Quintessential Walpole

I got up much earlier than usual today, maybe because the Robins were quite loud at 5:30 a.m.

Nevertheless, after my routine hazelnut coffee, and french toast, Evvy and I headed out once more for our morning constitutional.  I really had no energy to do it, but I'm always glad I do once I get into it.  The morning sun had burned off all the fog except for that over the Connecticut River. From the top of Sheep Hill I could see the line of fog, beneath the Green Mts in the distance.   The air was fresh and damp following three days of pretty steady rain.

After taking in the vista on Sheep Hill I walked north back toward County Rd. where you will find freshly tilled cornfields, recently cut hayfields, and the Jerseys of Crescent Farm.  The cows and bull, all ran along the fence as Evvy and I walked along.  The poor bull has had his horns cut off, still bleeding after at least a week.....eeeewwww.   Last but not least the top picture is my modest garden, which I am most proud.  I haven't attempted gardening for many, many years, but this one is going great guns.  My garden is days, maybe weeks ahead of others in the area.  The trick....I started earlier, and just covered the garden with clear plastic on the frosty nights.

I'll have cabbage, broccoli, tomato, spinach, celery, cukes, summer squash, and strawberries.

Thankfully, no creatures have found this little oasis.

Perfect Spring Day

We just got back from our morning hike. Evvy and I started at the top of what was once called "Pelshue Rd" in Walpole.  Now it's just an access to hay fields.   There is a beautiful view from the large cellar hole to the right of a trail just north of Pelshue Rd.  As I wandered around the cellar hole area, I looked out at Vermont ski areas in the distance.  Most prominent is Stratton Mt.  There is a spot on the front of the mountain, and I wonder if it's snow or rock?   I found these brilliant Wild Columbine flowers.  I don't see this plant often, but what a beauty.  They were growing in a shady spot along the old stone foundation.  They will bloom through July, so there's still time for you to find some.

We made our way down the steep trail to the brook below, where we entered the Faulkner Forest.  The Faulkner Forest is a conservation area with many hundreds of acres of trails to walk.  The old Windgate Rd is badly washed out and even I wouldn't try to ride my mountain bike down, or up the road.  If you follow the Windgate road east, you'll come to an intersection with Mt. Gilboa Rd.  Take a left, and you'll walk past an old chimney on the right.  The chimney is all that remains of a cabin that once stood there.  Continuing up the hill, you'll come to a gate, and just beyond that a beautiful picnic spot marked with a dedication plaque which talks about the Faulkner Forest, and family.  There is a large cellar hole here as well, marked with large stands of lilacs.  Someone manages to keep the grass mown up there, and it's just beautiful.  I like to imagine walking around the grand house, though I have no idea what it looked like.  There is a small statue, in the north corner, like something you might put in a garden.  From this spot there are a couple of trails that wonder into the forest.  One will take you back toward County Rd., the other will take you all the way in to the southern part of Surry.  Plenty of cellar holes along that route, but nearly hidden by overgrowth.

Wild Flowers

Evvy and I drove up to Scovill Rd. which is the south side of Derry Hill, where there is a Forest Society easement.  We've been here a million times, winter and summer.  We never get tired of the  beautiful view from the High Blue vista.   Today was extra special because we found a Grouse nest, in a place I wouldn't have considered.  She had perched herself in a very sandy, rooty, fallen tree.  It's difficult to explain, but she had a well worn furrow in the sandy roots making it nearly impossible to see her.....that is until Evvy disturbed her.  Thankfully, no eggs in the nest.

Next we  came across some excellent Pink Ladyslipper specimens, only two plants.   When we got to the High Blue, we were greeted by two other hikers and their dogs.  I had heard them before we arrived, so I put the leash back on Evvy.  Evvy has no manners, she will dash up to any dog or human, and want to play.  I have yet to figure how to stop this, but I will.  After exchanging pleasantries, we left the vista with barely a pause.  

My mother asks me nearly every day if I've see the Mayflowers yet.  I finally found them by smell.  All along the trail these fragile looking little white flowers lay, with such sweet fragrance(above photo).  Had I not picked one and smelled it, I might never have known.  I did however look it up in my wildflower guide the minute I returned home, just to confirm.

One final thought on this Veteran's Day (observed), I remember as I'm sure you all do, the many, many fallen soldiers who have fought so diligently for our freedom.  "God bless America, my home sweet home".

Amendment: My mother looks at my blog and corrects me if I am mistaken in my identifications.  So, she tells me the flower pictured is "Ground Nut", not the May Flower that she knows.   In my wildflower book, this flower is identified as Canada Mayflower.  

