Site Discussions

While vacationing in the white mountains recently, I came across the friendliest flying squirrel ever. It was so adorable that I wanted to bend down and pick it up, but I thought better of it because it could have had rabies.I don’t think it did but you never know. As I stood still watching him he came up to me and walked over my boots then he sat next to my boot for about 2 minutes or more. Just then I remembered that I had some trail mix in my pocket. I put some trail mix on a rock nearby which he scampered over to and ate it all in a flash. I think he stored some in his cheeks for later. I named him Rocky the flying squirrel then I said goodbye and bid him farewell. It was the best encounter ever!!!!!

I agree with all that is written. Dreadful that these gentle birds are hunted. Two doves raised 6 babies on top of my air conditioning unit this summer. Almost at eye level. I placed cameras there and could watch them come and go and raise their young. It was indeed a privilege. While they nested no air conditioner. I would scatter seeds on the lawn but the doves were getting hit by raptors. I built a tall sguare open bird feeder, squirrel proof with a plexiglass roof to help protect the seeds from rain. The thing is full of doves and blue jays. Not sure if the doves will stay the winter
I lost about 4 doves to local cats and raptors so the attrition rate is high. A few doves are still round the feeder. The question remains who will stay the winter and will they be back to nest. I did save the old nest, if it could be called that a bunch of twigs. We shall see.

Thanks John. I’ll check out that site!

Two points. One, David Spahr of Maine has written a great book on mushrooms. He also has a website - http://www.mushroom-collecting.com/ that can be really helpful for folks in our area. Two, there are a lot of other interesting mushrooms to be found in our woods. Right now, maitake (Hen of the Woods) is growing at the base of some big, old red oaks. JR

As mentioned above, when I was a child of 8 to 10 yrs old my father would find bees drinking at a puddle by our well and would sprinkle one bee with flour.  The bee would immediately fly off, sometimes circling and sometimes straight off.  Dad would wait and eventually the marked bee would return to drink.  Marking the time gone, we would set out on a “bee line” in the direction the bees had marked.  Most times we would eventually find the hive.  We wouldn’t bother the bees we just wanted to see if we could find them.  Loads of fun with Dad.

What a great site.  We unfortunately have a raccoon and skunk rabies warning…we stopped feeding the birds as our dog will chase anything.  Love nature and dislike urban and suburban encroaching on their space.

I started using the UV killer detergent and sprayer. It makes the clothes look duller even to my human eye. I’ve had deer walk to within 15-20 yards of where I was sitting on the ground in tan pants and a gray shirt and graze for over 1/2 an hour w/o knowing I was there (I was hunting cow elk at the time). I’ve had bull elk wander to within 25 yards while I was cursing the fact I had a cow only tag in my pocket.

Hi Mark,

The answer to your question is yes, at least according to my taste buds. If I can’t age a steak or roast before freezing it, I’ll try to remember to take it out a week in advance of when I’ll eat it. Let it thaw in the fridge. Aging it this way won’t affect flavor dramatically, but it will impart tenderness. When I do this the meat is vacuum-sealed; can’t vouch for how the meat holds up in other forms of packaging.

In my younger adult hunting years I did not have the ability to hang and age my venison. After field dressing, but not skinning, it usually rode around in the back of my truck for 2-4 days in temps in the 30s before I took it straight to a processor.  Usually they would cut and package the meat within another day or two.  The meat was usually gamey and dried out easily.  Now that I am older and have the setup I hang my venison for as many days as I can, usually at least 4 to 5 before I bone it.  I recently hung a quarter for 10 days and it was most tender, juicy and delicious venison I have had to date.  But here is my question.  If I cut and freeze the meat within a few days do you think it would be beneficial to thaw it out and age it for a few more days before I plan to cook with it?  Thank you!  Terrific article.

Loved the article on chipmunks and truffles!  I wondered if any of these North American truffles are edible-the article didn’t say.

I now own a VC Encore. I agree with the person from Ohio when they say if they fill up the stove it is too hot for the combustion. This means I have to get up in the middle of the night to reload.

I love crows. Lucky for me, there are lots of them where I live. I developed this habit of bringing a variety of nuts with me on my walks with my dogs, and whenever I see crows, I drop some nuts for them. They somehow learned when I live, and started to come in front of my home and call me. I can hear the difference in their call. Sometimes my family lets me know “your crows are calling you”. They know me and my dogs and the instant I drop the nuts, they know it’s safe to come get it. They don’t even wait for me to walk away anymore. I love them so much!

WHY? In a living tree, sapwood is more resistant than
heart wood while for dead trees it is the opposite.

Great topics!

We saw many of these in the Adirondacks this summer following a rainy few days. Heavily forested with beech trees, and my understanding is that this is a preferred habitat.

Just this summer I saw a bumblebee disappear into a beech drop.  At first I was confused, but then remembered.  These too were flowers and apparently need to be pollinated by insects. 

Interesting because we assume insect pollinated flowers are more colorful or have a smell.  I’ll have to start smelling these small, unassuming plants.

Can I use NHL plaster for the cordwood mortar recipe as I have some left over from a straw bale build? Thanks

I worked for a man named Larry Smitton, in Pendleton, Oregon and he had about 2 acres. He had 2 Butternut trees on his land. Larry was so proud of his 2 trees. He had brought them back to Oregon and planted them.  Every fall he would go out and gather the nuts and dry them. He had a special way of cracking them. He would nip of the tips and then put them in a vice and squeeze the nut until it popped open.

He has passed on, but I always wonder if the 2 trees are still there. He also brought back with him a Lodi apple tree and other fruit bearing trees that are Heirloom varieties.

The Butternut trees did very well in Pendleton, Oregon.

Very informative, that’s why I saw ten blue jays at once at my sunflower feeder. I grow them too, but only small birds and squirrels seem to like them fresh.

I have at least 1 good load of hard maple veneer logs I would like someone to come take a look. I’m partnered up with a local Amish mill. They cut all my saw logs and I sell the lumber. But I need a good veneer buyer for my rotary and slice quality logs.