​Big pictures are made up of small details. That thought came from, of all places, quotes posted on the internet. I searched for inspiration about detailed photography. Two quotes appeared quite promising to me.

​A quote attributed to Sanford I. Weill, said, “Details create the big picture.”

Another quote said, “When you pay attention to detail, the big picture will take care of itself.”  That statement was attributed to Georges St-Pierre.

​The background of those quoted was surprising. I thought maybe the two statements were from artists or photographers. 

I was wrong.

Sanford I. Weill is the founder of Citigroup, a financier and philanthropist. Georges St-Pierre is a mixed martial artist.
​
Nonetheless, photography can help reveal intricate details that add up creating a bigger picture. 

​Close-up photos of mushrooms and fungus aided me in identifying them. The photos revealed textures and details that one might miss just walking by. Having a side-by-side comparison was especially helpful when looking up information in mushroom field guides.

​Pictures of the mushrooms’ undersides displayed the difference between gills and pores. A zoom lens was especially helpful with those fungi located 20 or more feet up a tree.
​
A closer look at the top of an old man of the woods mushroom displayed a unique surface. Photos of a few black trumpets revealed lovely patterns and textures. The photos were a little deceptive as the mushrooms aren’t that large.

​Meanwhile, I was able to see some pollen under the microscope. While, not fungus, the ghost pipe is a perennial wildflower that uses fungi to feed.

“Ghost Pipe is unlike most plants because it doesn’t rely on sunlight for energy. It doesn’t contain chlorophyll, so it doesn’t photosynthesize. Instead, it taps into fungi that connect to tree roots, getting nutrients indirectly from the trees,” said a post on naturalistguide.com. ​

Eventually cooler weather controlled the spread of the little critters. ​

“In the first two miles on Toms Run, we averaged 10 red eft newt per mile (npm). Once we picked up Ironwood trail, that declined drastically to a disappointing two newt per mile. But those adorable little salamanders in their orange suits really picked things up at the end, averaging 19.3333333 newt per mile for the final 1.5 once back on Tanbark and Toms Run,” the post stated.
​
“A whopping 53 red eft newts over 5.5 miles, with an overall average of 9.6363636364 newts per mile!,” the post concluded.

I surmised that I had roughly about that same average on my walk. We cover up to a mile on our daily treks. 

​However, sometimes we can get wrapped up in small details. With a few steps back the big picture comes into focus. At a glimpse, the ghost pipe is a unique tiny parasitic wildflower. A closer look at the plant may reveal a bigger medicinal benefit.
​
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

​What normally was a time of glee for me became a bittersweet memory. Unbeknownst to me, little goat, Shaymus, was ill and his sickness would claim his life.  

​What I thought was him looking down his nose at us, was a sign that he was suffering.

There was hope during his first trip to the vet. Unfortunately, there was not much improvement in his condition after treatment.

​We made the hard decision to let him have a final rest.

Looking back on his priceless photos, I decided to focus on what a character he was. 

​Meanwhile, as usual, Clem was a pro at posing during the Christmas chaos. 

​Originally, I had sought out senior feline Wiggles for the first photo shoot. Being the oldest one of our critters, she knew what was in store and went into hiding. ​

That didn’t exempt her though. It just postponed her humiliation for a few days. 

​Ernie was the best cat candidate. He was purring under protest. Here we called it “nervous purring.” A quick search of the internet revealed that cats can purr when stressed as a self-soothing mechanism. It is kind of like humans using relaxation techniques to manage anxiety. Ernie purred through his whole ordeal. He might have needed therapy. 

​Ernie’s brother Timus expressed his disgust with the costuming catastrophe. He tried to hide in a box. His safe space wasn’t exempt.

This season, everyone could use some peace on Earth and goodwill towards Clem. However, during Jeb’s waking hours there is no goodwill towards Clem.

​That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.  

​These statistics were enhanced by information from Drought.gov. The site said that this November was the 26th driest November for Venango County on record since 1895. Their data stated that this November’s total was 2.06 inches which was a decrease of 1.12 inches from normal.

The U.S. Drought monitor report released Dec. 18 depicted the northern half of Venango County in moderate drought with the southern half listed as abnormally dry.  
​
Meanwhile, back in October, the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force announced that Beaver, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Schuylkill, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Warren, and Washington counties were under a Drought Watch.  

​“The DEP makes drought declarations based on long-term trends. …, “said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley in the October news release.

In fact, NOAA and the National Weather Service’s winter outlook for 2025-2026 included a graphic that depicted that the drought would persist in our region through January 2026.
​
However, the National Integrated Drought Information System posted a graphic on Facebook on Dec. 18 of a three-month drought outlook. The map forecasted an end to the moderate drought in our region through March 31, 2026.  

The year-to-date precipitation from Jan. 1 to Dec. 20, was 40.46 inches which was below the normal average of 45.13 inches, according to National Weather Service data for Franklin.
Franklin received a little boost with .67 inches of rain on Dec. 19. Area waterways got a rise out of the rain and snowmelt.

Oil Creek at Rouseville jumped from 3.03 feet to over 6 feet on Dec. 19, according to the USGS’ water level chart at waterdata.usgs.gov. The creek crested a couple of times on Dec. 19 at 6.25 feet and 6.15 feet, before starting to recede Dec. 20.
​
The Allegheny River at Franklin rose from 4.29 feet to 7.05 feet on Dec. 19. The river crested at 8.14 feet early Dec. 20 before the levels started to fall. 

​Like November, December so far has been snowy and cold. Franklin received 3.5 inches of snow on Dec. 2, according to weather service data reported by a station at the Venango Regional Airport. According to the station, Franklin had 10.8 inches of snow up to Dec. 16. The normal total for this point was listed as 5.5 inches.
​
On Dec. 9, the low for Franklin was recorded at 4 degrees. This was the lowest temperature recorded for Franklin for 100 years, according to the data. However, going back to Dec. 9, 1917, the low was -6 degrees.
Franklin bottomed out at 5 degrees on Dec. 5 and Dec. 16. None of these appeared to be records for their respective dates. A low of 0 was recorded on Dec. 5, 1966. A low of -7 degrees was reported on Dec. 16, 1904. 

“Here's my call.... No White Christmas this year. Despite nearly 10 inches of snow this month, high temperatures will be mostly in the 40s for the week leading up to Christmas. We'll see more rain chances December 18-25 than snow chances,” Harbaugh posted.

