...and a hive of silvery Bees

we didn't need a little birdie to tell us...

2012-01-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

we already knew it...Happy Birthday, Bessarie

the Educator

2012-01-29T00:21:00.001-07:00

Elise, the red-tailed hawk, one of the education birds that visits school kids as part of the Black Hills Raptor Center's outreach program. She has been to over 1000 classrooms throughout the region so far. She was ruffling a few feathers and causing birdy freak-outs among some fellows at a bird show hosted by my favorite greenhouse. Stay tuned

boots and Stirrups

2012-01-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

If you have this many styles of stirrups to choose from...

you better have plenty of different kinds of boots to fit them!

Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo

2012-01-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

End of January every year the Civic Center and other venues are taken over by the annual Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. We welcome hundreds of cattlemen and women, rodeo contestants, horses, cattle, bison, baby farm animals, sheepdogs and spectators. It is an a huge event and a welcome break from winter time ranch chores for people.

Today was the first day for events, featuring a large horse sale and auction. A few photos from the sale when I checked in after school.


3 horses waiting


3 cowboys watching

3 + 4 Palomino braids showing

on a winter Day

2012-01-26T18:47:00.000-07:00

a summer Porch

summer Pincushion

2012-01-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

Just looking through my photos for a bit of summer, Blue Butterfly scabiosa, AKA pincushion flower.

Click on the photo and see the pins in the cushion.

storefront Main Street

2012-01-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

What era favored turquoise like this?

We are looking at 1950s decor here, not retro, but the genuine article.

This seems to have been the thing for kitchen appliances at that time as well, although my mother had a pink stove and refrigerator for years. I think that had something to do with a "heck of a buy" on a double oven range and a huge bottom freezer in the frig. It was pretty exotic, nobody else's kitchen had pink appliances!

just wondering...

2012-01-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

exactly what are we locking up here ???

a little bit of Color

2012-01-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

A little corner of Art Alley

miss Liberty?

2012-01-20T06:30:00.001-07:00

I think this gentleman might be working for a local tax preparation firm, at least I hope so. They have "wavers" outside their seasonal tax offices around town in several places, but I have never seen one walking down Art Alley before.

do they ever get cold Feet?

2012-01-19T06:24:00.000-07:00

"A duck foot is mostly tendons with very little muscle, the muscles that help them move are located further from the feet and better insulated, so there is less need for blood flow to the feet to keep them warm. Ducks also have a very unique circulation system, where warm blood going down to the feet goes closely past the cold blood coming back from the feet. This is called a counter-current heat exchange as heat is exchanged from the hot blood to the cold, meaning that the birds do not lose too much heat through their feet."

from www.borrowedfreedom.org

shadow Play

2012-01-18T05:35:00.003-07:00

Organic and inorganic

composition by Ma Nature

dear Daffodils,

2012-01-17T10:31:00.002-07:00

What are you thinking?? It is the middle of January, it is 15 degrees, it is snow flaking! What in the world are you doing out of bed so early!!

a different kind of Work

2012-01-16T09:03:00.002-07:00


Note to whoever opened the store for the day on December 1, 1820, "Solomon Rosevelt left 14 baskets of corn in the ear we put it in the west bin where Abraham Lebo's corn was"

A gill of rum is 4 oz. and was part of the daily rations of the Continental Army, apparently that was also something you could buy at a general store in the 1820s as well.

Matthew Sax, one of my ancestors, moved west from Vermont to the New York shore of Lake Champlain looking for opportunity in the early 19th century. An ambitious man, he built the steamboat wharf and a general store at what became known as the Landing, or Saxe's Landing. A small community grew around it with a boarding house, inn, and various other businesses. The property remains in our family to this day, my mother being a direct descendent of Matthew, she has the ledgers and daybooks from the Store dating back to the 1820's. Fascinating reading when you can decipher the penmanship of the day.

