Its Time To Live...

Tetons for the weekend

2012-01-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

Another Great Week End, what can I say?

Big Horn Sheep

Mule Deer

River Otter and Rainbow Trout dinner

End of 2011 and a new 2012

2011-12-30T00:01:00.001-07:00

If you are over 40ish you might

understand the following story,

if not well, think about it some.

If you have already seen it in an email I am sorry

you have to read it again here but it does have

a good message. Now go on an have a

Happy New Year

and make it better.

"Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning lots of watts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?"

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T01:00:00.003-07:00

Watch this youtube video, it will be worth your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OExXItDyWEY&vq=medium

An Eagle Court of Honor Video

2011-12-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Jason, in this video is our youngest son.

Some days I still remember...

2011-12-03T22:38:00.001-07:00

Excuse the funny looking guy...

just look at the birds.

Swainsons Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)

This is a blast from my past. It feels

much like a former life and so long ago.

I am retired from this job.

I now work in a Jail,
who would have thought,
and spend my
spare time wandering in the woods.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Just Horsing Around in the snow...

2011-11-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some "Older" images for ThanksGiving

2011-11-23T09:08:00.001-07:00

****"Gods' Creations"****

Elk

Barn Owl

Grizzly Bear with cubs

Trumpeter Swans

Yellow Warbler

Mountain Goat

Elk Calf hiding

Elk

Veterans Day (USA)

2011-11-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

In Honor of those who have, are and will make
my life easier and protected.

Thank You

and Thank You Never seems like enough.

http://www.rideforthefallen.us/

The weekend, started Friday 8:00am and ended Sunday 9:00pm

2011-10-16T00:00:00.002-06:00

Coyotes in the Sky

Mule Deer Sparing

Black Bear

Bull Elk herding his 'Ladies'

Bull Moose

Cow and Calf Moose

Pronghorn

And to leave you with some color...

October 8 2011 SNOW

2011-10-08T18:35:00.001-06:00

This is what we drove through

Saturday afternoon

not very far from home.

The season has changed.

Seems like just the other day we were

in snow that would not leave for

spring to arrive.

Then for a few days it

was hot and now it is fall.

This Photo was taken

August 6th 2011

This photo was taken just one week ago.

September 30th 2011

This years Scout trip

2011-08-02T21:28:00.001-06:00

For the Scouts, I have a copy being printed up for each of you

but you can click on the photo to make it bigger then,
right click on the photo and save it to your own computer.

PS- Thanks for taking me and feeding me at the Bar J Wranglers
the music and show were good.

Mule's Ear Flower, Wyethia amplexicaulis

2011-07-15T11:08:00.002-06:00

Mule's Ear Flower,

Wyethia amplexicaulis

Logan Canyon in various places

2011-07-07T12:06:00.001-06:00

The images below show snow

where in years past the snow would

all be gone and wildflowers would

fill the open areas.

It has been a different year this

year but a good year unless you are one

of the homes being flooded along the

rivers or by the higher water table.

Here is a sample of what we saw last week

just 30 or less miles from our home.

-----------------------------------------------------

The top of the road before you drop

down into Swan Flats.

Near the top of

Egan Basin

We found Cougar tracks in the snow

and bear tracks in the mud here.

Just short of the big meadow near the

top of Franklin Basin.

As you can see there is still a lot of

snow to melt and come down.

Tetons Day 6

2011-06-08T21:17:00.001-06:00

Bison Calf

Moose Calf

Below is a bad image of a raven,

did everything wrong on the exposure

but I like it and that makes it a keeper.

More Grizzly Bear

2011-06-08T20:20:00.000-06:00

Tetons Day 5

2011-06-06T21:16:00.002-06:00

A note to my mother in law-

We never got close to this bear according to my definition of

close anyway. Besides it is not my fault, the bear made me do it!

Today we spent 3 plus hours with this Grizzly Bear. We were on

a back road in the Tetons and found her. She was very patient and

let us take hundreds of photos of her, she even took a nap at one point.

For the first hour it was just Kathy, Ian and Me and then some

other photographers found us back there.

It Was A Good Day.

Tetons Day 4

2011-06-06T21:04:00.000-06:00

Yellowstone Day 3

2011-06-04T23:25:00.000-06:00

3- Grizzly Bear

1- Black Bear

Elk Calf

Black Bear Cub

Badger

White Crowned Sparrow

Coyote

Black Bear Cub (in a tree)

Yellowstone Day 2 (sort of)

2011-06-03T22:17:00.000-06:00

Left Gardiner, Mt. in the morning and entered the North Gate. We saw 2 black bears and 4 grizzlies on our way to the North East Gate.
We needed to deliver some paintings to a gallery in Sheridan Wy. so we headed out. The road we needed was closed so we drove down to Cody and then up to Sheridan. We left Sheridan and took the freeway west through Billings Mt. and on around and back to Gardiner, Mt...

