"Cute" Weekly Bird of Prey

Burrowing Owl.  Although they are listed as endangered in many states, we see a couple every time we go out to hunt.  This one let me get pretty close before he bolted.

Yard Life.

We had to drive up to the new house today to make sure the manufacturer tags were still on both sections per federal law. (Who knew?).  As we turned off the pavement, there were a couple of trucks parked on the shoulder looking up at the mountains behind the house.  We stopped and asked what they were looking at.    Ibex was the reply.  They're reguler visitors I guess, so now we have to add a spotting scope to the budget.

As we turned into the driveway, much to our surprise, we jumped the young jackrabbit pictured above.  As it turned out, he was a valuable test subject for the fencing around the yard. I chased him, slowly, with the camera as he pretty much tested the entirety of the perimeter fence, finding no way out, until he worked his way back to the open gate.  If he couldn't find a hole, neither will the dogs!

The vacant  lot next door is home to a covey of Gambel's Quail.  Wildlife is abundant.  Can't wait for our first rattler of the Spring.  Yes I can.

He looks a lot like the Mimbres pottery rabbit, doesn't he?

Happy Birthday Chuck D!

200 years! Seems like only yesterday..

Capitol Dome - Redux

It snowed yesterday.  First time since we arrived this Winter.  Put a dusting on the car and the Express, which was gone two hours later.  The sun came out, and the wind, strong to begin with really picked up.

I looked at the Florida Mountains, still resplendent in their white coat, and channeling Tina Fey said, "I want to go to there".  The clouds were spectacular, the sky was deep blue, and every detail of the mountains, and their most noticeable feature- "Capitol Dome"- stood out in deep relief.  In other words, paradise for a landscape photographer!

So after that buildup, I'm going to show you a Photoshopped "black and white graphic pen" image...

The spectacular color images can be found in the sidebar slide show.  Don't miss the new portrait of our new home!

What Does Big Ben Say?

BONG!  BONG!  BONG!.....

Weren't you just outraged and incensed about that picture of All-American Wonder Boy, Michael Phelps huffing away on a bong?

Yeah, me neither.

I'm with Seth...

What's the big surprise?   Where did Phelps do the bulk of his pre-Olympic training?

Ann Arbor.

What happens in Ann Arbor every April 1st since the 60's?   Andrew?  Anybody?

I rest my case.

Peaks In A Blanket.

Did you get the pun?  Awful isn't it?

By the way... just out of the picture to the left is Mountain House.

An Instant Classic?

Margaret's done it again!

Anyone who's received an email from me will recognize the quotation  from my signature line.  Our friend, MaryAnn in Southern California noticed it and had a great suggestion.  We should put it on a shirt.  And so we have, and they're now available at our CafePress storefront.  And not just shirts but hats and coffee mugs as well.

Gace de la Vigne was a French poet who may also be found under "de la Bigne", and lived either in the 14th or 15th century.  In other words, details about his biography are rather sketchy.  What is known, is that he wrote extensively about dogs, as any Google search will turn up.  He was, in fact, the first person to use the word "terrier".

I first heard of of him on Steve Bodio's Querencia blog way back in 2005, when he wrote the following:

By the way, Gace de la Vigne is also author of someting I want engraved on silver:

"De chiens, d'oyseaux, d'armes, d'amours,

Pour une joye, cent doulours.

("In hounds, hawks, arms, and love, for every joy a hundred sorrows") 

Until that point, I was changing the quote on my email signature on a regular basis.  Once I read this short, simple but powerful statement, I was certain I wouldn't change the quote again.  And I haven't.

Currently, we've "stocked" the store with Scottish Deerhound and Galgo Espanol (which could pass for longdog, staghound, and lurcher in a pinch) products.  We're hustling to get Greyhounds, Salukis, and Afghan hounds up.  Other breeds can be added if there is enough demand.

MaryAnn predicts this item will become a "classic".  We hope she's right.