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Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Springtime, at least for Today!

I was out on my fat bike with Shyla before it got warm this morning. The snow was frozen (great for riding), the sky was blue, and the sun was warm on my face. It was a day when I knew that I live exactly where I belong.
Living in the shadow of the Divide isn't always easy with the long winters and harsh weather. However, the bounty - bluebird days, brilliant wildflowers, lots of wilderness to wander - makes it worth it.

Those mountains behind Shyla make me smile every single day. And Shyla, "Daughter of the Mountains", has come to love them like I do. We'll climb up high in those mountains when the snow finally melts in July or so!

We did a longish ride today because I couldn't bear to go indoors. We meandered through meadows, over peaks, and through forests. Everywhere, little signs of spring caught my attention. I heard hummingbirds buzz over me. When we reached one meadow, I heard new bird calls that I haven't heard all winter. It turned out that the Tree Swallows are back!!!

I think that they arrived as a larger flock and then split off into pairs because I saw multiple pairs around the meadow. This pair was laying claim to an aspen tree with several good nesting holes in it.

As this swallow looked at me, I noticed the two holes, one by her tail and the obvious one in the lower left of the photo.
It will doubtless snow again, and these insect eaters will have to retreat to lower elevation. I wonder whether this pair will be able to keep their claim on this perfect nesting tree? I'll keep watching as spring evolves.

With it feeling so much like spring, I was itching to go check my trail cameras at the bear den. I restrained myself because I know that mother bears with new cubs stay at their dens for seemingly forever in the spring, waiting for the cubs to be ready to navigate the forest with all its dangers. However, I am so excited for the day when I can finally check those cameras!

And I can't wait to watch the mother raise her cubs. I believe that the sow in the den is the same one as had one cub a few years ago - and she loved to bring her cub to a local watering hole to play. It's going to be a great summer watching the bears and cubs!
It's a happy day in Colorado!

19 comments:

  1. We had a beautiful and enjoyable day here today too, but it pales in comparison to all the beauty in your world. WE are very excited too to see the Mama Bear and her cubs.

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  2. We are patiently awaiting your bear den pictures too.

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  3. So happy for you and shyla to finally see and hear signs of spring ��

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  4. Hi KB
    What a beautiful post. I am glad I searched to see if you did a new post.. because your post did not show up on blog,, like it always has in the past..
    Such a beautiful post.. and yes, Shyla- daughter of the mountains!
    How we love those words,.,, it feels like eternal healing when I say those words.
    We love swallows too,,,
    and we keep thinking of the baby bears and the momma.
    love
    tweedles

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  5. I am so happy that you are finally feeling spring and I can't wait to see all of your beautiful flowers and wildlife!

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  6. Don't you wish you could access the camera remotely? That would be great. Those tree swallows are so pretty!

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  7. Mary - Yes, I am wishing so strongly that I had remote access to the trail cameras at the den! The bears could have departed, and I have no way to know it!

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  8. how great that Miss Spring came to you :o) and I can't wait to hear more about the bears .... let's hope for a wonderful summer for all of us ... and a big hug to R :o)

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  9. So much beauty!!! We are looking forward to seeing the trail camera footage too!

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  10. I love seeing all your pawesome pictures! It's amazing thinking of all the snow you still have, when we're the in 70s every day here in Texas!

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  11. What a beautiful place Shyla
    Love & Peas,
    Lily & Edward

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  12. Yay for Spring! I hope it sticks around for a little while for you! Those photos are gorgeous! I love seeing your mountains and the wildlife!

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  13. It is wonderful to see spring on the mountain. We are hoping it continues

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  14. Hope the last snow storm is behind you and spring continues.

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  15. Hooray for some Spring for you and hooray for the bear family!

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  16. If you get the weather we had today that snow is gonna melt! Love the bear action and hope they spend a lot of time in front of the cameras BOL!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  17. I can't wait to see more pictures of cubs and their mom. Happy Spring.

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  18. We've had such hot days... I'm looking forward to fall! Of course, it's 48 degrees as I type thanks to a freak storm!

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