Fishing the Elk River - Ann Style

Ann does most of the writing for this blog, just as she is doing at this moment.  We've worked out a keen deal where John captures the images, and Ann weaves the words to tell a story about the photograph.  So, today, Ann, in her third person present, will tell you about the purpose of the fish hat.  Our summer was peaceful and we lived on 35 acres of solitude, along the Elk River.  Ann, never a fisherman, believed that the purchase of a hat, with a fish on the front, would somehow conjure up the mighty fish spirits.  Sadly, she was way off base.  Okay, here I am, hat off...the secret is that I (Ann) do not care for fishing.  I understand why people are enthralled with the sport though.  It's a simple way to become hypnotized with nature, escape the craziness of the world and hope for the tug at the end of the line, and a large trout to burst from the river.  I could never get the gist of casting the line.  I hooked everything but a fish.  So, the hat, while emblazoned with a trout, will suffice as a great outdoor hat, to keep the sun off my head, shade my eyes from bright lights and just for today, make for a good story.

The Long List of "L"s for Labradors

Labrador Retrievers are a unique breed.  A silken coat is perfectly designed to allow this water dog protection from the frequent and delightful immersion in any body of water they encounter.  Soulful eyes gaze up at their masters with an " I love you so much" .  Bodhi is one of our dog companions that visits us from time to time.  With each visit he brings oodles of love, entertainment, flatulence and immense intrigue into his psyche, with us constantly attempting to analyze and diagnose .  Bodhi actually seeks out small rocks in river bottoms, and brings them to the surface; lining them up as if to display his engineering and architectural abilities.  Bodhi simply exudes all that the breed boasts.  Love, laughter, loyalty of lazy days lounging  in the  long summer sun.  Hugs are always welcome.

...love the dog.  love a dog who shows no interest in vanity, but rather seeks out and discovers the simple joy of a trickling mountain stream.  love the dog who rolls in "perfume" that sends us running for the shampoo and a pail of water.  love the dog who can take a nap whenever the mood strikes him.  love the dog who has action packed doggie dreams.  love the dog who has no problem seeking out the positive attributes in every living creature.  simply put...I love the dog...

Ann McArthur, November 7, 2013

A Bird in the Hand...What is it Worth?

Often times, nature comes calling with boom.  A small bird mistook a glass door as more vistas, and my wife found this little bird on the cement, stunned.  An animal lover, Ann scooped up this delicate winged visitor, and held it until it regained it's senses. The animal world is so vast and complex, yet, often times, "only the strong survive" needs a little help.  A glass door created a momentary obstacle, and Ann, attuned to the animal world, had a moment of bliss, delicately cradled in her hands. 

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals)
Is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough.
We have a higher mission:
To be of service to them whenever they require it...  St. Francis of Assisi 

This Ain't No Virgin

While all around the Rocky Mountains, the change of season has the colors in full bursts, a recent trip to Nevada had us stopping in the Virgin River Gorge on the border of Utah and the tip of Arizona, along I 15.  A mild, even balmy 75 degrees gave bursts to the beautiful cactus that call this area of desert home.  While some may be zipping through the Gorge on their way to the city of  lights & casinos, we could have easily spent our entire weekend exploring the continuous beauty of the desert and slow moving Virgin River as it carves its way through the canyon.

Who Is That Dog In My Yard?

Dogs are great companions, although often times they need a few moments to "adjust" their personalities to "who is that dog in my yard" !  A few weeks ago, I took our dog Casey, on the right and our dog-friend companion Bodhi, the black lab for a run in the freshly fallen snow.  As you can seen in the picture, there is a yellow dog in the left of the picture who had wandered into Casey and Bodhi's territory.  After a few thunderous gallops, and some back hair rising (to make one look BIG), the yellow dog got the picture that he had wandered in to already pee'd upon land.  Some sniffs, and a stand off ensued; eventually all creatures decided to a United Nation treatise and discovered there was enough room for everyone to play.

Vulture, Vulture

With an impressive wing span of 72 inches, turkey vultures are a neighbor in our neck of the woods.  The species spends only summers with us, and then heads south during the colder months.  You will find them year round in parts of Mexico, Central America and all of South America.  Sounds like a smart bird to me, as outside the weather is more conducive to snowman building.  This picture was taken over the summer, and I found him perched upon the branch of a cottonwood in our backyard.  Thankfully, this bird is more interested in rotting flesh, thereby giving our trio of furry creatures a break from being hunted.

Both Sides Now

As long as a summer nap is, the season changed.  It's fall, or so the weathermen say, but we awoke this morning to a dusting of snow; a reminder that summer is over, fall really never took hold and that old man winter is knocking at our door.  At the end of our driveway, sits this wonderful old wagon, which our neighbors decorate for holidays.  Today it serves as a model for the photograph.  A passing summer thunderstorm along with a sunset created the wonderful colors for the clouds ebbing and flowing along the valley floor.  Clouds are also part of the scene and always create a unique photograph.
...Photo taken in July, 2013...

"I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all  ..." Channand & Paul Young
Both Sides Now - Judy Collins