Elusive No More

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 15, 2021

We all know, I am not an ornithologist. I would liken myself to a very amateur birder. While I worked a great deal with my friend and mentor, Edith Andrews, over the years, particularly on her book, I still am TERRIBLE at shorebirds and warblers. Even harriers and hawks.


It’s funny. You work in a place for an incredibly long time – if you count starting at age twelve as a volunteer then I’m at thirty-six years – and you’ve seen every nook and cranny. But one. 


There has been one place that proved elusive to me because there was no reason for me to go there. This place is the little attic space above the Curator’s Cottage at the Mitchell House. This cottage was added to the House in the 1930s so that the curators would have a living space that included running water. They did actually sleep in the nineteenth century beds in the Mitchell House at night – oh, those were the days!



In any case, we needed to do some work at the Cottage and the contractor needed access to this particular space. There is a little panel that was cut out years ago and screwed back in place in a closet that provides access to this spot. But, with no need to look and pull it all apart, I have not. Until this moment. So, while he was up there – it’s a TIGHT entry and space, I asked him to take a photograph for me to add to the images of the House and tadah – it looks like the day it was created!


JNLF

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A Graceful Lady

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 3, 2025
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