Long drive - ate some Clam Chowder and crashed.

Yellowstone Day One

2011-06-02T23:02:00.000-06:00

5- Black Bears

2- Grizzly Bears

-unnumbered Elk, Pronghorn, Bison, Marmots, birds Etc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Mountain Bluebird

Bison

Black Bear

A Day In The Marsh...

2011-05-26T22:14:00.005-06:00

As seen from the seat of my canoe

Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, Black Crowned Night Heron

all nesting in their Rookery.

Marsh Wren

White Face Ibis

White Pelican

Black Crown White Heron

Black Crown Night Heron

Night Heron Hatchlings

Snowy Egret

Dressed for the Prom.

Cattle Egret

Seems that each year gets harder to canoe out to these places

where the birds nest. My back does not work like it should and

neither do my knees. The trip out was fairly easy as I was moving

with the current of the river. This year we have very high run off

and the rivers are higher and running faster that normal. My return

trip back up stream was much harder and going under the bridge

to return to the Jeep was difficult but by kneeling and paddling

hard I made it back. I have to admit it was tempting to continue

downstream to another road a couple of miles away and call

someone to come and pick me up.

The rookery sites have moved this year due to the high water.

The gulls and terns were no where to be found. Most of the nests

of the Ibis and Egrets were very tall to get them out of the water.

----------------------

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

White Face Ibis

Ring Billed Gull

Marsh Wren

Red Wing Blackbird

Yellow Headed Blackbird

White Pelican

Black Neck Stilt

American Avocet

Mallard Duck

RedHead Duck

Northern Pintail

Coot

Western Grebe

Crested Cormorant

Green Wing Teal

Ruddy Duck

Gadwall

Bittern

Sandhill Crane

Canadian Goose

Robin

Starling

House Finch

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

----------------------------------

Red Fox Den

2011-05-01T15:39:00.000-06:00

On a cloudy day during a light snow I came

across a Red Fox Den. They were out

and active until I heard the mom make

a barking sound from the trees behind

and then they were gone.

Cache Valleys Wellsville Mountains

2011-04-25T22:22:00.000-06:00

Will Spring ever really come

and the snow really melt?

A mix of pix...

2011-03-07T20:13:00.000-07:00

Rignt Hand Fork, Logan Canyon

Cedar Hill, Hyde Park Canyon

Farmington Bay, Farmington

The Eagle Tree

and an Eagle face.

An image and a short question and your answers...

2011-02-26T12:37:00.022-07:00

Bald Eagle image from:

http://madisonbirds.blogspot.com

Go and see his collection of Eagle Images

I owe him a huge apology for inadvertently

using one of his images.

Long story, lesson learned and

thank you Bill of madisonbirds.

____________________________

The photo below is "family" in Yellowstone
sometime between 1963-1967.
I think that the kid in front on the right is me...

*************************************
I got this idea from several other blogs...
It was interesting learning just a little bit about others.

If you are reading this please leave a comment

with the following information:

1- First name:
2- What State you live in or Country?
3- What kind of Camera do you own?
4- What do you do for fun? Hobbies?
5- What is your age? (optional)
6- Favorite Book?
7- Favorite Movie?
8- Favorite Food?
9- What type of work / school do you do?
10- Favorite Quote?

Wildlife Art Oil Paintings... Not Mine :)

2011-02-21T11:35:00.003-07:00

If you are interested in Wildlife Art, visit this blog
http://kathyashcroft.blogspot.com/
and then visit this website
http://www.kathyashcroft.com/

Prints of many of the original paintings are available for purchase
- just email her for price and availability.

Trumpeter Swan

2011-02-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

Trumpeter Swan

*********************************************************

POST NUMBER 143, three years of blogging today...

2011-02-04T08:18:00.002-07:00

My first post was - February 4 2008
A week before this date I did not know what a 'blog' was
I did not know how people would find one anyway
I did not know what a follower was
See, even my generation can learn.

****************************************************

143 posts, 89 followers, 711 comments

16,130 or so hits,

and some good friends later

I say Thank You to you all who are reading this.

****************************************************

Here are some images from a book

I put together.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Wood Duck

2011-01-29T20:47:00.001-07:00

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

Spring must be coming because

he is in his 'courting' colors.

