-crested cormorant

Eastern pheobe

Northern cardinal

Herring gull

Ring-billed gull

We heard...

Red-bellied woodpecker

American crow

American goldfinch

Northern flicker

Pileated woodpecker

Chipping sparrow

Virginia rail

Other non-bird species observed or heard were painted turtles, spring peepers, northern leopard frog and several dead mudpuppies were found along the bank of the creek (presumably stranded from receding flood waters).

We will host another birding trip on Saturday, May 23 if you'd like to participate. The start time is yet to be set, so stay tuned for that announcement as we get closer to the date. It will most likely be earlier than this last trip.

They only walked the loop so they didn't get to see Millard and Abigail but I enjoy them everyday. Yesterday, I was able to get some wonderful photos of Millard perched high on a branch on a dying tree.  I think he's getting used to me and my trusty golf cart... He only flew off when I was literally underneath his perch. As I said yesterday, I'm pretty sure there is a t least one chick (eaglet) in the nest... I'm hoping the cruel spring didn't attribute to one not making it.

The INlet is INdeed Inspiring:-)

Bird-ternity Ward....

What the flock?  I am surrounded by feathered bodies and their immediate needs.  No wonder Lee hated growing up on the farm.  He liked the tractors and anything that had a motor. He hated the cows (which confuses me some as he is definitely a connoisseur of mammary glands) and pretty much everything that was related to farm responsibility.  Being the first child didn't force him into servitude as he was followed quite closely by 5 more siblings who appeared to enjoy that lifestyle.  Now, nearly 65 years later, we seem to have a little hobby farm.  I'm thinking it took over 6 decades for him to appreciate not having to do the chores and therefore made them more alluring.  I, on the other hand, lived in town.  We always had a dog and the occasional kitten that liked to ride home from the farm where we would acquire it.  Fan belts and radiators don't mix well with kittens.............twice.  Our kids had various pets throughout the years; dogs, kittens, hermit crabs, hamsters, gerbils and even a pigeon.  I was not informed we had a pigeon until Jessie wanted to hurry home from a skating party one night so she could see how her pigeon was doing. I quickly corrected her saying, "We don't have a pigeon!"  I was wrong.  One was residing in her bedroom and had nicely covered her entire room, (Barbie house roof included) with pigeon shit....lots and lots of pigeon shit. This feathered friend started out as an injured Hewitt Brothers' pigeon, became a "homing" pigeon and ended up a dead pigeon. Traumatic to say the least!
Fast forward 25 years and we have a lovely, quiet, rural home nestled in the trees surrounded by wild animals and birds.  You'd think we'd be content just to fill bird feeders.....not!  We now have 10 chickens in the coop, 3 small silkies (hens) in the smoke house, 4 darling ducks in the garage and 2 tiny turkeys in a tub at Jessie's.  You'd think they could all eat the same thing, wouldn't you? We have 5 garbage cans of food lining the garage wall each holding a different supplement for our feathered friends. Some are on weight watchers, some on cracked corn and even some on laying mash....(I'm pretty sure Lee thinks I should eat a handful a day of that!!!)  They all drink copious amounts of water and the ducks drink, spill and swim in theirs ALL DAY LONG!
This all brings me back to chores.  It does get me fresh air time. It has honed my birding skills and educated me to the value and perks of herbs and all things fresh and healthy.....for my feathered friends.  Other than the fun of watching these critters enjoy our little heaven on earth, we reap the rewards of eggs and fertilizer.  Since I love giving away our colorful eggs, the coffers are in the red for our hobby farm.  We really don't care as we don't have to do it, we just love to do it...


And for our other feathered friends at Eagle Point, we've managed to barely see one fuzzy, gray eaglet head.  We're hoping with the onset of warmer temps, we'll see it better and maybe see a sibling as well.... fingers crossed.

                            Look right under the peak of the heart shaped branch!

One extreme to the other

We had a great time at the Beach Boys concert. Four old ladies rocked out with a few hundred others and enjoyed lots of reminiscing, singing off key and dancing like fools.  It was like music day at the Nursing Home only we got to leave!  So many things change as we age.... We had a lovely meal at Pino Bianco before the show.  We all ordered our Italian favorites and an antipasto to share.  After ordering the waitress said, "Would you like lettuce with that for $3 more?" WHAT?  of course we want lettuce in our antipasto....Must be we don't get out much!  Anyway, Great time!!


