Wildlife Spotting.............

Notice the birdfeeder in the lower right corner - this is right outside the kitchen window!

This morning just after 7:00 AM I looked out the kitchen window and saw a beautiful BEAR walk thru our back yard.  I ran for my camera and to wake up Arn but not many of my pictures turned out very well.  I kept trying to get a good pic as it strolled over to the neighbors.  After a few minutes I looked again and saw it running back toward our house WITH ANOTHER BEAR.  They were about the same size and it was extremely exciting to see them so close to our house.  They walked right by the bocce court.  These two may be the cubs that wander around with their mother.  I'm not sure but I think they stay with the mother for a couple of years and maybe they just made the break and are foraging to get ready for the winter.  Maybe the mushrooms are edible for them.  WOW!  I tried to get some pics but the close up ones didn't turn out very well.

The boys.............

We've been getting an occasional visit from these guys...........I think they might be snuffling thru the pine needles and tasting the mushrooms. 

1st Snowfall 2011

It snowed last night about 10 inches and it's wet and heavy....all signs point to a snowy winter this year. The deck under the pine trees in the back has been COVERED with chewed up pine cones several times. Some squirrels store food for the winter and some fatten themselves up for the winter(Abert's squirrel). Either way our deck has been a mess from our furry friends getting ready for snow and winter. The Abert's squirel is one of my favorite varieties. Their pointy little ears are so cute.

A bear...Oh my!

Well, we got home from our exciting vacation this past Monday night. We went thru the earthquake in Washington, DC and the hurricaine in Bradley Beach, NJ. Our neighbor left a message about a bear in a tree between our two houses. We never saw the bear (had to work) but since it was showing up every Tues (garbage day) and seemed to be getting bolder, they tranquilized, tagged it, and moved her up to the Rampart area. I sure wish I could have been home for it. Being that close to a 300 lb. female bear would have been a dream come true. Sorry, obsessed with bears this summer.
Posts about vacation coming soon.

There's a Bear in the Forest!

My friend, Alice took this pic of a bear in her backyard on her deck. Her backyard is very inviting because she has a koi pond. Today on the golf course Arn saw 8 deer and I saw a mother and twin fawns. Love it!

A bear...Oh my!

Everyone has been talking about bear sightings for a while now and I've wanted to see one. Well, yesterday was the day. My golf group was playing at Woodmoor against Patty Jewett. On # 5 I hit a really good drive and all I had to do was to chip it on the green. While checking out my shot, I looked behind the green and there was a bear sitting there looking at me. Kind of exciting. I told the other ladies and figured it left and went into the brush. I didn't have a camera but this is what he looked like. Black bears are a cinnamon color when younger. He was pretty healthy looking too! When I went back over to check him out he was still there, watching. He started walking around, kept looking at us, and walked around the nearest house. From there he walked up # 6, across # 7 & 8 fairway. It kind of messed with my concentration for golf but it sure was exciting seeing one up that close.

Lots of Moosen!

While driving to WinterPark for the circus last Saturday we passed a sign that showed a moose crossing for the next several miles. I had never noticed it before and thought I'd better get the camera ready. Immediately we saw people pulled over and down below the road we saw a mother moose and 2 calves. What a surprise! The calves are in the upper pic up on the right near the trees.

Spring is here?

After the last big snow storm last week we decided to head south to play golf (Monday) at 4 Mile Ranch near Canyon City. Nice course, 5 hr. round though. Arn played golf about 5 times this past week (I've played 2 times this yr.).
Today Maggie and I headed up to the Palmer Lake Reservoirs. It's a hike I'd like to try to do at least once a week. It was a beautiful day but the trail still had a little snow on it. I'll try to remember to take the camera the next time and post a pic. Several fisherman were up there and had caught a few trout. Was hoping to see some wildlife but didn't see any. Last week in Co. Spgs. a pregnant girl was out for a walk and saw a bear which started to follow her. She started running and was running across a street when she got hit by a car! She is fine, the bear was euthanized and she is now going to name the baby Bear (middle name).

Mom and the Rocky Mt. Big Horn Sheep at Glen Eyrie (Oct. 08)

There's a great hike in this area called The Punch Bowls. It takes a couple of hours. Hiking is only allowed during the week and I don't think dogs can go. Maggie wouldn't be able to climb the rocks up to the bowls anyway. There is a nice water fall and small pool of water about half way.
You have to stop and register at the gate before taking the hike.

The afternoon tea and tour of the house are very nice too.