Wildlife

It's quiet these days .    We don't regret our decision not to spend a few months in AZ.   We keep reasonably busy but I miss my outdoor walks.    I'm an early morning walker and I just can't force myself to bundle up and trudge outside in 10 degrees.    We have a treadmill and recumbent exercise bike and a Pilates Performer so there are no excuses.    AND, I can crawl out of bed, put on my Hokas, and do the treadmill all before 7 or 8.    

We are thoroughly enjoying our gifted Bird Buddy.    I have fed the birds for a few years but this brings it to a very interesting level.      

Male and female house finch.

We get notifications when a new bird appears...... BUT, that has only happened twice since we only have finches and one Pine Siskin ( although I question that ID since they migrate ).   The camera has a wide angle lens so up close they appear a bit distorted ....but it adds to the experience!.    We were able to 3-D print the blue accessories....well, HE was able to do that....I have no idea how that printer works.

The house finches are busy all day.   I like Anne Lamott's description of them.   The male shows up in his "glorious red headdresses and chest and the females in their faded brown bathrobes "

Yesterday, a Northern Flicker showed up .   But, it was off to the side, feeding from the suet cup and only his beak was captured.   And he left when I tried to get a picture of him.   Their wing feathers are a beautiful orange and I have one they left behind last summer.  

Yesterday, we drove to Grand Junction.   I need a bookstore fix every now and then.   There used to be a nice one in Ouray but it closed.  I liked supporting it.   

I went specifically for this book by Amy Tam.   It is delightful and I highly recommend it if you have any interest in bird watching /journaling.   

And, speaking of wildlife.    My neighbor Leslie, next door, has seen foxes in her yard early in the mornings.    Usually 3 large ones.    I have not seen any nor have we captured them on our security cameras.    My friend across the fairway has had them at her front door cameras in the night.    And, our neighbors across the street managed to get these pictures yesterday.   They are quite magnificent and I'm glad we don't have small dogs or cats.     I would like to see them, from a distance.   

Yesterday, after our trips to the bookstore and the Wild Bird Unlimited store for birdseed, we went up to 

the Colorado National Monument.   It's a beautiful drive and it's guaranteed that there will be Bighorn 

sheep.   Yesterday just a small herd of females.    

This is Oz.   He lived a great life, from days in Nicholas' dorm room until this fall.....over 16 years.   He was a scruffy little dog.    This is my 2nd attempt at capturing him.   My first attempt was on drafting film.   It's an interesting surface to draw on and allows for amazing detail.    It came out as a good drawing but I didn't feel like it really looked like Oz.    So I'm starting over on my favorite surface, a textured (like very fine sandpaper) that allows for many many layers and a softer look.    I enjoy the process and the learning experience so I don't mind starting over.   But white dogs are hard for me.