​ “It seems our period of below normal temperatures will come to an end by Dec. 20 as the pattern shifts to a warmer pattern. Thus, above normal temperatures are expected through Christmas. This will mean rainfall events will be more likely than snow through this period,” the National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh posted Dec. 15 on its Facebook page.

A post by weather.com’s senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman, claimed that a “white Christmas is likely only for the usual spots in the northern tier of the country and mountain West, with warming temperatures expected to eat away the impressive December snowpack in parts of the Midwest and Northeast.”
​
Erdman said, “… a general warming trend is kicking off in much of the country that will last into Christmas week. That includes the snow-covered, recently chilly Midwest and Northeast.”

A post by PA Weather Plus said a white Christmas was possible, but not imminent for Venango County.
A graphic stated that snow was “Very unlikely, but not *completely* ruled out. I am watching for a potential northwest-to-southeast sliding system that could bring accumulating snow sometime between Dec. 23 and 25.

​If this occurs before Christmas and it is cold enough; the White Christmas chance will increase. If the storm system does not happen or it tracks too far north and brings rain instead of snow, a White Christmas will not occur. This region has a 15 to 20 percent probability of a White Christmas, so a Christmas miracle is needed” the post said. 

​White Christmas or not, the first day of winter is Sunday, Dec. 21. It is the shortest day of the year and signifies the start of the winter season. However, meteorological winter began on Dec. 1.
​
Finally, the days will start to get longer. As of Dec. 14, the sun set at 4:52 p.m. By Dec. 25, the sunsets would be three minutes shy of 5 p.m. The sunsets began slowly getting a little later, but the sun wasn’t arriving as early in the morning. 

​For example, the sun rose at 7:34 a.m. Dec.  14, but by Christmas the sun won’t rise until 7:40 a.m.
Rain or snow, cold or warm, only Mother Nature knows and the rest of us will just have to deal with it. That’s the nature of things round’ here. 

​It has been said that Mother Nature is sometimes unforgiving. Trail cameras can also be unforgiving. Moments captured meant to depict serene wildlife scenes turned into possibly embarrassing photos -- as if the critters cared. From silly expressions to the occasional slip and fall, the game cameras capture them one and all. 

​While going through a year’s photos, I came across many that gave me a giggle.
​
There were so many interesting photos. I separated them into categories and composed a slide show for each genre. 

​Whether it was curiosity about the camera or vanity, several deer selfies were taken throughout the year.
Some were downright serious and stunning. It made me jealous because I often don’t get to take such detailed deer photos. My walking canine companions often don’t allow such opportunities. Nonetheless, the automatic cameras captured some beautiful photos. Their poses were very natural and not forced.  

​Other selfies were downright failures. Only bits and pieces made it into the pictures. Some selfies were definite photobombs of other animals’ cameos. Gazing at a year’s worth of photos I discovered that the deer were not the only experts at these pictures. A few birds go into the game as well including one irate looking bluebird. 

​Additional selfie efforts appeared to work out. However, many of them seemed to include a few exceptional facial expressions.  Some deer appeared to be annoyed with the camera’s presence. One appeared slightly disgusted with the weather. 

​Quite a few photo captures seemed to depict the critters sticking their tongues at the cameras. In their defense there may have been some “treats” or a salt lick in the area. A few does were caught in mid-chomp under the peach trees.  However, one bear appeared to be sticking its tongue out after destroying one of my bird feeders. 

​Sometimes the treats went missing. The bucket operates on a first come first served basis. There were looks and acts of desperation caught on camera. One photo included a disgruntled goat searching a wagon. 

​Occasionally, the bucket was filled with a squirrel. They had absolutely no consideration for other wildlife diners. There was a bear in the bucket one night. It laid right down and spent at least a half-hour clearing out some treats. 

​While no one was around when the bear was there, other critters deterred the approaching deer. There were photos that appeared to illustrate apprehension around raccoons. It seemed to me that the deer didn’t cross the smaller, yet feistier, critters. Even those armed with antlers dared not push the limits with the treat bandits.

​There were no physical altercations between deer and raccoons photographed. However, deer-on-deer violence was recorded. Some rambunctious goats were caught in the act as well. 

​There were a lot of deer rears on camera. It was almost as if they said, “Here’s my best side.”

​However, a few photos were a little more risqué. When nature called, it was on camera. Urination, defecation and random unmentionable body parts popped up on the camera cards. 

​Trail cameras have given me such an awesome glimpse of who or what uses our trails when we are not there. A few of the photos are downright artistic.  However, sometimes a random spider or a stick on a windy day can result in forty or more photos of the same image. 

That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. ​

For many months Milo was a lonely, only goat. Then he got some new herd mates whether he wanted them or not.
​
Milo had been at a loss after his life partner, Otis, passed away of a urinary stone this past spring.​

At the end of May, we hopped in the car and drove to a farm near Bellefonte to pick up two new kids. They were Nigerian dwarf goats born the first week of March.

​I expected a carful of screaming kids for the two-hour drive home. Earl and Shaymus just huddled in the back of the car and never made a peep. I saw this as a sign that things would go smoothly. That omen proved to be wrong. ​

​I naively expected Milo and the new kids to get along immediately. I placed them in the same pen and shed as Milo.
​
The first night did not go so well. There were false hopes that Milo was more scared than Shaymus and Earl. Milo discovered that the new kids were in “his” house. His bully goat switch was activated. Then the screaming started. No injuries were reported. The assaults appeared to be more verbal than physical. However, some headbutting was involved. 

​Shaymus and Earl were exiled to a smaller pen inside the goat enclosure. The verbal assault continued through the fence.  
​
However, after several weeks the goats got used to each other. They were able to share the same pen and housing. There still were flare ups, but those were just goat behavior. 

​Then, the hormones hit. Afraid of another loss from urinary stones, I had not gotten any of the bucks wethered or neutered. 

​Male goats like to wear their cologne for the ladies. This lovely perfume is pee. I’m not sure if the neighbor’s goats were in heat or the young bucks were just entering puberty. The goat pen was soon filled with the scent of urine. It was also the scene of much humping and bumping. The nights and days were filled with frustrated verbiage between the three.
​
Despite the three Billy Goats Gruff’s demeanors, I attempted to make them pets. 

