Emptyknitster

We've been watching our tiger salamander grow for several years. We were sad he had such a solitary life in the dark, musty, sprinkling system box.  Over the years we started calling him Saul The Salamander. Today, Hubby came into the house delighted to tell me that in fact Saul was Sally.... Not one but two little guys are now living in the box, with their mom - and a dad.... somewhere....

Years ago we found a tiger salamander in the box housing the underground pipes to our sprinkler system. He's there every spring and fall, and seems to be quite happy to lead a solitary life. He's quite safe in his dark hole and has plenty of bugs, and unbeknownst to me Hubby has been adding water in there once in awhile to give the little guy an underground lake! Tiger salamanders are usually 6-8 inches long and live 10 - 16 years in the wild.  We've known about ours for five years and he's probably five inches long so sounds like he'll be around for a few more years.

 The hens stopped by this afternoon to show off their new batch of chicks!

We woke up this morning to these in our yard... Hubby just shook his head and said, "There's always something new happening around here!" We still don't know where they belong but if they stop by again tomorrow I'll feed them breakfast!

I haven't seen a real butterfly at the house for ages but this guy has been flitting around all morning. He just can't get enough of the flowers on the deck! Double Swallowtail, Two-Tailed Tiger Swallowtail

Hubby was out mowing the North Forty when I got a call, "There are bunnies hopping all over around here! They are flying from one high spot to another and heading your way!" Intrigued I grabbed the camera and headed outside. I imagine they were feeling a bit like the students who just finished the school year, totally carefree! They were running, jumping, and dodging each other through the tall grass. I tried to get a photo but was spotted. Thinking I could sneak around the vehicle and capture a great picture off I went. Only to be brought up short by a little bunny headed full steam in my direction. He screeched to a halt three feet in front of me and we both froze playing a little game of "chicken."   He was the first to run off. What do bunnies act like? Chicken!

Hubby got out of the car thinking a group of people with cameras were looking at wolves in the distance. The bystanders quickly picked up their tripods and were beating a path to their cars just as I saw a bear on the horizon 50 ft away! I was about to yell at hubby BUT a kind soul informed my hubby there was a griz behind him! Look at the claws on this big boy! We were told the wolves were making whoopi before we arrived. All we saw was the male busily trying to keep the gray wolf from the carcass he was eating... It was a great day, one that will take many years of visiting the park to repeat!

When Hubby and I were in Yellowstone Park in February we decided to return this spring hoping to see some baby buffalo. Finally, this weekend was to provide us with some spring like weather and off we went on our adventure. Hubby and I left Saturday morning stopping at Chico Hot Springs for a swim. The weather was great and the water warm. Hubby and I enjoyed the afternoon leaving with a bit of a sunburn. Sunday we got a early start entering the park even before the ranger arrived at the entrance. We were not disappointed!  WOW! What a special day! Babies, eagles, wolves and a GRIZ!

Hubby and I spent a weekend in and around Yellowstone Park enjoying the animals and each other's company. For our honeymoon many years ago we went to the park via snow coach - when hubby booked this trip he thought it was a redo but instead got a van (coach). Still it was fun and a thoughtful anniversary gift. On our way to the park we saw several bald eagles in Paradise Valley. The entrance in Gardiner. Pronghorn antelope Buffalo A coyote with dinner Bighorn sheep Buffalo Hubby in the wild. Another coyote Buffalo playing on the high school football field .   Heading to the park and on the way home we enjoyed Chico Hot Springs, always a relaxing time.

Hubby and I recently looked out our window to witness this:   The Old Toms were gathered around encouraging the youngsters in the performance.

Yesterday hubby was working in The Man Room - finally doing some sorting! He found a key laying around and thought it might be to the back door. He was a bit surprised at our visitors! I've seen Momma around and wondered why I could count her ribs - now I know,  count the fawns!

There's and new a little creature residing in my greenhouse. I've been stalking him for the past week. He tends to jump out at me when least expected and then quickly hides away. I 've checked at odd times during the day, hoping to catch a glimpse and yesterday it paid off! I had my camera at the ready and was able to take a few shots. He is a Woodhouse's Toad , and although he lives in the central United States this is the first one I've seen on our place. They like to burrow and in fact he is living in the greenhouse under two 2x4's the fan is sitting on.  I hope he finds his new home to be suitable and will live out his four years with us. This morning when watering the plants, I was a bit startled seeing him hop out of his hidy-hole when it got damp!

This summer has been a hot and dry. Several days ago we had a quarter of an inch of rain and the next morning there were dozens of dragonflies zooming around the front yard. Our house is "high and dry" so this was an unusual site. This morning when doing "the rounds" I saw a three inch dragonfly on the window screen... I've been watching chokecherries ripen along the road near our house for the last couple of weeks. The heat is creating a bountiful crop - I called the NorDakPurlGurl to see if she was interested in making some syrup or jam. Eight pounds later, she'll be making jam after our next visit!

Feeling at home in our backyard.

One thing, of many, I love about summer is being able to relax and look for the little joys in life. This morning when doing my morning check out the front picture window I spotted these two Northern Flickers (woodpeckers). They were at the birdbath about fifteen minutes doing a funny little bob and weave dance every two or three minutes.

For the last week we have been watching a trio of baby robins in their nest. I had noticed a mama robin hard at work building a nest under our deck but didn't think much of it until The Chick and I heard babies chirping a week ago. We followed the sounds.When we got on our hands and knees, we could peek through the crack in our deck and see three the babies just five inches away. All week we have kept close tabs on them. Today I attempted a quick photo....   About a week old and it's hard to believe that they will be on their own in a week!

Even with several inches of snow on the ground, a pair of Tom Turkeys were eagerly awaiting the sunrise and the start of spring!  "Okay son, Montana law states: No hunting for chicks until official sunrise - that's precisely 7:13 am!" I'm sure the good old boys prefer to scrape their wings along in the dirt to intimidate the other males. This morning as I went to work I could hear them scraping their wings along the top of the frozen snow. A guy will do anything to get the gal.

When I arrived home this afternoon, Momma and the triplets had stopped by for a photo op. They must think we're a pretty great place to visit because the next time I looked out the window, the whole "fam-damnly" were visiting and a few of their feathered friends as well. Can you find the seven deer and three turkeys in the picture?

It is irritating to have a wonderful photo opportunity ruined by a photo hog. You know, that family member or student that jumps into the picture just when you are snapping it. The end result shows the photo hog thumbing his nose or wiggling his fingers with his thumbs in his ears.  It totally destroys any photo but the perpetrator thinks he is hilarious. This happened to me today. I saw these hardworking little hens with 16 chicks and thought that it would be a great picture: And then....   "Silly little fawn, didn't know any better!"  Even Mother Nature has it's pranksters. Thanks little Momma!