Now if he could only find a

female woodie.

Take a good bath...

A few aerobics...

Get the slobber off the lower beak...

Looking good...

Where are the women?

Paul Cardall Concert in February

2011-01-25T13:58:00.002-07:00

I know many of you live too far away to even

consider this concert but...

For those of you who live much closer,

I think you will find it worth the effort and cost.

(No, I do not make any money if you go.)

For information:

http://beforemyheartstops.blogspot.com

Mule Deer, Antlers, closed land...

2011-01-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

If you like Big Mule with

large Antlers, here are a

couple of images that will

make you pause and look.

Sorry about the lack of quality,

these deer were a long way

away, not enough lens and

in an area where we were not

allowed to follow them.

If they had been somewhere else

I would have followed them all

the rest of the day to get a good

clear image. If it killed me!

On the way to work, the Wellsvilles got in the way...

2011-01-20T20:19:00.001-07:00

The other morning I got in the car and headed

for work. I got just about to the highway and looked

in front of me and saw the clear sky, clear air and

the Wellsville Mountains.

Keep in mind that work is only

about three miles from my front door.

Work could wait, I turned around and went home to

get my camera. I then drove out into the west fields

and took a series of images as the sun rose behind me

in the East. Below is one of those images with the sun about

half way down the mountain.

People travel half way around the world to see what is

in my front yard. I think I need to climb them again this summer.

Yes, I was late for work.

I stayed later to make up the difference.

It was worth it.

*****************************************

Leo Tolstoy said,

“The more we live by our intellect,

the less we understand the meaning of life.”

Those who choose the path of humility

during times of crisis will find a loving and

kind God if they are looking.

What they discover as they kneel in

humble prayer with an open mind cannot

be described in words.

If consistently seeking help from the Almighty

they will hear His voice and feel the comfort in their hearts.
This is sort of what I
was thinking as I was
watching the sun rise
on the mountain and
taking photos.

Found this mallard on the way home that evening.
He wouldn't quit posing or leave until I
agreed to take his portrait.

The Bald Eagle in the fog...

2011-01-15T17:24:00.002-07:00

On a foggy day.

The American

Bald Eagle

in flight

Short list of what we saw on our ride today:

Elk

Mule Deer

Wild Turkey

Bald Eagle

English Sparrow

Common Raven

Magpie

Mallard
================================================

Go as far as you can see; when you get there you'll be able to see farther.
Thomas Carlyle

Some animals, some birds and a write up...

2011-01-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Another quick day out.

If you want to learn a little more

about me, visit

http://mountainlyon.blogspot.com/

Thanks JoLynne

Barrows Goldeneye

Moose Calf

Wild Turkey (not very healthy)

About a mile east of home, snow on the mountain.

2011-01-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

I hate to admit it but these are all taken

from the car. Reciently had some work

done on my knee and not ready, yet, to

wander in the snow and brush.

Similar to the view from the back yard (garden).

*************************************************

**********************************

If you could look into the Heavens and

see who you really are, you would be

overwhelmed with your capabilities,

your talents, your spiritual qualities,

and the vision of what you are able to become.

If we knew now who we really are,

we would feel different about ourselves.

We would be excited and enthusiastic about

this life even with its burdens and frustrations
-Harold B Lee

Happy New Year - Make it the best yet.

2010-12-31T09:27:00.002-07:00

I borrowed these words from

http://redwillowlisa.blogspot.com/

“To live content with small means;

To seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

To be worthy, not respectable,

and wealthy, not rich;

To study hard, think quietly

Talk gently, Act frankly;

To listen to stars and birds,

to babes and sages with open heart;

To bear all cheerfully, Do all bravely,

Await occasions, Hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common.
-William Ellery Channing

**********************************

Seems like a good plan for a new year.

**********************************

ALSO:

If you would like to read an article

from the local paper on my wife

and her art work go to

http://issuu.com/cachemagazine/docs/123110

**************************************************

Have a great new year (all of it).

-It's Time To Live

A CHRISTmas message...

2010-12-25T04:00:00.005-07:00

I generally keep politics and religion

out of this blog but this

is important to me.

–It’s Time To Live

Click on the lower/right arrows to enlarge.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR.

Dale, from It's Time To Live

This is where I live... and, oh ya, a Bobcat

2010-12-20T04:00:00.002-07:00

Bobcat (Felis rufus)

from an older image in the files

****************************************************************

Thought it might interest some of you to see web cams of the area where I live.

I like looking through blogs from around the world and getting an idea of what

that area looks like and what it would be like to live there.

