How to Make Camp Breakfast

 

Choose a time when there is rain in the forecast. 

   

Pick up fellow campers (Ethan formerly of Vernon)

Receive a whole town welcome

Pick a campsite

Set up camp

Memorize your site, walk 3 minutes to the bathroom, get lost on the way back.

Go fishing

Catch up (Mike, Emily, Gregg)

Find treasures

Rekindle your sense of amazement 

Count fireflies

Toss & turn

Drift off to sleep

Be the first camper to wake up in the morning.

Memorize your site number, get lost on the way back (again). 

Split wood, 

Drink "coffee"

Wait for other campers to wake up

Recruit volunteers with the first rule of camping; those who cook don't do dishes!

Place a rock in the center of a red checkered table covering then set the table.

Tell stories of long ago camp adventures while the fire catches.

Heat water

Cook over the coals

Serve the food

Enjoy

Desert is allowed at camp breakfast

Do the dishes

Dance to Neil Diamond's Play Me

Pack up

Put out the fire

Wish you were a kid again.

Wave goodbye.

 Drive home to Vernon.

- Norma Manning

My Ice Cream is Melting!

 When two Biologists spend the weekend with you at the start of a heatwave, when you don't have air conditioning, when you live in VT, spending the weekend in the house isn't an option. Strawberry picking, walking the West River Trail, ice cream, swimming, chilling at the Vernon dam, all made the list of things to do while they reset for the week ahead. We also tried the Broad Brook falls, but the parking area was already filled. 

Helen (formerly of Vernon) and Kirk spend an evening at the Vernon dam.  

It's Monday morning and our guests have gone back to the coast of ME to help conserve the Saltmarsh and Nelson Sparrow, Piping Plover and Least Tern chicks there. The 4th of July with its crowds, beach parties, loose dogs and fireworks, is a particularly disastrous time during the breeding season for these threatened and endangered species. But that's not the complete story. There is coastal development to contend with and the ever increasing higher tides flooding the salt marshes and eroding coastal nesting sites.  Warmer summers also mean warmer ocean waters. The small fish that Terns and other seabirds feed to their chicks retreat to cooler ocean depths, making the fish inaccessible. Human caused Climate Change is taking its toll on one of America's favorite tourist destinations. (see further reading)

Least Tern chick by Helen Manning

With social media and the news filled with heat index warnings for the week, I decided to follow Green Mountain Power's energy conservation recommendations and did my laundry well after I was ready for bed. 

For dramatic pause, I include this deceased mole on the West River trail.

and this deceased shrew on the same trail and day.

I understand that to those who are coping with record temperatures in the triple digits out west, it may seem somewhat unbelievable that a small town Vermonter, would concern themselves and others about doing chores after hours. But hopefully there is a method to my madness or suffering through another late night screening of Thor (who fancies himself a thunder god) while my socks were drying was a complete waste of my time.

Now to be honest, I have struggled with how to exactly untangle the reasons for why it is important for a small town Vermonter to spend the hottest time of the year doing chores in her jammies, especially when that small town Vermonter is from Vernon, home to a now retired nuclear power station. We are also home to a switch yard on the Southern Loop Connector,  and we host an operating hydroelectric station. 

It's complicated: 

There are those who are eminently qualified micro and macro examiners of this huge topic, one of whom is author and energy analyst Meredith Joan-Angwin.  I'm not claiming that I know what time of day or night that Meredith does her dishes, but I do know that she understands how we arrived at a place where the largest utility in our state is asking that it happens after midnight. 

The below screenshot was taken of the ISO New England- Real Time Maps* on 6/28/2021 at seven in the morning (before the workday starts). The maps show the System Demand to be at 16134 MW and fossil (greenhouse emitting fuels) accounting for about 67% of the grid's fuel mix.

