Moose Watching

      When we were in Colorado this summer, there was a pond near the road that the local moose loved to visit in the afternoon. 

     Ten or twelve of us photographed her from the road, but she didn't seem to mind.  There was a barbed wire fence between us so perhaps she knew none of us would cross the fence to bother her.

    One of people spotted her calf in some tall weeds on the other side of the pond.  He or she was very well hidden.

    My edited close-up is a bit blurry.

  A day or so later she was back in the pond.  Or at least a moose was in the same pond. I'm not sure if its the same moose. She also had a calf. This one looks older and bigger to me, but I'm no moose expert. 

     Moose are such amazing animals.  Huge, too.  I saw my first one in Maine in a state park pond.  In Alaska I saw a momma moose and her calf very close to the Visitor's Center in Denali.  Lots of people around, but at least no wolves to snatch her calf. So she was a smart moose.

     I've made some moose inspired jewelry, too.  

If you like moose jewelry, too, check out my Etsy shop to see what's currently available.

An Interview About My Perfect Vacation on the CIJ Blog

    An interview about my perfect vacation spot was featured on the CIJ (Christmas in July) blog today.   You can read about it here.
     If you're looking for vacation ideas, check it out.  Other members of the team have been featured this week, too.  Super places from around the world are being featured.  
     Great arm chair travels.

An Escape to Nederland

     

    With temperatures soaring past 110°F here, it was time to escape the desert.  We took off for Nederland, Colorado, a small town nestled in the Rocky Mountains.  Nederland is west of Boulder at an altitude that’s a cool 8200 ft.  We chose it because I had arranged to do a workshop with my favorite bead artist, Heidi Kummli, who lives nearby.   It was a magical week that included beading, hiking, wildlife viewing and happy hours.   

      Boulder Creek was right behind our Lodge. An easy walking trail is next to it so you can hear the relaxing sound of the mountain stream.    

       The town is small and picture perfect.   This covered bridge leads to Crosscut Pizzeria & Tap House, which makes the best wood fired pizza I've ever eaten.  A huge selection of craft beers are available, too.  We shared the patio with the other pizza lovers and their dogs.  Nederland is a very dog-friendly town.  

                    

     We hiked a lot.  The mountain are spectacular.   The lakes, when we could reach them, were beautiful. 

   The highlight of the wildlife was a moose and her calf that we saw a couple of times.  She was very accommodating by standing in a pond that was right beside the road.  My knees appreciated her thoughtfulness!

    

  One day we drove the scenic Peak to Peak highway to Estes Park.

          We returned to Lily Lake, where we had hiked a few years ago.  We walked around the lake and saw ducklings, ground squirrels, and a muskrat. On our first visit we had seen a beaver lodge. Unfortunately they died a year or so after our visit. However, a ranger at the Lake said that a young beaver has been spotted a few times recently.  Maybe the next time we go back we'll see beavers.  

      The day I spent beading with Heidi was wonderful.  She helped me lay out a pattern and place my first 3 cabochons. This is my most ambitious project so far so it will take a while to complete.  More to come on this subject.

       In the meantime, we soaked up the mountain air and tried to pack it in our suitcases.  Too soon we had to return to the heat of the valley.  But we loved Nederland and plan to return soon.

  

Fishing, Alaska Style

Fishing, Alaska Style

     It's a great time of year in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Salmon are running and bears are feasting.  Every day hundreds of visitors are flocking to Alaska to view the bears. An estimated 20,000 viewed them in 2016.     

     I'm watching the bears, too, but remotely from Arizona.  In fact, I have breakfast and lunch with them almost every day.  The bear cams located at Brooks Falls are better than ever and very popular.   

  This experienced fisherman knows he only has to wait patiently and the fish will come to him.

This younger bear has picked a spot further down the river, away from the big guys.  It looks like luck is with him today as he holds his snagged fish.