Alternately spelled Saxe, depending on who was spelling it.

at Work

2012-01-15T02:57:00.000-07:00

Sitta canadensis Red-breasted Nuthatch

Nuthatch-mid-14c., probably is so called from its habit of breaking open and eating nuts; from nut + second element related to hack (v.) and hatchet.

just a sip and back to Work

2012-01-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

Whole mob of chickadees and nuthatches busy lowering the seed level in the feeders today.

sunshine and Shadow

2012-01-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

Triangle, rectangle, trapezoid

paper as Paint

2012-01-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

collage [kəˈlɑːʒ kɒ- (French) kɔlaʒ]

1. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) an art form in which compositions are made out of pieces of paper, cloth, photographs, and other miscellaneous objects, juxtaposed and pasted on a dry ground

2. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) a composition made in this way

3. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Art Terms) any work, such as a piece of music, created by combining unrelated styles

[French, from coller to stick, from colle glue, from Greek kolla]

collagist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

Art 9 2-D

what a Bargain!

2012-01-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

A 60F day outside, a new camera lens to experiment with, and a treasure from a bargain bin. I just love amaryllis in the dead of winter when they can go outside in the sunshine on the deck and pose for their portrait.

sleepy eyed Goldeneyes

2012-01-08T04:38:00.008-07:00

Canyon Lake is our local hangout for winter ducks. Migrants stop by and stay for the winter, wigeons, goldeneyes, mallards, gadwalls and others are usually found doing duck things any time of day.

We have had unseasonalbly warm weather lately, so the ice cover on the lake is minimal and open water keeps them scattered. The local mallard crowd is so used to people you can just about walk up and pat them on their little feathered heads. Not so the travelers from farther north, these guys appeared to be snoozing, but I could see golden eyes peeking at me, and this was as close as I was going to get, thank you.

They really are lovely ducks on the water, and what the folks in northern NY where I grew up call "Whistlers". One fly by over your head and it is pretty obvious why.

random glance of Summer

2012-01-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Did he fly, or was he a bird's breakfast? Just wondering.

now you see him, now you Don't

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-07:00


Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead pair in breeding plumage, they be divers!

a bit of blue Ribbon

2012-01-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Just a little bit of blue ribbon fancies up a Lady's dress clothes!

bark up a different Tree

2012-01-02T08:03:00.002-07:00

Ma Nature clothes her children in fabrics of many textures, not just the leafy green dresses of summer.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T01:39:00.011-07:00

click to enjoy the rainbow colors of Meleagris gallipavo

Step out into the sunshine of a New Year with all its colors and variations just waiting to show themselves. May yours be one of peace, good fortune and good health.

looking forward, looking Back

2011-12-31T00:00:00.008-07:00

Heading East on I-90, looking back West in the mirror. Seems apropos for the last day of 2011, looking back to the Old Year passed, and into the New Year to come.

sunrise Cows

2011-12-30T00:52:00.001-07:00

Curiosity is supposed to "kill the cat", but there isn't anything much more curious than a herd of cows. They were wondering why I stuck the camera out the window as I drove by on my way to school. Their backs were still snowy, so well insulated are the bovines that it hadn't even melted off even after several hours.

tigers and monkeys and Parrots

2011-12-29T00:32:00.002-07:00

This has to be one of the coolest mailbox posts on the Planet! It is on a gravel road, among corn and soybean fields in a lovely corner of Cottonwood County, MN.

I kid you not, the folks who live here also raise cattle and own a real, live GIRAFFE!

Your neighbors may have wandering cats and barking dogs, but our grandkids have a giraffe for a neighbor.

here be Dragons

2011-12-28T08:13:00.000-07:00


Christmas dragons from the creative brain of Daughter #1

Back after spending Christmas with Daughters #1, #2, #3, Son-in-law #1, Son-in-law #2, grandchildren #1 and #2 in Minnesota. A good time had by all! Hope yours was warm and friendly and memory filled, too.
We are hard on the heels of 2012, hard to believe New Year's has come so fast.

the Easter Bunny

2011-12-22T08:03:00.015-07:00

Greeting the Sun at the Winter Solstice, wearing his best Winter fur coat.

