As I opened my backdoor this morning, I heard a familiar drilling sound. A pileated woodpecker was in one of the old maple trees not 30 feet away. Since I already had my camera, I snapped a couple of shots from the porch. The bird didn’t seem to notice me though, as I walked down into the yard to shoot closer photos. It is a cloudy, gray day, so the background is not so good. I tried several different settings on my nikon d200, so I would at least get a few good shots. You can see the settings on my flickr page, when you click on the photos. Anyone with suggestions for improving shots on dark days, let me know.

The last shot taken just before the woodpecker headed back to the woods. I can see that the bird has been working here lately, so from now on, will listen for it to return.

A couple of days ago, I tried to walk down through the woods to the marsh. I thought I might be able to get a good shot of a redwinged blackbird there. I was surprised to find so much snow still in the woods, along with lots of water. This shot was as close as I could get to the flock. Next week, I should be able to get there with no problems.

A great bread to serve with soup, and it makes good toast!

Taos Pumpkin Bread

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon dry yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup fine cornmeal, or masa harina
5 1/2 to 6 cups flour
3 tablespoons each cornmeal and unbleached flour for sprinkling

1. Dissolve yeast in water, let set a few minutes until foamy.
2. Add sugar, eggs, pumpkin, salt, cornmeal and 2 cups of the flour. Mix.
3. Slowly add the rest of the flour, and turn out onto a bread board.
4. Knead until smooth and elastic. You may have to add a bit more flour.
5. Let rise in a greased container, then form two large round loaves or 4 small ones.
6. Let rise until double in size, then slash the top of the loaves and dust on the cornmeal and flour.
7. Bake in a 450º oven for 20 minutes.

The loaves in the photo are one half of this recipe, which came from a book called Breads of the Southwest, by Beth Hensperger.

Bits of seaglass gathered on Higgins Beach, in Scarborough, Maine. I used the GIMP oilify filter on this photo.

prompt-short and sweet

the tenacious rose grows under spray and thrives

sailboats bob as the ferry passes

The first shot was taken at Two Lights Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The second in the Portland Harbor.

for more ODB haiku go here