​First, they were unsure of their surroundings and remained around the house and yard when let out of their pen. I foolishly thought that they could free range while I walked dogs. After a few calls and observances of the three “amigoats” on or near the road, they were locked up again. 

​I tried an alternative that revolved around an old commercial. I had my own take on the old ad slogan, “Behold, the power of cheese.” It was from a 1997 America's Dairy Farmers campaign.
​
I did not want to downplay the prowess of cheese. As a canine owner, the aforementioned food has helped several unwell dogs receive their medication.

​However, when it came to my goats, the saying changed to “Behold, the power of corn.”
Milo, with the aid of corn, allowed some very short physical contact. This had never been observed before.
It also helped some new kids come out of their shell. Pun intended.
​
However, the pursuit of corn meant for wildlife consumption united the goats in a common cause. 

​I did not want them to consume a lot of corn as it is more of a junk food for them. Armed with a baggy of corn and goat treats, the goats started to follow me. The corn meant they also didn’t fear the dogs as much. I was able to hand feed Earl, Shaymus and Milo. Milo would never let me get near him in the past. 

​The corn bag served as a motivation for creek crossings. Earlier this summer, the streams were dry and the efforts were not an issue. When the rains returned, the corn was used to coax goats to jump across the waters. 

​For weeks, the corn strategy appeared to work. Recently, it seemed that testosterone may have overridden the power of corn. Milo kept breaking out in a run and sometimes headed for the roadway. I tried to keep our walks away from the roads, but Milo continued to run with the other goats following suit. I was yelling and shaking the corn bag, but there was no response.

​I want the goats to enjoy some time outside their pen, but I may need to change my strategy. Shorter walks without the dogs may be needed along with some leashes.
​
The option of neutering is still on the table, but it would involve surgery since Milo is older.

However, if the screaming, running, bumping and humping continue, all the corn in the world won’t save the boys from the veterinarian. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

Nicole Chinnici, the laboratory director at the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania, was reported as saying there was an increase in ticks sent in for testing this season.

Chinnici told the Associated Press that this year has been "tickier" than usual, with more of these bloodsuckers being tested, according to the post. 

In the article Chinnici said that the most common species is the blacklegged (deer) tick, which is associated with the majority of tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease … She added that there has been an increase in American dog ticks as well as Asian longhorned and lone star ticks. 
​
In the post claimed that the increase that Chinnici and her team are seeing at their lab is not an anomaly. “Warmer weather is helping ticks and other disease-spreading vectors to survive for longer periods through the year, giving them more time to breed. Higher temperatures are also helping ticks spread north and west to new parts of the U.S. and Canada,” the article stated. 

Day in and day out, the Applegate fur kids faced the creepy crawlies. Vaccinations helped but weren't always the cure all. Clem had some phantom hip pains, and it turned out he had Lymes disease even though he was vaccinated against it. Recently, a blood test revealed that Gus had Lymes disease despite having the vaccination. The moral of this story was that a blood panel may be the answer to mysterious ailments. The test cost under $90 at a local veterinarian clinic. 
​
Pet owners can try everything, but there still may be dangers hiding in small packages. That's just the nature of things 'round here.

The district manager in Cornplanter State Forest serving northwestern Pennsylvania said that parts of Erie County lagged a little behind … “Most of the other district counties, including Crawford, Venango, Warren, and Forest are declining.” 
​
However, it was reported that forestry staff in Clear Creek State Forest (serving Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Mercer, Clarion, Jefferson, and Venango counties) were looking forward to another colorful week in the woods! Peak fall color will last one more week in much of west-central PA as oak trees continue to turn gold, rusty brown, and dark red. 

​The district manager in Cornplanter State Forest serving northwestern Pennsylvania said that parts of Erie County lagged a little behind … “Most of the other district counties, including Crawford, Venango, Warren, and Forest are declining.” 
​
However, it was reported that forestry staff in Clear Creek State Forest (serving Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Mercer, Clarion, Jefferson, and Venango counties) were looking forward to another colorful week in the woods! Peak fall color will last one more week in much of west-central PA as oak trees continue to turn gold, rusty brown, and dark red. 

​In the previous week’s (Oct. 16 to 22) overview the DCNR reported that some chilly nights last week helped more colors develop throughout Pennsylvania forests. With morning lows for the next few days expected to be consistently in the 30s and 40s, that trend should accelerate.

​For much of the Commonwealth, recent rain has also helped keep some leaves on trees while helping them to shed some brown, increasing the quality of colors.

On Oct. 17, 2024, Oil Creek at Rouseville was at 2.27 feet compared to 1.77 feet this year.
The Allegheny River at Franklin was at 3.95 feet last year and only 3.28 feet this year.
Total rain accumulation for the month of September was 2.66 inches, which again, was below the normal of 3.94 inches, according to the National Weather Service.  ​

​Nonetheless, while Franklin saw above average temperatures for most of September, there were some dips. However, October brought the possibility of frost.
​
While the temperature reached 82 degrees on Oct. 8, a low of 33 degrees was reported on Oct. 17.
On Sunday, the National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh posted on its Facebook about stopping freeze and frost warnings with the end of the growing season.

​“After experiencing multiple frost/freezes across the area in recent days, and in collaboration with neighboring NWS offices, we have ended the growing season for our area of responsibility. Frost/freeze products will resume in Spring 2026,” the post said.

Yourerie.com posted a freeze warning effective Sunday night into Monday morning.

“Crawford and Southern Erie Counties are affected, including the cities of Warren, Jefferson, Meadville, Edinboro, Union City, and Titusville.  Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 22 expected, the post said.  
​
Online the Old Farmer’s Almanac reported that the median date of Franklin’s first fall frost was Oct. 17.
However as of Oct. 26, I still had a few roses and dahlias blooming. But I did suspect that the area had experienced some patchy frost days earlier. 

Seasonal signs?
Other indications of fall came in late August.

Some of their movements of lack of, may have to do with where the food is. 

​This year, like last year, there was no shortage of acorns. In contrast, in my immediate area, there was a drought of apples.

While my peach tree fared well, my apple tree was barren. However, the deer were OK with enjoying some peaches instead of apples.

​I surmised that a later frost may have been to blame for the lack of apples. A review of weather stats revealed that Franklin saw a low temperature of 34 on May 10.