  

"Our energy supply is 95% carbon free and more than 64% renewable." ** I'm not entirely certain of all that figures into the math at GMP, but the ISO real time map shows that at seven this morning, the NE grid was being supplied with approximately 67% carbon producing fuel. Now the process of generation, purchase contracts, auctions and RECs to name a few components, is quite complex and I encourage you to read over Green Mountain Power- Energy Mix customer friendly statements. I think that it's important to note however, that there is a discrepancy between what our electric company has contracted for and the actual percentage of any given fuel source supplying the grid at any given time. 

Under the auspice of the VT Public Service Board, GMP contracts for a certain amount of energy, from a certain source, at a certain price all of which is tiered based on actual consumption. 

There are twenty electric utilities operating in Vermont of which GMP is the largest. All of these  utilities have (as much as VT laws allow) their own energy portfolios and energy goals. All of the twenty utilities operate under a certificate of public good. Utilities within VT for the most part do not own  a significant amount generation capacity within the state***  Moreover, there are bigger powers at play (see what I did there?) in the compilation of the energy mix on the NE grid than the twenty utilities contracting for power in VT. (Eversource, that supplies Boston comes to mind.) 

With all of these fuel sources for energy generation and all of the utilities contracting for their own portfolios, how does the grid operator who keeps the grid stable, decide which sources to bring online and when to do so? I mean, GMP strongly favors climate friendly renewable energy, so shouldn't that be what is delivered to our meters? Click here to find out the answer to these questions. Please pay particular attention to the discussion on stability. This is also an area that Meredith Joan Angwin expertly addresses in her book Shorting The Grid.

A little less complicated:

It's 12:00 noon and ISO New England is at 73% carbon producing natural gas, 17% Nuclear, 7% renewables, and 2% hydro* Wayne and I have deployed our (until now) secret strategy for circulating the cooler air in our basement throughout the house.

It's not Ginny dog's first rodeo

At 3:00 and system demand is 23394. The grid is above predicted usage and there is a "power systems conditions alert". Something else has shown up on the map. In addition to < 1% coal there is now < 1% oil. The ISO has started to call up reserve sources for electricity.  

Throughout the workday, I noted that while the percentage of natural gas fluctuated between 66% and 73% percent of the fuel mix (oil reached a maximum of 2%).  I was honestly surprised when at my last check of the ISO real time maps, that the Megawatts (MW) of natural gas on the grid had actually gone up after most people left work. I also noted that at eight pm the total demand on the grid decreased by 953 MW and the amount of natural gas supplying the grid actually increased by 498.75 MW. 

 Time      NG       Demand          Demand met by NG

7:00 am, 66% of 16,134 MW = 10,648.44  MW

5:00 pm, 70% of 24,178 MW = 16,924.60  MW

8:40 pm, 75% of 23,225 MW = 17,418.75  MW

I find this entire scenario exceedingly frustrating! How am I supposed to make a case for saving Least Terns nesting in ME during a heat wave if we are actually creating more greenhouse gasses after the sun goes down? How am I, from little ole Vernon, VT supposed to create meaningful impact on the climate crisis which in turn will help the Terns? 

Natural gas emits 910 pounds of CO2 per megawatt. ****

Oil emits 2,130 pounds of CO2 per megawatt. ****

Well after much deliberation, it occurred to me, that perhaps the change I sought by performing my household chores after hours might actually be targeting a smaller percentage of the fuel mix than natural gas on the NE grid. I began to think about that "oil" category, the source that wasn't even on the fuel mix chart until 3:00 pm when predicted demand was exceeded. Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies could offer an opportunity for consumers like me.

Could this possibly be where I come in? What if I were to personally reduce my consumption in such a way as to help prevent peak demand and calling up higher carbon / ready reserve fuels? What if instead of doing chores during heat waves, I read a book, played a game, sat under a tree or went to the Vernon dam? What if everyone of us prioritized reducing our personal demand, then could we finally begin to reverse the tide? 

