Category Archives: Wildlife

Early May on The Urban Porch ™

Posted on May 11, 2023 by daeja's view

It’s kind of nice to roll out of bed and sit out on the porch in the early morning, cup of coffee in hand, watching the neighborhood come awake. You would think with all the rain, sun and early blooming … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, Uncategorized, Views From he Urban Porch ™, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

On a Stretch of Rainy Days

Posted on May 3, 2023 by daeja's view

Shortly before a recent stretch of rain drove the focus on projects and diversions inside the house, I managed to get out with a friend for a bit of meandering through the woods and fields. There was a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, baking, Birds, Cooking, Food, nature, Spring, The Urban Porch ™, treasures, treasures, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Departures and Arrivals

Posted on April 8, 2023 by daeja's view

The population in the vicinity of The Urban Porch is experiencing many changes. My wonderful neighbor who has been renting the upstairs of the house directly next door for the last two years just moved out last weekend, on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Daeja's Garden, Gardening, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Out of Focus

Posted on March 31, 2023 by daeja's view

Everything feels out of focus this week. Making order of the thoughts in my head has been almost impossible – an inability to hone in and complete most things without becoming distracted. Events occurring in the news are probably a … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Cooking, Deafness, Food, Hearing Impaired, nature, Perspective, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Arising

Posted on March 23, 2023 by daeja's view

People are coming out of their houses, shoots are pointing up like green arrows from beneath the melted snow. The crocuses and daffodils are lending pops of happy brightness. Birds are returning, winter jackets are coming off, rain is soaking … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Cooking, nature, Spring, The Urban Porch, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mountain Power

Posted on March 19, 2023 by daeja's view

If you asked my children or siblings, they might tell you that I have a song for just about everything. Words on a street sign, an incident, a phrase, a photo, and suddenly a song pops into my head. Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, nature, Perspective, Photography, Travel, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Winter Prints

Posted on February 13, 2023 by daeja's view

It’s been a little freaky having northeast February days hovering around fifty degrees, but I admit it has been nice to get outside in it, even though this weather is most likely global warming right smack in our faces. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, nature, Perspective, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Emerging From Eeyore

Posted on January 14, 2023 by daeja's view

Well, I’ve been down in the abyss for the past week. I find it consistently amazing that when you (and I guess it means “me”, unless it’s also you) don’t feel physically well, it colors just about every single thing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Coping, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Ms. Almanac

Posted on November 26, 2022 by daeja's view

The riotous outdoor color show is over. A lacework of sepia and gray branches framing the sky is pretty much what’s left behind, although the grass is still green, for now. I have removed the dead hanging plants from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, baking, Dogs, Holidays, House plants, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Random Goings-on While the Leaves Were Turning

Posted on October 31, 2022 by daeja's view

I vacillate between the excitement of the seasonal splendor and the worries or annoyances regarding larger and smaller events surrounding life these days. The blog postings here tend to go in erratic cycles. I might not post for months and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Dogs, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transitions

Posted on October 16, 2022 by daeja's view

The coloring of Autumn is building to all its glory, and I walk around sighing with mouth agape. But I will share all of that at a later time. Right now the large and small creatures are in motion. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Perspective, treasures, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ursa

Posted on September 22, 2022 by daeja's view

With such a cool, breezy morning ahead, it seemed the perfect day to take a walk in the woods. I decided to hop in the car and drive to the mountain trail behind a friend’s house to herald in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, nature, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Readying

Posted on September 15, 2022 by daeja's view

Life cycles into the next phase, as we push into early Autumn. The heat has broken and gifted us with cooler nights. Afternoon light is becoming more honeyed and the billowing cumulus of August have given way to the shifting … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, nature, Perspective, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Summer Winds Down on the Urban Porch

Posted on September 1, 2022 by daeja's view

The late summer view from the Urban Porch has been one of browned grass and parched hostas. This season of humid, yet rain-starved, scorching days has resulted in a drought. The herculean clouds of August have built up into billowing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Perspective, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Things That Land In Your Hair

Posted on July 30, 2022 by daeja's view

For most of my life my very curly, somewhat long hair has been a catch-all for things that land, fly or fall into it. Mosquitos. Dragonflies. A wasp. A cicada. Moths and butterflies. Pieces of leaves, seeds, wisps of dandelion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

More Views from the Urban Porch

Posted on July 23, 2022 by daeja's view

I sit on the Urban Porch with iced refreshment and dog as the summer progresses. Some views remain the same and some continue to shift. The most spectacular event this month was a bit of dramatic weather. Those who know … Continue reading →

Posted in summer, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Wildlife On and About the Urban Porch

Posted on June 2, 2022 by daeja's view

This is a small, urban neighborhood of old houses. We get some significant vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the day. The city is bordered by areas of woods, streams and trails. Because of this, we occasionally will find a deer … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Spring, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mantis