​Temperatures would quickly rebound to the mid-70s and low 80s within the next few days. I surmised that the peach tree, which blooms earlier, had set its buds before the frost. The apple tree blooms must have succumbed to the lower temps and failed to produce fruit. 

To the skies
​
Other signs of the seasonal change included the arrival and departure of several winged friends.
​
In early September the hummingbird feeder was still buzzing with three or four visitors. Then within a week the number dropped to one and then none. My last hummingbird visitor was seen feeding on some Mexican sunflowers on Sept. 26. 

Also leaving the hummingbird feeders were the yellow jackets and hornets that swarmed about.

I soon discovered that once some of the smaller wild asters bloomed that the bees flocked to their blossoms.


Weeks after the hummingbirds left, I observed and uptick in tufted titmouse visitors to the bird feeders.

While they are year-round residents, there seem to be more in the winter.

Later in the month, reports on Facebook birding pages reported the return of dark-eyed juncos.
​
I sometimes can get photos from the fall visits from flocks of cedar waxwings that feed on the fruits of the gum trees growing near the neighbor’s pond. Robins on the move also stopped to feed. I also saw several warblers but didn’t get a chance to see them long enough to photograph or identify them.​

Meanwhile, back home, the very next day I was able to capture two more photos of monarchs. One was feeding on wild asters and then the next day one visited the Mexican sunflowers in my garden. My last sighting this year for a monarch was Oct. 3.

A quick search of the internet found that most monarchs leave Pennsylvania in mid to late September, according to a post on Bird Watching HQ. 
​
“From there, it takes many weeks for them to reach their final Mexican destination. Most individuals arrive in early November,” the post continued. 

Another post on the subject at blog.entomologist.net provided a nice overview of monarchs in the state.

“In Pennsylvania, monarchs generally reach the state by May, where they lay eggs to produce successive generations. …. September is a significant month for monarchs in western Pennsylvania as they prepare for their migration to Mexico.

​The cyclical pattern of migration, mating, and breeding emphasizes the adaptability and ecological importance of the monarch butterfly population,” the post said.
“Monarchs born after August 15th in Pennsylvania do not reproduce but migrate south to return the following spring, it added. 

Fungus

The hot dry weather during the summer made those seasonal mushrooms hard to find.
Oyster mushrooms were plentiful in the early part of the summer still using the moisture in some dead wood. However, by late summer, any fungus that emerged one day, dried up the next. That was the case with the bioluminescent Jack-O-Lanterns. Some of them didn’t even make it to maturity before being desiccated in the dry heat.

Last year, I saw many, many patches of the orange mushrooms.
​
This year seemed to be the year for birch polypores. They appeared to thrive. I noticed several trees that were coated with the umbrella-shaped fungus.

Fall rains helped some fly agaric mushrooms arrive on schedule. 

​The mushrooms are common under pine trees in late fall in the east. They are not edible.  Still fighting with mushroom identification. I couldn’t decide if I was the yellow orange fly agaric, Amanita muscaria var. Formosa or Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, which is known as the American yellow agaric.
​
Meanwhile, recent rains have helped other late fall mushrooms emerge. I still don’t know what most of them were. 

Little rain fell. Temperatures were warm and cold. Autumn displays and other fall signs were affected. However, I did find some color here and there. The dryness may have dulled some displays, but it didn’t stop them.

That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.

Sunday's misty foggy conditions made the unseen seen.

Heavy dew settled on spider webs throughout the forest creating displays of droplets and silk.

One could truly appreciate the work of the eight-legged artists.

​It was nice to view the webs instead of wearing them. 

I usually ended up with the webs, their occupants and the remnants of spider meals across my face or covering my head. This was not enjoyable for any parties involved.

​However, the invisibility of the webs allowed the spiders to do what they do best. These are the tools that some spiders use to serve as nature's pest control. They help keep the insect population in check.  

Recently two cases of bugs gone bad have begun to affect areas near or in our region. A graphic with a story posted by Penn State Extension reported that Venango County had been added to the spotted lanternfly quarantine just this year.

​In other parts of the state, the infestation was so bad the bugs were spotted on radar. 

"This afternoon (again), the low reflectivity values shown on the radar imagery across the Pittsburgh region are bugs -- and most of them are more than likely lantern flies. Yuck!," said a September 16 Facebook post by PA Weather Plus, LLC.

While I have not yet spotted a spotted lanternfly, the invasion appeared imminent. 
​
These bugs have strong preference for economically important plants including grapevines, maple trees, black walnut, birch, willow, and other trees. The feeding damage significantly stresses the plants which can lead to decreased health and potentially death, said the Penn State Extension post. 

Another insect was ravaging the deer population in Ohio. Reports indicated that Ohio may limit deer hunting due to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).

​As of Sept. 18, 2025, the public had reported nearly 7,500 dead or sick deer to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Internet reports pointed to culicoides midges as the culprits behind the deaths. The midges breed in moist environments near water sources.

​Environmental conditions, such as excessive rain followed by dry spells can create favorable conditions for midge reproduction, increasing the risk of EHD outbreaks, according to reports.  ​ 

A press release from the Pennsylvania Game Commission said the disease had been confirmed in several western counties and is being investigated in some southeastern counties.

​"Currently, EHD detections include: Butler, Erie, Lawrence, and Mercer counties," the commission said.
"EHD is spread by tiny biting midges or “no-see-ums”, that typically appear in late summer. They continue to remain a threat until a hard frost. Infected deer can show swelling of the face or neck, loss of appetite, weakness, lameness, and excessive salivation," the release continued.

The commission was asking the public to report any sick or deer, especially if multiple animals are found in the same area.
​
Folks can report these sightings by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD.

​Meanwhile, I attempted to identify some of these pest control artists. The spiders responsible for the ring-shaped webs were dubbed orb weaver spiders.

The spiders are common in the state and contribute significantly to the ecosystem, according to internet reports. 
​
The ones I had observed the most were marbled orb weavers. Their markings were distinctive. 

"​The webs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a 'signal' thread attached to the center that notifies the spider when prey has been captured," said a Penn State Extension post. 

I struggled to find the identification of a spider I had photographed at the pond's edge. I believed it to be a member of the Tetragnathidae family. The arachnids were also known as long jawed spiders. According to reports some species are often found in long vegetation near water.​

Orb weaver spiders are common in Pennsylvania and contribute significantly to the local ecosystem, said several internet reports. 

