I first spotted this Fox Squirrel moving through the dew-laden grasses along with a heavy fog. The mammal would peer back at me at times before the tree was climbed. The young squirrel may have never seen a human for the moment he/she climbed to the first limb the grass was chewed as I watched.
I would see two deer, a gobbler, a Beaver and a few rabbits. I saw around eight or more Gray Squirrels.
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Yeah, the weather is humid, and storms were coming later in the day, but I went out early to beat both the storms and humid and warm weather. My plan was to walk the Allegheny River shoreline to seek out anything of interest. the first thing of interested were a couple “smooching.” I think they were slightly embarrassed once they realized I was just above them.
I always watch for native wildflowers, and I found some beauties on this walk. The Blue False Indigo is always in this area, and I do not believe I have ever seen it elsewhere. I read where this flower may grow as high as six feet in the right conditions. Locally I have never seen the flower much over three feet.
Two species of Mullein were discovered o this walk….the Common Mullein and the Moth Mullein. The Moth Mullein can be either this white color in the photo or yellow. Both species can grow up to six feet high. The Common Mullein has a gray green leaf color and is soft and velvety to the tough.
A couple of days prior to this walk a friend and I went fishing on the river. We each caught a sucker. I saw some gulls Mallards and an eagle.
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Laurie and I hiked quite a distance while visiting Presque Isle. We enjoyed holding hands as we walked and looking for wildlife. We saw five or six Bald Eagles, several Ospreys and Great Blue Herons and Green Herons. Turtles were common basking on logs. I caught one crossing a road and released the reptile across the road.
I heard some birds acting up and looked to see what they were agitated about only to spot an Osprey perched in a poplar tree. The bird had something bright range in the talons. Field glasses verified the bird had found a goldfish. I saw goldfish in a bog area later.
While watching a Great Blue Heron, Laurie got to see the bird catch and swallow a nine- or ten-inch fish whole.
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Sometime ago Laurie and I began a hike on trails at the Erie Bluffs only to turn back due to severe knee pain I developed. The pain ended up requiring surgery for a torn meniscus. Well during our anniversary adventure time we did the Erie Bluffs without incident… well sort of!
After the hiking was completed, I realized I didn’t have my phone. We were here at the Bluffs but also on the beached of Presque Isle. I was disturbed to say the least. Laurie used her phone and called my number at times to no avail. However, towards evening her call was answered. I talked to the man, and we decided to meet at a gas station where I had pumped a tank earlier that day, so I knew where the station was.
Two young fellows arrived at the gas station and handed me the phone. I wanted to give then a reward for their kindness, but they refused. I fought back emotions of happiness. Thank you both for being honest!
The steepness of the bluffs is around a hundred feet or so. I am happy we made the trek this time.
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Laurie wanted to return to Presque Isle and other places at Lake Erie for our anniversary in April. (Thirty-one years) Weather, seasonal Asthma and the cold she caught made that trip impossible. We finally went recently once I saw a nice stretch of weather coming upon us all.
I took a number of photos that evening and I have included a few on my site to enjoy.
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Most of May, like 2024, has been an issue with asthmatic coughings. I actually felt like I had a tear in my side from the coughs. Those spells end with fatigue. SO, walking has been sparce for me. I did harvest a twenty-two-pound turkey early on.
I did do a jaunt through the woodlands recently and I took some photos. I saw eight or nine deer. The one doe was bedded, and she stayed while I moved about for a clearer shot. I saw a Great-blue heron and lots of squirrels. (I saw a Great-blue and Green Herons in my back yard too.
Hope you enjoy the pics!
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I have been out and about some in recent days when the chance comes up. I spent a little time searching for Morels but failed to find any. However, the wildflowers were out and looking beautiful. I can’t resist taking photos of such flowers. I included a few photos on this entry.
I spotted three gobblers across a steep valley, and I started to call to see what their actions might be. I called all three clean across and they appeared about twenty-five feet from my position, but the terrain caused a failure for a good photo session possible. After I walked on, and I bumped a hen turkey from her nest. I truly hope she didn’t abandon those eggs.
I would see an immature Bald Eagle later.
A couple of days ago I was at my mother’s home and decided to walk behind the house for morels. I wasn’t out very long when the allergies began being a problem again. I know what will be the results…Misery! I saw a doe and looked about for a fawn. I did, however, find an antler shed if one could call it that, Total length was about four inches.
Gobbler season here in Pennsylvania and I really hope to get out some this year.
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I caught a cold two weeks ago. I coughed plenty but still could function for many things. I have been out walking some too. I have seen turkeys several times and watched one big feller dusting. The birds were too far for good photos. I have seen some deer.
Recently I went trout fishing. I caught two and a ten-inch Horny head Chub. I released all the fish. I heard a couple of gobblers high above me as I fished. I plan to get out some more.
Unfortunately, after having shots in both knees a month ago I found out the pains were returning. I had hoped the shots would last through the gobbler season of May but no such luck for the old, poor and ugly, I guess.
My mother’s dementia is still an issue for the family. She sees people that are not around. She called me last week at four in the morning about seeing people in the house. I try to calm her down and usually she listens to me, but she will be adamant of some of the stories. I can’t imagine how terrified she gets at times with these hallucinations.
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Springtime seems to be coming early if one would include this morning. A heavy fog, however, was over all the area. I went out to enjoy some of this weather. My walk eventually found me along the Allegheny River. The area I was walking had complete ice coverage. The fog was dense that I couldn’t see across the water. However, along the shoreline the weight of the ice had caused a crack allowing for river water to emerge to the shoreline at many places. This allowed for the Beavers to emerge to the bank to eat fresh bark. Old Beaver tracks were common in places.
I found the remains of a nice eight-point buck I wondered what had happened for this buck to meet his demise. A shot that went bad. A person not following up a shot, A natural accident or disease. I will never know.
I would cross many deer tracks. I saw Some ‘possum and ‘coon tracks, and turkeys. I would see two gobblers, but I couldn’t get any photos. I saw and heard a small flock of Canada Geese. The had made many tracks, too.
I was blessed to see a Bald Eagle perched high in a Sycamore Tree. I tried to close the gap for a photo, but the bird decided I was ugly and flew across the river.
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The Fawn
The year of 2024 was not a good year for me. The month of May had severe asthma issues plaguing me followed by fatigue. I didn’t know at the time things would be getting much worse.
In mid-June my mother Ruth Smail Miller had a very bad stroke. I had doubts she would survive the night. She did and is still with us but dealing with dementia issues at 96.
The painting above had been begun in late May. Of course, the stroke and doctor appointments, hospital stays and living at times with my mother when my sister had knee replacement surgeries found any inspiration to paint gone.
Last year, however, in 2025 I did paint a couple pieces of slate and a painting of a dog for a client. I did paint on The Fawn a few hours but was far from completion.
Today, Groundhog Day, the art was finally completed. The very cold weather kept me indoors a lot and I reached some desire to paint.
Rough pencil sketch made prior to painting.
The painting is 16 X 20 inches and painted on a gessoed covered Masonite panel. I included some springtime wildflowers one might find while discovering a newborn fawn in the forest. The flowers are the Mayapple and our native Wild Geranium. As I type this entry, I have no thoughts on another painting. Time will tell.
I hope you enjoy!
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Larry A. Smail's Blog 