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.

~

* 

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!

~

*

 

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

~

*

Glimpses of a Creek Walk

beneath the milky ice

runs cold water

rocks nestled down for winter

(which is nearly spring)

flowing

frozen

nature's art

nature's life

recent snow

offers glimpses never seen before

artful offerings

pink bark!

in the shadowy darkness...... light

platinum beauty

~

wishing you peace

calm

beauty 

from the inside out

~

*

The Park, Glacier National Park

as the sun nears the horizon

snow shows off the beach boulders in a different way

without sunlight the rocks colors are muted, appealing in a earth toned way

reflections are day dream beauties

tucked into that far off canyon, it is snowing

~*

Eartly Morning Forest Wander

before the sun revealed the blue of sky
in the early morning light 

 which barely kissed her world

she pulled on tall wool socks

bundled in cashmere, mittens and hat

wandered into the woods

frost transformed the trees

into nearly glowing beings

tracks revealed 
night time wanderers
in winter wonderland

winter has been mild in the NW corner of Montana

until last week 

when we woke to a foot of new snow

winter if feeling quite sincere now

~

*

Montana Winter in the Sunshine

the sun beckoned:

come outside 

wander and explore

see the lake 

in silky smooth waters

find icicles dripping

at the shore

if you look closely

snow grew frosty crystals over night

and

mountains dressed in their winter coats

treasures under the sun's light

~~

*

Winter in NW Montana

(large tracks in snow made by elk)

yesterday

I found myself thinking:

I live in the land of Christmas trees

our road lined with giant snow cloaked trees 

felt entirely enchanting

sunshine presented the world with light and shadows

ice on my steps 

formed into filigree flowers

before the sun arrived another kind of beauty:

from my home to yours

I wish you holidays that feel good to you

~

*