I believed the other two spiders I had recently photographed were also orb weavers.

A possible shamrock spider had netted a dragonfly dinner in its web located near the neighbor's pond. ​

​Recent patterns have given new meaning to the term “crisp” fall weather. Warmer temps and dry conditions had me treading on crunchy leaves for at least a week. They were dry, brittle and sunbaked. Nonetheless, the first day of autumn arrives on Monday and with it the possibility of precipitation. 

The total was still low despite the region seeing above average accumulation for much of May through July.
​
August’s weather station data for Franklin revealed that the region saw a decrease in precipitation. This August’s total was 1.18 inches which was below the normal of 4.24 inches. Interestingly, the hottest day of the month was Aug. 13 with a high of 92 degrees. It was also the day with the most recorded rainfall with a total of .48 inches. Most other days in August saw no accumulation.

So far for September, Franklin has received .49 inches.

The normal total for the entire month of September was reported as 3.94 inches by the National Weather Service.
​
The drought in precipitation meant that area water levels sank.

​Data from the United States Geological Survey said that area waterways were down slightly from last year at this time. The Allegheny River at Franklin was at 3.10 feet. In 2024, the river was at 3.24 feet. Oil Creek at Rouseville was at 1.65 feet this week. Last year, it was reported at 1.74 feet.

Several Facebook reports from Pale Whale Canoe Fleet, a canoe and kayak rental business in Cooksburg, kept repeating that the Clarion River was low.
​
“Canoes are limited to no more than two persons. These conditions aren't for everyone so please make the best decision for yourself -- it is very low and the water is cold. ... Keep your vessels as light as possible,” a post said.

​The Sept. 21 post reported the current river depth at 2.05 feet.

There were other signs that area water tables were low.
​
Travels past several area roadside springs that were still flowing revealed a hotbed of activity. Folks gathered what water they could but faced longer wait times as the once gushing pipes had slowed to a trickle. Some springs had no one around suggesting that they had dried up. 

​Hopefully, the impacts of the drought will be cut short by some much-needed rain. It was forecasted to arrive this week.
​
“Kiss the sunny days goodbye! … According to the European model, and other models that are also starting to suggest we'll see a series of systems that will bring rain starting early next week all the way through the following weekend, PaAction Weather LLC posted Sept. 19 on Facebook. A graphic accompanying the post predicted up to 2.35 inches for the Oil City area. 

Those effects include decreased honey production; hay and gain yields could be lower than normal; trees and landscaping are stressed; fish are also stressed; voluntary water conservation is requested; reservoir and lake levels are below normal capacity; and wildfires increase. 

​An accompanying graphic listed the region’s peak display as leaning toward mid-October. The graphic stated that the exact dates could be anywhere between Oct. 13 – Oct. 21.
​
A graphic posted by Uncovering PA also highlighted the second week of October for peak colors in our region.

Still yet, other Facebook posts touted the first week of October as the peak for foliage in the region.

The Pennsylvania DCNR hasn’t released its foliage reports quite yet, but they should be coming within a matter of days.  In 2024, the region’s best color reportedly started on Oct. 17.
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A look back at some other reports saw that in 2018 Venango County hadn’t reached its best color until the last week in October. In contrast, the report for 2022 saw colors starting to fade by the third week in October. 

​We still have a few days to see just how much the higher temperatures and lower rainfall totals will impact our fall display. Many of the leaves I have seen have just turned brown and fallen to the ground. However, there were a few peaks of color here and there.

​That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

I haven’t seen any hummingbirds on the vine’s blooms. However, there were a few hanging out in the general area.

​However, folks were encouraged to keep feeders out until November for any stragglers or western hummingbirds that might stray into the region.

Until then, I decided to continue to stalk the feeders to capture the fast and the furious. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. ​

It has felt like a never-ending monsoon season in the region. As the area wrapped up the month of May and headed into June, the rain just kept coming. Inconveniently, most of these rain events seemed to happen over the weekend.

Case in point, Saturday, June 14, was very wet in some areas. Weather stats from the National Weather Service’s weather station at Venango Regional Airport were sketchy with some missing data. However, the precipitation count for that weekend was around 1.34 inches. My parents reported nearly two inches of rain in their gauge through Saturday, June 14.
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According to Facebook posts, Route 8 from Kaneville to Rouseville was closed around 1 p.m. June 14 due to flooding. It reportedly opened later in the evening. There were also reports of Route 322 being closed for flooding near Meadville. 

​Not to be outdone, areas in mid and southern Venango County got drenched on June 17, 18 and 19.
Here in Pinegrove Township, Venango County, on June 17 there was at least 3 inches in my parents’ rain gauge for the day. Then there was approximately another 2 inches on June 18 and nearly three quarters of an inch from storms on June 19.

“Good morning! Unsurprisingly after the torrential downpours yesterday, the river is high and swift, so we are currently closed. We cannot predict how quickly it will recede, but we will provide an update, when possible,” the Pale Whale Canoe Fleet in Cook Forest State Park posted June 10 on its Facebook page. Other posts announced that the business was closed on June 14 and 15 due to swift water levels.
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The business posted, “You guessed it - we are closed,” on June 21. However, by June 22 the Clarion River had receded enough for them to resume operations.

The tailwater fishing access had been closed at the Kinzua Dam due to increased water releases. Nonetheless, by June 17 the operators were able to open fishing access again.
Meanwhile, for the month of April, Franklin was above the normal for precipitation. The total was 4.92 inches, which was higher than the average of 4.15 inches for the month. 

Early Monday morning the National Weather Service office in Pittsburgh posted to its Facebook page that at 1:56 a.m. Franklin's temperature was 75 degrees and Clarion's temperature was 77. 

While all the crazy weather locally seemed to be an inconvenience, the area appeared to have it better than southern areas that experienced dramatic flooding. ​

​However, 40 years ago during a tornado outbreak, the region was not so lucky.
A look back describes the devastation that took place on May 31, 1985. 

​Meanwhile, the local lady slipper patches thrived and then subsided just like the river levels. The patches seemed to be doing well and then the blooms faded by mid-June.

During several rain events, waterfalls could be seen in places where they weren’t normally present. The swelled creeks created hazardous crossing conditions.
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The wet conditions provided sanctuary for tadpoles striving to survive in various vernal pools. 

Humidity and heat will undoubtedly stir up some more moisture as rain is forecast for the end of June. That's just the nature of things 'round here. 

