Early Morning

What a glorious morning! Yesterday we enjoyed some much-needed rain. It has clouded up again now, but for a brief moment, just after sunrise, my world was flooded with golden light.







This female hairy woodpecker is a regular visitor to my feeder.















And this beautiful blue jay posed for a photo.







My favorite morning meditation spot. White pine shoots with clouds reflected in the pond.






As always, my cats add beauty and companionship to my world. This is my handsome Solomon, very intelligent and with a built in gene for naughtiness!


And Smokey, who is growing more beautiful every day. When he is awake he is running non-stop, so most photographs are of him asleep!

The trees are leafing out beautifully!

Reflections in a spring pool.








A glorious Painted Trillium, the first I have ever seen and right in my front yard!






The Camden Hills in full spring beauty.





Views from Muzzy Ridge Road in Searsmont.









Art in driftwood, Trues Pond.









A calm morning on Trues Pond.







Views from Montville.






My new Maine Coon type kitten, Smokey.

Mother's Day Flowers

Mother's Day was celebrated by photographing flowers. It seemed appropriate. These pansies were a gift from a lovely woman friend.


These next two were taken around the Autozone building in Belfast!
Here wild cherry complements the reflections on Trues Pond.
And these are in my garden.

Floods and more

A week ago we had 4 1/2" of rain in one day. It caused major damage to roads locally and up north in Aroostook county there was widespread flooding and damage. Trues Pond rose dramatically. My kayak had been left upside down and high and dry before the rain. Fortunately it was tied to a tree.



Even with the muddy water, kayaking was rewarding last Wednesday. This piece of driftwood looks like a bird's head to me.




The flowers in my front yard continue to bring great pleasure.








This beautiful red maple was seen at Ruffingham meadow.






The transplanted fiddleheads are coming up. I miss the huge beds I feasted on at my old house.








This is the view from my screen porch in early morning.







And this is just one of the incredible sunrises. Most mornings now I am rushing out to take a photo while barely awake.







It is so pretty here with more and more flowers every day.







A turtle that fled at my approach peeks out of hiding under water to see if I have left yet.





A brave turtle returns while I sit motionless and watch.








Paddling home and enjoying the view of my house hidden in the trees.

OK, definitely Spring

Torrential rain today, much needed as it has been dry since the snow really began to melt. This is great for all the new plants put in last fall and ones I have been moving recently.

The daffodils planted in previous years are looking lovely.




This view shows the hills that give Montville its name.





Frank has been working hard with the woodsplitter clearing trees cut down for building last year and getting a good start on next winter's firewood.

















It is really exciting seeing what I planted last fall. This pulmonaria is looking lovely.














And the siberian squill which will hopefully spread swiftly each year.









The red maples are in bloom, one of the beautiful sights of spring here in Maine.












Bob Hussey (Solartec) and his son Kevin installed the last two solar panels on Saturday.





This common flicker has appeared recently, the first I have seen.

Is it Summer or Spring??

We have had a few days of temperatures up to 75F, amazing for this time of the year. The loons have been calling day and night and the spring peepers are deafening! The glory of spring in Maine.



This sunrise was prelude to a hot and sunny day.




















Even in this hot weather the snow has persisted in the shady spots. This photo was taken April 21st near my home.










The squirrels love to torment the cats who are confined indoors.












Creating a garden around my new home last fall consisted of hurredly hacking holes in the frozen ground and shoving bulbs and perennials into the soil. It is wonderful to see everything start to come to life such as these Early Snow Glories.






The daffodils started to explode into bloom yesterday, such a joyful sign of spring.







This morning started cool with this gentle misty light. The red maples are just starting to spread the pink haze of their flowers across the forests.

This is the view from my office.






Here is Solomon enjoying the early morning sun in the screen porch.

A wealth of wildlife

A few truly wonderful warm sunny days filled with yard work, house work and some wonderful kayaking breaks.

This four-toed salamander was among several found under logs while tidying up the yard.


These common loons can be heard calling out on the pond day and night.








Large numbers of painted turtles are to be seen basking on logs at the edge of the pond. Their numbers do not seem to have suffered from the pond almost completely drying out last summer due to a leaking dam.





This bald eagle allowed me quite close in my kayak.










At one time there were four eagles soaring overhead.











This beautiful osprey circled and offered excellent views. It is wonderful to have them back with their plaintive cries.