coyote

I just happened to scan out the bedroom windows while making our bed, and saw a coyote! Way too close to the house- almost to the yard- and both Shelties AND Hobbes were out in the back! There are no photos this time, Folks. I was scrambling for the pets instead of my camera. I got everyone in, safe and sound. The coyote dissolved back into the ferns and shadows, presumably spooked by my "crazy woman" impression and high pitched shrieking- "HOBBES!!!"  So- all ended well. This time. What scares me are all the times I won't see the brown head peeking through the tall grass- the sharp eyes spying......

Feels like April

 

Because it was such a beautiful day (and because I was trying to get back into the good graces of the Shelties, after this morning's interrupted routine), Selkie, Piper and I walked up to get the mail.

We stopped to pet and bark at sweet old Dakota before heading up the long driveway.  I think she's starting to do a little bit better lately. She whinnies more, and challenges the elk like she used to. I'm still trying to get her a new companion, but I'm not as panicked about it as I was.

We kept up a fairly quick pace (at least until I got to the hill! whew!)

And I was so proud of the Shelties! They actually stayed on the driveway, while I crossed Blue Slide to get to the mailbox! They are learning! (actually... Selkie has always been very obediant... It's Piper who is coming around!)

Piper says we need to do this more often! (and he's right!)  Like every day!  I guess I should take advantage of the weather we've been having instead of complaining. I just hope that NEXT Winter, WE get the snow! instead of my sister in Dallas. *sighs*

A Change in Routine

See... the ROUTINE is.... that as soon as Bruce or I get up, we let the Shelties outside to piddle. It's a quick jaunt, because as soon as they come inside, they get fed... which is all very exciting!  THEN, they go outside again- to finish up anything they were too hungry to start the first time.

It's an important routine... one that should not be messed with, or taken lightly.

TODAY, however... things didn't turn out as planned. When I woke up, and looked out the bedroom window, I could see we had a problem.

Apparently, 10 elk had bedded down in our front yard the night before and they'd just gotten up and were enjoying a little breakfast!  I had to trick the Shelties into the garage (not trusting their bladders) to wait until our visitors ambled off.

Itty kept tabs on them. Hobbes joined him after awhile... between the two of them, they kept things orderly.

There were 3 calves in the group. Aren't they just adorable? I wanted to rush out, and hug this one.

After awhile, they meandered off... and I was able to let two very disgruntled Shelties out of the garage, so we could resume our routine.

Selkie expressed her opinion of our deviated schedule.  She hopes tomorrow doesn't bring more of the same shenanigans.

Coffee Klatch

We have 3 elk who come in every afternoon together. I started calling it a coffee klatch, but it's more of a friendship gathering (as no coffee is being consumed).  

These three, Brownie (in the back), Grandma (front left) and Darkie (right) seem to be inseparable. Where you see one, you'll soon see the other two. (Were you expecting decent names??? I apologize!)

At first, I thought all three of them were "old ladies" but now, I'm just not so sure about Darkie. Sometimes I think she looks like a yearling... It's her face... 

See?  doesn't she look younger?

Anyway... I go out of my way to make them feel safe here, so they'll stay. I feed Dakota early, so I won't have to go outside while they're here.  If I DO have to leave the house while they're snacking, I sneak out the front door, deliberately not looking in their direction so as not to overly disturb them. And it seems to work. Sometimes they slowly walk into the scrubby field... sometimes they just watch me while I put out hay, and get the chickens in their coop. I like to think they know I would never harm them. I'm too appreciative of their sharing a small part of their lives in my backyard.

Birds

Beside our back patio, is an Oak we call the Bird Tree for obvious reasons.

 I was never much of a bird watcher until we moved out here. I'm always amazed at the varieties of birds we get. Even in the Winter.

 And the sheer numbers of birds! This morning, Bruce and I counted 14 Grosbeaks on the Oak at one time!

Of course, we have chickadees... the normal kind (see above), as well as Chestnut Sided Chickadees.

We have Nuthatches, too... although I haven't gotten any decent photos of them lately.

For some reason, every time I hear a Chickadee's call, I think of my Mother. I think Chickadees might be my absolute favorite type of bird.

But we have a little Downey Woodpecker that I adore, also. He's such a busy little guy! and so pretty.

Our biggest problem is keeping Hobbes, the cat, from getting our bird friends. It's a never ending endeavor. (By now you've caught on that this post was less about the text, and everything about me wanting to show off my bird photos! :)   Thanks for bearing with me!

Frosty morning walk with the Shelties

Our neighbor's cows are calving, and so he has them gated into a side pasture... which means.... WE CAN WALK UP TO GET THE PAPER AGAIN!!! YAY!!!  (when his cows are in the lower main pasture, we can't walk up our driveway because the Longhorn is VERY nasty and has tried, several times, to annihilate our family). 

 

The Shelties are especially happy about this development. They have missed their walk up to get the mail or the newspaper. It's less than 2 miles, but it's full of fun things to smell, trails to investigate, and things to chase for a tiny bit before Mom starts calling "COME!"

Of course, Selkie has to help Bruce walk. I don't know where he'd end up if she wasn't there to manage things- lead him in the right direction, etc.

 Even with Selkie's guidance, we are STILL too slow, and the Shelties have to stop and wait for Bruce and I to catch up. All in all, though... that just gives them more time to stop and smell the roses (or poo, as the case may be).

