Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
A northern harrier stretches its wings on a foggy winter morning in 2009. I had seen it an hour earlier in this same spot but I don’t know if it spent the hour there or only returned to a favored perch. I’m happy I got some pictures of the stump I called “The Cactus Tree” as in subsequent days it fell over into the swamp.
From January 2010, I always loved finding bitterns although they excelled at not being seen.
Prepare to be squeaked at, if ye be so brave!
After two decades in Oregon Christmas week has felt familiar as it has rained most days. This morning we got a little sunshine in with the clouds so I changed my plans and made my way over to the Marcus Landslide as I break in some new camera gear. Mostly I photographed birds (big surprise!) but I couldn’t resist a quick shot of Weaver’s Needle at sunrise. A little later I stopped in my tracks as a coyote pack sang out from across the valley, without tall trees to block the sound their voices rang clear even at a distance. I had to laugh wondering how many homeowners in that area woke to their dogs joining in the morning chorus.
I’ve heard that criminals might return to the scene of the crime but I think that’s ridiculous, no one … would … just … be so … brazen … … …
It’s very important to solve the mystery of the tree, she said, falling trees being very dangerous to the little ones of the household. Sudden gust of wind was her guess.
I suspected the orange tabby knew more than he was letting on, but who was he protecting? Who? Who? Was he not answering or could I not hear above his raucous purrs? I needed to take my investigation elsewhere if I was going to solve the mystery of the fallen tree.
Take pride in what you do, that was Emma’s advice for the other young artists out there. From 2009, we adopted her the Christmas two years prior.
It’s time for my favorite Christmas tradition, the re-posting of the image of Emma and the tree she loved too much, taken in December 2009.
Uncertainty was the word of the day when I took this picture in February 2018. I was leaving the next morning for my interview in Arizona. Ellie’s health had faltered a bit and I silently worried her time was drawing to an end. Thankfully the snow didn’t keep me from getting to the airport and I got the job that brought us here. Best of all the pup bounced back and we got more than a year with her before age took its final toll. She gave me enough joy to last a lifetime, this pup, my hope is that joy finds you too not just this Christmas but in the years to come.
Boolie 