… but I can’t figure out why.
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Sky & Trees
The Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park wanders partly through forest and partly up above the tree line. This sooty grouse was near the transition where it was mostly open, with both sky and trees filling the background.
Don’t Make Eye Contact! Don’t Look Her in the Eyes!
A picture from a couple of years ago when we were starting Boo on his introduction to the rest of the family after a couple of weeks in isolation. Emma (the black cat) was stalking Boo everywhere as he explored the house, and eventually he went under the baker’s rack in the kitchen for a little timeout. He was avoiding making eye contact with Emma and was clearly getting a little overwhelmed so we continued his introduction slowly, a few hours each day until everyone was comfortable.
Eat Your Greens
A Columbian white-tailed deer fawn eats a big green leaf.
Birds of a Feather
I’m amazed by how diverse the feathers on a single bird can be in size and shape and color and function. The feathers in the upper left are wet with rain, it was pouring up at Hurricane Ridge when I came across a handful of grouse that were huddling near some trees for a little protection from the elements. I had on a full complement of rain gear and was nice and dry, and thankfully my camera and lens had enough weather-sealing that they shook off the rain as well.
Philosophy II
“I don’t think I can face going to work tomorrow.”
“Good news, pup! You get to stay home and sleep all day, just like every other day.”
“That’s nice.”
Swim & Drink
A gadwall takes a drink as he swims across Horse Lake. A bit of plant life is trailing from his bill, a leftover from a recent feeding session.
Closing Time
I closed out 2013 watching ducks on Horse Lake, such as this male American wigeon.
Birth of an Ent
An ent is born on a foggy night with naught but the will-o’-wisps watching.
Changes
A lot has changed since I took this picture of a sleepy Sam a few years ago. The mattress and box springs of the bed he’s sleeping on have been replaced, and we took the bed off the frame so our aging dog could still get up on the bed. The curtains have been replaced with knockout shades that do a much better job of blocking out light.
But the big change for Sam was that then, he was the youngest of three cats, and now he’s the oldest of three. The deaths of Scout and Emma have been hard on the little fellow. Yesterday he was fed up with his younger siblings and swatted at them if they even came close, but last night went a little better. He climbed in my lap when I went to bed and then Trixie jumped up and lay down on my chest. She stayed for a little while but then she snuck down to curl up beside him, a maneuver she’s tried a lot lately, which usually ends with Sam swatting or biting her and then running off. I reached down to pet him and he stayed for a while, but then got up. To my surprise though he didn’t leave but lay down beside me with my leg separating the two of them, and both seemed happy with the arrangement.
Trixie was gone when I woke in the morning, but Sam was back in my lap.
Boolie 