Perfect day for the Preserve

Clear sky, temps in the low 80s, low humidity, just right for that postponed walk on the Preserve. 

But first I did a bit of local observing for my seasons notebook. The first acorns.

Birds and squirrels have been enjoying dogwood berries

So, back home,  I assembled a vignette

Artists among us no doubt noted the homage to Cezanne and nearer home, Milton Avery. The vertiginous foreground is what I mean. No one does vertiginous better than they do.

Then off to the Preserve. I had hoped for a spell of sitting by the lake in the one tiny place with a waterside bench. Today it was occupied by a group, too close for comfort, so I had to pass. But they were videotaping and having a lovely time. It's great to see enjoyment in action.

I went to the beechwood instead, and caught other interesting sights. 

Fleabane, big clump at the edge of the trees.

Dead nettle here. Beautiful wildflowers with rotten names whose idea was this. 

This immediate area has vernal ponds, tiny ones, with all sorts of aquatic life which appear magically each year and leave when the spring moves on and the ponds dry up.

Since there were people bumbling about on the regular farm road trail, I slipped from the wood to the parallel field trail on my way back.

Those woods are full of deer. None visible today, but at dusk they'll emerge.

Butterflies everywhere, which didn't show up in my pix, lovely dusky swallowtail butterflies, you have to take my word on them. Many little green grasshoppers, one of which I think came home with me, but it jumped off me in the house and I can't find it.

There are many bayberry bushes in the Preserve, no berries yet, and if you collect and boil down 24,586,342 of them you'll manage a candle. Those settlers had their work cut out. The women, that is. 

Home now, roasting fries, sweet and white potatoes, fir supper, knitting more of the beaded figure's top, drinking tea, blogging to you, friends.

Doesn't get much better!

The Great Grow Your Blog Giveaway 2015

Since the Dollivers and Duncan, along with Elton are a vital part of the ongoing life of art around here, they took part in the drawing.  You see the acorn award they're holding onto till the last minute.  Wait till they hear they can't keep it.

The drawing went like this:  I wrote out all the entrants' names on a sheet of paper, cut them into slips, one slip per person, rolled and crumpled them, spilled them out and invited Duncan to choose. I thought he might put a paw on one or something.

However he chose the moment to make a political statement, and sat on them.  

When he stood up, one slip was attached to his tail, and that became his choice.  Oh well.  But it was still his choice, whatever part of his body he selected for indicating it...

and the Blondie Firstborn obligingly held it for us to see who the winner is.

And the winnah is.....drum roll.....Quinn!!  beloved goat wrangler and knitter and photographer and farmer.  Her blog, Comptonia, is an endless source of learning and pleasure.

Anyway, Quinn, get Piper to send me your mailing address and I'll send off your acorns as soon as the PO opens after the holiday.

This could hardly have been a more random drawing, when you think of it...

Elton is playing us off the stage with California Here I Come, a comment on the current weather in this part of the world, Here We Go Gathering Nuts in May, Blog of my Heart and his new signature tune Teddy Bears' Picnic.  Since he got that sweater set, stolen from another bear, he's unstoppable.

But before we leave, thank you all for taking part with such good humor and inviting me to your blogs, too, and generally enlarging my blogworld significantly.  And to Vicki! of Two Bags Full,  who ran this huge event yet again, generously and with amazing organization.  Much appreciated.