Some of our past guests have signed our guestbook and you can get an idea of what they thought of Nature Stuff and the local attractions and amenities by reading through their comments.  Please take a moment and  sign our guestbook.     

 (Peat's Point), November 01, 2012:

hi Terry, I always enjoy all of your newsletters but this month I really enjoyed your enthusiasm about what nature has to offer us on every day and in every season..we are so fortunate to have you as our spokesperson..to consolidate and express the beauty in our natural world. Thanks terry.

(Tweed), February 10, 2011:

I have enjoyed your column over the years.  I read it in the Tweed news as I live on Hwy 7 NE of Tweed on a 100a of rocks ponds and trees. I would say I live in the top of the watershed for the Moira. On a granite finger of the shield although if you continue south on my Rd the Potter Settlement Rd in a few kilometers you are on the limestone shore of that great inland sea. It's beaver territory. Damming and filtering the catchment areas between the ridges. It's an interesting and enjoyable place that we have lived for for the past 25 years. We have seen a lot of wildlife and considering that we have seen many of these creatures numerous times they have become neighbours and familiars. Like the skink living beside the basement door, the red squirrel with the broken tail, the bear that hung around for a month or so, the deer that like my wife's gardens, the turtles that lay eggs in the driveway every May ( my wife has taken to putting plywood on the fresh deposits to help against the raccoons).  We engage and study, get out the books, show the grandkids and thoroughly appreciate the show including the life and death drama within the food chain.  We spend a fair bit on winter birdfeed and enjoy their proximity. 

(Napanee), November 27, 2010: re black & white photos of Presqu'ile on website

What a delight these photos are for me.  I just turned 60 in September and when I was but a teen, we camped at this magnificent park.  We traveled from Ottawa and, as a young family, we were enchanted by it.  Only a few years ago I took my 91 year-old Mom on a trip down memory lane as we traveled from Napanee, where I now live, to Brighton and the park.  We felt the same magic despite the fact that time and governance has dramatically changed the park.  Digital photography is a marvel but nothing detracts from the romance of black and white.  Thanks Terry, for the sharing the enduring charm of this medium!

Your latest article on coyotes etc. really impressed us. We have  become quite upset about the hysteria around this issue. We do live in a nature area with many forests, open areas and many wild animals. They were here first!!  If I may use an analogy. When  we moved into the village of Newburgh 22 years ago the farmer was selling some pasture land to  builders. The farmer put up a big sign saying:"I was here first",  meaning if you have some farm smell later, do not complain to me. People have responsibility to protect their animals. Cats should not run freely outside - they do more damage to the environment than any  other wild animal - and will have to leash their dogs on properly supervise them in safe area. We have 2 cats - indoors of course - who love to watch the birds from behind the window and the birds and the squirrels start to completely  to ignore them. Of course farmers have problems with them but even they can take  better measurement other than killing the animals. We wanted to tell you that your articles are sensitive, insightful, and very educational. We hope that you can continue doing it for a long time.

Rosemary Kent (Northport), October 26, 2009:

A big thank you for your terrific presentation at the dinner. Like the gymnasium full of students, the Saturday audience was spell-bound. As per your usual standard, your talk was very informative with great anecdotes all delivered with your "County charm".  We received many very positive comments from the guests as they were leaving. I'm sure you did too. So, thank you once again for helping to make this happen, and for your continued support for the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory.

Judith & George Zelmanovits (Rednersville), September 21, 2009:

Now that we have completed the summer season of Monday evening hikes led by Terry Sprague, I would like to thank you and Quinte Conservation for sponsoring such an excellent activity for people in the Quinte area. This is the third year we have participated and we carefully plan our schedule so that we miss as few hikes as possible over the summer season. We enjoy walking in different conservation areas and private properties learning as we go about the wildlife and flora as well as the history of the area. Sometimes what we hear is not pleasant --for example, the story of the Bakelite plant site in Belleville but it is important for us to be aware of problems such as this. Terry is a wonderful guide -- knowledgeable, engaging, and enthusiastic. We hope that you will continue to offer this worthwhile program in the years ahead. We look forward to participating.
 
With our special thanks to our guide -- Terry Sprague.
 

 Phil Norton (Picton), September 21, 2009: 

Just a note of congratulations for the series of 15 articles that ran   about County natural areas and topics. I'm happy to see them all   posted on your Nature Stuff website in case I missed a couple during   the busy summer. Finally, I hope you are working on a book that would package the best   of your articles and pictures about the local area. We need a rallying   point for nature lovers of the County to become more active in   conservation and you are well placed to do it!

 Robin Knight (Picton), April 11, 2009:

Thank you very much for your column of Thurs, April 9, 2009. Since moving to the County less than a year ago I have been concerned about the lack of concern for conservation and environment on the part of those who push "green development". I was very reticent to settle here knowing that councillors,developers and landowners were pushing wind turbines and subdivision type development in an area that has so much natural beauty and importance to migratory birds. So antithetical it becomes mind boggling!
I am still nervous about having invested in 49 acres of South Bay, but someone like yourself who has a public voice and forum speaks for me. There seem to be many others as well and it gives me some hope and small comfort. Our current Premier seems bound, bent and determined to spoil the future for us all for the sake of political expediency.

Richard Koppens (Kingston) , October 24, 2008:

Just read your piece on hickory nuts on the website. Thanks for the memory. While I was in the County, I developed a special liking for shagbark hickories. I not only enjoyed the nuts, the trees themselves are 'special' enough that I made note of each one that I encountered and often used them as landmarks, summer or winter. I still do, actually.
 
One special day comes to mind when I was collecting Hickory nuts on a beautiful, sunny day on a farm near County Rd 1. I crawled around on hands and knees, sifting through the leaves while two squirrels chastised me and a herd of dairy cattle watched from only a few feet away on the other side of the fence. Nothing exciting happened, it was just a pleasant moment that I had the good sense to make a memory of.

Your column on your website in the Napanee Beaver, "Let It all Hang Out." I am a farmers wife and hung my clothes out for over 70 years and I never felt poor, just useing common sense, we sure are in a mess and brought it all on ourselves. I am just starting my 90th year. I enjoy your messages.

 Orland French, (Belleville)     January 17, 2008:

Great column! We were discussing this just the other day. Indoors, we use a regular dryer but also an old-fashioned rack which not only helps  humidify the house but saves on energy. The government should mandate and require developers to install umbrella-style clothes dryers in all  backyards to encourage outdoor drying. That should be Code. At the least, abolition of clotheslines should be, well, abolished.

Your columns bring me a breath of fresh County air for which I thank you. Last week I had the wonderful experience of, while re-stocking the feeders in our rear yard,  being in the midst of a blizzard of Redpolls. A lot within inches of me and several landing on my arm and head. Both feeders covered, twelve around my feet and upwards of fifty on the ground under the other feeder. I watched a similar spectacle today but from inside out of the rain. Marvelous! In addition there were numerous Chickadees and approximately ten Juncos and a pair of Cardinals.  Thanks again.