Jeb also required several sittings. However, that was due to excessive energy and no cooperation. Finally, I settled for an indoor shot where the lively young bloodhound could be confined to a smaller area. 

Gus clearly showed a pained expression on his face as he endured the persecution prompted by the bunny ears. Another shot caught him in mid-chew as he devoured a treat that was used as a bribe.

 However, Ernie was clearly the winner of the most offended look. That's just the nature of things 'round here. 

​Life, like the recent weather, has its highs and lows. While we celebrated the arrival of warmer weather and new growth, we mourned the loss of two of our fur family members.

On Friday, she ate her food like normal and went on our walk. However, on Saturday and Sunday, she had no interest in eating and was lethargic. She went to the vet on Monday where she was cared for and kept for observation. However, she passed away that night at the veterinarian’s office.

She was our brown-eyed girl and matriarch of the pack. I wanted to write more about her life. However, it may be some time before I can find the right words.
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To help life my spirits, I focused on our current fur family members and the abundant signs of spring.

Two recent weather outlooks created by the NOAA and the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, called for a 60 to 79 percent chance of the region seeing above normal temperatures in the coming weeks. 

Meanwhile, the rain and warmer temperatures brought forth some new plant growth.

Last year, my first sighting of a hummingbird was on April 27. However, in 2023, I had a hummingbird visitor on April 17.

According to the Spring Arrivals list posted on the Seneca Rocks Audubon Society’s website, the earliest recorded sighting of a hummingbird in our region was recorded as April 19.
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Various sites that track the hummingbird’s migration were showing sightings closer to our region. On April 13 and 14 there were sightings in Indiana, Pa. and Latrobe. 

​Meanwhile, more and more of the region’s summer residents were returning. An Eastern phoebe, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, a few chipping sparrows and a multitude of brown-headed cowbirds were just a few of the birds I spotted over the past few weeks. 

​This spring season reminded me that while we navigate the peaks and valleys of life, there are high and low points, death and life. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

After what seemed like an endless winter, the snowpack has melted, and signs of spring are appearing. The first day of spring or the vernal equinox was on Thursday, March 20. That date marked when day and night were equally long. From this point on, the region will see more daylight and less night. 

However, just because the calendar said it was spring doesn’t mean the weather will cooperate. 

The Farmers’ Almanac, the Old Farmers’ Almanac and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offered a few suggestions on what the coming spring season may bring.

The Farmers’ Almanac long range weather forecast says spring weather will take its time arriving, allowing winter conditions to linger, especially across the Midwest, Great Lakes, New England, and Northeast regions,” said a post on the almanac's website.

A graphic on the site depicts Pennsylvania as cool and wet for the spring season.
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“Temperatures will run somewhat coolish for the northern and central regions…,” the post said.
However, it did predict pleasant weather for Easter. 

A graphic on The Old Farmer's Almanac website painted a slightly different picture for Pennsylvania’s spring. It depicted that our state would be warm and wet this spring.

“The U.S. spring outlook predicts warmer-than-normal temperatures for most of the country …,” the post said.
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However, the almanac also added the “best chances for some late-season snowflakes (outside of the mountains of the West) will be across the Lower Great Lakes, an area that may experience chillier weather during April.”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s spring outlook predicted “above-average temperatures for the East and Gulf Coast regions…”

According to the administration, “The East Coast and much of the western U.S. have had below-average precipitation during the winter months, resulting in a low threat of significant spring flooding. However, heavy rainfall at any time can lead to flooding.”

The post also weighed in on the outlook for some areas experiencing drought.

“Moderate-to-exceptional drought conditions currently exist across more than 40% of the continental U.S.

​Drought conditions are likely to persist in the Southwest and parts of the Rocky Mountains, while drought improvement is forecast for the Great Lakes region,” the administration said.

The highest temperature was 76 degrees on March 20. The record set for this date was 80 degrees in 1918. Franklin hit 75 on March 15 and it fell short of the record of 79 degrees set in 1990. 

In the yard, snowdrops, snowflakes and crocuses made an appearance above ground.

Facebook memories showed me that on March 19, 2024, there were daffodils out. However, they were covered in snow. This year the yellow flowers were budding, but only one had bloomed.
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A memory from there were crocuses out in early March, but again they snow-covered. This year my crocuses didn’t bloom until March 19. 

​In the woods, the skunk cabbage was seen blooming as early as March 2.

The plant’s ability to perform thermogenesis helps it grow in icy conditions by melting the snow around it.

The neighbor’s pond saw the return of Canada geese and a mallard couple.

However, no one sticks around when we make the rounds.I spotted a couple of bluebirds checking out the nesting box in my parents’ yard earlier this month. Otherwise, the turkey vultures, robins and red-winged blackbirds were back for the season. 

​Flitting about in the woods were several butterflies on warmer days. My first butterfly sighting was a gray comma butterfly on March 13. In the following days I was able to capture photos of some Eastern commas and a mourning cloak butterfly. 

On some of the balmier days the air was filled with the calls of wood frogs. I first heard their unique choruses of croaks on March 16.
 “Wood frogs are one of the first frogs to begin the breeding season, usually in early March. During the breeding season, males can be heard making quack-like calls day and night,” said a post on the frogs by the National Wildlife Federation. 
“These frogs have adapted to cold climates by freezing over the winter. During this time, they stop breathing and their hearts stop beating. Their bodies produce a special antifreeze substance that prevents ice from freezing within their cells, which would be deadly. Ice does form, however, in the spaces between the cells. When the weather warms, the frogs thaw and begin feeding and mating again,” the federation posted. 

​Wood frogs were the only things active in the water this month. Pond samples revealed a world of microscopic creatures who were still busy despite a layer of ice above them. Algae, microbes, diatoms and others created some greenery despite the gray skies above the water. 

​Tardigrades are quite hardy.
“They can survive punishing heat, freezing cold, ultraviolet radiation and even outer space. They do this by becoming dried-out little balls, called "tuns," and almost stopping their metabolism (the way they get energy from food), reviving only when conditions are better. In fact, these tough little water bears will probably survive long after humanity is gone, research has found,” Weisberger continued.

