Birthday Mom!

Sally's birthday today, here with Betsy and her puppy Bella, a cake from Rosauer's, and the day after her first COVID vaccine shot.     87 Years Young and Right On, Mom! XXOO

Pileated Pal

 

Jake's Kestrel

 Our buddy Jake Snowden shared his new Kestrel painting with us. Love the colors...and black cloud. 

Eagle Nest

 Young Bald Eagles may return to their nest at any time of year.  (Just kidding.)

Local Turkey

 

Jillian

 

Minutes Ago

Teamwork with Nico. Actually they were both watching a bunch of Canada Geese flying away, bye.

Then Sib says, "Enough is enough...let's go home."

Red-tail/Magpie

The hawk was eating a rodent and quickly swallowed what was left when she was interrupted by a magpie. These poplar trees are not native, but offers a nice visual for photos.

Cards

See any that you like? We sell these at Rockin' Rudy's and the Good Food Store, and on the web and out of the Subaru. My photos over the years, and all proceeds to Raptors of the Rockies. Expertly crafted by Pyramid Printing  in Missoula, thanks Jodi! Thinking of producing a new calendar as well, all sorts of images this time. What do you think? (click to see 'em all)

 

Steve To the Rescue!

Our pal (and Raptors Webmaster) Steve Palmer saw the post from yesterday and kindly offered to plow us out, our savior. He said it was like a wall of concrete getting through that, yikes. I know that my feeble attempts with the snow blower and powering through the drifts in the Subaru didn't help much, flooring it and twisting side to side. It was heavy snow that set up, and more on top. Great Steve, and can hardly wait to thank you and Mindy properly at Lolo Peak Brewery, when it's safe again. 

Another View and SNOW

Sonora on her favorite perch, and our nearly-impassable driveway (even in a Subaru) just before the big snowstorm started this afternoon. Our dear friend Mike has kindly plowed us out for years, and has wisely skipped this month hanging in Arizona.  The snowblower just doesn't cut it, trust me. Oh well. 

Favorite

I just framed the "Insulators and House Wren" photo for the wall, my new favorite, next to previous favorites Great Blue Heron, left and Trumpeter Swans, below. The big painting is Richard Sloan "Gyrfalcon" from 1977, another favorite in our family forever. New cards at Rockin' Rudy's next week, including this one.

Bird House

 With well-below zero temperatures, these friends come inside for a while:

Sonora and Sibley are perfectly comfortable as they are in here everyday anyway, and Owen is fine, iPod is always fussy. We might hear a brief toot-toot-toot coming from a kennel in the living room, any time of day or night!

MAM's Big Night

The gala annual event has gone virtual this year, the Missoula Art Museum Benefit Auction.  Usually packing the University Center Ballroom with the crème de la crème, now everyone will be in front of their computer for the live bidding. Check out 120 pieces - drypoint etching from me (#115) and lovely print from Bev Glueckert (#34),  and the other awesome art. Friday, February 12th, starting at 6 pm. Be there!

Penguin Habitat

My King Penguin sculpture definitely looks more at home in the bottom photo from this morning. Top shot was unloading it at the Missoula Art Museum for a show with mentor Bill Ohrmann in 2010. Tom and his pickup are in the alley, and lots of cell phone photos on the way, apparently a sight to be seen in Missoula traffic.

Our Super Bowl Party

 

Saturday/Sunday

What a weather event. First is Sib flying cross the road, then Nico in the snow just now. I measured 8 inches in the driveway, that sticky stuff that's so hard to shovel. We hope our over-the-air television channels come back on (no signal on the screen) before The Big Game!

Our House

 

Off to Print

Off to print, our new book from Mountain Press Publishing Company, "Falcons of North America Second Edition." Jeannie Nuckolls holds the proofs then in OUR hands in about three weeks!

Photo Finish

I just got this photo of Sib cruising through a marsh and immediately thought of my favorite Robert Bateman painting, hanging in the printmaking studio  —kestrel and grasshopper. No bugs for Sibley but a nice half quail when she had finished her flight!

Lee Metcalf

 Beautiful day at the bird refuge down the road, and hundreds of other people taking in the sights, getting outside, enjoying the unwinterlike weather. And swans.