Poltrack Blog

A look back at April 2017, spring arrived and just a bit more snow. After retiring I found more time for photography. The beavers were hard at work in New Boston, NH. This is one impressive dam project New growth for my bleeding heart L amprocapnos spectabilis The snow retreats the daffodils emerge On a warm day I went for a midday walk at Dunn State Park in Gardner, MA. A short one mile loop around the pond. Interesting color for a fungus seen on the trail Viburnum blossoms beginning to open Fiddlehead ferns are edible if you are willing to do the work removing the fuzz Snow day in early April Yesterday I spotted a couple at Costco festooned with ribbons and homemade buttons. When I asked about the buttons, Ruth Potwin explained it was part of her Unity Sash Project, to create dialog, build bridges and find common ground. Lots of folks in New Ipswich keep chickens and sell eggs. So much better than the grocery store and more colorf

A retrospective look at March 2017 in photos. Daffodils make their appearance in early March, sometimes right through the snow One of the themes chosen by the New Ipswich Photo Club was "barns". On my last day of work and first day of retirement I assisted my co-workers fixing software bugs All the fixing bugs and retirement stuff gave me an appetite After I retired I am able to spend a lot more time meeting folks in New Ipswich. I had a nice chat with Mike Barra about his portable sawmill My Amaryllis waited till March to bloom. I have several bulbs in the basement that are dormant waiting for 2018 Frosty the Michelin Man spotted in New Ipswich The sap starts running in late February through March. Several sugar houses are in New Ipswich and I make a point of visiting them when they are in operation A walk by the Souhegan River in New Ipswich Getting a jump on summer by visiting Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsfor

A look back at February 2017, the shortest month and the gateway to mud season. Sometime our morning walk is an exercise in survival. It can be cold, especially when the wind is so brisk it sculpts the snow drifts My bird feeder is actually a squirrel feeder in spite of my many efforts to prevent pilfering If it is Saturday and the Green Center is open, I'll be volunteering A study of shadows in Greenville, NH Visiting Lora DePlante's Guineafowl on River Road Mud season starts in late February A visit to Noone Falls in Peterborough, NH I had lots of opportunities to play music with these folks at the People's Place in Gardner.  A nice little brook on the way to Peterborough. The road is now closed, I plan to visit in 2018 Sapphire, the resident cat at Agway weighs in just in over 10 pounds My website is poltrack.net

As the year draws to a close, I'm taking a look back at some of the photos from 2017 starting with January. We started the 2017  in Stamford Connecticut with friends and relatives Jan 1, 2017 The Women's March in Boston Jan 21, 2017 Trap Falls in Ashby, MA A brilliant sunrise in New Ipswich during our morning walk Lunch with the family in Southie Breck flees the TV kitten attack A winter view of the Souhegan My website is poltrack.net

Brrr, we are the midst of a deep freeze with temperatures in the single digits (Fahrenheit). I don't know how the birds manage, but I make sure they have food, suet and water. This little guy has a strategy of fluffing up his feathers for insulation I am thrilled to have these visitors just as I'm beginning to read the book Ravens in Winter I'm raving mad about ravens This nuthatch likes the suet The defroster is working and the birds can get a drink One of several woodpeckers A frequent visitor Some color for winter   www.poltrack.net