What's that?

This spring my family kept sighting a critter we hadn't seen before. A large furry rodent, with a stumpy but fuzzy tail. I'd seen animals like this before in PA where I grew up but they had rodent-like tails. This creature had a fuzzy tail about 4 inches long.
Turns out it's a ground hog or woodchuck. Also known as a land beaver. Maybe he was out gloating about how he'd predicted an early spring in Punxsutawney? I've seen him a few times scurrying into the woods to go about his business.
I'm posting a picture I got off the internet of a Groundhog and a link to some more information on their habits.(http://wiki.ask.com/Groundhog). They are vegetarians and they dig burrows. I'll keep my eye out for the CT Groundhog and let you know of sightings.

Luna moth resting on my garage door

My son alerted me to the presence of this Luna Moth the other day so I ran outside and snapped this picture. I guess it must have just landed there during the night and slept in!
These moths are very large (3-4" across) and really beautiful. Their green color is unusual for a moth or butterfly.

Riding Outdoors

Today being a beautiful day I decided to take my moped for a spin. My husband and I have mopeds that we use around town when we aren't traveling very far from home. What I love about using the moped is that you can connect with your surroundings while you are making significant progress towards your destination.

To get to town I take the road past my house which winds through the woods for several miles. I like the feeling of sensing temperature changes as you zip through patches of shade and sunshine. Since you are traveling with some speed, unlike on a bike (at least when I am peddling), a jacket is often necessary even in the summer. When the air rushes over your skin it can be cold. But just traveling under a tree with all its leaves providing shade over the road cools down that small area enough for your skin to sense a change in temperature. I find it to be a neat feeling.

The other thing I really like is all the smells that drift by. Right now its the flowers that are blooming. The sent of Honeysuckle was in the air today.

I took another ride with my husband when he was done working this evening. He wanted to take a ride to wind down after the workday. We ran an errand then stopped for a snack. When we were done we were greeted with a huge rain cloud hovoring over head. It was drizzling lightly off and on all the way home. Nothing like rain drops covering your glasses as you ride and your have no windshield wipers to turn on1

Swamp Yankee

After my last post I threw the term "Swamp Yankee" into Google to see if there were any references to this term. Lo and behold there were! Apparently the term is both a source of pride and a derisive term. It's the equivalent of "Red Neck" for Southerners... but with a Northern twist. Apparently Swamp Yankee's are excruciatingly frugal. So I guess taking advantage of swamp land to graze your cattle is making good with what you have.

According to wikipedia the term is used most in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It is refers to an unrefined type of Yankee. The individual being referred to has all the attributes of a Yankee but is also thought of as backwards and unrefined. Kind of a Hillbilly or Red Neck Yankee. Interesting....