Little Blake Lake

I did have one chance to photograph last weekend's bear visit. But it was through the screen and the camera used its flash.

When I looked at the result on the camera viewer, I couldn't see the bear.

But when I downloaded the photo, I could sort of see the bear. (I could see it about as well as I can see most Sasquatches or UFOs.)

So, here it is. If you don't see it, hang around and take one of your own. I'm guessing that after the Fourth of July and the attendant fireworks, the bear will not hang around the populated part of the lake.

Labels: bear, May 2012

I spent several days at Sidetrack with lots of time to read and rest and admire the beauty of the place. Besides the bear, who got away before I could take his picture. I did photograph the deer family that lives on the edge of the wooded hillside next door.



A couple dozen geese paddled noisily up the lake.



 The a big skein of geese flew noisly in the same direction.



The geese on the lake decided that was a signal to take off. More noise.



 There were still lots of fish making little circular "nests" around the dock.



Most of all there was just a lot of peace and quiet that I enjoyed. That's one of the main things this place is for.

 

Yesterday, just before sunset, I looked up and looked outside to see a small black bear nosing around Mark's fire pit. I did a double take, made sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing, and went to get a camera.

By the time I got back to the south door to the deck, the critter was gone. So, I have no photograph. I will testify that I've seen bear scat in the neighborhood a couple times and the old suet feeder (that had been on the tree so long that the bark was growing around it) was torn off the tree a couple years ago.

Now I am pretty sure I know why I found the hummingbird feeder pulled down and the metal brackets holding the pole bent when I arrived yesterday.

More wildlife...

Labels: bear

It was a holiday weekend. The weather warning radio kept alerting us to dangers rolling in from the west. The worst weather was to our north, but we had lots of rain and some strong winds. It was a good time to settle down and read.

But we also got some work done. Well, Nancy got the most work done.

The oar locker she built ten years ago, had suffered from sitting near the lakeshore. We were so excited about tearing it down, that I didn't take any photos until nearly all of it was gone.



And I didn't get to Nancy putting together the replacement. She was working in the garage in order to have a level floor and some protection from passing showers.

When assembled, we moved the new deck box to its new location. It's not as big as the old oar locker, but it looks good.


It's still rapid growing season at Sidetrack. The wild strawberries are somehow avoiding predation.


Along the terrace, the bleeding heart are still blooming. A couple jack-in-the=pulpits are maturing.  And several volunteer red pines are getting large enough to need replanting or weeding.


However, some of the hostas showed evidence of a short hail storm.


Out in front, the begonias in RedTom are thriving and will  soon be blooming.


Sunday we slept in and stayed home. Nancy did some editing and I fixed breakfast.


On Monday morning, after a stormy night, the Internet connection at Cafe Wren was out. So, after our coffee, we found ourselves parked in front of the Luck Library and Museum. The library was closed for the holiday, but the LAN reaches the street so we could check our e-mail and read online news.


Across the street from the library is competition for the big city Apple Store.


All in all it was a wonderful weekend in spite of some anxiety about the weather.