"Solstice Sun, Shining Bright!
Shortest Day & Longest Night.
Solstice Wish of Hope & Cheer:
Peace on Earth, throughout the Year!"

by Selena Fox

a grandfather Tree

2011-12-21T19:48:00.001-07:00

Ma Nature sure knows how to build a cottonwood tree!

prairie sunrise December

2011-12-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

Sunrise on the short grass prairie, Audubon Christmas Bird Count, looking for the sharp-tailed grouse. They, of course, chose to be in the cottonwood trees eating the buds, instead of being picturesque in the grass. Then again, the grass and alfalfa was picturesque on its own.

tiny little Pots

2011-12-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Little bitty baubles for tiny poinsettias in mini 2"pots.

Wouldn't a bright red poinsettia baby be a screamer in a flashy purple pot or an acid green one!

Audubon CBC/Rapid City, SD

2011-12-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Early Bird

Morning Watchman

We weren't the only ones walking along the Creek

Tangerine Toes!

a break from santa claus Things...

2011-12-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

CARWASH!

dear Santa,

2011-12-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

These were NOT on my Christmas list!

klutzy move + hopping off stage = spend Christmas vacation from school gimping around.

whatsit?

2011-12-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Photoshop Quiz

late afternoon, December

2011-12-12T10:30:00.000-07:00


St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota

moonset at Sunrise

2011-12-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

12/11/11 7:15 am 44N 103W

• The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon – December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

from www.farmersalmanac.com

a fishy looking Christmas

2011-12-10T21:55:00.001-07:00

Jose


Uncooperative Guppies

While they were decorating our classroom (which is now quite gaudy and spectacular with lights), the guys decided Jose and the Guppies needed to be decorated up as well. Window clings not only cling to windows, but they also cling to aquariums. Love those 9th graders.

we have Company

2011-12-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

This little critter is currently residing among the leaves and flowers of the Christmas cactus on the mantel in the living room. She has been seen on an orchid in the dining room and on the light in Rachel's bedroom ceiling. We don't know how long she has been visiting or how she is traveling (unless she has a Doppelganger). She is most welcome to stay.

the journey of Odysseus

2011-12-04T06:00:00.002-07:00

Do you remember any cats in the Odyssey?

9th grade English curriculum requires reading and analysis of Homer's The Odyssey, which we have been doing these past two weeks. The students were asked to write about their thinking as they read the story of Odysseus. Here are some of the lessons learned along the way which Odysseus's men should have learned.

I love they way the kids think.

hello, Amaryllis

2011-12-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

As soon as the morning sun came in the south window, Amaryllis showed her face for the first time this season.

why would you do This?

2011-12-01T16:56:00.001-07:00

at the stop sign Thursday morning

Of all the vanity plate cleverness you could choose, why would you want to advertise that you are annoying and probably obnoxious, to boot????

two fer Tuesday

2011-11-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

The way this pair had composed themselves to soak up the last warming rays of the afternoon sun caught my eye. Mallards are common winter residents here, accidental fine art sculptures some days, noisy panhandlers on others.

a fine Fisherman

2011-11-28T16:08:00.001-07:00

He blends in well with the blue sky and the winter gray branches. Kingfishers are notoriously hard to get a good photo of, they are very alert to potential predators (read that photographers) and skitter away in a heartbeat. A crowd of mallards was no protection for the fishy tidbit he had his eye on, he dove right into the middle of the mob, and came up with
dinner.
If you want a really good kingfisher, go to Dina's blog (http://dinaswildlifeadventures.blogspot.com) on Nov. 19. Now, there is a kingfisher like I wish I could capture!

morning and evening on Moon Meadows

2011-11-26T18:52:00.000-07:00


Morning

Evening

sleek Sleepers

2011-11-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

Could you take a snooze in an icy cold creek with the water up to your belly feathers?

the day of the happy Turkey

2011-11-24T04:46:00.002-07:00

Good wishes, Everyone!

