The Coming of Fall

Smokey and Dryad are cousins and Smokey seemed to recognize this immediately. He loves his wild little relative.

This shot was captured during an idyllic evening kayak on Trues Pond.

The seasons of Maine are magical. In spring, the red maple blooms compete with all the different shades of pale green. As summer progresses the greens blend together until late summer and early fall when golds, yellows and reds begin to creep in until once more every tree is a different shade.

Here the changing trees are reflected in the water of Ruffingham Meadow in Searsmont with the reeds starting to blend into gold.

Pastel early sunset over Ruffingham Meadow

After a few days of rain we had a huge brush burning session and cleared much of the front yard.


Another "mistake". Dryad's brother Nixie on his terrified first day. All the remaining kittens were taken to the shelter, but it was full and Nixie came to join my family.

Fiddlehead ferns begin to change color quite early.

Red maples on the edge of a wetland

Red maples on Trues Pond during yet another magical kayak trip.

Late Summer

It was with delight that I greeted the return of our pileated woodpecker to the tree outside the bedroom window. Hopefully he will stay for the winter.

Later summer mushroom hunting was rewarding after some heavy rains. The black trumpets below are delicious and easy to recognize.

And this is Dryad, a strange looking kitten with dark, charcoal gray striped fur and huge tufts in his ears.