OLD FILES, REVISITED.

I haven't been able to take my camera out lately due to scheduling and weather conflicts.  This opened up an opportunity for me to go back and look through my old files.  On average I snap about 100-200 shots on my excursions, but only post between 2 and 4 of the images.  That leaves dozens of images filed away to be forgotten as the next batch of pictures are uploaded.  I spent several minutes with this bullfrog at the pond but ended up using another picture for my post later that day.  Today I found I was drawn once again to his nonchalant gaze.

Porcupines used to be a common sight along the roadside in the evening, but construction eventually drove them deeper in to the woods.  This was the first sighting of the prickly critter I've had in about 4 years.  He was sleeping high in a cottonwood tree and completely ignored my attempts to rouse him so I could shot of his face so I had to settle for a shot of his Mohawk hairdo instead.

Mourning dove are no dummies.  They know when dove season is and are scarce then, but during the off season they are as thick as mosquitoes.  I used to have a pair of collared dove and mimicked their cooing to catch this dove's attention.  I'm sure I didn't make any sense at all to it but the dove sat there and tolerated me and my camera without any apparent fear.

I know, I know... don't feed the animals, but he was looking at me with hungry little squirrelly eyes and I just had to share my granola.  I love watching squirrels handle objects, their paws are more like little hands with hairy fingers.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Let The Good Times Roll

 Laisser le Bon Temps Rouler (Let The Good Times Roll):

My family is always looking for an excuse to party.  Our parties usually include neighbors and friends, old and new.  One of our regular gatherings is during the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately this year my oldest son Gabe was unable to attend and root for his team, the Steelers.  That didn't stop us from including him in the celebration.  This halftime photo was posted on the journal Letters To Gabe that I have been keeping for him since his enlistment in the Army in the fall of 2004, and more recently during his ongoing deployment in Iraq.  He may be far away but he is never far from our hearts and thoughts.

We miss you Gabe, be safe, hurry home so we can PARTY!

BEAR CREEK, January 24, 2006

The chickadee is such a friendly little bird and doesn't seem to mind the presence of humans.  This little one kept me company for about half an hour and seemed entertained by my terrible mimicing calls.  The thing about these little birds though is that they are so hyperactive that they are near impossible to photograph.  No sooner did I start to focus when he'd be off to another branch.  I never did get a good shot, most are missing tails or just a blur of feathers.

It had been my first visit to Bear Creek in almost a year, and I had never seen the resident mule deer before.  They were equally curious about me.  Unfortunately I no longer have my regular lens and have to use my zoom on everything, which is so frustrating when I find myself in close proximity to opportunities such as this but have to pan out for a longer shot just to focus.  This little yearling was almost close enough to touch at one point.  What I love is making eye contact with the animals, to see that they are seeing me, that they know I am there but its okay.  I don't try to hide because if the animals know I am there they are less likely to be startled when I make a sudden move or sound.

The mule deer herd grazed next to me for close to an hour until some hikers came down the trail with a beagle who had scented the deer from up the hill and barked all the way down.   The does ran over towards me, not the least be concerned by my presence, and waited to see what the beagle would do.  I ended up shooing the deer away before the dog could come off the trail since the owners had absolutely no regard for the park rules (No Dogs!).  I don't blame the dog, it was acting on instinct, but idiots like those hikers who blatantly disregard rules that were set up to protect the animals while at the same time allowing us to observe them in their natural habitat... well, folks like that justbug the stuffing out of me.

SIMPLICITY

There is something about this simple picture of one of our favorite fishing holes during a recent snow flurry that just mesmerizes me.  Even now I can almost feel the cold right down to my bones and my nostrils search for the faint fragrance of sage that perfumed the air around the pond.

ROUND ROBIN CHALLENGE: SUPER MODEL

My computer's online connection has been out of commission for several days so I totally missed the call for this month's Round Robin Challenge but I'm going to submit an entry anyhow because the theme is so fun.  I'm not good at setting up posed pictures, but I think these ones actually came out pretty well.  The models are, of course, my children.

 

 

                         

Check out all of the other participants by clicking here:  Round Robin Challenge, Super Model

LAZY DAY OFF

With my computer offline I have not been inspired to go out with my camera until this morning.  I drove to the pond immediately after dropping my daughter off at school.  I went straight to the grove where the whitetails bed down but they were nowhere to be seen.  In fact, with the exception of a couple of squirrels and a few birds, there was little sight of any wildlife at all.  My disappointment was short-lived though.  I love being out in the wild as the world is waking up.

I never get tired of the view of Pikes Peak, as you may have noticed by now. Ironically, for as much as I love the mountain, I have only actually been to the top a few times because of my extreme fear of heights.  Now I will only visit the summit if someone else drives for me, the road is too winding, narrow and close to the edge of the mountain for my comfort. 

2006 ARRIVES IN COLORADO

Pikes Peak in 2006.  The snow is slowly melting and rumor has it there won't be any new snowfall for a few weeks.  The one thing I miss about my old house is the view I used to have of the snow blowing off the top of the Peak on windy days.  Now I come to the Ponds to enjoy the view, but I don't mind in the least bit.

A nesting box stands vacant in the half frozen water, but the Canada geese have already returned and hopefully by late spring there will be a new generation of geese in the ponds.

A sleepy cottontail kept me company when I went for an early morning stroll at the Bluestem trail.   It has already gotten its nice warm winter coat on but it seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.  It wasn't the least bit shy, and even hopped a little closer to investigate the sounds made by my camera.