I live about 5 miles north of these two cameras. Enjoy.

*****************************************************************

http://www.usu.edu/webcams/index.cfm?webcam=3 View looking east towards Logan Canyon

http://www.usu.edu/webcams/index.cfm View looking west across the valley to the Wellsville Mountains

Chickade and Nuthatch

2010-12-13T20:23:00.001-07:00

Black Capped Chickadee

White Breasted Nuthatch

Catalpa Tree, seed pod

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalpa

Some Mule Deer we saw on Saturday...

2010-11-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

We spent the day in an area less than 75 miles from home (as the crow flys).

We saw a lot of mule deer,six Moose and some Eagles.

And then, it was winter...

2010-11-10T21:37:00.003-07:00

Search Amazon.com for paul cardall

I don't recall, is it a berry tree or a beary tree...

2010-10-18T12:42:00.001-06:00

We got up early Saturday 10-16-10 to go to Jackson Wyoming

for my wife’s birthday present. More importantly it was the

Tetons and the wildlife that we were headed out to see.

On the way there we saw a moose calf lying out in the grass

so we stopped for a couple of photos then we were off again.

It took just over three hours to get there.

Here are some of the image results of this short trip.

We found a new meaning and spelling for a Berry Tree,

(SEE IMAGE BELOW)

it is now a Beary Tree. This small black (cinnamon color) bear

was in this small Hawthorne tree eating its berries as fast

as it could and ignoring us, mostly, as it ate to put on

weight for the coming winter sleep. If you are a bear in the

cold country you need a lot of extra fat or you

might not wake up next spring.

We saw lots of moose,

and mule deer

and a beaver working on his dam.

Below is a night, flash image.

...and a Ruffed Grouse

... and I slipped in a Cotton Tail rabbit (below) from the night

before. We had dinner with my parents at Bear lake.

NO COLOR changes on the above,

this is exactly how it was.

And, for the record. This last image is the only one

that I have changed. I did add / tweak some color.

Alas, we came home. It took four hours to get home

but we made it. We really did not want to go.

Can I go back now?

PS Holdingmoments Keith, Thanks for the Red Wing info. I get it now. ;)

You sometimes have to educate us Yanks!

AudioPlayerWidget

2010-10-12T08:41:00.003-06:00

I thought I sent this to my side bar but,

well, it is here and I think I will leave it for now.

I pulled the widget for this music from

http://beforemyheartstops.blogspot.com/

One place to get the music is near the bottom of the web site

www.paulcardall.com/

also try
https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/PaulCardall this has all his music

http://ldsaudio.directtrack.com/z/1415/CD50/&l=209

Willard Peak, Mountain Goats, Sunset and more...

2010-09-27T20:05:00.001-06:00

We seem to like Willard Peak and the Mountain Goats

so we went back for another visit.

It was cool and the wind was blowing as we

stood on the mountain looking for the goats.

Once I turned around and there they were

coming over the ridge behind us.

The sunset photos are not re touched at all. There was a

large fire to the south for several days and all the smoke

made for a colorful sunset.

On the Mountain of Goats, oh and a bee...

2010-09-11T22:48:00.001-06:00

Near the top of Willard Peak,

Somewhere in the neighborhood

of 9,000 ft above sea level

-------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a nice trip high in the mountains.

We saw over 30 goats in all.

Below is a sampling...

Sheridan, Wyoming - A Trip For An Art Show.

2010-08-18T20:25:00.000-06:00

We went to Sheridan, Wy. last week so my

wife http://www.kathyashcroft.com/ could be part

of an art show. Her work is now in the

Davis Gallery in downtown Sheridan as well.

I don't do well sitting around in the sun so

I went to the mountains for part of each of the two days.

I need another trip already!

An extended family trip...

2010-07-31T12:19:00.002-06:00

All Whales are Humpback Whales

Friday 7-16-10 = Left home drove to Mountain Home Id. Had air conditioning in car repaired :) then drove to our hotel in Pendelton, Or. The place we had reserved was worse than a dive so we picked up pizza and found a good hotel and spent the night.
Saturday 7-1710 = Left the hotel and drove to Issaquah, Wa. We checked into a nice hotel and thought about heading to a park nearby. Sirens and many police cars, ambulance and firetrucks later we decided to stay at the hotel as there were a couple of murders at the park.