We finally make it to Blue Slide road, where our mailbox, and paper box are. Unfortunately, we didn't see ANY wildlife! No deer! No elk! No turkeys! No coyotes! *sighs* That just means more photos of the Shelties :)  since Mom HAS to take pictures of SOMETHING!

Once home, we stop to feed Dakota, and the chickens. Selkie gets to play Farm Dog, and climb the hay bales. It's one of her favorite things to do! Piper just watches, safe and sound on the ground.

Back at the house, the three cats are waiting at the door. They never can understand WHY we won't take them up to get the paper!

Update on the Golden

So many of you have emailed me and asked about the Golden Eagle.  Freedom (yes... I have a terrible habit of naming any and all animals that come into my life) made it through the night! Much to Bruce's surprise.  But the best news is that she/he moved a tiny, tiny bit... giving us just a faint glimmer of hope.  Bruce will take her/him to Kalispell tomorrow to a rehabilitator, in the hopes something may be done to save her. For now, Freedom is living in a large dog kennel (barely large enough for her- but, even that may be good- immobilization is the best we can do until we know what she's up against) in our garage. All our animals can smell the Eagle, and sit by the garage door wanting in- but we are not letting anyone in to upset Freedom. He/She must be scared enough as it is.

Golden Eagle

 The first phone call came this afternoon, saying there was an eagle on the side of the road, and it wasn't flying.  The first thing Bruce always asks, in scenarios like this, is whether or not there's a dead animal near by.  Eagles have the tendency to gorge themselves to the point where they are too full to fly. They need to sit awhile, and digest their food before flying off.  The man said, yes... the eagle was sitting on a road kill.  Bruce told him to leave it alone.

The second phone call came about 45 min. later. There was an eagle sitting on top of a road kill that refused to fly. The man picked it up, put it in a box, and had it at his house. What should he do with it?  *sighs*  Bruce urged the people to call the Game Warden who WAS working this weekend.

The third phone call came 20 min. later from the Sheriff's Office. Someone had just dropped off an eagle in a cardboard box... and would Bruce come pick it up.  So, he did.  A magnificent Golden Eagle... but much to our dismay, he was not using his legs at all.

 

He was probably enjoying his afternoon meal when a car drove by... spooked off the roadkill, he most likely took to the air, directly in the path of the car. We think he was hit, and has a broken back.  Our plan is for Bruce to take him to the Rehabilitator in Kalispell on Monday- however, Bruce just came up and told me he doubts he'll survive the night. He's not looking good at all.

Mother Nature is indiscriminate, and harsh. I understand this is the way of things... but that doesn't mean I am unaffected by it.  And so, I am sad for this amazing bird to lose his life... and yet so grateful for the experience of caring for him.  At the very least, keeping him safe when he's vulnerable, and appreciating him for himself. He deserves that much.

Happy Valentine's Day

This was the first Valentine's Day in 27 yrs. that Bruce and I celebrated alone. Cass is in Santa Cruz, Chelsey is in Birmingham, and Cade couldn't get away to drive the 4 hrs. from Moscow, Id.   And so.... I had to ship Valentine love boxes off to each of them, and be satisfied with talking to them on the phone.

 

As for Bruce and myself.... we decided on Egg rolls for dinner (We really love egg rolls) and of course, cheesecake for dessert.  I set a pretty table, wrapped a few gifts, lit the candles.

Bruce opened a bottle of champagne and we ate dinner while watching two elk graze in our backyard. And it was really nice! Quieter than in years past but very nice.

 

HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY to you all!

(btw... Bruce spoiled me by giving me 3 books I'd been wanting to read, AND a car adaptor for my iPod! I gave him Season 3 of House, and an extra set of bottles for his beer making endeavors!  :)

Thank you, Bruce, for sticking with me for so long- through good times and bad. I love you.

My walk

Saturday seemed more like a day in late March, or early April.... certainly NOT February! It was 50 degrees in Thompson Falls!!! so Bruce and I decided to go "shed hunting" (which has nothing to do with garden sheds, and everything to do with finding antlers that the bucks have dropped).

 

We took the Shelties, of course. Piper and Selkie ran at least three times the distance we walked! They LOVE a good romp in the woods.

 

 We ended up down at the point overlooking Deep Creek Bay, and the Clarks' Fork Resevoir.

 

There were some Bufflehead ducks in the water, and we watched as an eagle taught her youngster how to hunt. (Not to worry... neither got anything. All the ducks escaped unharmed)

 

 The immature Bald eagle doesn't have a white head yet, but is starting to get some white here and there.

There were some geese in the water, honking up a storm! The eagles didn't even glance at them.

We watched them awhile until they finally decided amongst themselves to fly to a less crowded part of the river. You could hear them grumbling. :)

 

 

 

 

No antlers yet. I decided to head back towards the house, and check out the neighbor's cows. They're calving now, and the babies are darling! Bruce went the opposite way to continue his search. He's less than impressed with cows.

The mothers weren't terribly thrilled to see me arrive. They are rightfully protective of their young, and I didn't want to stress them out... so I decided to bother the ones who haven't calved yet. :)

 

They were a bit more cooperative.(Here's where you Moo, Lila! :)

I headed for home. Fed the chickens and Dakota, then, headed up to the house to start dinner. It felt so good to be outside, breathing in the fresh air, getting a bit of exercise and watching the animals. I scared up 15 head of Whitetails... but couldn't find a single antler!  Not that either Bruce or I really cared. The point was to be outside. And even though I know we NEED another major snowstorm badly... and will probably get several more snowfalls before April, days like this really get me in the mood for Spring!