New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

Hot-cold, hot-cold, cold.

Wednesday 07/06/2005

What a seesaw of a summer. Last week we were sweating, covered with goose feathers, and worse, and this week we are running 20 degrees below average. Go figure.

I did get to my camp in Maine for the holiday along worth an assortment of other family members. At my sister's place across the other side of the lake we had a family gathering on Sunday. My mom had her older brother and sister as well as the younger one come over from Augusta to join the celebration. All of them are in their 80's or nearly so. It was an afternoon filled with laughter and fond family memories all the while making more. That is what is so nice about the 4th of July. It is just family orientated with no expectations beyond great family laughter.

The lake has gone down to summer levels at last, although the two brooks we crossed on the old road into camp were full of water. The one we call Spring Brook is usually dry by now and the other with just a trickle. They both had good flows. The lake water was much cooler this year and I didn't get my usually afternoon long soak in it. The bald eagle and osprey continued their patrol of the lake on a daily basis. I watched the bald eagle catch or at least attempt to pluck a fish from the water several times. I never did get the binoculars out in time to see if it was successful. Loons called hauntingly through the nights.

Back here in Epsom it is tiny tot toad time. As I started to mow my lawn yesterday I soon realized that the lower section of the lawn was alive with this years tiny toads. No bigger than a pencil eraser. So I moved the mower deck up a couple of clicks and didn't even mow the lower side for now. In a few days the toads will have toddled along and it will make me feel better knowing I have left them to survive. Rains today have cooled the air well into this evening. My outdoor plans were awash again. Maybe tomorrow I'll get those few extra flowers I bought Tuesday into the damp soil.