So, after spending time with the geriatric set, I came home to set up the nursery and  pick up all of our new babies; turkeys, game hens and ducks.  These little beauties really aren't too much of a stretch from the prior night... So far, all they have done is eat, drink, pee, poop..............and die! It took me most of the morning to get them dry shavings, warm oatmeal and fresh water.  I think it might be easier to get more children....or as Lacie pointed out, more grandchildren...better yet!


We had a morning of snow, some sticking but gone now!  Spring really needs to permanently arrive so the heat lamps can be turned off and the doors opened.  This farmer stuff is wearing me out!

God Only Knows

God Only Knows the Good Vibrations I get when I Get Around to see the Beach Boys in person.  I realize that only Mike Love is an original but the sound is still awesome, the words the same and the feeling like none other.  God am I old!!! I'm taking three other old broads with me tonight to act foolish, sing out loud and swat a beach ball around with a room full of other senior citizens.  I have been in full 60's mode for a couple of weeks now while becoming completely entrenched in Mad Men. (in the show, not in the men)  I'm ready for some rock and roll and then I'll be ready for bed... I'm pretty sure the others will head to the casino and make some money but the gambler in me stops after I bet on whether or not I'll have to leave the concert to pee or make it through the entire show. 
Hopefully, I'll be carting home three winners, lots of cash and a fistful of rekindled memories!!
  We're off on our Surfin' Safari!

Monday Morning Catch Up

Monday, Monday, my favorite day.  Today marks the one year anniversary of Jeff's arrival back in New York (home!)  Love it when your kids (even 35 year olds) make really good decisions!  I can still feel the fluttering (I think it was heart palpitations) as we waited for his truck to appear towing that glorious U-Haul full of his life. A return home to familiar places and happy faces....not much tops that.  It's been a long year full of new beginnings and life changing events. It's quite amazing when things fall into place and life begins to click.  Even with a few bumps in the road, (back surgery and a marathon house acquisition) it's been a fun 12 months.  Two families have melded shaping a surprisingly comfortable and familiar shape.  If all good things take time, it's Jeff's time!!!


Bailee survived week one of the great Common Core test debacle.  No tantrums, throwing up, melt downs or negativity.  "It was cake!"  Even if it weren't, the attitude is what we hoped for.  This week is three days of math testing and we're hoping for similar results.  Thank you Mrs. Weeks for instilling calm and optimism in our kiddos and to all those who didn't judge our decision to opt in. To each his own and for, hopefully, well thought out reasons.


This week Grandma and the gals are off to  regain their youth and sing with the Beach Boys. One of my favorite things ever!!!  Our new baby turkeys and ducks arrive and Great Grandma Hewitt turns 93. A big week for chicks of all ages!!

Tax Day

Well here we are again...April 15th...Tax Day.  But really, isn't every day Tax Day?  Folks are now working longer each year just to get to that fictitious tax freedom day.  This year, it's figured to be a week from Friday, April 24th.  That's the day that the nation as a whole has theoretically earned enough income to pay its taxes.  Every dollar that is officially considered income by the government is counted and every payment to the government that is officially considered a tax is counted. All taxes: local, state and federal are included. For a little perspective, in 1900, Tax Freedom Day was January 22nd.  Which meant your income/tax debt was paid off in 22 days.   Now it's 114:-(  It's depressing I know...to think that you're working nearly 4 months for the government and 8 months for yourself...but wait.......you're still paying taxes.....sales tax, energy tax, communication tax, coital tax..(no, thank God that's not a real tax although I did stop paying that years ago. A waning amount each year that hardly seemed worth filing;-) So basically 1/3 of our year we're working for a government that we're totally unhappy with, one that stresses us and makes our love of politics so very unlovely, one that we can't even begin to understand and one that tests our resolve every single day... Well, I don't know about you, but I've decided to OPT OUT! 

Opt in!

