Oot and Aboot
Today we went hiking at a new spot for us, the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a Mass Audubon site. One of M's co-workers had suggested it to her yesterday. It was beautiful out today and we got a decently early start, so we had lots of quiet walking time and spent almost three hours there. We saw a few vernal ponds with loads of frog eggs and tadpoles (no peepers yet), two garter snakes, and two big vultures riding the thermals. At the lookout point, we could see all the way to Gillette Stadium, which was kind of neat. And on the way back, we walked on a boardwalk through a swampy area overrun with skunk cabbages and reeds. Very pretty. The hiking was mellow, which I appreciated, being more out of shape right now than I'd like to admit, and it was just nice to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. There were lots of old stone fences crisscrossing the area, and an enormous old cistern that you could climb down in to and wander around. A long time ago, I read about a huge sacrificial well that (I think) the Maya used to use, and reading about it creeped me out big time - the cistern brought that image to mind today, and it was just the right amount of creepy descending into it to look around.
I have pictures of all of this, but the camera and USB cord are all the way over there, and I am all the way over here, so next time, Gadget.
Contemplating a trip down to CT tomorrow to do some hiking down there, or maybe somewhere new instead? It's supposed to be nice again and I am going to be totally squirrely in the head if I don't take advantage of it while it's here. I don't think that winter has had his last kicks yet (although I'm totally hoping I'm wrong).
Oh, and this morning, before we left, we looked out into the swampy fields behind the house, and there were two coyotes, one dark and lithe and one light and brawny, running through the scrub and the grasses. They were chasing each other, then ignoring each other, then chasing each other again, and just as I said to M, "Well, it's spring time so they're probably going to - " ..... they did. And a very good morning to you, too, coyotes. We heard the pair of them howling the other night so I wasn't entirely surprised to be seeing them. The cats are grouchy because they haven't been allowed out as often. Kitten is repeatedly huffing at us, like a pissed off seal or a marine iguana. Huff away, Kitten, I'd rather you be pissed than be coyote kibble :)
I think that's it.
Later gators.
EDIT - Swartzie just called and we are headed off to do Mad Dash Beach Run next weekend. Woohoo! :)
I have pictures of all of this, but the camera and USB cord are all the way over there, and I am all the way over here, so next time, Gadget.
Contemplating a trip down to CT tomorrow to do some hiking down there, or maybe somewhere new instead? It's supposed to be nice again and I am going to be totally squirrely in the head if I don't take advantage of it while it's here. I don't think that winter has had his last kicks yet (although I'm totally hoping I'm wrong).
Oh, and this morning, before we left, we looked out into the swampy fields behind the house, and there were two coyotes, one dark and lithe and one light and brawny, running through the scrub and the grasses. They were chasing each other, then ignoring each other, then chasing each other again, and just as I said to M, "Well, it's spring time so they're probably going to - " ..... they did. And a very good morning to you, too, coyotes. We heard the pair of them howling the other night so I wasn't entirely surprised to be seeing them. The cats are grouchy because they haven't been allowed out as often. Kitten is repeatedly huffing at us, like a pissed off seal or a marine iguana. Huff away, Kitten, I'd rather you be pissed than be coyote kibble :)
I think that's it.
Later gators.
EDIT - Swartzie just called and we are headed off to do Mad Dash Beach Run next weekend. Woohoo! :)