“Nothing good happens after midnight,” is an oft used phrase by the parents of teenagers. It is a subtle way of saying a lot of mischief occurs under the cover of darkness, so be home to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, the same statement can be made about late night visitors to the lawn and…Read more
While there are a number of native wild creatures which appreciate a river or lakeside residence, one in particular has it as their only choice. Beavers, the relatively big semiaquatic native rodents with spatula-like tails, will always set up house keeping on a freshwater body. Only two beaver species still exist. The North American beaver…Read more
The plants, animals and bugs know winter is here. The oaks and hickories have dropped most of their nuts, most of the wildflowers have withered, and migratory birds have made their trip south. Unfortunately, the winter season means new challenges for the homeowner and gardener. The pests which operate 12 months of the year in…Read more
The 2022 holiday season, with all the wonderful traditional dishes from recipes passed down through the generations, is here. Historically, these treats have been assembled from locally produced foodstuffs, but also with that distinctive and unique quality identified with a family’s status and pride. Chief among those family culinary treats are the desserts, or offerings…Read more
Cartoon animals are cute and funny. They are assigned personalities and traits which endear them to the reader or viewer. These creations have been a staple of newspapers for more than a century and Walt Disney brought them to life in the movies about 90 years ago. Television, and now the internet, perpetuates the perception…Read more
One of the many benefits of living in panhandle Florida is the relatively mild winters. While the days and nights are not the subtropical temperatures of south Florida in October, the thermometer readings are far above the frigid readings so common currently in much of the country. A secondary advantage of the local climate is…Read more
The seasonally cool weather has had a silencing effect on the nighttime chorus of insects, amphibians and most other animals. The frogs and cicadas have taken shelter in anticipation of the imminently arriving warmer months. With the exception of the barred owls, even much of the avian population is silently waiting out the dark hours….Read more
Classic mystery novels usually open with a set of unexplained occurrences that pique the curiosity of the protagonist. The clues frequently, but not always, lead to a malicious event that leaves only the disconnected evidence available for identifying the perpetrator. Add unidentifiable noises at night while the alleged offender is on the prowl, and the…Read more
