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Thursday, July 14, 2011

K and the days of summer

K has been showing definite signs of improvement, moving with more enthusiasm and living life with a spark of excitement. Our very short mountain bike rides have commenced (with prior approval by our trusty vet).
Her kidneys still seem to be sore which I wish that we could resolve. I'm trying to learn to live with the uncertainty and just enjoy each day.

K's resurgence is just in time because I'm hearing rumors that some of our favorite alpine trails are finally losing their snow cover. I hope that K will be able to join me for some thin air hikes way up above the trees in the near future.
The wildflowers, like the Marsh Marigolds above, should be spectacular after the soaking of snow melt and our daily thunder storms.
The bluebirds have loved the recent wet weather - this male was taking a tasty morsel to his nestlings.
The mud has also provided some tracking opportunities. A bear walked through a mud flat and left beautiful tracks.
I wonder if it was the same bear as visited us last week. This biggish bear persisted for a long time trying to wrench our base pole for our bear-proof birdfeeders out of the ground. His visit was during a deluge of rain so the photos are a bit blurry.
Despite his persistence, this brute left without any bird food in his stomach. The Runner, who designed our bearproof birdfeeding station, wins another round of IQ testing against the bear!

The bear was not a good sport about losing this round. As he departed our clearing, he knocked over a bear proof trash can to vent his frustration.

It's truly summer. Flowers are bursting from every crevice of the forest, and bears seem like a daily part of our lives. I cherish each day of our very brief summer!

P.S. Yesterday's mystery flower was a Spotted Coral Root (Corallorhiza maculata), an orchid that thrives in pine forests.

21 comments:

  1. Your pictures look like postcards
    Benny & Lily

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  2. One of those bears is going to figure out that bird feeder ;). LOL!

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  3. Stunning photos!! I'm so glad that K is feeling better and continues to improve. I think we both know first hand that enjoying our pups is really like getting a gift each day from them.

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  4. Have you seen any more of the mother bear and her two cubs? We were wondering if the cubs have gone their own way yet.

    Good that you are seeing signs that K is doing better. We hope she gets to join you on your rides soon.

    We heard there were some big thunderstorms over the Rockies yesterday. It is amazing to us to read that you have melting snow as we are melting away here in the heat.

    Love those flowers.

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  5. That's what I like to hear, that K is improving. Runner should patent that feeder. Anything that can withstand a persistent bear is a treasure.

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  6. Glad to hear K is improving. Hope the mending continues rapidly.

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  7. Hi Y'all!

    We'll be going up in the mountains soon. When we get there I can drive my Human crazy at night alertin' to the wild animals that prowl along the ridge above the house.

    So glad K is able to enjoy going with her human again!

    Y'all come back now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  8. We hope this wave of rain storms did not wash you away. Wonderful flowers.

    Mogley G. Retriever

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  9. I love that bluebird! The way the colors just explode during your summer is spectacular!! Good news about Ms. K :-)

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  10. I continue to love your fantastic and beautiful pictures!! Wow...they look like paintings! I will continue to pray for K to get better. The bear looks like she has taken up pole dancing..that is cute!! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly

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  11. I'm glad to hear that K is on the mend! I think that sometimes dogs need that spiritual boost of being able to get back to something they love just like we do. I'm betting she's thrilled to be out again!

    I love that picture of her with all the blue behind her! That is really stunning. You should frame that one.

    I'm giggling over that bear tantrum! Too bad there's no video of that!

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  12. Oh KB,
    The photos are tooo beautiful!
    Gosh,,, just too beautiful.
    I remember last year and all the beautiful photos you shared with us,, from your summer
    We look forward to so much more stunning photos
    love
    tweedles

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  13. Good to read that K continues to mend. Jed's been on antibiotics [4 different ones] since the first of April for a wound that is not healing, so it can take a while. Hope K is able to visit the aspens with you before Fall. Gotta give the adult male bear an A for effort, if not for sportsmanship.

    Jed & Abby

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  14. So happy to hear K is feeling a bit better!
    -Corbin

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  15. We have missed a couple weeks of your posts and have been catching up.
    AWESOME pictures and comments as usual. So many BEAUTIFUL wildflowers. the Saxifrage looks almost too perfect and not real. Loved the Sky pilots, twin flowers and all the other alpine flowers!!!!
    So GLAD to hear K is improving! Keeping her in our thoughts.
    ernie,sasha,chica,lucas

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  16. Here's to hoping I'm going to get some high country wildflowers shots finally! You've left a real hunger for the summer mountains in my tastebuds!

    So glad K is on the mend!

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  17. Thanks for your comment, KB, and we are all fine!

    Hey, that bear really showed you, didn't he? I love it when animals decide a little spite is what you need!

    Double wonderful pics, from Weds and Today.

    Cheers and hugs,

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  18. Glad that K is improving albeit not as quickly as you would hope. In the incredible place that you live one could almost forget the human need to hurry things along...but not for everything. Hope K gets to travel those alpine trails VERY soon!

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  19. Those tracks would have made a nice plaster cast!

    :)

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  20. Sounds like that bear had a bit of a temper. ;) The Runner must have build one super-sturdy birdfeeding station. Nice work!

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