Time        Oil       Demand               Demand met by oil

5:00 pm,  2%    of 24,178 MW   = 483.56 MW  or 1,29982.8 pounds of CO2 emitted

I get it, I really do. If conserving electricity during record temperatures and heat waves isn't something your family can safely do, then do what you can in other areas of your life to reduce your carbon footprint. For example, driving less frequently and driving a more fuel efficient automobile is an important strategy in combatting Climate Change. Today it's the seabirds & shorebirds that are reaping the consequences of  our love affair with carbon; but it won't be too much longer before the impact of Climate Change makes its way into our daily lives here in Vernon!   -Norma Manning

Adult Least Tern by Helen Manning

Further reading:

Rachel Carson Council, Birds, Climate, Ecology

Audubon, How Climate Change is Sinking Seabirds

EPA, What Climate Change Means for Coastal Maine

Maine Climate Council, Climate Change in Maine

* ISO New England, Real-Time Maps and Charts

** Green Mountain Power, Energy Mix

*** State of VT, Department of Public Service, Energy

**** eia, How much carbon dioxide is produced per kilowatt hour of U.S electricity generation?

eia, Electric generator dispatch depends on system demand and relative cost of operation 

EPA, Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator- Calculations and References

The Rest Of The Story

I have had a number of readers stop to ask me what became of that pair of lovebirds and their nest that I featured in What The Hay? This got me to thinking that there are a number of starts and stops and even a few ongoing tales (or is it tails?) that could use a bit of feather dusting. Though on the surface, this compilation of, "and then what happened" stories may seem to be quite disheartening, I assure you that I remain quite optimistic with the exception of course, of those blasted squirrels and chipmunks!

Since I have already mentioned those crazy, lovestruck, and yes disastrous nest building Robins, I shall begin there. It wasn't too many days after I posted about them that they took great offense and abandoned their project altogether. I decided that since they had no further use for their hay collection, that I would repurpose it as mulch for a new planting. They had the last laugh of this I am sure, as I suffered multiple jabs by rose thorns while deconstructing their Taj Mahal.

If you will remember, I found a bit of solace in the entire sorted affair with the discovery of a sensible nesting of a pair of Eastern Phoebes. Upon closer inspection however, I  discovered a pair of Brown Headed Cowbird eggs deposited inside. After writing about this odd brood, I decided to follow their journey allowing nature to determine the families fate. 

I apologize for my less than perfect pictures, but the quarters were tight and I was attempting to disturb the family as little as possible.

There was with some jubilation on my part, a deviation from the notion that cowbird chicks hatch prior the rest of the clutch. The first to hatch was a phoebe, so perhaps once the cowbird chicks hatched, this little phoebe would be larger and so able to successfully compete for resources. I am certain that this chick is a phoebe not because I am some sort of a bird whisperer; but because in another photograph I could plainly see that both of the speckled eggs were still intact. 

 My next check of the nest revealed that  there was a second chick .

The older chick had feathers coming in.

 What you are seeing here, are the remains of the phoebe's nest. I'm not exactly sure when the nest was raided; but all of the eggs and chicks were taken. Helen thought that given the location of the nest, it was most likely a squirrel that dashed my hopes and dreams of a fairytale ending. 

 It's Monday June 21st and Saturday's Tree  dropped from its branches, an empty nest made from pine needles. We don't have any pine trees in our yard. None the less, I picked it up and placed it in the tree's branches if for no other reason than to admire the nest in its builder's chosen place.

Wayne and I continue to make it a point to go fishing partially in hopes of creating a better fish story ending to Sundays Are For Fishing than my falling into Jacks Brook! We did some more scouting at the Vernon fish ladder and then cast our lines below the dam.

We found that even in the middle of June, adult Lamprey are still living in the Connecticut River.

Wayne caught two Walleye that day one of which appeared to be blind. Both were released back into the river.

That evening, Wayne did some thinking and decided to try once again to salvage the red Old Town canoe that we had lost last summer to the river when, Our Lifejackets Saved Us. I tore my bicep muscle on that adventure and so still think about that day with every physical therapy session. Perhaps it was time to let the boat go as our four children are now grown and it really is too big for the two of us.