​Meanwhile, goats Milo and Otis survived the winter with the help of a doghouse heater in their goat shed. On some of the colder days they didn’t even venture out. However, warmer days have them feeling some spring fever. They were still waiting for some green leaves to appear.
Their woodland counter parts, the deer, dealt with the ups and downs of the weather. As spring approached, the bucks began to drop their antlers.  A photo captured on Feb. 23 showed that one buck had shed an antler. Another photo from March 1 showed a buck still hanging on to both horns. However, by mid-March there were no deer with antlers on camera. 

​The deer were also starting to move around more. Other forest critters like coyotes, raccoons, groundhogs, possums and more were traversing our trails more. This meant that canines, Clem, Sadie, Gus and Jeb, were hot on their trails. However, the animals were usually long gone or out of the dogs’ reach.
Jeb was growing fast and going fast.  He outgrew his fear of water and had even contemplated swimming on a few of the warmer days.
As the days grew longer and greener scenery appeared, it sure did seem that winter was over. However, as western Pennsylvanians we all know better. That there still could be a few cold days in store. We still have a few months until the threat of frost is out of the picture. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

Things were very different from his birthing place and there were new faces and smells. ​

To make things worse, his new human mom put a hat on him. 

However, Jeb took things in stride. It only took a couple of days to figure out the dog door. 

He finally settled down enough to enjoy his doggy pillow. 

Gus and Jeb hit things off. However, Gus had to be careful not to step on the diminutive bloodhound. 

 Jeb quickly grew fond of elder bloodhound, Clem. He shadowed every move Clem made. It was rare that Clem could venture anywhere without Jeb close behind. Clem in addition to being Jeb's adopted brother was actually blood related to Jeb's mother. Clem in fact may be Jeb's uncle. 

Sadie, like Mother Nature, originally gave Jeb the cold shoulder. However, like the weather she gradually warmed up to him, little by little. 

Then Jeb encountered feline Lil' Bit. There was biting, chasing and scratching. It was all in good fun until Jeb got too big and too rough. Lil' Bit steers clear of the puppy for now except for the occasional ambush. 

When Jeb greeted Otis, he was welcomed in goat-fashion with an attempted headbutt. 

It only took a little over a month for Jeb to join the big dogs on their walk. He soon had no problem going for the whole length of our daily journey. 

He's working to get the hang of crossing creeks. Mother Nature made things harder with ice formations on one day and rising waters on the next. Jeb was motivated by treats and soon started double- and triple- crossing the waterways to obtain more goodies.  

Over the past few weeks, Jeb grew by leaps and bounds. On his first vet visit he weighed in at 19 pounds and on his most recent visit he was up to 32 pounds. 

Jeb is still struggling with housetraining. Again, Mother Nature and her frigid temperatures and freezing rain did not help the situation. No one wanted to be outside for very long during any of these weather events. 

Jeb has a small issue with his eyes. He is so wrinkled that his folds push his eyelashes into his eyes. The vet gave him some drops to lubricate his eyes. He may grow out of this issue once he grows into his wrinkles. However, he may need surgery later on to tack his eyelids. Clem had this issue, and it was resolved with stitches. Time will tell if Jeb needs to take that route. 

I'm sure that Jeb will face challenges head on in the future. Just as the weather is growing slightly more comfortable, Jeb is definitely more comfortable with his fur-ever home. That's just the nature of things 'round here. 

​Meanwhile, a warmup on Jan. 30 prompted some concern about ice jams on area rivers.

” Expect a warmup over the next couple of days as our air will be coming out of the south rather than Canada. This warmup will continue the process of melting the snow on the ground and the ice on the rivers.

​ A slow and steady melting is what we need to prevent flooding issues. However, a storm system will move northeastward from the south-central US this afternoon and cross our area Friday evening.

​This system will bring widespread rain to the area beginning late tonight and continuing into early Saturday morning. ... At this time, no points on any of the rivers are forecasted to reach flood stage. But we also need to keep an eye on local streams as well.,” the National Weather Service’s office in Pittsburgh posted on Facebook on the morning of Jan. 30.

​Photos taken Jan. 31 in Oil City, showed no threat of an ice jam.

There appeared to be clear channels for the water to pass through.
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The water level gauge on the Allegheny River at West Hickory reported a steady river level at 3.3 feet until Jan. 21 when it climbed to and peaked at 7.75 feet on Jan. 23. It had slowly fallen to 6.35 feet as of Feb. 2.
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The gauge on Oil Creek at Rouseville was at 2.67 feet on Jan. 31 and had reached 3.67 feet by Feb. 1.
Meanwhile the Allegheny River gauge at Franklin was steadily growing from 3.65 feet on Jan. 31 to 4.8 feet on Feb. 2.
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In drought news, Venango County has no current drought conditions. However, the western portion of Forest County was still labeled as abnormally dry by the U.S. Drought Monitor. 

​The freeze and thaw cycle created some interesting ice formations on the area streams.

​Meanwhile, the cold weather drove man birds to the feeder. Winter visitors included American tree sparrows, goldfinches, woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos and more. 

​Meanwhile, the cold weather drove man birds to the feeder. Winter visitors included American tree sparrows, goldfinches, woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos and more. Also at the feeders, there was a gray squirrel or two.

In the woods, bluebirds and other feathered friends were busy feeding on winterberries. 

That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

I can't recall many "Oh, sh*t," moments in my life. I do believe most of them came about during winter driving. However, my most recent "Oh, sh*t" moment happened Christmas Eve while walking in the woods with the dogs. 

When we first got Sadie, the Newfoundland, I kept having to remind myself that I had a black furry dog and I wasn't seeing a bear. However, on one walk, I saw something black ahead and thought, "What is Sadie doing up there? She was behind me." Upon further observation, I exclaimed, "Oops, not Sadie." It was a smaller bear fleeing from my rambunctious posse of pets.  

We've been pretty lucky as far as wildlife encounters over the years. Perhaps that may have been due more to some divine intervention than luck. While trail cameras picked up coyotes, foxes, fishers and more. We don't usually see them.

​To date, we have never run across a coyote even though their tracks often cross our paths. Recently I spotted some fisher tracks. However, tracks were the only thing we saw of the critter. We may have seen the tail end of a fox or two over the years as they hightailed it out of our way. 

Mostly we encounter deer. The dogs are not allowed to pursuit deer. I don't wish to have to travel to the next county to locate my wayward canines. They have been instructed to "stay" over the years.

