Like Mother, Like Daughter

The trail camera pictures from the family property have been fun to post for others to see. I picked the camera cards (there are six of them) up each week while I was down helping my brother and saved a few of the really good shots. Here are a couple more that made me smile. 

This first one obviously got taken during the December thaw. Mom and mini mom looking at exactly the same thing with exactly the same stance and expression (right down to the ear positions) tickled me. That little apple didn't fall far from the tree! 

This second picture totally charmed me. The youngster is fascinated by something up in the tree. Doesn't its whole demeanor express wonder and curiosity? 

Once again, I have proven that I am easily entertained. Seeing animals just being themselves with nobody around to witness their actions is delightful to me. I hope you enjoy a stealthy peek into their world, too. 

I Swear, It was This Big!

Here are a couple more  trail camera captures from out on the family property. I love these, because they're such candid shots!

This turkey looks like it's telling a very tall tale, standing on tiptoe and reaching as far as its wings will allow. "Honestly, it was huge! Like, this big!"

This fellow managed to time his step in front of the lens for a perfect close-up. The red on his head against the backdrop of snow created a very dramatic contrast. 

What's Been Happening?

As most of you know, I've been away and helping out at the family homestead while my brother was recovering from surgery. For some reason, this round was harder than the last one, but he's doing well and is back on his feet (if not quite up to his usual speed). 

There's a lot of catching up to do! I had to close down the shipping end of Stampeaz while I was away, and a few people placed orders and have been waiting patiently for their carving and printing supplies to be sent their way.  I've been slicing Tan-Z Kut, packing up orders and generally catching up on all the things that have been waiting for me here at home.  I believe that most of the backlog will be out the door tomorrow. There are a couple orders that might need a little additional attention, but they'll be on their merry way soon, too. 

So, I finally took a minute to sit down and think about the blog again. I thought a good reboot might be a few spectacular trail camera captures of bald eagles. 

There is a pair of these majestic birds hanging around the family land and I hope that means they'll be nesting nearby.

As usual, clicking on the pictures will enlarge them. 

I particularly liked this one - that wingspan is quite something and I'm just glad that intense predatory focus is not trained on me! 

Happy belated New Year! I hope it brings you health, happiness, peace and prosperity.  

Celebrating Half a Year!

It's hard to believe, but it has been six months since I went to pick little Piper up from the foster home where she was living back in April.

She's a good girl and has come a long way. She now knows how to sit, stay, lie down and do an automatic sit (which helps when I stop to take pictures). 

Piper is still very sensitive to sound and nothing I have tried is helping. She doesn't like going out on walks in my neighborhood right now, since we're sort of surrounded by vineyards that are shooting off cannons every five minutes or so to chase birds away from the grapes (and the bunnies have gone into hiding, so there aren't enough of them around to distract her from the booms). We'll both be very happy when harvest time is over!! 

Anyway, she got a new bone this morning and we'll be taking a trip to a quiet spot for a walk this afternoon (if we can find one) to celebrate the day. Maybe we'll even take a trip to the dog treat store. :) 

An Adventure in Autumnal Appreciation

I'm behind posting pictures - these are from a couple weeks ago (as it turns out, life just keeps on happening). I've been taking quite a few photos along my walks with Piper, but haven't taken the time to download them from the camera and get them sized for the blog. Sorry about that.... 

So, today's adventure is, as the title suggests, appreciative of autumn. The Eastern phoebes have mostly flown to warmer climes, and we can look forward to them coming back next spring. While I often hear them in the treetops, I rarely get to see them during the summer when the foliage is more dense and, even when I do, they're moving way too fast for me to focus! Flycatchers are like that...

Leaves have been a little more muted this year, since it's been so dry, but it's still beautiful to see the reds and golds. I always say that Mother Nature gives us the brilliance of autumn to remember through the gray winter months, until the fresh greens start to reappear! 

Kingfishers are moving southward, too, but they stop along the way to take advantage of local fishing areas as they rest and refuel for their journey. 

This one held still long enough for me to zoom in for a closer look. That hardly ever happens. They like to dive and look for tasty tidbits and if they notice me pointing a camera in their direction, they fly to the other side of the marsh, just to spite me (or they may simply have another appointment and it just seems that way). 

I hope you don't mind that some of the upcoming posts will end up being way out of sequence and season, because I have a couple really good ones to put together from back in August, when I was busy helping at the family homestead and didn't have much time to do anything computer related. (I know -- teaser...) :)

Familiar Fall Friends

This time of year, the marsh area I love to visit has quite a few visitors to watch as they take a break on their way south. I can also catch the last few sightings of those that have raised families over the summer and are getting ready to hibernate or hightail it to warmer climes. 

Madame Wood Duck is always shy, so it's a special treat to get to see her. She was way out in the water, so I had to zoom in pretty hard. That's probably why she kept paddling and preening. 

An egret took flight from a tangle of cattails and brush and it was beautiful to see its bright white plumage in contrast to the trees. 

Speaking of white, fall fungi have been less prevalent this year, since it has been so dry, but every little rain will make a few pop. This one created a lovely white on white arrangement, growing on a birch tree. 

And, of course, flocks of geese are gathering and honking almost continuously as they jockey for position in the line flying south. 

It's fun to watch them shift position and form their classic V flight pattern. 

Random Wandering

Sometimes a walk will suggest a theme, and sometimes I collect enough pictures of a bird or beast to warrant a profile piece. But, sometimes a walk will just present random little delights. 

Random bits of serendipity are always welcome, though. A song sparrow on a fencepost brings a smile every time. 

Watching a cottontail rabbit keeping a wary eye on Piper as she goes into a perfect point and then slowly tries to sneak up on her prey is quite entertaining. (The bunnies always take off long before they're in pouncing distance.)

Following a monarch butterfly around as it searches for nectar is both a challenge and a pleasure. (They are camera shy - or maybe just shy of Piper, even though she doesn't take much notice of them.)

While purple loosestrife is an invasive species, it's still pretty to see glowing in the early morning sunshine. 

So, it's well worth keeping an eye open for random little treasures along the trails when out wandering. They're some of the very best discoveries!