Ermine

 

I donned my xc skis and headed out through the forest to the big back meadow.

Though it is above freezing the snow did not stick to my skis and it was nice to glide around. 

 

 

Returning home I remembered I needed to collect sticks to start tomorrows fire. 

As I did so, the birds followed me for seeds and they make wee chirping sounds to let me know they are there and to feed them. 

But then there was another sound…. Maybe more high pitched, after the 3rd time I felt a need to figure it out. 

 

 

Look at who I saw, a curious little ermine! A sweet way to start a new year. 

 

 Lovely New Year to you All

~

*

Critters

 

lovely to see these Ruffed Grouse in a bush

their chamouflage is wonderful

it was a pair of birds

nice that they have one another for winter

the second bird was well hidden

ice crystal season has begun

this one is not super clear as it was a bit frosty on top 

of the crystals

lovely in its star shape

Looking out the window, a deeply gray day and the world seems frozen.

Yet I step out and two little birds fly to me, land on my hand for nuts.

A doe wanders through the yard and gazes as me as I fill my carrier with wood for the stove.

She wanders off between the ponds, we are all aware of one another.

THEN an explosion of movement and sound appears from the far side of the pond.

A buck at high speed appears to be flying and the doe flees swiftly. 

The chase is on. 

Flying over fences at high speed. Then it all stops, she got away. Five minutes later, nearly the same event happens all over again, this time I had my camera out and captured this photo of the buck on the hunt. I stood still as a tree and he ignored me. He heard her movement and the chase was on. Again she escapes. A few minutes later I hear them charging through the woods. Three times….. he was quite sincere in his chase. I did not see the outcome, did she get away?

I read there are a number of reasons for a buck behaving this way. Not always the rut, sometimes due to the amount of testosterone. This was a first sighting for me.

Our frozen world is not entirely frozen for the season. Step outside and one never knows what they will experience.

~

* 

First Snow

 

Our first snow of the season

landed on trees that still have autumn leaves

a mix of autumn and winter

striking to see golden leaves in a nearly black and white realm

I wonder what deer think of the change of season?

morning two of the snowstorm

covered us even deeper in snow

offering a mystical and magical white realm

~

Autumn Glory

 

yesterday 

the western larch

were cloaked in their golden hues

most the day was cloudy gray

and 

then the sun came out to show off the beauty even more

entirely tangible how light coming through autumn colors

inspires vitality and awe

these beautiful days pass by swiftly

and 

nearing deep cold temps will change the colors fast.

Be sure to get out and enjoy!

~

*

Two Medicine

 

Two morning images of Sinopah mountain. 

The first morning was quite windy, the next smooth as can be with mist rising. 

What a difference a day makes.

Camping here I had a unique experience: 

Star gazing with my friend and a camp neighbor I noticed light glowing over the crest of a mountain. We were on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. No cities nearby, only small towns, meaning no big lights. “What is that I asked?”. Many man-made items were the guess by one of us. The glow grew larger and to my eyes softly green. The light began to pulse (UFO’s came to mind).

 A moment later a brilliant star appeared over the mountains ridge. My first consciously observed star-rise! So beautiful. Seemed magical and profound. Often it is day… then it is night and there are stars. To see a star rise felt holy.

This area is named Two Medicine and is holy to the native people, the Blackfeet tribe and to so many other people including me. Though I have experienced that there are spots on earth that have more energy than others. All nature is holy to me. It was beautiful to spend two sunsets, two sunrises and a star-rise there.

Lovely day and beyond to you. 

~

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