tracks

Beauty and illusions

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I remind myself that we are the visitors here. The turkeys are still doing their thing all around us. At least three toms, strutting their stuff, and numerous hens, chirping. They call from behind the barn and up the hill, around the buildings, and in the front field. Spring is certainly in the air.

Tim pointed out they drag their flight feathers on the ground with their display. With a little bit of snow, it looked like someone had pulled a sled around the cabins.

He also thought there was a lizard in the kitchen.

It was really a lone piece of arugula.

This moth, found on our wall, had good camouflage.

One of these is not like the rest. Can you tell which ones are from a heritage breed?

While the cost of eggs rise and the stock markets tumble, it helps to remain focused on the beauty which surrounds us everyday.

Our neighbors

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They usually visit when we can’t see them. Now that there is snow on the ground, bobcat footprints reappeared.

We met 4 large bull elks down the road when we returned from town. On another trip, we ran into a traffic jam, as a large herd of elk slowly crossed the road. Finally a cowboy left his vehicle and moved them along. That really sped things up.

Mule deer were in the meadow last night but this could mean a mountain lion may visit to have them for dinner, literally.

Unlike the Adirondacks, the skies are usually bright and blue, probably due to altitude. Here the sun was in mist, setting before the snow.

Backyard view.

We finally explored a little more of Rocky Mountain National Park. We haven’t been motivated to venture afar because it is so beautiful right here. These are some views from Bear Lake. I think they are different views of Longs Peak and the needles.

The happy caretaker out shoveling.

There’s a party going on

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Or so it seems at our compost pile. I have somehow manage to dodge the trek to the compost pile since mid- December; I couldn’t carry the bin with crutches, the ground was icy, the driveway was icy. These excuses don’t work anymore and I ventured off yesterday after 6 inches of new snow fell. To my surprise, there’s been a a party out there. All sorts of tracks lead in from the woods and encircle the compost bin. I saw deer tracks, maybe rabbit, coyote and mice. But what are these claw like marks? They are linear in groups of four. Coyote scratches? I don’t see tracks associated with them, only claw marks. I’m thinking Adirondack bear paw, one of my favorite flavors from Stewart’s. But shouldn’t they still be sleeping?

party tracks

So we had our own little party. My son and BGFF are visiting and had the makings of a key lime pie. We debated whipped cream or meringue and as you can see, meringue won. It was a joint effort and delicious outcome. Today’s baking project is spinach pie and we may head out to tap some maple sugar trees.

Iced tea

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It was so cold the other night, we awoke to ice on the inside of the windows! It’s the perfect storm of a propane fireplace heater, which creates moisture, a new, well insulated house and arctic temperatures. We’re trying different combinations to prevent it. I guess the easy answer would be to simply turn the heat way up but noooooo.

Inside Ice

To keep warm, I just keep brewing and drinking tea and photographing the pretty reflections.

Reflections on tea

I saw tracks outside and was convinced two snowshoe hares must have been exploring the field with a duck-footed hop. I don’t think we actually have snowshoe hares but it was a better thought than tracks of a bear awakened from its winter sleep. On closer inspection, Tim told me they were left by humans.

Tracking

The absence of electric wires continues to pay off.

Jay from inside