The voters here chose roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for Thanksgiving dinner, so this is the only turkey I have been "stuffing" this morning.

morning sun #4

2011-11-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

in the morning, by the Creek, under the bridge

morning sun #3

2011-11-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

One cyclamen blossom in the morning sun. This brave little plant has survived my care for a whole year and is starting to bloom again. As a rule, I manage to kill them off, they do like water on a very regular basis, I am sometimes better with things that are labeled "can't kill with a club".

morning sun #2

2011-11-21T06:00:00.003-07:00

Very Kool Kiwi

morning sun #1

2011-11-20T09:32:00.002-07:00

Ficus elastica ginormous

The Rubber Plant that Ate Cincinnati, is slowly taking over the living room, currently headed for the fireplace mantel. This is one of those hand-me-downs that come from your kids when they leave home/college for the real world. The RPTAC started out as a college Botany class project in air layering by Daughter #2. I inherited it when she moved to an apartment, now it has grown so big that no vehicle we own can haul it to Minnesota. It isn't massive as far as square footage, it has no branches. It started its life as a branch and so it has remained. However, it is now 12 feet long and has new leaves burgeoning! It loves the morning sun from the south window.

birthday Cake

2011-11-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

November 19, 8 am

After 10" of snow overnight, the table on the deck looks like something in a bakery ready for decorating!

after the Big Bang

2011-11-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Geodome Planetarium came to visit.

self Portrait

2011-11-16T03:10:00.001-07:00

howd'ja do that?

No trickery, no Photoshop, just Pentax

even a Dog...

2011-11-15T02:45:00.003-07:00

loves a Parade

and so do small boys!

ok, what is the Answer?

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001-07:00

"Ostrich's eggs are bigger than ..."

You can't just pose questions like this and then go ...

and not finish the statement!

D is for Diagonals

2011-11-13T06:00:00.005-07:00

Daddy's D

What's not to love about shadows?

photographing the Photographer

2011-11-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

Art Alley

11/11/11

Happy Veteran's Day, with Thanks

2011-11-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Academy celebrated our Veterans and active duty Service Members with a program, luncheon and gifts of thanks and flowers on Thursday, November 10. We were honored to have speakers from all branches of the armed forces, from World War II up through the current war on terrorism, share their stories with the students and staff. Many of our local businesses helped provide our guests with a wonderful luncheon by donating food and flowers. Awesome Day!

Simply said, Thank you for your service to our Country.

the Speleothem

2011-11-10T20:32:00.000-07:00


dogtooth spar

This piece was a present from my geologically minded children, it guards my heirloom irises

and for your edification...

" The calcite crystals, unlike most of the othermineral decorations, were presumably formed under water; that is, at atime when the cave was filled with solutions. Similar crystals have been"grown" in laboratories, where it was found that by adding certainimpurities in varying amounts, the form of the crystal could be changed.In fact over 300 different crystal forms of calcite are known."

Typical occurrence of calcite crystals(mostly Dogtooth Spar). The best specimens are found in vugs or cavitiesand on the underside of protruding ledges. Typical Calcite CrystalForms, normally only the upper half of the crystal will be seen.(bottom, center).

information from Jewel Cave NP

inf

was it a faux Pas?

2011-11-09T06:00:00.002-07:00

click on photo for detail

If you insist on committing a faux pas (dropping deer turds in front of the lady), she may think you are not what she is looking for in a boyfriend. You may find yourself all alone, wondering where she went.

Hi, Jerry "the Hen"!

By the way, this may not have been a match made in heaven, he is a muley and she is a whitetail.