Talk about swimming upstream.  Today begins the dreaded Common Core state testing. So much angst over money generated education.....which inevitably, all education is:-(  I understand that aid is based on many things, buildings cost money to operate and everything associated with mandates is unfunded.  Seems like such a lose, lose situation when young minds are at stake.  As intelligent and philanthropic as Bill and Melinda Gates are, I'm not sure I want them involved ( hands on) with the rules and regulations of education.  NO ONE involved with the inception of Common Core standards is an educator.....doesn't that scare anyone?  Education based on governmental blackmail sure scares the hell out of me.
Bailee will be taking the tests.  I understand the premise of strength and voice in numbers. I also dislike the idea of slowly extracting the joy of learning and the love of school from young minds.  I know there are always going to be new methods of learning and that most will peter out in a few years as new ways (or often old) come full circle.  I hate the idea of using our children for mass data collecting and I hate even more, the idea that these unbalanced tests are even associated with teacher evaluation. Maybe The Gates Foundations should funnel their billions to teachers to pay for their pricey educations that could be diminished in an instant if their students end up 1's instead of 4's.
Once again, Bailee is sitting at her desk as I type, filling in ovals, hoping that she has the correct answer. She will remember what she was told by her Mom and her Grandma. "Do your very best. Read carefully and answer the question that was asked. If you are uncertain, choose your best 8 year old educated guess and most of all, don't sweat it.... Your grades are NOT hinged on these answers!  Most of all, we love you!"   In my mind, NOT taking the tests was never an option.  An 8 year old doesn't need the pressure of thinking that their test grades will have ANY impact on whether their teacher is good or bad. We, as parents and grandparents, are in this game to protect and do what's best for "our" child.  Teaching, at this young age, that if something is tough you can just "opt out" is more than a disservice to a child.  Do it, do your best and remember we ask for nothing more at this stage of the game!
Once again I agree with much of what the "opt out" contingent believes and I fiercely believe that they are doing what's best for their children/grandchildren.  So are we, and today, we OPT IN!


P.S.  Bailee has the very best teacher to lead them through the next 2 weeks.  She has given them the tools needed to be successful. She has given them invaluable self worth and also given them permission to be wrong without failing.  They will work hard, they will dance and sing and they'll even get to chew some gum in class....Thanks Mrs. Weeks for giving your all :-)

Spring Fever

Can you still get spring fever at 63?... You betcha!  Finally Mother Nature rang the bell and spring officially arrived in upstate New York.  March 21st is merely a number on the calendar and seldom produces anything more than hope.  We still have a wee bit of snow in the back yard but I'm hoping today's 70's will melt it away.  Yesterday's high 60's made it optimum weather for me.  If it never got warmer than that, I'd be a large, happy senior citizen.  The lake across the road has now disappeared and reappeared as a thirst quenched cornfield and the chickens were released from their coop.  Each one basked in the sunlight, bathed in the dirt and was randomly raped by our resident rooster, Steve.  He was happy to say the least! Our 3 new silkies took up residence in the smoke house, new porch furniture was assembled and we managed a late afternoon ride. An impromptu invite to dinner at Jeff's in-laws and the night ended with some of my favorite TV...............never be watched as I fell asleep in my chair at 8:30. I think I was over served by the bartender in the sky..a little too much fresh air and sunshine...not complaining.  Today is warmer but the sunshine is hiding. Still some porch cleaning on the agenda and maybe I'll sneak in a few chapters of my new book. Time to spring into action!

Mad Men (deja vu)

