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A Walk along the Allegheny River.

June 12, 2026 by larrysmailart

Blue False Indigo

Yeah, the weather is humid, and storms were coming later in the day, but I went out early to beat both the storms and humid and warm weather. My plan was to walk the Allegheny River shoreline to seek out anything of interest. the first thing of interested were a couple “smooching.” I think they were slightly embarrassed once they realized I was just above them.

I always watch for native wildflowers, and I found some beauties on this walk. The Blue False Indigo is always in this area, and I do not believe I have ever seen it elsewhere. I read where this flower may grow as high as six feet in the right conditions. Locally I have never seen the flower much over three feet.

Two species of Mullein were discovered o this walk….the Common Mullein and the Moth Mullein. The Moth Mullein can be either this white color in the photo or yellow. Both species can grow up to six feet high. The Common Mullein has a gray green leaf color and is soft and velvety to the tough.

Common Mullein
Moth Mullein

A couple of days prior to this walk a friend and I went fishing on the river. We each caught a sucker. I saw some gulls Mallards and an eagle.

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Presque Isle Wildlife

June 5, 2026 by larrysmailart

Laurie and I hiked quite a distance while visiting Presque Isle. We enjoyed holding hands as we walked and looking for wildlife. We saw five or six Bald Eagles, several Ospreys and Great Blue Herons and Green Herons. Turtles were common basking on logs. I caught one crossing a road and released the reptile across the road.

I heard some birds acting up and looked to see what they were agitated about only to spot an Osprey perched in a poplar tree. The bird had something bright range in the talons. Field glasses verified the bird had found a goldfish. I saw goldfish in a bog area later.

Osprey

While watching a Great Blue Heron, Laurie got to see the bird catch and swallow a nine- or ten-inch fish whole.

Great Blue Heron
Ring-billed Gull

Water Lily in a bog area.

Posted in Lake Erie | Leave a Comment »

Erie Bluffs

June 5, 2026 by larrysmailart

Sometime ago Laurie and I began a hike on trails at the Erie Bluffs only to turn back due to severe knee pain I developed. The pain ended up requiring surgery for a torn meniscus. Well during our anniversary adventure time we did the Erie Bluffs without incident… well sort of!

After the hiking was completed, I realized I didn’t have my phone. We were here at the Bluffs but also on the beached of Presque Isle. I was disturbed to say the least. Laurie used her phone and called my number at times to no avail. However, towards evening her call was answered. I talked to the man, and we decided to meet at a gas station where I had pumped a tank earlier that day, so I knew where the station was.

Two young fellows arrived at the gas station and handed me the phone. I wanted to give then a reward for their kindness, but they refused. I fought back emotions of happiness. Thank you both for being honest!

The steepness of the bluffs is around a hundred feet or so. I am happy we made the trek this time.

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Sunset On Lake Erie

June 5, 2026 by larrysmailart

Laurie wanted to return to Presque Isle and other places at Lake Erie for our anniversary in April. (Thirty-one years) Weather, seasonal Asthma and the cold she caught made that trip impossible. We finally went recently once I saw a nice stretch of weather coming upon us all.

I took a number of photos that evening and I have included a few on my site to enjoy.

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A Jaunt!

May 27, 2026 by larrysmailart

Most of May, like 2024, has been an issue with asthmatic coughings. I actually felt like I had a tear in my side from the coughs. Those spells end with fatigue. SO, walking has been sparce for me. I did harvest a twenty-two-pound turkey early on.

I did do a jaunt through the woodlands recently and I took some photos. I saw eight or nine deer. The one doe was bedded, and she stayed while I moved about for a clearer shot. I saw a Great-blue heron and lots of squirrels. (I saw a Great-blue and Green Herons in my back yard too.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Maidenhair Fern
Great-blue Heron
Toad
Blue Iris often called Blue Flag
Spurs were nice on this spring’s gobbler.

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature, Uncategorized, Wildflowers, Wildlife | Leave a Comment »

Nature’s Odds and Ends

April 29, 2026 by larrysmailart

Purple trillium

I have been out and about some in recent days when the chance comes up. I spent a little time searching for Morels but failed to find any. However, the wildflowers were out and looking beautiful. I can’t resist taking photos of such flowers. I included a few photos on this entry.

I spotted three gobblers across a steep valley, and I started to call to see what their actions might be. I called all three clean across and they appeared about twenty-five feet from my position, but the terrain caused a failure for a good photo session possible. After I walked on, and I bumped a hen turkey from her nest. I truly hope she didn’t abandon those eggs.

I would see an immature Bald Eagle later.

