Family Mellmann

This is a Barred Owl. Patrick feeds about seven of them at the rescue where he works. And for the past few nights, we have been hearing one calling out in our back yard and forest. Last night he was busy from about 9:00 until well past midnight. I'd like to have a couple more mouse-eating owls in the yard to help keep the inside-my-house mouse population down. :)

Tonight's dinner included Finnish Parsnip Casserole and these fresh-caught (caught by Patrick and Opa, cleaned by a neighbor) perch.

It’s a couple days late, but Jörg got his birthday “cake”. It’s actually called the “Mountain of Meatloaf” at Vermont Sports Grill, but he said it was really good.

Outreach For Earth Stewardship Live Bird Demonstration Patrick, and his partner Owen, are presenting the Barred Owl at the end of raptor camp.

Taken from Outreach for Earth Stewardship, overlooking Shelburne Farm, Lake Champlain, and the Adirondack Mountains

Back in May Patrick's school hosted a silent and live auction to raise money for new, energy efficient, windows. The auction was very nice, and one of the things we got was a pass to Ausable Chasm in New York. Well, today we used it. We left first thing this morning and drove to the ferry, out of Burlington, bound for Port Kent. Ausable Chasm is very close to the ferry docks. At Ausable Chasm we took a short scenic walk along the gorge, then took two runs down the river; first in a raft, then with inner tubes. The wait for the raft trip was very long (they're a little under staffed), but when we came back for the tubing we were able to bypass the line and go straight for the tubes. On our way out of the park, we stopped and let the kids prospect for gems, stones, and fossils. And then boarded the ferry back to Vermont, enjoying a sunset over Lake Champlain, and dinner at Pizzeria Uno.

The Mellmann website has been updated.  What do a bunch of rocks have to do with it?  Well, visit us and you'll see.