Posted on April 22, 2022 by daeja's view

Last fall my three-year-old granddaughter became fascinated with a dead praying mantis she found in my driveway. That was the second one I had seen around the yard that week, after not seeing any. A few days later I discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Gardening, Spring, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wow! | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crow Tree

Posted on April 9, 2022 by daeja's view

There are a couple of very old, unhealthy, towering maples and oaks on the corner that probably aren’t going to last much longer. While walking beneath them with the dog, I noticed some rotten limbs had recently fallen and crashed … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Autumn, Birds, summer, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Passing of the Buck

Posted on October 5, 2020 by daeja's view

I went out to investigate why a police car was parked in front of my driveway on this sunny Saturday afternoon, officers standing there pointing towards the backyard. Years ago there had been a foot chase culminating in a suspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Coping, grief, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Little Bird

Posted on July 18, 2019 by daeja's view

Following a quick but torrential downpour and some gusty winds, the S.O. discovered a fledgling robin scooting around between the dying iris foliage in our front yard. The linden tree immediately nearby is the most likely place it came from, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Birds, Coping, Daeja's Garden, grief, Regrets, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Crayfish/Karma

Posted on November 13, 2018 by daeja's view

When my grandson’s elementary school class sent home a notice saying they have eleven crayfish that are coming up for adoption at the completion of their science unit, my daughter immediately said “NO WAY” and expressed how she is still … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, kids, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Steal This Book

Posted on February 5, 2016 by daeja's view

My books are like old friends.  When it comes time to purge items from the home, the most difficult items to reduce seem to be the books.  Even when I know I am not going to be reading a particular … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Power of Skunk

Posted on March 5, 2015 by daeja's view

Skunk wafting on the wind is a scent I actually enjoy.  There has been an especially strong aroma lingering around the back of the house for the last couple of weeks.  Honestly, at first I thought either someone spilled a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Coping, Uncategorized, Weather, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Stuff of Nightmares

Posted on February 13, 2015 by daeja's view

Being sort of a nerd when it comes to science, botany, animals and insects, it has been a regular practice to study, scrutinize and read up on many of the critters, diseases, and earthly creations that I stumble upon.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Coping, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Spidey

Posted on August 28, 2013 by daeja's view

We have had ants this summer, the large black variety.   Not too many, but occasionally one will be spotted making its was across the kitchen floor or even the counter.  There have been so few compared to other years, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Elusive, Delicate Rainbows

Posted on August 24, 2013 by daeja's view

A small thing for the Bucket List, but one never-the-less.  I have always wanted to visit a butterfly sanctuary, and it finally happened. Walking into that sheltered world of warm breezes, tropical flowers and rainbow-hued butterflies elicited pure joy.  They … Continue reading →

Posted in Bucket List, Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wow! | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Other Car

Posted on July 24, 2013 by daeja's view

Once we had children, I became the driver of the newer and larger car, the “safer” car, as I was the one shuttling the precious cargo around. So by default, my Then Husband, who I will call “Howie” for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Adventure and Distraction in the Autumn Garden On a Saturday Morning

Posted on October 6, 2012 by daeja's view

I decided to spend just a few hours this morning cleaning up.  Just a few, since we had plans in the afternoon.. a couple of hours, before that gardening backache sets in. Just enough to tidy up, because I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Daeja's Garden, Gardening, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Hudah Moths

Posted on August 23, 2012 by daeja's view

There was a time we had a long-term house guest named Hudah (pronounced Hoo-da) – a nickname, but the only name I have ever called him by.  He was fastidious about his health, exercising regularly, consumed natural grains and vitamins.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The January Bitch

Posted on February 5, 2012 by daeja's view

Whew….. that was the crankiest of months, very glad that one is over. My rough January seemed to be set off surrounding the rescue of a spider….sort of. While having a conversation with my boss in the hallway, we simultaneously … Continue reading →

Posted in Are you kidding me?, Coping, Humor, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Attraction

Posted on January 28, 2012 by daeja's view

Not quite past January and it has been so weirdly warm, an encouragement to lean so far towards the specter of Spring that I am ready to fall over.  While going through my files to locate a photo that might … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Best Snake Story

Posted on January 15, 2012 by daeja's view

It appears I am building an unintended repertoire of Close Encounters With Wildlife stories.  I have been asked by someone to share “the one about the snake”, and so I give it to you here.  This particular vignette occurred in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Suicide Squirrel

Posted on May 26, 2011 by daeja's view

Driving down the shade-dappled road with the sun sparkling through the leaves on a brilliant morning, singing with the radio, and out of the corner of my eye I saw it coming.  It ran in front of the car and suddenly froze in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Little Brown Bat

Posted on January 20, 2011 by daeja's view

A friend just emailed me about finding a bat in her house, which set me off on a discourse about my bat-in-the-house experiences, so I figured I would write it out here. I have lived in about two dozen places … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Stories, Humor, Uncategorized, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 3 Comments