Their families might have objected.

rising Apollo

2011-11-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

"The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."

Galileo Galilei

he got there First

2011-11-07T06:00:00.002-07:00

Which was a good thing, once the turkeys showed up on the deck railing, all the goodies disappeared in record time!

a november Fairy

2011-11-06T12:52:00.000-07:00


November 6

The Fairy rose still blooms despite night time temperatures in the 20s. She greeted the return of Mountain Standard Time this morning, like it was still midsummer.

duck Yoga

2011-11-05T10:53:00.002-06:00

Apparently, when you wake up from an afternoon duck nap, there are certain rituals that need to be completed. Yoga or tai chi are necessary preparation for resuming the day's activities.

wrong Sequence

2011-11-02T16:20:00.001-06:00

Dear Ma Nature,

This is to request that you please consult your notes. The correct order of things is that in the Fall, first the LEAVES fall, then you can make the SNOW fall. You seem to be confused, or not paying attention. Details are important. Thank you.

all that is Left...

2011-11-01T17:53:00.000-06:00

on the Day After

daddy/daughter Project

2011-10-31T06:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween!

waiting for the other Ghosts

2011-10-30T17:30:00.000-06:00

We're Ready

it's creeping Up

2011-10-29T18:39:00.000-06:00

Soon to welcome the small witches, zombies, football players and princesses...

grocery store Still Life

2011-10-27T19:24:00.000-06:00

What's not to love about a big pile of fresh apples in the grocery store? Look at those cheeks!

just a few moments Ago

2011-10-26T17:07:00.000-06:00

These droplets were not in the liquid state, they were SNOWFLAKES! It ain't summer any more.

first you see the Chickadee,

2011-10-25T21:02:00.000-06:00

In the lovely mosaic compass rose that my talented kids made for me. Then you notice his companions, pretty well camouflaged against the leafy things and the grassy things in the background.

pinecone as Sculpture

2011-10-24T06:00:00.005-06:00

Pinus ponderosa cone

in the End

2011-10-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

Even teen-agers get a kick out of creating jack-o-lanterns

in the Beginning

2011-10-22T15:33:00.000-06:00

The boys get creative....

the Birdfeeder...

2011-10-19T17:10:00.000-06:00

Appears to have become a bird feeder. All evidence points to a visit by the neighborhood Sharp-shinned hawk, and the remains of his lunch. I am fairly certain Eurasian collared-dove was on the menu today.


Sharp-shinned hawk by my blogfriend Terry Sohl, photographer extraordinaire		(www.sdakotabirds.com)

he may need a Scarf

2011-10-18T19:19:00.000-06:00

Headed for the upper 20s tonight, his Straw Self may have a touch of frostbite in the morning!

a plethora of Prepositions

2011-10-17T21:34:00.000-06:00

An abstract work of art created by the ambient light from headlights and the reflective properties of roadsign and roadstripe on wet pavement in the dark through the windshield.

looking Backwards...

2011-10-16T11:42:00.000-06:00

...waiting for the other brother. The terrible twins have lost their infant spots and taken on the gray-brown insulating coats of winter deer. The amount of growing they have done since June is truly amazing.

dragon's Breath

2011-10-15T17:20:00.000-06:00

the clouds draw pictures sometimes...

Jose, can you See??

2011-10-14T17:14:00.000-06:00

The beautiful original art background you have in your tank? The kids in our Art 2D class accepted my challenge to design backgrounds for Jose and the Guppies in my 2 aquariums. Who needs commercial backgrounds when skilled artists are willing to create a special environment?

tradition and Technology

2011-10-12T17:35:00.000-06:00

I loved the juxtaposition between the beautiful traditional pow wow regalia and modern technology. He and I were both photographing the dancers on the arena floor, we each had an amazing view.


