While pulling weeds I noticed a black spider with white hair.  It was poised in the shadows of a broad hosta leaf.  A slight breeze moved the leaves every few minutes.  An unsuspecting small grasshopper was sunning him/herself on the tip of the same leaf.  As the breeze blew the spider crept closer.  The grasshopper just cleaned its legs and kept preening itself.  All of the sudden the spider flew, faster than I had ever seen a spider move, to the tip of the leaf as the grasshopper leapt away.  I wish the spider got the grasshopper so I could see yet another link in the food chain.  There is so much to see if we can only find it…

I know that is has been awhile since I have written. It has been busy here.  The smell has finally left my house.  Thank goodness, I took things apart when I did; could you imagine what it would have been like after the hot and humid weather we have had this past week. 

The black flies are the worst I have seen.  The heat did not kill them off, the cold did not kill them off.  I am beginning to think that the little blood suckers live as long as they like and that none of the lore about them is true.  In another week or so they SHOULD be subsiding.  We shall see.

I have been trying to get the gardens situated, weeded and re-mulched for the season.  A few more to go.  They really make a difference in the foreground of the buildings.  One area has an underground bee hive that we have been slowly taking over.  During the volunteer work weekend we moved a log into a place to help stop people from injuring themselves on a sloped area.  It was just before lunch when we placed the log, put in a few stakes to hold it in place and then went to eat.  As we neared the log after lunch the bees were hovering angrily.  I had never noticed the hive before.  We placed the log right on the entry way.  It has been a slow process, but I do not see the action there that there once was.  A bit of Hot Shot spray has done the trick. 

The recreation majors have been fun.  It is great to watch each student grow as both an individual and as part of a community.  For example, (I missed this program because I fell asleep at 8:30) at dinner each student was asked to bring the funniest or most outrageous article of clothing or item they brought with them to evening program.  The group dressed up their trip group leaders with the collection of clothing for a fashion show.  The students were all talking about it this a.m., so it must have been good. 

As I write this the shade temperature is 75 degrees and a slight breeze is blowing out of the southwest.  A few clouds are stretched across the sky and Blue Mountain is standing strong showing her elegance and beauty as she always does.  Until next time…

It has been a quite few days with the students gone on trips.  We have been able to get some projects done that you cannot do with people in camp.  The weather has been okay, but the black flies nearly carried us away yesterday! 

Rob, Chris and I were working on a project in the parking lot.  We easily had a few hundred flies on us each.  People who would normally not wear head nets or bug jackets have donned them this year.  According to the local folks there are three different hatches of black flies.  The last hatch has white legs and faces (if you can see them, they are only 1/8 inch or smaller).  The speculation is that the week of cold weather pushed back one of the hatches causing two to happen at once.  All I know is that there is plenty for the birds, dragonflies, fish and whoever else eats them.  I guess I should add humans to the list.  We always get one or two a season.  With any luck two more weeks and they will be gone, although hot weather is expected for this weekend potentially killing off many. 

The recreation students will return on Thursday.  I am always excited to hear their tales of triumph and woe, while reliving my experiences.  One thing is for sure the meal times will be a buzz and the volume high as different trip groups share.  I cannot wait!

I have enjoyed spending time with Sharon Todd, the director of the rec. camp.  Sharon was one of my professors and has always helped me to be a better person.  Late yesterday afternoon we went to Ferd’s Bog because she had not been there.  The bog is located down Uncas Road between Browns Tract Ponds Campground and Eagle Bay.  It is a short hike in to the bog.  The forest was alive with the sound of bees buzzing, several birds and a slight breeze now and again.  We reached the boardwalk to go out on the bog and continued our walk.  The bog water was higher than I had ever seen it, but I have never been there this time of year.  Flowers dotted the walk as we approached the platform.  We heard several birds but could not pinpoint them.  We stood silently for a bit and soaked in the unique environment. 

On the way back to the trailhead, Sharon heard something that I could not hear inside my bug jacket.  I unzipped, happy to find that only a few black flies had followed us back into the woods.  In the distance there was a faint drumming sound.  We waited for a few minutes and then it flew; it was a black-backed woodpecker.  The black-backed woodpecker has a yellow patch on its head and appears to have a mostly black body with a white belly.  It was neat to watch, unfortunate too far away for a picture.  Little moments like this give us the energy and excitement to continue looking and listening closely to our surroundings. 

Have a great day campers!