I am lovin' me some Netflix!  My newest binge-fest is Mad Men. Lots of viewers say they enjoy watching and seeing how life was "back in the 60's"  I'm watching from the perspective of being one of Don Draper's kids.  I can instantly relate to the clothes, the cigarettes, the parties, the liquor, the dark rimmed glasses, the black and white TV's, the rotary phones and the sets....all props for "Mad Men", all real life for me.  All I have to do is pull out a few photo albums and I'm right there in 1960 (and not a bad place to be!)
In 1960, I was 8, my brother was 16 and my sister (yes I have a sister) was 13. Steve could drive (which was awesome) and my sister (whom he called "Pirate Christie and her sunken chest") left no lingering impression. I was the baby and maybe a tad spoiled. My Dad called me Peanut, Steve called me Princess and Mom and Crick called me to dinner... (No wonder I liked boys better.)  We took family trips to Florida. We had family holiday dinners at fancy restaurants where we wore new dresses, big hats and uncomfortable shoes. We lived at the lake for 1/2 the year and in Locke the other half. Dad wore a shirt and tie to work every day and I got to play with the other spoiled brats on Mom's golf days...brown bagged lunch and all. We'd go south for Easter break ( yes, we actually claimed Easter.) The three of us in the back seat while Mom and Dad puffed away in the front seat.  When we'd stop at a motel, Dad would grab the liquor case (which I still have) and head to our room and we'd grab our overnight bags. It would take us three days to get to Florida or two to Southern Pines.  If Florida was our destination, Cypress Gardens was our "theme park"..no Disney, no Sea World, no Universal.  Our anticipation was focused around the family we'd visit and the pools where we'd swim.. I thought it was perfect!
I'm thoroughly enjoying the perspective of (Mad Men's) politics and the world as those were things that were never discussed with kids.  Topics around the dinner table usually centered around school, sports and whose turn it was to clear the table and do the dishes. We didn't say grace (unless Steve would literally say "Grace" or "Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat".  Steve was the funniest, the oldest and the best!  We never touched our plates till Mom sat down and nobody even dreamed of leaving the table till we had asked to be excused and were given permission. I never heard our parents swear......ever..... maybe that's why it flows effortlessly from me.... all those suppressed feelings;-)
Another attraction to Mad Men (other than Jon Hamm) is the idea of writing advertising. That would have been my dream job....if I had wanted a dream job...well, I actually had a dream job, which inevitably was "no job!" (but that's a blog for another day.) Clever copy which would entertain while selling a product sounds pretty enticing to me..even today.  Instead, I post on Face Book, write my blog and laugh out loud to myself when I think I've said something clever.  I'm my own best critic. Don Draper would have liked me!

Special Delivery

Time sure flies when you're having fun.  33 years ago today, I didn't even know you entered this goofy world.  I had "put in my order" and was waiting patiently for confirmation and delivery date.  I didn't even specify which parts I wanted to add (or subtract) from the package. I just knew that I was happy with the first order and decided there was room in the house (and my heart) for another.  Thirty three years ago communication and delivery confirmations weren't as easy to receive as they are now. No emails or texts to say your package had been shipped or when and who might actually deliver it.  The order had been placed and that was pretty much all you knew.  Finally, after waiting several months, I mean, come on UPS ( uterus provider surrogate)  you know where we live, The call eventually came that the package was available for inspection. We made an appointment to peruse the goods the very next day but I was on the phone ASAP to let folks know that our order was in! The first person (after Lee) that I called was Resa Dee.... I was so excited I could barely speak.... After rambling on for a couple of minutes she asked, "well is it a female or a male package?"   (She didn't really say package but you know it's cooler for this blog!)  My reply was even cooler..... "Oh sh#*...I forgot to ask!!!!"
So I called back the delivery center and was given the amazing news that it was indeed a female package... How flippin' lucky were we.....  The next day arrived and we headed to the warehouse to inspect our package..... She was perfect, had all her parts and the cutest little squiggly curl in the middle of her forehead. We wrapped her back up and took her home.  The sale was final and they explained that there were no returns or exchanges.  To date, there have only been a few times that the idea even entered my head but I remembered the warranty was up and what we raised was what we got!!!  I'd say we've been pretty happy with our purchase and we've decided that we'll keep her another 33 years!!!

Humbled

Wow, I am definitely a more humble person this morning.  I am overwhelmed by the birthday sentiments I've received already this morning and it isn't even 10:30.  I think what I love the most about birthdays (and any day) anymore is the openness that seems to exist.  A generation ago, sentiments were generally said behind closed doors...or not at all.  Today, not only the next generation but even folks our age, are less inhibited and more open to sharing what they feel... That's a very good thing!! The majority of my family (immediate Hewitt) doesn't even like each other much less love so I am so thankful for my Hatfield family and my dear friends... I love that my nieces and nephews seldom, if ever, forget my birthday! It's not a big deal.....yeah it is...it's a very big deal.
Some of my over 150 messages are from those I rarely see but think of often.  It is such a major thing to be kind and means more than most will ever realize. Birthdays are a big thing....I don't need gifts or even cake (ok some kind of sweets) or even a card but the sincere wishes already expressed have made my day in ways many will never understand.  Thank you all for every single one... It warms my heart and wets my eyes!