Nonetheless, one year a small buck was bedded down right were we entered the woodline. Of course, instinctively the dogs were ready to go. I yelled, "No." Everybody stopped, including the buck. I told the dogs to "stay" and instructed the buck to slowly leave the area.

​Surprisingly he listened. He swished his tail and cautiously walk away.

I wished I could have said this would work for all wildlife situations. However, I am more of a realist than that. 

The moral of this story is to be alert and aware. One should also be very cautious. Most importantly, one shouldn't trust Gus.

​That's just the nature of things 'round here. 

She also grew bored with the candy-cane striped antlers. 

Gus Gus struck a serious Santa hat pose as well. He also had a cute reindeer antler shot. The latter was due to his chomping on a treat at the time of the photo. 

I managed to capture a photo of Otis, the goat, in reindeer horns. Thank goodness it was a Sunday closed to hunting. I could only affix the horn headband once he was nose-deep in the treat bag. 

Meanwhile, Milo escaped the clutches of the holiday hat fiasco. I can get him to eat out of my hand, but once I try to place a hand on him; he runs away. That's just the nature of things 'round here. 

They seemed quite fond of white pine boughs. However, I noticed their beards appeared to be greasy. I discovered that it was pine pitch. I had no idea how to get pitch out of a goat’s beard and had no intention of trying. ​

The trail camera also snapped a couple nighttime shots of swirling snow. ​

​Nonetheless in terms of snowfall totals, the snow event on Dec. 5-6 had more of the white stuff. According to the National Weather Service’s weather station at the Venango Regional Airport, there was a total of eight inches of snow over those two days.

​That early December snowfall surpassed the normal total of 6.2 inches for Dec. 1-18.  

​Meanwhile, December totally snowed in November’s numbers. The weather station reported that for November of this year there was only a trace of snow. That total was below the normal tally of 2.6 inches.
November was also lacking in the rain category. The total for November 2024 was 3 inches which was slightly below the average rainfall of 3.41 inches.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Dec. 12 still listed most of Venango County in the abnormally dry range. However, the year-to-date precipitation accumulation for Franklin was set at 46.97 inches on Dec. 7. This was still above the average of 44.82 inches for the same period, according to National Weather Service data.

​With the eight inches of snow melting and recent rainfalls, the Allegheny River started to fill its banks. The river at Franklin was forecasted to crest Dec. 17 at 9.17 feet. The river had ranged between 3.25 feet and 5.9 feet in late November and early December. The level started moving upward Dec. 9.
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Meanwhile, the river was open with no ice formations. The neighbor’s pond had ice and then it didn't. 

"Last year, the high temperature on Christmas Day was 60°," the office posted. ​ There may be folks that don’t want snow for Christmas, but I’m pretty sure that no one really wants freezing rain on that day either.
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This winter season we have already used the snow blower twice. That was the total number of times it was used all last winter. I wondered if that meant that we were done with the heavy snow this winter. If we aren’t done with the snowblower just yet, this winter will no doubt set the record on the number of times the device has been used over the past few years.  That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. 

Gray, dark, chilly and damp... that was all I was going to have to say about November. The title of this blog was slated to be "Not so much, November." The gray days and lack of sunlight was getting to me. 

However, some much needed rain and a rainbow delighted me on November 20. Originally, I headed out on the drizzly evening without a camera. Rain showers ensued. Then the sun appeared creating a brilliant spectacle on an otherwise dreary day. I ran across two or more acres to retrieve my camera. Thank goodness, it was all downhill. The dogs excitedly ran with me, apparently thinking I was in hot pursuit of some prey. 

I'm sure I was quite the sight in a bright yellow rain slicker running in the rain. The rainbow was a gracious surprise and a delightful detour from the gray skies. 

Earlier in the month I was surprised by some other rainbow-colored phenomenon. 

"A sun dog is similar to a rainbow and more common," wrote author James J. Garriss in an article about sun dogs posted on www.almanac.com. He continued to explain that both rainbows and sun dogs are formed by moisture filtering the sunlight.

"A sun dog is seen about twenty-two degress (22°) to the left or right of the Sun. Sun dogs often form in pairs on either side of the Sun," Garriss wrote. 

One other interesting point was that to view a rainbow, one must look away from the sun, and, to view a sun dog, one would look toward the sun. 

Meanwhile as the days grew shorter, I found some solace in the flowers blooming in the basement. They basked in the artificial sun of some grow lights. The shortest day of the year will be Dec. 20 or Dec. 21 with only 9 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds of daylight. However, the earliest sunset is right around the corner on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 at 4:50:41 p.m. 

The flowers had been able to enjoy the real sun and protection from the frost on the front porch. Lil' Bit also soaked up the sun on his hammock. However, December temperatures quickly cooled and even the porch became too cold for both the flowers and the cat. 

The lack of light for our evening walks was not helpful as far as photography. However, the dogs provided some inspiration. They also discovered a rather morbid surprise in early November.

It was the heavily decomposed remains of an eight-point buck that I had captured on the game camera several times this year.

They had visited the area where he lay about a week earlier, but I paid no mind as no one seemed to be rolling in or eating anything. However, the pungent odor of decay led me to check out the area. The buck was such an awesome photo subject even though I technically never snapped the shutter.

​I decided to call the Pennsylvania Game Commission and get a salvage permit. The cost was $10 a point.

The deer was so far gone, I only obtained the head. While talking with the game wardens, I said I watched the buck on camera and never named him. One of them suggested "Louie," and the name stuck. I was able to show them some photos of Louie before his demise. Louie in some earlier photos had what appeared to be a wound on his left check that would heal and then open again.

The wardens surmised that this or possibly a bad shot led to his death. There wasn't much left of Louie to tell that story. So, while holding my breath, I attempted to clean Louie up as much as I could. However, I left most of that job to a local taxidermist and his skull-cleaning beetles. 

I planned on doing a European skull mount as there was really no flesh left to persevere. Louie's skull should be ready in a few months. In the meantime, I decided to gather photos of Louie from this year.

​I hope to mount them in an old window frame somewhere near the skull. Louie deserved to on display even if nature didn't necessarily have those plans for him. 

While I wait for the return of Louie, I'm still thankful for little surprises that help brighten my dreary days. My first snowfall with Milo and Otis was entertaining. Otis was willing to brave the weather and venture outside the pen. Milo, despite his longer coat, abhorred the snow and frantically called Otis to come back inside their shed.