From Skilled Hands » Animals

Name that Critter: I Think I Did!

fromskilledhands — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:41:16 +0000

Last week I posted a fuzzy photo of a critter we saw at our family’s tree farm. I think I may have identified it as a red footed cannibal fly. Here is a link.

Tell me what you think.

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Strange Critter…

fromskilledhands — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:01:44 +0000

Last Sunday we went down to some family property a couple of hours south of here. It was a wonderful day, just #2 daughter, my lovely husband of many years, and me. We tromped through brambles and poison ivy, hiked up and down hills and old roads, ate what we wanted when we wanted, and just plan relaxed.

Several times someone suggested that we should really head home. “Why?” another one of us would respond. No one presented a good reason, so we stayed and stayed until the sun started to creep down to the horizon.

I’ll post more photos as I have time to edit them. I apologize for the quality of this one, but since none of us have any idea what this critter is, I thought I’d ask the cyber-community. Any ideas?

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What Do Ewe Think?

fromskilledhands — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:10:45 +0000

Thanks to my friend Laura Weldon for sharing this with me:

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What Else? The Weather: A My Town Monday Post

fromskilledhands — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:34:47 +0000

Since #2 daughter and I were here last week, and I had a pitiful amount of sleep, I will continue my weather related MTM posts for at least another week.

We had another 6 inches of snow to top off our 24 inches or so. Until Friday. When temperatures climbed and the sun came out. Our mountains of snow receded and the ground appeared. We have 3 dogs, who needed to go out during the snow siege, so you can imagine what appeared when the snow melted.

Folks around here are ready for spring. Or at least for a respite from cold and snow. The Village of Peninsula, population 602, will be participating in a Cabin Fever Reliever next month. Stay tuned for details.

Here’s a look at my neck of the woods these days:

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Travis Erwin is the mastermind of My Town Monday. Take a look at his site. You’ll learn some stuff about his home state of Texas, and find links to other MTM’ers blogs.

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A Wintry Day

fromskilledhands — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:37:10 +0000

Snow has been falling since yesterday afternoon, the fine wet stuff that accumulates quickly and silently. We’ve had about a foot of snow so far, and my accu-window forecast is, for once, the same as the weather gurus’: it is still snowing.

I seem to have left my camera at the studio yesterday, and since we’ve decided to stay home today, I’m not able to take photos for you.

There is a sweet silence about days like this, and the white that blankets the earth muffles sound. Sounds come from and disappear into silence. I like it like that.

I’ve been out to care for the chickens, working my way to the barn through snow that is nearly up to my knees in places. The chick-a-biddies seemed glad to see me, since I had scraps from last night’s dinner and today’s grazing. They have already presented me with 4 eggs, accompanying the other 7 dozen that are residing in my refrigerator.

Omelets, anyone?

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Some Nights Are Like That

fromskilledhands — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:13:20 +0000

Q: What’s worse than being awakened at 1:30 AM because the dog needs to go out?

A: Being awakened at 2:00 AM because the other dogs are freaking out during a
thunderstorm AND then again at 4:12 AM (gotta love digital clocks) by the telephone
ringing because the alarm has gone off at the Studio. And then finding out that there was
a power failure and alarms were going off all over the place.

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The Chicken Hospice

fromskilledhands — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:59:59 +0000

A few weeks ago, one of my hens, one of the original flock (which makes her a senior citizen), started having trouble walking. The other hens began picking on her mercilessly. She would cower and hide her head under one of the nesting boxes. The others wouldn’t let her eat or drink, so I began closing them out of the coop while she’d drink. This went on for over 2 weeks.

Farm folks would say that this is Nature’s way of culling the flock, and I suppose there is truth to this. However, I decided that she should at least have some comfort for her last few days. So I put bedding in a crate, and put her in, protected. That was 2 weeks ago. This chicken won’t drink, but eats watermelon and grapes. She gets around in the crate by scooting. Each day I expect to find her motionless, but she is not ready yet.

Patience can be taught in many ways, I think. And creatures great and small can show us the way, if we stop to look.

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My Town Monday: A Plethora of Pythons in Peninsula

fromskilledhands — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:53:41 +0000

Our Python is at home in front of our studio/gallery. Designed and painted by artist Stephanie Margush, he—or she?— is resting comfortably, waiting for visitors.

The day of the python was a beautiful one in my town, the Village of Peninsula. Python imagery was everywhere, from the fronts of community buildings, to the library, to the front porches and yards of our residents. Take a look:

Downtown Emporium

Century Cycles

GAR Hall

Yellow Creek Trading Company

Park Place, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association’s store presented a host of activities and exhibits, including Noah:

Python Posse members were ready for action:

The story of the Peninsula Python was everywhere.

Innkeeper George Hoy, of the beautiful Inn at
Brandywine Falls wrote a wonderful book which tells the story of the Python. George and his dog, Louie, were available as the CD was played in the Village.

The Python Parade was magnificent. Stretching 120 feet, from head to tail, the people-powered python proceeded up Main Street, climbing the hill to Riverview Road and turning south toward the Peninsula Library and Historical Society. This was a great place for the python to park, since the mural commemorating the Peninsula Python is part of the Library.

Much has been said and written about small towns and the spirit that makes them what they are. You kind of know that it’s the right place to be, and that it’s home. The Village of Peninsula, population 602; gently resisting change since 1837.

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You can join the latest member of the Posse, Terrie Farley Moran,and her cohorts: Sam, Travis, Barrie, and Eryl, (Post a comment, suggest a name for the first python, and I’ll enter you in the Python Posse Giveaway–and you could win cool stuff, too!)
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My Town Monday is the product of the vivid imagination of Travis Erwin. Click on over there and read what he has to say about his home town of Amarillo, Texas. Then check out the blogs of the other My Town Marauders.

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Of Animals, Gardens and Art

fromskilledhands — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:39:42 +0000

Besides her family, Cuyahoga Valley artist Pat Raeder’s main interests are animals and gardening. She considers herself lucky because she gets to play with dirt all year long. Each has its season: from the middle of August through Thanksgiving, and into the new year, Pat works with clay. In April, she begins the design process for her incredibly beautiful gardens.

The Jungle Series has developed over time; Pat worked on sketches for the series for many months. This group of pieces gave Raeder the opportunity to “stretch” as an artist: the pieces are more complex than those she has done in the past, and she has used more color. When I look at the work, I see a range of forms, each with it’s own character. Some are whimsical, some more serious; all have personalities and a story to tell.

Jungle Fruit
Stoneware clay, decorated with underglazes; on wood base
12″ x 12″ x 22″

Synchronicity is an interesting thing. Although Pat had taken a sculpture class in art school, she didn’t focus on clay. About 35 years ago, Pat Raeder’s husband was given a potter’s wheel and a kiln. He gave it to Pat for Christmas, and they put it in their basement. Teaching herself to throw on the potter’s wheel, Pat’s work slowly improved. But throwing wasn’t her main interest. She began to notice other potters’ work, and the variety of styles and techniques. Finding her niche in hand building, Pat has made jewelry, garden art, animals and this series. The repetition involved in producing the work over many years is a process of study and refinement, so that the artist’s hands and heart know what to do. Pat said that once she started thinking about the Jungle Series, new ideas “kept popping.” I am glad they did.

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