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/fleet/webcam.html?shipCode=PEARL&browser_popup=360x260

Sunday 7-18-10 = Boarded the Norwegian Pearl and started our cruise to ALASKA.
Monday 7-19-10 = Cruised the 'Inside Passage' towards Juneau, Ak.
Tuesday 7-20-10 = Stopped in Juneau
Wednesday 7-21-10 = Stopped in Skagway
Thursday 7-22-10 = Cruised Glacier Bay
Friday 7-23-10 = Stopped in Ketchikan
Saturday 7-24-10 = Stopped in Victoria, Bc.
Sunday 7-25-10 = Returned to Seattle, Drove to Kelso, Wa. Got a hotel.
Monday 7-26-10 = Drove to Astoria, Seaside, Or. Walked on Canon Beach. Drove to Pendelton, Or.
Tuesday 7-27-10 = Drove Home :(

Norwegian Pearl our smallish boat...

Wednesday 7-28-10 = Back to work again...

A couple of hours in Logan Canyon, Utah

2010-07-11T20:04:00.000-06:00

Tiger Salamander comming up for air

Lots of wildflowers, everywhere.

A couple of days at Scout camp...

2010-06-27T21:56:00.001-06:00

Greys River, Wyoming

I have to admit that this post

looked better in person...

A Quiet, Rainy Week at Home...

2010-06-14T21:20:00.002-06:00

Sunflower

Great Basin Gopher Snake

Black Capped Chickadee

Quaking Aspen Leaf

Elk Calf in the forest, great find.

2010-06-06T21:20:00.000-06:00

North American Elk

(Cervus elaphus)

This is an elk calf, he's only a few days old.

Instinct tells him to hide and hold still to be safe.

He did as instinct directed him to do. He did not

move except a little twitch of one ear and his

breathing got faster when we got close.

Took a few photos and left him alone.

If you are wondering,

this is a wild elk, not a zoo photo.

also - Keith, welcome back.

http://holdingmoments.blogspot.com/

Mammals of North America: Second Edition (Princeton Field Guides)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (National Audubon Society Field Guides)

It was a great trip... here is some more.

2010-06-01T20:49:00.000-06:00

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Some Highlights.

Where am I? Not at work!

2010-05-28T21:36:00.001-06:00

Black Bear and Cub (in the rain)

Grizzly Bear

Coyote

Trumpeter Swan

Badger

2010-05-22T20:16:00.000-06:00

Its raining again, woke up to snow on the

mountains but the sun was out today

off and on. Here is a mix of images.

-----------------------------------------

Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting (Female)

Great Blue Herons (X3)

Willard Canyon

Small waterfall in the middle, dark, wet area.

And another waterfall farther up the canyon and around the corner.

Today I was lazy.

Slept in till 8:45 am.

Sat in my chair. Watched rain.

Cleaned my car (some).

Sat in my chair. Watched hail.

Helped my son with some plumbing.

Sat in my chair. Watched grass grow.

Shopped and got a memory card for camera, couple of shirts.

Sat in my chair. Thought about getting up.

Bought some plants for the flower garden out front.

Sat in my chair. Quick nap.

Signed some paper work for a Boy Scout to do his Eagle Project.

Sat in my chair. Another Quick nap.

Watched bits of Star Wars, while sitting in my chair.

Ate a Wendy's Burger, while sitting in my chair.

Updated this post, while sitting in my chair.

Hit PUBLISH POST, while sitting in my chair...

And then, there he was...

2010-05-16T17:49:00.001-06:00

We all like to listen to song birds sing

but do we know or want to know

what is really going on in their world?

It goes something like the following.

"He ladies, here I am and this is my beautiful territory that I

defend from all of those other males of my species. Oh by the way

all you other men go to @&!! and stay away from my lady, my

territory and my tree!"

"Wait, listen."

"Did I hear an answer over there?"

"Stretch, one two."

"Now the legs, got to look great."

"Ah, sing my awsome song again for the ladies to

swoon over and to warn the guys to stay away."

And we thought they just sing

because they are happy?

Western Meadowlark

(Sturnella neglecta)

A visitor for a few weeks in the spring and fall...

2010-05-10T21:32:00.001-06:00

Lazuli Bunting

A hawk, Snowy Mountains and an Artist...

2010-05-08T22:22:00.001-06:00

Red Tail Hawk

More snow visits the mountains

and the valley...

An Artist we met...

http://www.tomlucas.us/

The sun was out, the birds were out, we were out...

2010-04-25T11:51:00.004-06:00

White Pelicans fishing

Marsh Wren looking for a mate.

Snowy Egret

White Pelican

American Avocet

There was no shortage of swallows today.

Thousands of them gathering mud for nests,

perching in the "tree" (only tree)

Eating insects and mosquitoes, Thanks.

