GBHeron

Our friendly neighborhood Great Blue Heron at the slough yesterday for the dog walk.

Wait! That's a BIRD Feeder!

 

Looking Out the Kitchen Window

A log Pile, A Pigeon loft, a metal Penguin, and Perfect icicles.

Rehab City

Starting at age 13, in the spring I raised and then released orphaned raccoons and red and grey foxes with the Cincinnati Zoo Jr. Zoologists Club. That fox jumped up on the barbecue grill and swiped a marinated half-chicken when my Dad's boss was over for dinner. Years later when I was 16 (the first time I was allowed to drive by myself) I picked up a baby skunk from photographer Karl Maslowski. It sprayed in the air conditioner in the basement, missing our collie dog Cyrano upon arrival at the house in 100+ degrees/humidity. Yes, Katy was in trouble a bunch.

Raccoons

Discovered these tracks of a big ole raccoon out enjoying the balmy temps at the slough by the house on my Saturday walk with the dogs. 

 

Heat Wave!

Sib finally spent a night outside, and with a 100 red bulb over her "bed," nice and warm with temperatures approaching 31°F today. Currently back to normal for three falcons and one owl. And their caretaker.

Inside on her carpet this week:

Flashback: 2010

Four birds in the house and currently -17 °F, whew. Thay are all so well behaved - Sib, Mischa, and Sonora the falcons on perches and Little Billie the owl in a kennel. I was reminded of the time Jay Sumner and I were flying our Peregrines on the Rocky Mountain Front, Skip Tubb's ranch. At dawn I attached the transmitters back at Skip's house in near-by Choteau then opened the back of the Subaru for Sibley to chase a Sharp-tailed Grouse. Instead she flew to the nearest perch, pulled up a foot, and thumbed her nose at us. -17 °F.  Can you blame her?

Monotype

On a big type-set printing press years ago, with pastels.

 

MAM Auction Extravaganza!

The Missoula Art Museum celebrated their 50th anniversary with the Solid Gold Benefit Auction last night, awesome fun. My etching "Sharp-shin" sold and my 1/2 of the proceeds pays off the "new" printing press, gift from Cindy Knutsen. This Richeson Press was missing the bed plate, and now ready to rock & roll when it warms up, as it is in the unheated studio. 19 inches wide so big monotypes in my brain!

Feminist Bird Club of Northwest Montana

Bird-loving friends slipped in a tour just before the blizzard season, last Sunday and fun. We all came inside and I was describing how three birds were in here for a week, mostly nights, subzero temps. One gal pointed over in the corner, "Look,  a feather!" I could stuff a pillow with all the falcon and quail feathers in that room. Cracked me up and should have been there when I put Sibley back outside that morning and busted out the vacuum cleaner for our guests.

Snow Day

Snowblower for me, and expert plowing by pal Mike DeNeve, THANKS. And advice by Tom, eagle in the yard.

"12 inches to a foot" of SNOW

Five eagles in the yard just now, four Bald Eagles and Nigel the Golden. The youngsters were flying all around hoping for some beef scraps in our enclosure by the river. Nope, outa luck kids.

Blizzard Country

Might be stuck here for a few days, oh well. We had to postpone one school program scheduled for this morning, now in two weeks. A new school for us!
                                     

All the ART!

Here is a summary of the art for the last year. Mostly dry-point etchings and last one top row is in the Missoula Art Museum Auction, "Sharp-shin." Bid is at $400 right now. The mammals except for the fox are Claybord, "Red Fox" the latest and started a Snowy Owl but keep getting majorly distracted by calamities, news on the way.

Yesterday at the River

 

Sharpie

Sharp-shinned Hawk in the larch tree in the front yard, a dozen Eurasian Collared Doves parked behind not too concerned.

Pair 'O Red-tails

Male, female below. FUN!
 

Just Now

 Four Swans, Two Bald Eagles and Two spoiled dogs.

-10 °

Last year we enjoyed the company of 4 birds in the house for a week with negative twenty-something degrees. Last night those same 4 were inside with negative ten - Sibley relaxing on her carpet, Mischa the Peregrine and Sonora the Aplomado on perches, and Little Billie the Saw-whet in a big kennel. Whew, what great birds and and glad I stocked up on newspapers (thanks, Star Jameson!)

https://www.missoulabutterflyhouse.org

 

Super 1 Parking Lot

In Stevensville near-by, an interesting resident Common Grackle, apparently there for months! What's up with that? And a nice parking situation a few years ago...HA!

This Morning

More From Washington Coast

 

Another Oldie From Washington Coast

 

Photo From Washington Coast

 

Our Place and Nico

 

Dog Walk Today

 

New Years Eve

This is a bunch of photos and made up some if it, and means a lot to me.

Tom just had just gotten out of the hospital after months, mostly the ICU and home. “The Miracle of 2016"

I was picking up some meds and took a back road home, Rolling Stones BLASTING on the CD player and found a bunch of foxes at an old lumber mill.  “Exile On Mainstreet” is my favorite rock album and those guys just checked me out and went about their business. Full blast volume, no sweat!

 

Finally, SNOW

 

New Years Eve Front Yard

 Before the neighborhood fireworks, which I missed.