Place in the Poconos

As I had mentioned, we recently visited our friend Edie, who has a place in the Poconos.

This Edie.

At this place.

A place she, and her family, have been coming to since 1969. Fifty years. Very cool.

(And for those keeping score at home, that means the Spotted Salamander has been there for 10% of that time. Also very cool.)

Edie told us that back in the 1960's a fellow teacher owned over 100 acres of land, including Edie's current place, and invited her to visit. At first they stayed down the hill in the cabin:

And then later in the cottage (also still standing, although not shown). Eventually Edie and her husband bought the house, other folks bought the cabin and the cottage, and the majority of the land was transferred to the Natural Lands Trust. Very cool.

Not the Cottage

The house is set well off the road and is home to a variety of critters, some we saw, like the salamander. And others we did not, like a resident Milk Snake (bummed we missed it).

There are number of bird feeders that even in July had regular visitors.

Including Purple Finch, Northern Cardinals, Gray Catbirds, Ruby-throated Humingbirds, and several species of woodpeckers. 

There were Eastern Chipmunks.

And too many White-tailed Deer.

Way too many deer. In two of the images you can see the deer's ribs under the skin. I have to think this is a sign that there are too many deer and not enough food. Not cool. 

Like us, Edie has a deer, (and bear!), fence around a portion of her yard. An electrified fence. Very cool.

I had also spotted a Eastern Cottontail out the front window, but when I returned with my camera the rabbit was gone. Replaced by a black Cat. Hmmm ...

It is a lovely place and I can see why even after fifty years she keeps going back. I know that I would.

It's very cool.