The site is not only fun, it's educational. The Park Service provides free e-books that teach about grizzly bears. Even more interesting is that it tells us the name, age, sex and other known information about individual local bears.  Ranger talks are broadcast frequently, too.   For anyone who isn't fortunate enough to watch the grizzly bears in person, the bear cams provide the next best chance to see these great animals up close.  

So the next time you have a few spare minutes or need a relaxing break, check out the Brooks Falls Bears.  Just be careful--bear cams are addictive!

A Pop-up Market for Christmas in July

     My Etsy shop is one of 12 shops being featured in today's Christmas in July Pop-up Market!   There are 12 shops, all from the U.S.  They can be reached by going to today's CIJ blog post, located here.

     This is the first time I've been involved in this adventure.  So far I've met some very nice shop owners from other parts of the country.   Also, it's a lot easier than setting up for our Grand Boutiques.  No tables to move.  No items to unpack and arrange on the tables.    LOL  

     Also I have to say that a Virtual Market is a lot more comfy than a real outdoor market on a hot, hot July day in Arizona.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE!

      It's officially Christmas in July and time for the huge CIJ Etsy team sale.  I'm participating this year with my Desert Dabbler shop.  All of the handcrafted jewelry is on sale at 10% off.  
     In shops all over Etsy there will be sales on everything from accessories to zippers over 850,000 items on sale.  That number will probably grow as more shops get involved.
      To locate items easily you can search using CIJ or ChristmasinJuly in Etsy search, found at www.Etsy.com.    I'm using the CIJ tag on my items, but some shops are using the longer tag.
     Another easy way to find sale items is the Etsy On Sale site, which is at    
https://www.etsyonsale.com/browse

       In addition to the sale, the CIJ Team is planning 10 days of activities on their Blog.

July 1st – Welcome To Etsy Christmas In July 2017 – #EtsyCIJ 2017
July 2nd – CIJ Team & Wandarrah Team Cross Promotion
July 3rd – CIJ Team Leaders: Feature
July 4th – #CIJPopUpMarket #1: International Shops
July 5th – #CIJParty
July 6th – #CIJPopUpMarket #2: USA Shops
July 7th – #CIJPopUpMarket #3
July 8th – #CIJPopUpMarket #4
July 9th – CIJ Team Members: Best Photos From the #CIJLovesJuly Photo Challenge
July 10th – Happy Etsy Christmas In July 2017 To All, And To All A Good Night! – #EtsyCIJ 2017

      Desert Dabbler is one of the shops in the July 6 Pop Up Market.  Very exciting!  I'm not sure what to expect, but it will be an adventure.   I hope you'll stop by.

     The sale runs until July 10.   Happy shopping!
.   
     

Quail Chicks in the Courtyard

Quail Chicks in the Courtyard

     I was working in the casita this morning when I heard the clucking of a Gambels Quail family. When I looked out my window I saw them scurrying around the plants.  Quickly I grabbed my camera.

     These little guys have feathers so they are a few weeks old. When they're first hatched they look like fuzz balls on stilts.  They zoom around the yard following their mom and dad at an amazing speed.  I've never been able to get a picture of them at that stage. They're invisible against the gravel, which is probably best.  We have owls, hawks and other predatory birds here that would love a quail snack. 

     The adults are great parents. One leads the group and one brings up the rear.  They never leave the chicks unattended. Once they were in the casita the male flew to the top of the wall to watch for danger.  

      They stayed ten or fifteen minutes hunting through the seeds and leaves. Some people around here pick up every leaf and seed that drops. Some even call it "litter".  

      As you can see, I'm not one of those people! I see seeds and leaves as part of the food chain.  Although looking at these pictures, I realize I could tidy up a little and still have a banquet of left overs for the wildlife.  Maybe I'll do that when it cools down. In the meantime I'm enjoying watching these guys feast.

       

  One of the adults, probably the female but I'm not sure.

A solo chick

I hope the quail enjoyed their breakfast and come back soon.