Peregrines 2009

On Tuesday they banded the four young Syracuse falcons: three were judged to be female, but they're uncertain about the smallest bird.

Meanwhile somewhere in or around the Cleveland Clinic, a 2005 Syracuse fledgling named Cade is tending her first brood of four.


Unfortunately the fledging I had the close contact with last year, Matilda, was euthanized after she was found badly injured earlier this year.

A Wet Week

After two months with very little rain, storms staying to the north of us, storms tracking south of us, the week I plan to set out tomatoes and such we get at least some measure of rain every single day. I feel like I'm getting further and further behind. Oh and we've spotted another groundhog in the neighborhood; lovely that is.

At least the little fringe tree is happy and its scent fills the yard.

A Long Week

Last week was a long one. It started off on Monday with the installation of an old cabinet where the dishwasher used to be, followed by the new countertop, sink and old new faucet. As with any project there was a mess to clean up before I could make a cake and head to Ohio on Thursday. And the tomato plants had to be staked and moved outside at the last minute when I realized they were going to outgrow the lights before I got back.

All went well in Ohio although my mother says that's it for birthday parties; if she has any more birthdays she says please just send a card.

Memorial Day (observed) I was home for our traditional trek to Tully's to watch the lax championship game. As it happens, this year both teams came from the homes of two members of the Iroquois Confederacy with long traditions of playing lacrosse, the Onondaga and Cayuga Nations. I was cheering for Cornell but Syracuse did it again coming from three goals down with less than four minutes left to tie it in the last few seconds and then winning in overtime, 9-10.

Me Mum

hiding her rheumatoid hands, 1984?

Today is my mother's 90th birthday. I'm driving to Ohio this morning with a homemade angel food cake per her request.

Europe, WWII

Growing

My tomatoes have taken off but I won't be able to put them outside until Monday; it's going to be interesting to see if they outgrow the lights before then.

Meanwhile there are four peregrine eyas on the State Tower Building again this year and they're also growing at the usual alarming rate.

May 16

May 20

Haxnicks Ltd

Haxnicks' Easy Net Tunnel

I've become a big fan of Haxnicks products. I got a big net tunnel from Seeds of Change a few years ago and after seeing how well the material holds up I invested in a few more this year. The netting provides protection from critters, especially the bunnies when they're small enough to squeeze through the fence, and the deer before I set out the tomatoes and such sprayed with Tree Guard ®.

We escaped the freezing temps the past two nights but one of the great things about these tunnels is that they can also support some Agribon or plastic. They're wicked easy to move and store.

Haxnicks

Note

Freeze Warning
for Onondaga County, NY
from 2 am EDT, Mon., May. 18, 2009
until 9 am EDT, Mon., May. 18, 2009

Issued by The National Weather Service
Binghamton, NY
4 am EDT, Sun., May. 17, 2009

... FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BINGHAMTON HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT MONDAY.

TONIGHT WITH CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TO AROUND FREEZING. LOW TEMPERATURES LATE TONIGHT WILL BE IN THE LOWER 30S. SOME RURAL VALLEYS COULD BE EVEN COLDER... WHILE LOCATIONS IN URBAN AREAS AND ON THE FINGER LAKES COULD REMAIN JUST ABOVE FREEZING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FREEZE WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO THREATEN OUTDOOR PLANTS. THOSE WITH AGRICULTURAL OR GARDENING INTERESTS IN THE WARNED AREA ARE ADVISED TO HARVEST OR PROTECT TENDER VEGETATION. POTTED PLANTS NORMALLY LEFT OUTDOORS SHOULD BE COVERED OR BROUGHT INSIDE.

Another Season Begins

http://www.voydanoff.net/albums/crane-creek-birds/c_bobolink2.sized.jpg

The bobolinks have returned to the meadows at the park and are performing another concert of sorts as they do their aerial loop de loops. In some areas it devolves into an odd battle of the bands when they try to out do their neighbors, the red winged blackbirds, but up on Farmers Hill there is one male who has a spot pretty much to himself and he put on a lovely show yesterday.

One Season Ends

The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra finished their classical season last night with an appearance by Joshua Bell. He of course was the consummate virtuoso but what we both noticed this time, in this performance of this particular piece, was the glorious sound of the violin. As Bell said, "it has a very powerful lower register" and it seems to be made for the Violin Concerto No. 3 by Saint-Saens.

Bell prefers his 1713 Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius, with its "good balance between the sweetness, which Strads tend to have, a sort of soprano, feminine sweetness to them," he says. "But also, it has a very powerful lower register. It's very well-balanced, and it projects very well in the hall."

He will play the "very operatic, very dramatic" Saint-Saens concerto on his Stradivarius. Bell also describes the piece as underrated, but definitely a showpiece that he finds captivating.

"The slow movement is one of the most beautiful of all the violin repertoire and sort of magical ...," says the 41-year-old violinist. "Then the last movement is sort of Gypsy flair, kind of brings the house down. It's got everything. It's got the flash. It's got the beauty."
Melinda Johnson, The Post Standard

A Taste Of Spring

A good year for the rhubarb. I've sacrificed color for an old, early variety, Victoria. I'd like to add another variety with more color but these plants have done so well and have such good flavor that I doubt I ever will...