a bird's eye view of Me

from the bird's eye, that is! 

The return of the turkey vultures  signals that March is over and April has arrived. I am always fascinated watching them just ride the air currents for hours on outstretched wings.

someone appears to have Issues!

i don't Care...

4/3/13 First of the Year!

this is one of my favorite early spring flowers!

still life with potted tulips and baby Shelterbelt

Cottonwood County, Minnesota   3/30/13

no Foolin'

We passed these folks heading East when we were heading back West from Minnesota today!

the E.B.

Happy Easter, one and all!

in Anticipation

Still snow, still frozen ground, still waiting to be able to work the soil and have some salad!

a Puzzle

Whatizit?

local chicks Sunbathing

My backdoor neighbors were out taking in some afternoon sunshine. It was about 20F, and the entire flock of 8 had stuffed themselves into the two feet of space between the back (south side) of their coop and the fence to catch some rays. I guess chickens don't like to freeze their toes any better than the rest of us!

jewel in the Sun

Calendar says spring.

 Ma Nature says, "Nope, not yet!"

spring Snow

44N  103W  3/23/13

March always brings some lovely, wet spring snow. Thanks, Ma Nature, we are glad for the moisture, even if the roads are slippery this morning.

guardian of the Troutlings

 

Rubber Duckie, Guardian of the Troutlings. 

Our Ecology classes raised trout from eggs up to fingerling size this past 9 weeks, and with the help of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, released them at our new Outdoor Campus West last week. I gave RD to Brenda, my teacher friend, to keep her company once the baby trout "graduated". He swims in the classroom aquarium, guarding it for the next batch of aquatic friends to take up residence.

 

 

spring Equinox

Equinoctial Sunrise at 44 N  103W

on the way home from School...

other kids were on their way home, too. Pronghorns are very wary of Subarus and camera lenses, they were not going to let me get very close. What a neat thing to see along the roadside on the edge of town. Bighorns to the west side, pronghorns on the east side.

facing the Sun

not Impressed

So far, the local turkey ladies are more interested in lunch than in their faithful swains. The boys were strutting and fanning tails and chest bumping each other, apparently showing off didn't impress anybody but themselves.

the wearing of the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Some folk are "wearing the green" every day!

white on White

picnic Lunch

spinning a Yarn

the bottom of the Bird

We have robins around all winter, but to hear the "cheer up, cheerily" over head in the tree feels like Spring is on the way to me.

creek bottom Mosaic

Rapid Creek  3/13/13

the Laccolith

Mato Paha

A Sacred Mountain

"Many American Indians see Bear Butte as a place where the creator has chosen to communicate with them through visions and prayer.

"Mato Paha or "Bear Mountain" is the Lakota name given to this site. To the Cheyenne, it is "Noahvose." This geological formation is one of several intrusions of igneous rock in the Black Hills that formed millions of years ago."

"During your visit, you will see colorful pieces of cloth and small bundles or pouches hanging from the trees. These prayer cloths and tobacco ties represent the prayers offered by individuals during their worship. Please respect these offerings and leave them undisturbed."  (SD Game, Fish and Parks)

who is winning Here?

Looks like the score is Tree-1, Rock-0

it means "little Frog"

Ranunculus

 

 

I am still trying to find out why the Latin word origin for this lovely thing is tadpole or little frog. Is it seeds or roots or something else? It is a cousin to buttercups not amphibians.

tam 'o Shanter...

for my finger

 :o)

water Ballet

Photoshop filters haven't got anything on just plain water for special effects. Scene like this always reminds me of the Nutcracker Suite part of Disney's Fantasia.

a little Present

to help you through a snowy day, if you are in Minnesota.

the new Neighbor

His ladies are quite pleasant and chatty, friendly and cordial neighbors. We will see about him, he and Edgar Allan Crow seemed to be having a shouting match this morning. Maybe he is the one we should call Edgar Allan Crow instead!

the face in the Mirror

Rapid Creek reflection

Rapid Creek reflection rotated!

again, it is in the Details

rooftop decor Prairie Edge bldg

Streetside you don't see it maybe, but from the top of the parking garage it is right in front of you! They don't detail buildings like this in the 21st century.

a prairie View

March 1st, South Dakota prairie afternoon

at the Ballet

Gadwall Pas de Deux

reflections at the end of the Afternoon

Canyon Lake, 5pm, February 28

it's all in the Details

er, in the duck tails

photosynthesis is Happenin'

Cabomba caroliniana, Carolina Fanwort

Biology II, photosynthesis lab experiment. I have become Custodian of the Cabomba, charged with being able to provide a supply for next session of Bio II. I need to make sure it does not take over the world or escape into waterways, it can be invasive in warmer waters. I wonder if it makes good salad fixings?

full Snow Moon

another picture for my Moon Child, maybe she can see it as she goes to sleep....

quoth the Raven...

my frequent morning visitor, Edgar Allan Crow.

be grateful you are not a Mouse

 

Meet Icarus, one of the educators that works for the Black Hills Raptor Center, a US Fish and Wildlife licensed center for rehabilitation of owls, hawks and falcons. Soon they will have the facilities to be licensed to work with Bald and Golden Eagles as well.