Turkey eggs

A couple of days ago I was at my mother’s home and decided to walk behind the house for morels. I wasn’t out very long when the allergies began being a problem again. I know what will be the results…Misery! I saw a doe and looked about for a fawn. I did, however, find an antler shed if one could call it that, Total length was about four inches.

Gobbler season here in Pennsylvania and I really hope to get out some this year.

White Trillium

Red Eft-the land stage of the Red-Spotted Newt.

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Trout and Wildflowers

April 12, 2026 by larrysmailart

Brown Trout

I caught a cold two weeks ago. I coughed plenty but still could function for many things. I have been out walking some too. I have seen turkeys several times and watched one big feller dusting. The birds were too far for good photos. I have seen some deer.

Recently I went trout fishing. I caught two and a ten-inch Horny head Chub. I released all the fish. I heard a couple of gobblers high above me as I fished. I plan to get out some more.

Unfortunately, after having shots in both knees a month ago I found out the pains were returning. I had hoped the shots would last through the gobbler season of May but no such luck for the old, poor and ugly, I guess.

My mother’s dementia is still an issue for the family. She sees people that are not around. She called me last week at four in the morning about seeing people in the house. I try to calm her down and usually she listens to me, but she will be adamant of some of the stories. I can’t imagine how terrified she gets at times with these hallucinations.

Marsh Marigold

Virginia Bluebells

Bloodroot

Trout Lily

Posted in Fishing, Wildflowers | 2 Comments »

A Nice Morning Jaunt

February 19, 2026 by larrysmailart

Springtime seems to be coming early if one would include this morning. A heavy fog, however, was over all the area. I went out to enjoy some of this weather. My walk eventually found me along the Allegheny River. The area I was walking had complete ice coverage. The fog was dense that I couldn’t see across the water. However, along the shoreline the weight of the ice had caused a crack allowing for river water to emerge to the shoreline at many places. This allowed for the Beavers to emerge to the bank to eat fresh bark. Old Beaver tracks were common in places.

I found the remains of a nice eight-point buck I wondered what had happened for this buck to meet his demise. A shot that went bad. A person not following up a shot, A natural accident or disease. I will never know.

I would cross many deer tracks. I saw Some ‘possum and ‘coon tracks, and turkeys. I would see two gobblers, but I couldn’t get any photos. I saw and heard a small flock of Canada Geese. The had made many tracks, too.

Geese tracks

I was blessed to see a Bald Eagle perched high in a Sycamore Tree. I tried to close the gap for a photo, but the bird decided I was ugly and flew across the river.

Posted in Hikes, Misc. Nature | Leave a Comment »

The Fawn

February 2, 2026 by larrysmailart

The Fawn

The year of 2024 was not a good year for me. The month of May had severe asthma issues plaguing me followed by fatigue. I didn’t know at the time things would be getting much worse.

In mid-June my mother Ruth Smail Miller had a very bad stroke. I had doubts she would survive the night. She did and is still with us but dealing with dementia issues at 96.

The painting above had been begun in late May. Of course, the stroke and doctor appointments, hospital stays and living at times with my mother when my sister had knee replacement surgeries found any inspiration to paint gone.

Last year, however, in 2025 I did paint a couple pieces of slate and a painting of a dog for a client. I did paint on The Fawn a few hours but was far from completion.

Today, Groundhog Day, the art was finally completed. The very cold weather kept me indoors a lot and I reached some desire to paint.

Rough pencil sketch made prior to painting.

The painting is 16 X 20 inches and painted on a gessoed covered Masonite panel. I included some springtime wildflowers one might find while discovering a newborn fawn in the forest. The flowers are the Mayapple and our native Wild Geranium. As I type this entry, I have no thoughts on another painting. Time will tell.

I hope you enjoy!

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Defending The Catch-Snowy Owl

January 9, 2026 by larrysmailart

The painting called, “DEFENDING THE CATCH-SNOWY OWL” was completed in 2017. I painted this art with acrylic paints which are a water-based paint rather than oil paints. The size of the painting is 16 X 20.

The thought-process with this particular painting featured a Snowy Owl with a mouse in the bird’s talons. The owl has dropped the wings and spread the tail in an attempt to defend the catch thus the name. This posturing is done to hide the catch and look bigger to hopefully fend off whatever the owl sees that may threaten to take the food.

The Snowy Owl sometimes is viewed in my area of Pennsylvania. Normally they are more of a northern bird but sometimes migrates south in times of low food supplies. So, anyone seeing a Snowy owl in southwestern Pennsylvania should consider their observation of the ow to be a special sight!

I hope you enjoy the painting.

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