Kathie Fife Art and Ecology

06/19/2026

Looking for a truly unique not found anywhere else gift for you or someone who loves New Hampshire, and especially dogs? These beautiful mugs are high quality handmade pottery, lead free, dishwasher safe, and freezer safe. Share your love for Chinook, the NH State Dog!

Free local pickup in the Concord, NH area.

Chinook dog design pottery mug handcrafted in the USA. Available in two sizes and three color choices.

06/15/2026

Finished my block today for the Canterbury Tricentennial quilt. Not perfect, but it was fun to get back into piecing again. This will be part of the quilt that has the grass/meadows/trees area. Many quilters are making green blocks in different designs this month. We have finished the blue blocks for the sky (my blue block didn’t come out that great, so it is going to be used for placing appliqué pieces over it 😉 Fun!!

06/13/2026

Powassan virus has been identified in New Hampshire for several decades, with TickReport detecting it in black-legged ticks in various communities, including Milford, Amherst, Auburn, and others. The Concord man's exposure location is uncertain; however, awareness of this potentially life-threatening virus is essential.

❗️Transmission can occur within 15 minutes, posing a significant risk to older adults, infants, and immunocompromised individuals.

Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are the primary vectors of the virus, with woodchuck ticks (Ixodes cookei) playing a lesser role in transmission to humans.

It's also important to note that doxycycline does not treat viral infections.

If bitten, sending the tick to TickReport.com can help healthcare providers identify potential pathogen exposure. (See our previous post about TickReport for more information, and the limitations related to tick testing). Testing ticks builds up a powerful citizen surveillance of known pathogens found in ticks in our communities.

06/09/2026

Preorder your new favorite mug today! Chinook pottery mugs are handcrafted in the USA, lead free, dishwasher safe, and freezer safe. The Chinook is the official state dog of New Hampshire. Named after a famous sled dog born in 1917, the rare, tawny-coated breed was created in Wonalancet, New Hampshire, by explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden. They are celebrated for their strength, intelligence. and affectionate nature.

The Sled Dogs at Wonalancet Church Greeting Cards are a nice gift set. Information on the back about the rich history of Walden, his wife Kate Sleeper, and Chinook.

Preorder now: https://chinookpotterymugs.square.site

Chinook dog design pottery mug handcrafted in the USA. Available in two sizes and three color choices.

06/07/2026

Got a tick bite? Send the tick to TickReport.

06/03/2026

Sharing the science and humor about ticks!

Dr. Thomas Mather, a.k.a The TickGuy, talks to Michael Kosta about ...

06/02/2026

Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illness
Tuesday, June 2 at 5:30
Kathie Fife is a Lyme and tick-borne disease ecologist. Kathie shares her knowledge and experiences to encourage citizens to advocate and empower themselves with knowledge, and to understand the important connection with land use management, predators, plants, and wildlife behavior for healthy ecosystems, including human health.

05/16/2026

Observe the distinctively colored egg in the nest; it is a parasitic egg laid by a brown-headed cowbird in the Phoebe nest. This behavior allows the cowbird to avoid raising its own young. Unfortunately, the cowbird chicks are approximately twice the size of the Phoebe chicks, leading the Phoebe parents to prioritize feeding the largest and most aggressive chick. This often results in the death of the Phoebe chicks, which are pushed out of the nest and succumb to starvation. Nature can be cruel, and while it’s challenging not to intervene, it’s essential to respect the natural order. Ugh. Nature. Not my place to interfere, but man it’s so hard not to!!

05/16/2026

New on my YouTube Channel!
✔️When to Test the Tick?

TickReport

Testing ticks provides you with data to help build your self advocacy tool box. This is for informational purposes only. Always talk with your healthcare pro...

02/04/2026

Join us! Elkins Public Library in Canterbury is hosting a free crafting session on Thursday, February 12th at 2 pm, where you can create your own Make and Take a Woven Heart Basket Valentine. All necessary materials are supplied, and no prior crafting experience is required to participate in this enjoyable and creative activity. Elkins Public Library Make and Take a Woven Heart Basket Valentine