Meadowlark

Heard a Meadowlark on our walk.

Found it singing away at the top of a telephone pole.

cats want outside...

Ok,   They were able to wander our shy 4 acres each day for a few hours, but now we are living in town.  Between houses they survived living with us and the 2 dogs in a 27ft fith wheel trailer.  Now that we have landed in our little house in town (a year later) Natasha and Louis want outside!
We had this little fencing for making a blocked off area for our old gold (Ginger) so Gator and Bailey would quit running her over while they were puppies. Anyhow, Had some screen on hand so I put a top on the area so the cats can go out and at least eat some grass and enjoy the fresh air, until we figure out a way to make a cat proof fence...

It measures 6' long, x 2'w x 2 1/2' tall

Natasha was not impressed with the small area, and escaped in a matter of minutes.

Above Rainbow Falls

Gator and Bailey going for their evening run.

Snow Geese at Freezeout Lake MT

Went back to Freezeout Lake MT a few days later.  Found out they come back to the lake from eating between 10am and noon. (what did we ever do before the internet)

They gave us a GREAT show!

You could watch the horizon and it looked like a swarm of bees or something, and as they got closer you could make out that they were indeed Snow Geese.

We parked in the perfect place and watched the geese fly right over us before landing in the lake.

Here is a video of the geese swarming.

These Sand Cranes below even gave us a great fly by!

Road trip to Choteau via Freezeout Lake MT

Got a nice greeting from the deer.

Ear Mountain was Beautiful with the snowy accents.

Saw this swan at Freezeout Lake MT

Freezeout Lake MT is a wildlife management area, with lots of birds stopping by on their way North for summer this time of year.  

That white in the lake below are Snow Geese. 

There were several large groups in the area.  

They were a bit early this year.

Suzi and I were mesmerized watching the snow geese travel to and fro.  

Amazing there were no mid air collisions!

below is a video of the Snow Geese Swarming in the early evening.

  They are headed out for their evening snack.

Tick season

I was blasting down I-15 when I noticed a spider climbing up my windshield right where I look out... the I realized it was a tick.  So I pulled into an empty weigh station.  Found a sticky back label and pressed it into the back of the tick still on the windshield.  

This shot is it's under belly.  I wiped him off the label onto the pavement, and left it crawling away at the weigh station.

Guess it is official, spring is here.

Louis Cat

Louis enjoying the sun.

Great Falls Bridge Lights

The old 9th Street bridge in Great Falls is a landmark, and they occasionally light up the blue lights.

This shot is taken from the airport.

Square Butte, Great Falls, MT

Gator's Doggie Boots

We discovered that the dogs do fine with the cold up to about 0F.   When it gets to  -20F they do a pathetic tripod dance.  So we did some research and found the doggie boots were to much $$$$ so I found a pattern for making your own.  

Gator is here on her mayden voyage testing the boots out.  Bailey is checking them out... We were amazed at how well they stayed on!  Gator ran, jumped and seemed to enjoy the warmer toes...  

Here is a closer shot.   yes, Gator is dawning pretty pink lady bug booties.  : )

Morony Dam Montana

Took a little drive about 15 miles out of Great Falls to Morony Dam.  This dam was built around 1930.  The dams around Great Falls are 'run of river' dams They use the flow of the river to generate power as opposed to the type that forms a body of water behind the dam.  

The building below is one of the original buildings for the workers.

Saw this fence art along the road.

 Noticed the writing on the bottom.

View of the Highwood Mts from near Morony Dam.

Fun was had by all...

Fox

Saw this little fox a few blocks from home.

Suzi recently flew to Palm Springs, CA

 She took this shot of Mt Adams, and Mt Rainier near Seattle from the plane.

Below is the plane Suzi was on.

Below is a shot of North Great Falls, MT taken from the airport.

Below is a shot of South Great Falls, MT taken from the airport.

gray bird? what is it?

This bird was seen all winter on the rocky mountain front in Montana.  It did not eat seeds, just came by occasionally for water.  Did not like people.  Have not seen the bird since early March.  

What is it?

Lake in the Sky:

photos above taken by Caron 

Deer

finger lickin' good