Yellow Headed Blackbird

Cormorant fishing

These images represent the short list

of all we actually saw.

It was a nice day out, the sun cooperated

somewhat except when I really needed it!

From the corner of my home...

2010-04-18T18:38:00.000-06:00

Cedar Waxwing

(Bombyycilla cedrorum)

A Moment in Time...

2010-04-16T22:16:00.001-06:00

Red-Tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately,

to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could

not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die,

discover that I had not lived."

-Henry David Thoreau

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,

and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

-John Muir

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves

of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds,

the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated

refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night,

and spring after the winter."

-Rachel Carson:

This post is the result of being in the right

place at the right time. I took several

shots over a couple of minutes and then

it was over leaving an empty, blue sky.
And, did you notice blue sky and no snow.

Yellow Headed Black Bird

2010-04-11T21:43:00.000-06:00

YELLOW HEADED BLACK BIRD

Calling for a 'wife'

Today I learned not to start deleting the file

off of the cameras memory card before

making sure that the same file is copied

onto the hard drive of my computer.

Only lost about 50 images of Marsh Wrens

and Blue Herons.

Those of you who have

photographed wrens know how

difficult it can be to find them and then refind

them in the lens, focus and shoot! OUCH.

Blamed it on my wife though so it is ok now ;)

Life happens but I hate it when it happens to me!

Some random shots from the week...

2010-04-04T12:24:00.000-06:00

Killdeer

Canada Goose

Sandhill Crane

Great Blue Heron

Great Horned Owl

Wild Turkey

Pine Siskin and an Easter Thought

2010-04-03T21:50:00.002-06:00

Pine Siskin

(Carduelis pinus)

AN EASTER THOUGHT:

A stately tree grew by a church in one city where it was nurtured

by warm sun and gentle rains.

And, then one day a rough wind blew

it over, revealing shallow roots. The tree had had it too good.

It didn’t have to send down sturdy, steadying roots in search

of food or water. Unlike the old mountain cedar,

born to wind and sleet, this tree had no need for

a tough center and clinging roots.

God’s love for us is made of stern stuff. He cannot give us

everything we ask for; he cannot help us sidestep all suffering,

for the result would be fragile souls with shallow roots.

He doesn’t want us to be whiners,
complainers or tremblers in the closet.

We are Gods children, and like any loving parent he
cannot be satisfied with us until we have
certain character, certain nobility.

He wants us to become like him.

-Look at your world by Paul H Dunn, Bookcraft 1978

Just a Sunday Drive

2010-03-28T21:44:00.002-06:00

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo Virginianus)

Long Tailed vole

(Microtus langicaudus)

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea herodias)

Rookery (nesting area)

Too often I would hear men boast of the

miles they had covered that day,

rarely of what they had seen.

-Louis L'Amour

Along the Bear River, Utah

2010-03-06T19:02:00.005-07:00

This photo trip started as a trip to

Smith and Edwards near

Brigham City, Utah to buy

a back pack for a sons 20th

birthday.

It is one of those

places most men love to go to.

Full of new and modern camping, hunting

and outdoor stuff as well as being an army surplus

store full of gadgets and things...

Black Capped Chickadee Migrating Tundra Swans

We drove to an area where thousands of these

swans were all grouped up, resting and eating.

Judging from the volume of their calls,

they were feeling pretty good.

During summer and winter we seldom see swans

here, but in the spring and fall migrations they

come through by the thousands.

Tundra Swans
Bald Eagle
Cassins Finch

"The victory of success is half won

when one gains the habit of setting

goals and achieving them.

Even the most tedious chore will

become endurable as you parade

through each day convinced that

every task, no matter how menial or

boring, brings you closer to fulfilling

your dreams."

-Og Mandino: Author, The Greatest Salesman In the World

Trip to the Zoo (Saturday)

2010-02-27T22:15:00.002-07:00

Northern Pintail Red Head

Common Mallard (pair)

Cougar

Snow Lepard

Lynx

Tiger

Lynx

Native American Pow Wow (Friday)

2010-02-27T21:54:00.003-07:00

A Monday Outing "A Grand Day Out"

2010-02-17T20:00:00.009-07:00

This post is the result of a day out

for myself and my wife (together :)

You will be able to tell it was a rainy day.

All of these images are with a

"Point and Shoot" Fuji Fine Pix camera

Antelope Island

Yes another trip there OK and I like old trucks.

Found this one in a field

last Saturday when I was out.

Farmington Bay

Wildlife Management area.

Bald Eagles in the Farmington Bay WMA

Unidentified Gull

Bald Eagles on Ice

Unidentified Gull

An adult and an immature Bald Eagle.