Wayne picked up a used Kayak at a yard sale. This was to be his first time on the Connecticut river since last August. Our friends on Stebbins Rd had sent us a photograph of our canoe early in the spring. It had since been pushed up into the branches of the downed cottonwood off of Stebbins Island. 

I remained ashore fishing until Wayne returned an hour later without our canoe.

What else is there left untold? Oh, I know the rodents and turtles! Woven throughout my blogs are stories of my determination to plant and grow trees from seed and how this is a constant battle between my goals and those of the hungry bellies of rodents...especially squirrel bellies. I am often asking Wayne while out and about, why it is that nobody ever just gives me a free puppy. It's a tease of course as with two dogs already taking up residence on the couch, Wayne isn't likely agree to pull over for a free puppy. Some would argue that it's the same for me and trees; but truth be told, Wayne isn't going to argue with what feeds my soul.

One day, while occupying my head with dreams of hitting the lottery, I checked out my local social media Buy Nothing group only to discover that Emily was offering up dozens of free bareroot Shagbark Hickory trees! Talk about hitting the jackpot! In the end I could only justify three saplings to Wayne who braved the question of how many 120 foot tall nut bearing trees did we require. Perhaps Wayne never read Autumn Nuts Like Me? My excitement only grew when Emily placed in my hands a pedigree of sorts that explained that my babies were part of the Rewild Vermont / 350 Vermont campaign aimed at, "Growing Food, Absorbing Carbon, Nurturing Justice." Emily made certain that I understood what adopting bareroot trees entailed before wishing us luck and telling us to give them plenty of water. 

Though a particularly hot and humid day, I practically leapt out of the car before it was parked and retrieved my tools from the shed. Having successfully homed the first tree, I called for Wayne to help with selecting spots for the remaining two. Wayne looked over the situation, warning me that I had better protect the tiny trees from the appetite of bunnies and the like. I dismissed his concerns straight away knowing that in all of Vernon there were much tastier treats upon which to nibble. 

I think that you can see where this is headed. The next morning I grabbed my watering can only to discover that two out of the three saplings were missing their leaf buds. As of this writing, one is gone altogether, one has sent up an alternate shoot, and the third looks a lot like it did the day I planted it. 

Have I told you about my American Filbert (Hazelnut) tree project?  Perhaps a fourth tree will be the charm?

Last but not least, there was a popular blog post, that in passing I mentioned a certain kind of turtle found here in Vernon. This post In Search of Mudpuppies created quite the frenzy with the state Herpetologist who, through numerous back and forth emails "requested" that I redact previously published information from state and local news articles and websites. I decided after that encounter, I should focus my energy on the more common varieties of Testudines. Every year Wayne and I scout out the snapper nests at a certain location and I was certain that this was going to be the year that we either witnessed a snapper laying eggs or we would find newly hatched turtles. 

It appeared as though the entire bank had been dug up and every egg consumed.

I should like to tell you, that even with all of these seemingly less than ideal culminations of past blogs, I have not yet begun to be discouraged. Why? Because once I removed the cockamamie Robin's nest from the rose bush it began to bloom.

On the day that I found the raided Phoebe's nest, I discovered a Robin's nest in my lilac bush.

I met a turtle headed back towards the wetlands on my walk in the neighborhood (I had of course forgotten my phone at home). The one below is in Satans Kingdom and that's at least something.  

Though Henry is actually the pond mascot somewhere in Guilford,

Though Wayne's kayak sprung a leak on it's recovery voyage, though there are six squirrels currently dining on maple seeds in my backyard, and though sometimes nature seems particularly cruel, 

I know that I am going to keep pushing through my failed attempts at adventuring. I will keep planting trees until something survives. I will suffer disappointments when my plans deviate from nature's; but that's just nature teaching me acceptance or persistence (I haven't yet decided which it is). The milkweed is in bloom and Mary told me that there is a way to get to where Jacks Brook empties into the river. I plan on going fishing there on Sunday.

Oh, and how could I forget, Lilly Pond is recovering nicely from the drought that I wrote about in Paying Attention To The Long Timers  and that's enough reason for optimism right there

-Norma Manning