Jane Doe Revisited

I have just about finished my facial reconstruction of the Delaware skull.  I walk past her every day, and wonder just how far the modeling should go.  I will add some eyelashes, and smooth out the surface to make it more realistic.  When it's finished, I'll take a set of photos, then break the whole thing down.  I will send it, and a set of photos back to Delaware.  Hopefully we will learn who this person was, and what happened to her.

In addition to working on my sculpture I  have also continued to spend lots of time in the woods.  The mosquitos have been relentless especially first thing in the morning.  They seem impervious to even repellent.  I have seen Prothonotary Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, and Magnolia Warblers to name a few.   Northern Orioles are abundant as well.  I have seen them in bloom adorned apple trees.   There are two pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at my feeder now.  They are entertaining as they fight for a spot at the nectar.  I also have a Robin  nesting right outside my window.  It has been a treat watching as she feeds her little ones.  The other day she fought off a Catbird.  I watched as the Catbird was stunned, then fallen to the lawn below.  The Catbird was unharmed and soon flew away. But that bird learned quickly not to mess with Mrs. Robin.

This morning bright and early, a small group of cyclists from my church, took such a pleasant, tranquil ride along River Rd. in Walpole.  We past farm and field, time and again.  A very leisurely pace enabled us to carry on conversations, remarking at our motivation so early in the day.  We all decided the beauty of the landscape and the opportunity to get some exercise, was well worth waking up early.

Shinbone Shack

Last Saturday I joined a very large crowd of hikers at the end of Aten Rd., in Stoddard, NH.  So many people gathered there because of the interesting stories surrounding the late residents.   Perley Swett self proclaimed hermit lived on the property.  He lived a solitary life enjoying the hills and woods of Stoddard.  He even painted his own grave marker, and spot to be buried near his house.  Also on this vast property, a small cabin affectionately known as "Shinbone  Shack" (pic #3).  The cabin has fallen into disrepair, but if you go inside you can still see the brick hearth where two shin bones were inlayed.  The bones have long since been removed, and the cabin is unhabitable.  Nearby, a much larger palatial Adirondack style cabin (pic #1) was built in the 1930's.  The Great Depression put a halt to the construction, but it was later completed for one of the Aten women.  She never saw the finished cabin as she had passed away beforehand.  This beautiful home features a large pond with stone grinding wheels adorning the shore line.  Inside the cabin, a great room in the center has an open cathedral ceiling with rough hewn log supports and a beautiful stone fireplace.  There is ample room for many people to stay or visit.  The kitchen has been updated over the years, and the nostalgic lighting is gas lamps on the walls.

On Sunday, I hiked Mt. Kearsarge in Warner, NH.  The roundtrip hike was over 8 miles.  My hips, back, and knees are still feeling the stiffening affects.  Despite an overcast and cool day, there was a beautiful view from the top.  The bonus was to find several patches of Pink Lady Slippers (pic. #2) along the way.  I took a photo of one patch that have begun to blossom.  I always thought Lady Slippers bloomed in June, but what a great surprise to see them in May.

Bobcats Among us!

That's right I saw a Bobcat while out mountain biking on Mt. Gilboa.  Though I didn't take this picture, the cat I saw looked very much like him.  I had been bushwhacking my way down the west side of the mountain after following a lame logging trail.  The trail ended, but I decided to forge ahead through the woods, circling back around to the original trail(NH snowmobile trail 5).  I came out in a swampy area near the railroad bed that parallels Rte. 12 in Westmoreland.

I was running way behind schedule, so I had to really haul.  Lactic acid was building up all over my legs and butt.   But I was determined to make it back to my house in time to get to my class.

I rode back up to the trail #5 which was significantly easier than the bushwhacking excursion I'd just completed.   I was rolling along slowly and silently when I noticed the large cat walking away from me down the trail.  He had no idea I was there.  He looked like he wished it was about 20 degrees cooler, as he ambled along.  When I got to within 15 yds of the cat, he turned back to look at me.  What a sight!  Those black tipped ears, and what big feet!  He froze for a millisecond, then he launched himself into bounding away from me and down the trail.  I had hoped to see a Bear, but seeing this Bobcat was even better.

What a Find!

