This morning I was called to an east facing window. I grabbed my camera and ran to see the usual prairie dogs and crows….and a coyote. 

Such a beautiful animal! He looked like he was at complete peace with the world around him.

Peace to you in your world today!

I estimate that on our property and within 30 feet to the east, we have in the range of 60 baby prairie dogs…possibly more like 100.

Several of these babies LOVE to hang out, per the adults example, around our back patio and at the pond. They know food and water is readily available.

This little guy was checking out the fountain and getting a drink.

The same guy took some time out for a little side twist of yoga after his stretch to drink.
This baby is learning the art of greeting by kissing.
This baby opts for double-fisted eating….check out those long fingernails!!

I could so easily sit and watch these guys all day!

From research I’ve done, I believe this variety is Gunnison’s Prairie Dog. They are born in litters of 1-7. Once the babies emerge from the holes, community nursing is openly accepted…whoever is available nurses whatever baby is hungry.

Over the weekend, I was studying different artists, specifically photographers and painters. One that stuck out to me was Georgia O’Keeffe.

She passed in 1986, but her paintings are still very popular, especially in New Mexico since she resided in Santa Fe. Her popularity landed her name on streets, schools, and a number of other public places.

Georgia had a philosophy of painting something in such a way it would force the viewer to actually see what she was illustrating….particularly flowers.

I decided to see what I could do with philosophy using Calla Lilies a friend gave me. This was the result.A friend saw the image on my computer screen, really liked it and said, “It’s very Georgia O’Keeffe-ish.” I had to laugh, as no one knew THAT was my aim.

At my friend’s request, I’ve made this image available for purchase.

A flowery day to you!

We have been noticing mama prairie dogs….lines of teats down their fronts. We figured they either had babies or would soon.

This morning, my daughter announced to me that we have babies.

Indeed we do!

This is only five of the six counted at this hole.

This little one saw me watching it. He (?) played peek around the fence post with me for a while…. almost looks like he’s wondering whether I can actually see him “hiding”.

The same one kept watching me walk closer and closer…this was taken from about 8 feet away. He sure was curious!

I am wild guessing, based on these and the others I saw around the property, that we have in the neighborhood of about 4 dozen new babies.

We certainly have an abundance of them here in the desert southwest!

I sure love the babies nature produces to share with us! They are totally cute!

The family recently attended an Isotopes Baseball game. Before the game, there was a presentation of colors.

Once the game ended, we were treated to a beautiful display of fireworks. This was part of the grand finale. Such a beautiful presentation of color and light!My heart’s desire is that one day ALL humanity would choose to drop their weapons, join arms, and walk together in unity and peace…that the fireworks would no longer signify the rockets of destructive war (which thus far has not managed to produce peace), but rather be a celebration of the love we ALL have for one another, regardless of race, nationality, religion, or other preferences.

Peace to all.

Last night the setting sun left the sky to the east looking like a giant bag of cotton candy! Beautiful mixes of pink and blue were the order of the evening.
The peace of the evening speaks for itself.

May you have a peaceful and restful evening!

Clearly, spring is in full swing. A quiet look around our back yard reveals an abundance of babies! Given that I’m such a nut for babies, I’ve taken plenty of shots. Here are just a few.

Here’s a picture of mama with one of the four babies we’ve counted thus far.

This little one looks like he’s prepared to give a speech!

Profile…. Resting after climbing in the tree.When I stepped outside yesterday evening my intent was to capture the rainbow. Nature had other plans for me, for when I stepped out this little one was hanging out under the trampoline! I simply couldn’t resist!

I watched him/her for several minutes, slowly getting closer until it chickened out and headed for protection of the squirrel hole!

Happy Spring!

As I returned from my walk yesterday, I heard a bird song in the Ponderosa above me.

I looked up and saw this guy…

He almost looks more like a painting!

Here’s one of his buddies…

One can’t help but smile when hearing the pretty little songs they sing!

May your day be filled with beautiful music…Sing a song of your own!

“Look at the purdy yellow bird!” I can hear my mother-in-law say in her country southern accent.

She loves yellow and she loves birds…. so a yellow bird typically tops her list of pleasures (really close to “red birds”, a.k.a. cardinals).

My husband commented this morning on seeing a bird that he’d not previously seen. He said they were hopping around everywhere and were really enjoying the elm tree. However, he had so far been unable to identify them.

So in the briskness of the morning, I stepped out to see what I could capture.

This little guy caught my attention with an array of antics to feast on buds on the tree. He was among the previously unseen flock. With a little research, we concluded he is an Audubon’s Warbler.

While I was out there, a number of Evening Grosebeaks were making rounds between the elm tree and the pond. This male really stuck out to me.I could spend hours just sitting and watching these birds along with the other wide variety that feeds and drinks here.

These are for you, Kathleen….even if you can’t see them.

Enjoy!

Spring has sprung and with it lots of animals are coming out!

I went out in the field the other morning… the prairie dogs were all over the place.

This one saw me in the distance and took off from one hole toward another. Once in the new hole, he ventured out to look around for his buddies.

Then he disappeared for a few minutes. When he came back up he was quite emphatic about informing the neighborhood of the intruder laying on the ground only feet from his hole (me).

While these critters are quite good at leaving soft spots all over the area, they are equally efficient at aerating and fertilizing the soil!

Many consider prairie dogs to be pests. Once upon a time, I was in that number, not hesitating to shoot them.

When it became clear to my family that we are ALL one…yes, even the “rodents”, we chose to allow them to share our property. The entertainment value we gain from them is immeasurable.

What do you consider a nuisance that you could actually enjoy being entertained by?