Happy Birthday Dawn

I can't believe our little baby girl is turning 15 on Wednesday. How did this happen?

It couldn't be that long ago that we brought our little bundle home to live with us.

We would carry her around pointing out things and telling her about her world.

She thought it was hilarious when we would swat flies, she would laugh hysterically.

When Dawn was three she wanted to be a cloud for Halloween. polyfill covered her sweat suit as she carried her pink parasol around town collecting candy.

When Dawn was six we had a mean little Bantam rooster. If you got to close to his flock he would come after you, a furious ball of feathers. Dawn would catch him and tote Rooster Cogburn around the farm.

Dawn has grown into a smart, beautiful high schooler.

Happy Birthday to the girl with the purple aura and the creative mind.

Sunday Stills- Fins, Feathers, and Fur

This pair of trumpeter swan's & their family came for a visit to Antelope Lake.

Trumpeter swans are the largest of North American waterfowl.

Their long necks allow them to forage for vegetation with out diving.

I feel very lucky to have seen them.

They are an endangered species.

In the 1930's there were only 300 in Canada, but are in recovery now.

Hunting Whitetail

Hunting season is in full force now in North Dakota.

Here is a picture of our first whitetail hunter with his game.

The North Dakota state record whitetail deer came off of this ranch.

We have prime deer habitat here. Plenty of feed, water and shelter.

Whitetail deer are very smart and seem to know how to avoid hunters.

Studies have shown that deer can smell human scent on underbrush for days after we leave the woods. wary bucks react very negatively when they run across our scent, often becoming leery of the area for weeks afterwards.

Bucks most often bed by laying on their right side and facing downwind, which allows them to use their eyes, ears and nose to detect danger approaching from any direction.

Deer are quick and skillful swimmers, often taking to water when frightened. Deer can easily swim across lakes or rivers at 10 miles per hour.

When running, a deer takes a long stride, with it's tracks spaced as much as 25 feet apart.

This tells me you have to be a skillful hunter to bag a big buck.

Sunday Stills-Currency

Currency

Phony as a two dollar bill.

This saying is no longer true as they made two dollar bills as legal tender for a time.

I received these two as change at a Minot's 34rth annual Christmas Art & Craft Fair Dawn & I went to yesterday.

The fair was awesome. It was held at the North Dakota State fair grounds and had so many vender's you would have to stay the full two days to see them all.

Craft Hope

Here is the quilt I made for "Craft Hope"

I had all of the material for this quilt in my stash, so it was very handy.

This is their fifth project. These quilts are going to homeless children in Michigan.

Check out Craft Hope http://crafthope.com/

If you enjoy crafting, this is a great way to get involved & help out a great cause.

Sunday Stills-Halloween

This spooky old Hotel sits down the road a few miles from our place by the rail road tracks.

The picture is quite blurry. I was parked by the tracks to get the shot when I saw the speeding train coming my way.

I had to take the picture fast and be on my way, before I became a ghostly guest at the old Hotel.

Old Hallow's Eve

Old Hallows Eve is quickly approaching.

Are you ready?

Do you have plenty of candy for all the ghouls and goblins that will come knocking at your door?

Are you prepared for any tricks that might be coming your way on this spooky night?

As you walk through the woods do you hear foot steps following behind?

Do you feel the impending doom blowing in on the cold breeze?

Listen closely. Do you hear ghostly footsteps creaking on your floor?

What is that scratching on your window's and doors?

This is the night the spirits arrive to walk the earth by our sides.

Look out, Look out, Hurry inside.

Lock the doors and close the blinds.