Mild temperatures add joy to post-Thanksgiving activities

The nice weather continues locally with only a few snowballs along the Limekiln Road to remind us of things to come. I heard that about ten inches of snow fell in Blue Mountain Lake and also in eastern New York.

Big Moose, of course, got more snow than us in the low lands. It’s that elevation and temperature difference that does it to them.

Just yesterday (11/27) I saw two Chipmunks run across the beechnuts in the road in the Plains.

I’m sure they have been active in this warm weather and have already eaten the first batch of nuts they gathered.

I also saw a Red Squirrel run by with a big cone in its mouth. I saw Bear tracks in the snow by Helldiver Pond and also some in the mud crossing a beaver dam along the Mitchell Pond trail. There were also signs that a large Moose followed my tracks down into the woods where I got off that trail.

I didn’t miss that one by much.

We got out to Jason and Kelly’s in Webster for Thanksgiving and the whole family came over the river and through the woods for a great meal.

The Turkey was excellent and there was only enough left for about three sandwiches.

There were plenty of extras—mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, regular dressing, oyster dressing, fruit salad, cranberries, and rolls for Jacob.

The dessert tray included pumpkin, apple, and chocolate pies, and pumpkin cookies, which got gobbled up in the second course.

After dinner, we took a walk around the housing development. Then Jason and I went around the half-mile running track out back to burn off even more calories. Speaking of calories, I’ve been watching my waistline by eating Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones and Healthy Choice meals.

One that I tried the other day was certainly low in calories. The meal allegedly included meatloaf, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and apple crumb cake.

The microwaving instructions called for mixing the meat part with gravy halfway through the cooking process.

But when I pulled the plastic away, there was no meatloaf. Now that’s really a great way to cut the calories. I ended up adding a piece of roast beef to the gravy and eating it that way.

I covered a few miles this week and noticed that the Geese seem to be doing fine.

I was up Lowville way on Tuesday and the Geese along Route 12 were in fine numbers. There were a couple hundred in the ponds behind the taxidermist’s house but I saw only one Snow Goose.

I saw one banded Canada Goose in the crowd but couldn’t read the number with my binoculars. On the Black River, between Port Leyden and Boonville, there were over two thousand just enjoying our extended fall weather.

When we traveled to Rochester for Thanksgiving the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge was covered with Snow and Canada Geese. Among them were hundreds of ducks.

Some day I’m going to stop and take a closer look at them. I know by the Christmas Count in that area that they get some great birds.

Speaking of the Christmas Count, the Old Forge count will be done on December 17th. Anyone interested in counting birds at either a feeder or on a trail can give me a call (315) 357-5150.

The birds all seem to be out in the woods with not too many at the feeders.

Karen and I went to Old Forge over the weekend to hear the carillon bell ringer at Point Park, which was great.

Then we zipped back to Inlet so as not to miss the Pet Parade and the tree lighting.

The Pet Parade went off without a hitch, with dogs of all shapes and sizes wearing some neat costumes.

The Christmas tree was lit by Ron and Beth Ste Marie with Christmas carols following. With the temperatures in the low fifties, it sure didn’t seem like the end of November.

Two new photography exhibits open at View on Friday, December 2 and one at the Old Forge Library on December 9, but that’s another story. See ya.