Taking A Stance

This robin was very upset with me and chased me around the yard, after I accidentally disturbed it's family, not realizing that they had built a nest in my trumpet vine. Of course I used this opportunity to take some great photos.

Blueberries

Blueberries At Adams Farm. Doesn't this make your mouth water? Yum!

Beautiful Harvest

This is one day's herbal flower harvest from my garden, of lavender, red clover, st. john's wort, mullein, and calendula. Nature provides beautiful medicine. This photo was awarded Photo of the Day on Capture My Vermont, for August 13, 2015.

WATER

Did Water ever look more beautiful!

Champ Hangin' Out With The Birds

Champ is taking some time out of the lake to check out the Bird House Forest. Located in the swamps just north of Whites Beach, near the roadside, are hundreds of brilliantly colored Bird Houses that hang from the many trees in the thick marshland. According to the owners of the birdhouses, "Well, as you can see, we're surrounded by swamp", he said, gesturing to the swamps surrounding his house. "So there are a lot of mosquitoes here, Or at least there were before we put these up. The bird houses are home to tree swallows, and tree swallows eat mosquitoes. They make it so my wife and I can sit outside on the lawn in the evening and enjoy ourselves. We don't get eaten alive." He started this project 15 years ago, with only 20 bird houses. His wife was the one who convinced him to paint them the striking bold colors. After a year, he went to check on them and found that each one was occupied. So he built more. Now he has over 400 of them. Asked if he was planning on building more. "We'll see", he said chuckling.

Purple Clematis

Lovely Purple Clematis

Classic Farm Moment

Dragonfly & Dristan, Luna & Apollo.

Mother & son alpacas (Dragonfly & Dristan), with 2 Maremma Sheepdogs, Luna and Apollo, usually referred to as just Maremmano, they are a breed of livestock guardian dog indigenous to central Italy, used for centuries by Italian shepherds to guard sheep from wolves. 

These are Huacaya alpacas (Vicugna pacos). They are are a domesticated species of South American camelid. There are two kinds of alpacas. Huacaya alpacas, (pronounced Wuh-kai-ya), are fluffy like teddy bears and Suris have long shiny locks like very soft, slightly curly hair. Alpacas are bred specifically for their fiber. High quality fleece from both species fetches top dollar on the international market. Some hand spinners like to spin alpaca fiber mixed with cotton, wool or Silk. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, similar to wool. These items include blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, ponchos, sweaters, socks, coats, bedding, and a wide variety of textiles.