Then we changed clothes and got a little more dressed up

and went to a concert at Abravanel Hall.

http://www.paulcardall.com/

Row 12 seats 12,14

We are in this photo just to the right of

the orange sculpture in the middle.

It was a great concert.

Then we drove home in the rain, fog and weather.

Two Years Of Posts as of Feb 4 2010

2010-02-04T15:04:00.003-07:00

Four of my past favorite images"My" Wellsville Mountains

Cache Valley, Utah

(google them)

Mountain Goats

on Willard Peak, Utah
Grizzly Bear
Teton National Park, Wyoming
Pronghorn
Antelope Island, Utah
(Google it)
***
***

"You may never know what

results come of your action,

but if you do nothing there

will be no result."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

***

Sorry, no new images to post today.

Thanks to all who have and will read

and look at my blog.

When I started blogging,

it was to let family members know

what I was up to and where we as a family were.

Then comments came in from people I did not know.

Once a missed a few days and got a

couple of emails asking where I was.

Since the beginning,

I have come to be long distance acquaintances with

some of you. Getting advice on cameras, lenses and how to improve.

I still don't put much personal information down like feelings and such,

that is just not who I am.

Ask anyone who knows me :)

To the man over the pond...

watch that heart and no smoking;)

***

On my wish list is:

Canon 40D or 50 D

Canon 28-135 f/4-5.6 IS USM lens

Canon 70-300 F/4.5-5.6 IS USM lens

Canon EF 100 - 400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM lens

Nice road bike, some money for food and gas.

Two weeks of sun... ;)

AND - This is really first

Good things for my family, all of them.

If the Tax Man is nice to me this year

I may get the camera.

I will keep working towards the rest.

Its the little things you know. It's Time To Live

Here is to the next year

***

What I do today is important because
I am paying a day of my life or it.
What I accomplish, must worthwhile
because the price is high.
-unknown

***

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY

GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES censored by me ;) might keep

me out of a little trouble.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~

SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES,

THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL

PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP

AFTER YOU HI T THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES.

THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE.

IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40.

IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

***

DAILY THOUGHT:

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES -

NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT

THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE

WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

Antelope Island In Winter

2010-01-09T18:01:00.005-07:00

Northern Harrier

Raven

Bison

North American Porcupine

Now that's a face...
Coyote hunting in the snow.

"Aerodynamically, the bumblebee
should not be able to fly,
but the bumble bee doesn't know
so it goes on flying anyway."
-unknown

Mule Deer in the yard

2010-01-03T17:33:00.005-07:00

These two mountain scenes are just a little east of

our house. Wanted something more.

So, my son and I drive 30 or so miles up a canyon

looking for wildlife. I was hoping to find a moose,

or some deer or elk along the way.

We did not see any wildlife to speak of until we

came back home.Then there in the back yard, 20 feet from the back door

is a small Buck Mule deer with four Doe.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes.

By the deep sea, and music in its roars;

I love not man the less,

but nature more.

-George Gordon

2009-12-31T12:06:00.004-07:00

It's still

"Time To Live"

A Winters Day

2009-12-27T19:54:00.004-07:00

Last years nest,

a sign that it was once warm...

A Winters Day With A Snipe and Frost.

"Around here however we don't look

backwards for very long,

we keep moving forward,

opening up new doors and

doing new things,

because we're curious and curiosity

keeps leading us down new paths."

-Walt Disney

5 degrees F OR -15 degrees C

Merry CHRISTmas

2009-12-24T13:28:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas

Remember what it's all really about

Have a great season.

2009-12-20T16:45:00.006-07:00

Several different views of... The Wellsville Mountains

protruding out of a winter inversion.

"Born in a stable, cradled in a manger,

He came forth from heaven to live on earth

as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God.

During His earthly ministry, He taught men the higher law.

His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world.

He blessed the sick. He caused the lame to walk,

the blind to see, the deaf to hear.

He even raised the dead to life. To us He has said,

'Come, follow me.'

"As we seek Christ, as we find Him,

as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit,

not for one fleeting day each year,

but as a companion always.

We shall learn to forget ourselves.

We shall turn our thoughts to the greater benefit of others"

(Thomas S. Monson, "In Search of the Christmas Spirit," Ensign, Dec 1987, 3)

More Snow

2009-12-13T22:21:00.004-07:00

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

-Albert Einstein

" Everywhere there is life,
and everywhere there are
warm human hearts."
-Ivan Pavin (Siberia)

.......................................................................

