Welcome to July and Happy Independence Day to you all. The time for cookouts, picnics, hot dogs, watermelon, and so many memories to be made.
Though I am not a big fan of fireworks, I do know that many of you are. I am just asking you to be careful in the use of them. We have been blessed with some nice wet weather lately but there is always the chance of fire.
The month of June was sure dry so the rain towards the end was a blessing for sure. Our garden and the trees that we planted are loving it not to mention the brown thing we call a yard is finally getting some green back into it.
When the rain first started, we found a nice fresh flush of Oyster mushrooms. I let a friend of ours have them as he was the one that actually picked them when I showed them to him.
I saw some special animals this past month. My wife and I found a Milk Snake crossing Cherry Creek Road. They are beautifully marked; this one had a brown pattern. We also saw a Wood Turtle crossing M-33 south of Zimowske Road. It was a big one too. I was afraid that it was too tall for my car to clear it but all ended well. In Michigan Wood turtles are listed as a species of special concern so it is always a treat to find one.
My feathered friends are sure visiting the buffet regularly. Keeping the suet feeders full can be a job unto itself. At least the suet doesn’t go bad from setting out in the sun.
We have so many Robins this year, way more than in the past. A friend from Port Huron mentioned that he has a lot more Robins also and so he and his daughter built a couple bird houses. Well, I guess some people don’t know that Robins nest in the open not inside houses but his heart is in the right place and he had a great time bonding with his daughter. I am sure that another species of bird will be thankful for the home.
My wife had eight hens that were laying nicely and then something started killing them. It looked to me like a dog, but something was wrong with the sign. I had seen a fox at the end of the driveway a week before but again the sign was wrong and not coyotes either. Neither was it messy like an opossum.
Then one day around 2 p.m. bold as brass here comes a raccoon across the yard and went right under the porch. I got out two traps and set them by the porch and sure enough we got him. Now we are hopeful that it was just the one and now we can raise our new chicks in peace.
Oh yes before I leave and forget I recently had eight loads of firewood delivered which is around thirty cords so if anyone needs some exercise…! Ha, I figured everyone needed a laugh to end this on.
Until next we meet this is Warren “Toad” Stutesman reminding you to please help keep our woods and waters clean.
