A day in the Park, Glacier National Park

 

along the waters edge

find mystery and majesty

miracles and frozen things

crystalline beauty and charming ice

certainly a lovely paradise 

along the waters edge

~

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Late Autumn

 

I returned home to find her laying in the sun. I love seeing the furry natives of this land. 

 

 autumn snow

autumn rain

nature's beauty

morning light begins to paint the world

 

remembering early autumn 

with this family of fungi

I love seeing the fox as they pass through.... never staying long. 

Which is true of all the wildlife.... 

they are on the move.

 

~

Looking at these photos, 

autumn sure does have a color theme.

~

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Autumn turns to Winter

A week ago

I walked along a river, the sun was out, it was lovely and warm. There were rocks cuddled in moss. 

The previous snow had melted away,

it felt like autumn again.

 Western larch, though fading, 

still appeared as golden torches lighting up the mountains.

This seed pod was maybe an inch long. 

I have no idea what plant it is. This close up shows me details my eyes could not see. I am mesmerized at the design for protecting and sending off it's seeds. 

Let me know if you know what it is. 

For two days it has been snowing.

It is a winter wonderland out there.
I plowed for the first time of the season. 

The little birds are busy as can be, 

collecting seeds and seem happy as can be.

I never know who I will see when I look out the window!

~

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3 weeks of Warm Sunny Autumn, now Snow....

     

 (female nuthatch on edible Chicken of the Woods fungi)

 Autumn began with beautiful sunny days

autumn colors turned the world magical

Rains arrived

after the storm, the mountains would breathe and make clouds

Went on a mushroom foray,

a great way to learn (with a teacher)

and found my first Chanterelles! Yum

and others......

Took a high mountain road looking for fungi

in the rain that turned to snow. 

At times I wondered if my van would disappear into the flooded road.

We have lovely neighbor hood fox

cloaked in autumn colors.

Trees wore their magical colors:

pink, red, amber, peach and golds.

Over a couple of months

I gathered a little flock of birds for daily company

Then the snow arrived

3 snowfalls so far

~

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Autumn Glory

 Autumn is simply showing off this year!

These photos were taken last week in Glacier National Park

it has been a long time since I have seen it like this, golden and glowing

Blue skies, no smoke

(though we did have smoke from other states fires recently)

drove to the top of Logan Pass

where the views change ones heart and breath

the colors sometimes come and go quite swiftly, 

this year though they are moving right along, yet also lingering 

I hope you are enjoying your autumn, or spring depending on where you are in the world.

Nature does have the ability to balance the whackiness of humans....

at least for me......

I hope for you too.

~

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Sweet Little Nuthatch

 

About a year ago I slowly beckoned little birds to come to my hand for seed. This spring nesting season arrived & they took to the trees to nest and feast on insects, (all but three birds that is). Now that nesting season is over my little flock is slowly growing. 

I think this sweet little female nuthatch was born this year, her feathers are all in place, where as some of the older birds have been molting for a month and look like they need their feathers combed ;-). 

This one fluttered about me for two weeks before she landed, before she felt safe. Now she flies to me more than all the rest.

They take a seed and fly off to eat it, or more often they hide it in the bark of a tree for later. Yesterday I saw her tuck a seed under bark and break off a tiny bit of bark to cover it. I had never seen that done before, clever. 

They are so cute hanging upside down in trees or my roof, short little tail, long beak, fast as can be, top of the pecking order, i am guessing because their beaks are twice as long as the others. Meaning the chickadees usually let the nuthatches get a seed first and the nuthatches make sure of that by chasing them off.

Female because her crown is gray, the males crown is black. There is a male that comes to me. He is still cautious about taking a seed. Interesting to find that he is above her on the pecking order and she waits and quivers until he finally takes a seed.

I love learning about them up close. Things i would never know from watching them in the trees or even at a feeder. 

I have experienced that going outside, whether on my porch, lawn or forest, many times a day, standing like a tree, arm and hand outstretched, waiting for the little birds to take seed, brings alignment to the energy in my body with a mix of peace and joy.
~
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