Chicken Dance contestant

candy corn Sunrise

2011-10-11T07:12:00.000-06:00


7 am 10/11/11

One of the most quintessential Halloween treats is candy corn. It was invented in the 1800s by George Renninger, and the Goelitz Confectionary Company began manufacturing the sugary kernels in 1898 in Illinois. Originally, candy corn syrup was hand-poured into molds and required three separate layers to achieve the traditional white, orange and yellow. A serving of candy corn is 19 pieces and will add 140 calories to your calorie count, if you are counting. So, now you know.

she saw, he Saw

2011-10-10T12:13:00.001-06:00


She saw...

and he saw....

and I saw them with my camera...

in Anticipation

2011-10-09T12:23:00.000-06:00

ready for the Intertribal

rainbow in Motion

2011-10-07T16:35:00.001-06:00

Womens' Fancy dancer

Black Hills Pow Wow, our entire student body were guests at a special Youth Day celebration of culture and unity.

It is the 25th annual He Sapa Wacipi, beginning today through Sunday. It is an amazing experience.

Mens' Fancy dancer

chewie Visits

2011-10-05T19:08:00.002-06:00

Despite the fact that he is named for another movie character, Capt Jack Sparrow, the Schnauzer kid bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca at the moment.

Chewbacca (actor Peter Mayhew) himself wore a costume of mixed yak hair and mohair, and had a voice invented by sound designer, Ben Burt.

Jack yaps, but the original Chewbacca had a voice created from the sound recordings of walrus, lion, camel, bear, rabbit, tiger and badger vocalizations. There is something you can add to the conversation over morning coffee!

we need this in the form of Rain

2011-10-04T18:56:00.001-06:00


Rapid Creek, 44N 103W

With apologies to blogfriends who are inundated with too much rain, we could use some here! Nearly 90 again today and crunchy. Rapid Creek is cold and clear and flowing merrily within its banks, not much help for the lawn.

it's Angora

2011-10-03T00:00:00.004-06:00


milkweed

Angora rabbit kiddo

no Ice...

2011-10-02T15:48:00.003-06:00

chokecherry leaves bathing

...in the birdbath today, it's hit 91F this afternoon so far.

addendum: broke record today for date and for entire month of October at 96F!

what the Heck??

2011-10-01T16:22:00.000-06:00

See the previous post? Frost advisory. See the Grandpa Ott's this morning, October 1st? It is 90F at 3pm MDT!

South Dakota weather lore says if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes, it will change.

uh Oh!

2011-09-29T17:35:00.001-06:00

Local Weather Alert

Frost Advisory for Rapid City, SD

From 1:00 AM MDT until 8:00 AM MDT, Fri., Sept. 30, 2011

The frost is going to be on the Pumpkin tonight!

a quercus Necklace

2011-09-28T20:01:00.002-06:00

A new little burr oak, planted along Rapid Creek, someone decided it need some decoration. Very stylish. A touch of whimsy where you don't expect it. Live long and prosper, little oak tree.

stampede Victim

2011-09-27T20:03:00.000-06:00

This old JEEP pick-up looks like it has been walked on by every bit of wildlife in the Black Hills!

not exactly the gingham dog and the calico Cat

2011-09-26T20:44:00.000-06:00

More like a scruffy dog and a tuxedo cat trying to figure out why I am not pulling into the driveway. Cat favors the sunny spot, dog favors the shady spot.

makes you a little Jumpy

2011-09-25T16:06:00.001-06:00

This is right in the middle of town out here in the Wild West, about 15 ft. from the beginning of a hiking path and the kids' playground in Wilderness Park. Rustling dry grass this time of year causes people to jump backwards and then grin sheepishly. We did not see any herps on the birding trip, just birds and a few trout.

this must have been a grandfather Cottonwood

2011-09-24T17:07:00.001-06:00

On a birding field trip today, came across this huge old stump of a cottonwood tree. This must have been one ginormous tree in its prime, judging by the comparison to my size ten shoes!