Tag Archives: Blondie

Timber Rattler 2026-05-19

Leave a reply

Snake of the week.

[Canebrake Rattlesnake]
Canebrake Rattlesnake

This Crotalus horridus was minding its own business, but it was in a woods path I was cruising with the golf cart.

For once, all four dogs listened and left it alone.

So they’re fine, and the snake eventually crawled off into the undergrowth.

-jsq

Heron in cypress in pond 2026-04-26

Happened to see a heron land in a cypress tree.

[Movie: Heron landing (52M)]
Movie: Heron landing (52M)

Not the usual heron tree; one to the east.

I’m pretty sure it’s a Great Blue Heron. Those and anhingas are all that usually nest in the middle of the pond.

I was assisted by Blondie (mysteriously not filthy) and Honeybun (not visible).

Here is some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1965142474124988/

https://youtu.be/TLRKt6If5Qs Continue reading →

Burning five acres 2026-01-06

Thanks to Max Barzallo and Mary Clement for helping burn five acres around the house. And of course thanks to Honeybun, Blondie, River, and Sky for helping.

Now if another fire gets loose, it won’t burn to the house.

[Burning five acres, Pine fire forest 2026-01-06, With neighbor help, and dogs]
Burning five acres, Pine fire forest 2026-01-06, With neighbor help, and dogs

Here’s some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1644259806439943/

https://youtu.be/l3fZ-Adr_3I

For those who are not familiar with prescribed burns, we live in a longleaf fire forest. Southern pine trees are fire resistant, so burns don’t affect them much, but the fire does cut back on vines and other undergrowth, as well as competing oaks, sweetgum, and other trees.

Wildlife benefits. Continue reading →

River, Sky, and Blondie 2025-12-27

River likes to clean her sister’s ear.

Sky seems to like it.

Blondie just looks away.

[River cleaning Sky's ear while Blondie looks away]
River cleaning Sky’s ear while Blondie looks away

All three are Carolina Dogs, a little-known landrace breed that was here before the settlers.

-jsq

Fuyu persimmons 2025-09-28

Update 2025-10-05: Persimmons to eat and to dehydrate 2025-10-05.

A very flavorful fruit, and sweet but not too sweet. Perfect to go with breakfast oatmeal.

[Persimmons on the tree, 2025-09-28 --jsq for OPF]
Persimmons on the tree, 2025-09-28 –jsq for OPF

These are Fuyu persimmons, a variety of the Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kaki.

Many moons that tree has been there since Gretchen planted it. This year it’s really bearing fruit. Continue reading →