Summer Thoughts

- Partly cloudy and seasonably warm today on the southern Cumberland Plateau....nice breezes at 2,200' have made it a quite pleasant summer day.

- More typical summer weather patterns have finally taken in our area...after a very pleasant spring and early summer characterized by cool weeks, one hot week, cool week, along with timely rainfall. Mid 80s today with just a slight chance of a summer thundershower.

- The blackberries are ripe! And what a crop.....they seem to be everywhere.

- Getting reports of fawns all over the mountain...as well as broods of young turkeys.....but in both cases the progeny are never found very far from mom at this point in the summer. Still waiting on the perfect photo.

- Can't help but hear the distinct call of the Bobwhites around the mountain., especially late in the day. A great story of recovery and there seems to be more this summer than ever before.

- Seeing lots of small winged predators this summer...particularly the Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Also a Broad Wing now and then, as well as the usual Red-Tailed.

- Attached are a few photos....new and not so new....that I came across recently.....from top to bottom....

1) A place meditation, in the forest, along Stone Creek in Mother's Park......Why is it that natural sounds...be it wind, water or moving leaves, has such a soothing effect on the human spirit? Answers are as unique and many as there are minds that receive such stimuli.

2) A great shot of the largest species of woodpecker in our forests.....the Pileated, enjoying a suet snack.

3) The male American Goldfinch. 'Nuff said.

4) Caught red-handed! Watching a game, gentle rain falling, look out the glass on to the back deck...and you realize a friend has come to call (without knocking)......