"If you can dream it,

you can achieve it."

-Walt Disney

Short Wyoming Trip and Mule Deer

2009-11-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

A trip out looking for Mule Deer Bucks.

This is our Jeep parked along the roadway.

In the following images you will see several

different buck (male ) Mule Deer.

This guy was a long way away,

he is only a two point but

notice how high and wide

his antlers are.

They come with big antlers

and

they come with small antlers.

Above

I think this is my area to look for women.

Below

Get off of my turf and leave.

Had to tuck in a photo of an old barn

"If a fellow isn't thankful

for what hes got,

he isn't likely to be thankful

for what he's going to get."
-unknown

********************

"When asked if my cup is half-full
or half-empty, my only reply

is that I am thankful I have a cup!"

-unknown

Old buildings, old trucks

2009-11-09T19:22:00.002-07:00

These images were taken about thirty miles

west of our home.

It looks a little like one of

the plains states and not so much like

Northern Utah.

Lots of tall grass and rolling hills.

The difference is the mountains a few miles in

the background.

(above)An old Chevy truck, someday I will own one

of these. It will look much better, paint, glass and restored.

And it will run!

(below)

An old Ford truck, I would take one of these also ;)

Look Mom, No Neighbors!

(PS. I like my neighbors)

... and no grocery stores? No doctor?

No Dr Pepper?

No flushing toilet and no morning "HOT" showers?

Guess I will take what I have!

More wandering in the Mountains.

2009-11-09T11:18:00.004-07:00

Not much green left anywhere but,

the snow is mostly gone for now.

Morning Cloak Butterfly

soaking the last bit of

warm out of the sun.

Snowshoe Hare all dressed in

white for the winter.

We were looking for Elk on this trip.

We found quite a few but not

long enough to get a photograph.

Just quick glimpses through the trees and brush.

Just a long enough look to go 'uha' and then they

were gone, running through the heavy timber.

Easy to hear, track and follow but tough to photograph.

elk, moose, cougar, snow, mountains, deer.

2009-10-29T15:06:00.009-06:00

We just spent a couple of days

'wandering' in the woods.

We saw lots of animals and tracks.

We were looking for a spike bull elk -

never found him but tracked a couple.

We did see Moose, Elk, Mule Deer, Ruffed Grouse

various squirrels and birds.

We also found Cougar and Bobcat tracks in the snow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson,

'Life is a succession of lessons which

must be lived to be understood.'

--------------------------------------

I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt,

the greater his need to cast blame on others.

Misc images, leaves, trees, mountains

2009-10-27T20:14:00.004-06:00

"To look is one thing.

To see what you look at is another.

To understand what you see is a third.

To learn from what you understand is still something else.

But, to act on what you learn is all that really matters."

-Malcolm P. McNair

I missed most of the best fall colors this year.

It's not that I did not see them.

I just never got around to taking photos of them.

The Old...

I will do it tomorrow.

"But oh! may there never come the day,

When a child shall go to his dad and say,

What was a trolley car?"

-Robert S Wilson

Antelope Island - Great Salt Lake

2009-10-27T20:10:00.004-06:00

This is from an August 1959 Reader's Digest

At the peak of its economy drive this spring,

the House of Representatives suddenly found

itself voting another $2,200.00 to hire an

extra House postal clerk.

The reason, according to Representative Wayne Hays

of Ohio, was that additional help was needed to handle

"all the mail coming in asking us to cut the

national budget."

Old barns, rain and fall

2009-10-11T11:38:00.004-06:00

"The greatest discovery of my generation

is that human beings can alter their lives

by altering their attitudes of mind."
— William James

"Success is often achieved by moving

enthusiastically from failure to failure."
— James Arthur Ray

Return to Willard Peak

2009-10-04T11:44:00.006-06:00

We had the first snow of the season the other day.

"Where the Wild Goats Live."

We only found two goats while we were there this time.
The wind was blowing and it was cold.
VERY COLD!
This old man choose not to hike far down the mountain
to get a closer photo and to find the rest of the group.

Wild Bonsai Tree

A short study in butterfly

2009-09-28T20:47:00.005-06:00

Probably the last one of the season.

Just hatched in our trailer.

Had to warm in the sun before being able to fly away.

just think....

a birth certificate shows we were born,

a death certificate shows we died,

but photographs show we lived!

Mountain Goats - Willard Peak

2009-09-26T21:52:00.003-06:00

"What lies behind us,
and what lies before us,
are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Went on a short trip, not that far from home.

Drove up Willard Peak, stopped and looked around.

Low and behold, there were mountain goats.