Our First Cape May and Nashville Warbler

My husband and I went out birding today in Scott Park and Presque Isle. At Scott Park we saw a number of Indigo Buntings, loads of Yellow Warblers, one Hooded Warbler, lots of American Redstarts and what we thought might be a Yellow-Breasted Chat. We just aren't sure and didn't get a picture. It had a yellow breast and a gray top and was a larger size than the warblers we saw. It had a loud not-pleasant call. When we got back to the car we listened to what their call sounded like and it seemed similar. We'll never know. Maybe we will go back and try and find it again. We left and went to Fry's Landing about 4 PM or a little later in the afternoon. Surprisingly, there wasn't anyone else there at first. Then we met Mike and started talking about birds. He was truly an expert on birds. I'm so glad we ran into him. What a nice guy! He walked us around Fry's Landing and pished out a Nashville Warbler and a Common Yellow Throat. He could name birds left and right that he heard. He knew all the birds by their calls. How wonderful to be able to do that! He heard a Scarlet Tanager but it didn't come in close enough to see. Mike also spotted the raccoon in the tree which my husband and I walked right by. Real birders are sharp and nothing gets past them. We learned so much from him on our chance meeting. It was getting late so we left and on the way out stopped at Thompson Circle. It was an evening gold mine. Our first Cape May Warbler and I got pictures! Not good pictures but good enough. We also saw Yellow-rumped Warblers,a Palm Warbler, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow Warblers (of course, so many of them) Black and White Warbler and even a Northern Waterthrush. For being past 6 PM and just sitting in the parked car near the brush at Thompson Circle we did pretty good finding birds. Here are my pictures and below them is the video of the birds.

Cape May Warbler (Thompson Circle Presque Isle)

Cape May Warbler (Thompson Circle Presque Isle)

Hooded Warbler (Scott Park)

Indigo Bunting (Scott Park)

Erie Not Housework Friendly

My Reasons My House Isn't Finished:

There is such a small window of opportunity to work on one's house in Erie. You can't paint anything outside in winter. When it isn't raining it is so humid paint doesn't dry in the summer. When you get a day without rain or humidity you certainly don't want to be home painting when you can enjoy a day of wonderful flyfishing.

Erie Antiques, Eriez Stove (pic)

I like to post antiques I find in Erie or are related to Erie. This was passed down in the family. It is an Eriez gas stove that has been altered to simulate a fire inside. It has a plug that lights a bulb that flickers. I removed that bulb and burned wide,squatty candles inside. It worked out well so I'll be removing the cord, also. I think it is perfect since we only have an ornamental fireplace. I tried to find information about Eriez but it seems there is only an Eriez Magnetics and I don't think it is the same company. I think I read somewhere a while back that the Eriez that made these stoves were somehow related to Griswold. I'd appreciate any comments to whether that is true.

"Behind the Mantle" 1924 Erie Building Permit

Not only is finding things in your wall fun, it's informative. We wondered if our mud porch was original to the house. According to this permit, the permit was issued for: enclosing porch. So now we know it was added 7 years after it was built.

"Behind the Mantle" New Process Co. 1928

I think the New Process Company is Blair. The Blair ad from yesterday said New Process Company, also. There is scribble on this but that's part of the charm. The ladies that lived in our house all of their lives until a couple of years ago are in their 80s now. (We are just the second owners of the house.) That means these were scribbled on when they were just youngsters. This has a date of 1928 on it.

"Behind the Mantle" Blair Ad 1920's

We found this postcard/advertising from Blair behind our mantle. Most everything from behind our mantle dates in the 1920's. I believe Blair is still in business in Warren, PA, right? So few of the ads I have found are still in business.

"Behind the Mantle" Keep This Ticket

Keep This Ticket...as stated on the ticket. That's what they did for almost 73 years. We found this ticket from 1932 (among many other things) behind the mantle when we were refinishing it. I have never heard of Presque Isle Grocers or of Presque Isle News. Both are long gone, I'm sure. I wonder if the Park Theatre was the Drive-In Theater across from Waldameer. Hidden history from behind the mantle.

Erie-Related "Behind the Mantle" Conklins Tire

Below is another "Behind the Mantle" find from our house. It looks to be circa 1920's.