Evvy and I took a walk down Whipple Hill Rd, toward the old Rapids Rd.  There are a few old cellar holes along the Rapids Rd. The telltale signs are usually Apple trees and large overgrown Lilacs.  This morning though, we found an added surprise in the first cellar hole.  Evvy scared up two hen Turkeys.  The first hen took off right away.  The second waiting until she couldn't stand it any longer.  Evvy growled but didn't charge at the Turkey.  I don't think Evvy was sure what she was dealing with.  Because it took so long for the second hen to fly off, I suspected she might be sitting on a nest.  So I drew closer for a look.   There on the top of a wall, long ago covered with shrubs and grass, a large nest full of eggs.   I had never seen a Turkey nest before, so I was thrilled.  To think I had just gone down to Great Brook Farm the other day for eggs!  These were beauties, and every bit as large as chicken eggs, maybe even alittle bigger.  There were fourteen, cream colored eggs with little brown specks.  I finished looking over the hen's fine work, and continued my walk with Evvy.   I hope the hen wasn't too frightened to return later.    On a funny note, a truck with two camo'ed turkey hunters drove right past me shortly after.   I heard them stop above at the top of the hill......they did a couple quick Turkey calls.  I had to laugh.  Surely they would never find Turkeys sitting in their truck!   Unfortunately, they are not the first bunch of Turkey hunters I've witnessed calling from the warmth, and luxury of their trucks.  Many, many drive past cornfields, and old pastures, stopping to make a call or two, then driving on, totally missing exactly what it was they were looking for.....DUH!

Heads will Roll

They say "variety is the spice of life", and there's variety in my life at the moment.  Not only do I watch for the colors of spring in the birds, and flowers.  I bring some sort of life back to the dead.

I have received an unidentified human skull from Delaware.   Asst. Deputy Medical Examiner Hal Brown and I had a chance to talk a couple weeks ago.  I inquired if he had any skulls laying around that I might reconstruct. It's been a while since I did the reconstruction for the NH State Police, I am eager to create a new face....so to speak.  

This skull arrived full of dirt, vegetative matter, and some red paint on her chin.  I cleaned up the skull, and began the reconstruction.  I guessed at the race of the skull, as there is ambigous info on her background, and I don't know any forensic anthropologists.

My best guess is that she is either Asian, or Southwestern American indian refered to as Mongoloid.  

I know the skull is a female because I can see that the superior aspect/superciliary arch of the orbits are nearly flat.  In males this area protrudes distinctly. Also I looked at the jawline, and mastoid process for remarkable angulation and larger structure.  In addition, the few teeth that are present in the mandible and maxilla, appear quite small.  A male skull of the same age would likely have larger teeth.

The second photo shows the reconstruction at the beginning stages of the actual artistic sculpture.  I had placed the depth tissue markers on the skull to get a general idea of how much "skin" to apply.  As she stands now, this is the "thinnest" representation of the female.  I will begin to add more meat to her face to bring a more realistic feel to it.   Eventually I will add hair, by way of a wig, and perhaps some color to her lips.  

Reconstructions for me are so much fun.  It's like reading a great book that you can't put down. I like to keep working on it straight through from start to finish without stopping.  But of course I do stop, to take Evvy out, and look for more signs of spring.   Then there is the required household chores, and classwork to do.   If I could do reconstructions as my work, it would never be work at all.  I love to see who develops.  Maybe someday we will find out who she is, and what happened to her.

New Arrivals Daily

It seems each day I discover another spring arrival.  Yesterday a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived at the feeder.  I had put it out a week earlier in anticipation.  The Black-throated Green Warbler pictured, has also arrived with several other warblers.  This morning I was fortunate to see a Barred Owl at fairly close range, about 20'.  The bird soured low over my head an alit on a  branch to stare watchfully down at me.  Then I saw a Red-headed Wood-pecker which are usually seen alittle further south in Massachusetts.  I was wishing I had a camera that worked at that point.  Something has gone awry with the one I have, so I can't download photos from it.

Evvy and I have spent countless hours walking in the woods keeping our eyes peeled for anything neat, from cellar holes, to bones, to pieces of cars, and even a snowmobile key!  

I rode my mountain bike up to the quarry I know in Surry.  It's 7.25  miles round trip.  I like to go check up there to see what has been tossed in over the winter.  I am happy to report, no plastic snowmen.  But there  was a round float, like the kind you would use to slide on snow.

I wondered if someone had gone swimming? or floating in that cesspool.  I noticed several very large Bull frogs holding on to the flotsam.  I swear the frogs are as big as rats!

The tadpoles have popped out of their gelatinous blobs. I look forward to their future development, back legs, then front legs, tail reductions and finally becoming amphibious.

I'm so  happy that Spring is springing in such grand form.