EASTER UGLY OUTFIT CONTEST

It started with the idea of an ugly sweater contest for Easter but soon, at least for some of us, it took on a life of its own.

Susie won hands down!



I liked my slip showing and the black sneakers, but was beat out by Susie's layering and accessories.
 

REMEMBERING BEAR MILLER 1999 ~ 2012

One year ago on March 31, 2012, I let my Bear go. What a horrible time that was, from his cancer diagnosis in January to his peaceful death that day.  I tried so hard to keep him alive, against all reasonable odds.   His sister and forever partner Holly had died two years before owing to unexpected complications from cancer surgery - a staggering loss to him and to me.  We picked up the pieces and moved on, bringing Aidan into our lives because he needed a home and was considered unadoptable because of his serious heart problems.  They became friends, but as my bestie Mags observed, Bear was never the same after Holly died.  As they are portrayed below, so they lived...my precious velcro cats.  I miss them so much.  Having animals forces you to face loss and grief on a level that I have found worse than when our humans go.  I hope there is a happy place for them now, where they are healthy, whole and new.  Most of all, I hope they are together.  One of my favorite sonnets by Edna St. Vincent Millay is posted here at my computer and reminds me daily of Bear:

 

Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring,
And all the flowers that in the springtime grow,
And dusty roads, and thistles, and the slow
Rising of the round moon, all throats that sing
The summer through, and each departing wing,
And all the nests that the bared branches show,
And all winds that in any weather blow,
And all the storms that the four seasons bring.

You go no more on your exultant feet
Up paths that only mist and morning knew,
Or watch the wind, or listen to the beat
Of a bird’s wings too high in air to view,—
But you were something more than young and sweet
And fair,—and the long year remembers you.

 

Bear and Holly - always connected.

HAPPY EASTER 2013

Hello from NoCo where March is typically our snowiest month and this year has certainly proved it so.  Today is March 31 and we had rain yesterday and a freeze last night but glorious sunshine this morning.  More snow coming in tomorrow.  There is almost always snow on the ground for Easter.  Everyone is welcoming moisture in any form after the very mild winter last year set us up for the infernos of the summer.  We're having a family thing this afternoon and I'll get some people pix to post up, including the bingo game!

The annuals are poking up through the ground, birds are returning from their sojourns to the south, and all my deciduous trees have buds waiting to burst open.  Having never lived anywhere but relatively seasonless SoCa before, I have found each season here brings different gifts.  Needless to say, summer is my least favorite because it's too hot and there are too many mosquitoes.  Everyone routinely protects against them and the sun.

Here's a little update on Sydney Eugene at The Gabriel Foundation. He has bonded with a buddy bird named Chicken, a male umbrella cockatoo.  Their sleeping cages are now next to one another and they share a flight aviary all to themselves during the day because neither plays all that nicely with the rest of the flock.  Rowdy boys!  They are roughly the same age and I hope they grow happily old together.  When I go to visit now, I play with both of them as they do not like to be separated.  Sometimes I feel like a parrot tower, as they want to cuddle together in my lap or on my shoulder.  It's a great feeling to know that Syd isn't lonely and that he is in the company of a best friend as well as lots of other humans who provide attention.



Sydney with the gold crest and Chicken.



They mimic each other frequently.

Sydney telling Chicken a secret.

I mentioned more snow and here it is.  We had the closest thing to a blizzard that I've experienced two weeks ago and it was really blowing!  Afterward the snow stayed on the trees for days and there is still some on the ground.






AJ loves her chews!



NO CO WILDLIFE REPORT

I got a great DSLR courtesy of my sis-in-law Nancy and have been shooting hundreds of less than impressive pieces.  The raptors of this area are my favorites - we have bald and golden eagles and numerous hawks and falcons.  I joined the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (RMRP) and the information offered is fantastic.  This is in addition to their very successful efforts at rehabbing and releasing injured raptors (after the raptors pass a hunting/survival test in a flight aviary).  Here are some of the locals:

Bald eagle fishing at dusk Pelican Lake

Another baldie surveying his kingdom.

These are all 1-3 year old bald eagles who are staying on for the summer
instead of heading north to nest.  The nests in the tree are actually heron nests.

Baldie coming in for a landing.

All settled down now.

Following are a couple of photos of RMRP raptors. They are birds who could not be released due to the nature of their injuries and their compromised hunting and self-protection skills.

This is a rough-legged hawk, blind in one eye.

Now THIS is an  ambassador - a  HUGE golden eagle.
 I'm proud that RMRP published this photo on its FB page.  As you
can see, he's a bit ruffled up over me pointing a camera at him.

BRRRR...SPRING IN NO CO

Well, March came in and is going out like a lion!  Thank goodness for snow, no matter when.  Last year's terrible fires were as a result of a very mild and virtually snowless winter.  This year we've been luckier and the jet stream has dipped low enough to include us in the cold weather.  Oddly enough, the Fort Collins/Timnath area gets less snow than points south and east.  We are protected somewhat by our location in the shadow of the Rockies.  We've had several great snow events and one qualified, sort of, as a blizzard.  Excitement!  The latest significant snow was on March 23, following the pronouncement that winter was over.

AJ fascinated with snow.

There are many birds in this tree.

Robin in the snow.

House finches eating.

Aidan thinks Timmy is crazy!  Tim is allowed out under close supervision.

Aidan turns his back on the whole mess.

WOODY MILLER

This is Woody, a Downy Woodpecker who loves the suet blocks in my back yard.

NEW YEAR'S DAY IN TIMNATH

I've decided to host a New Year's Day open house every year and 2013 marked the inaugural event.  A great time was had by all and lots of folks drifted in and out.  Here are a few photos:


Dr. Morganne Pastterson, one of our vets with Timmy from Timnath

The food was pretty darn awesome

Sandy Jo and Val - my CO best friend

Valerie,Terri, Michael, Susie & Stacie - the 5 Miller kids

Larry and Bentley

Sandy and Ken (newly engaged)

Party folks

Stacie and hubby Mark



Susie and Bentley

Mike in the tiny NY hat

Morganne and Steven



Stacie and Val

Larry, Val & neighbor Karen

Timmy says Happy New Year 2013!