Dec 27 2008
“Bobbing for Apples”
We have an old apple tree by the driveway. It is sorely in need of trimming and pruning. The fruit is small and quite sour. We let the tree grow wild and forego harvesting any fruit. As the season progressed these tiny apples fell to the ground and were eventually covered with snow.On Christmas eve the snow had accumulated to 14” in depth. As luck would have it, four elk wandered into our yard, nipped off some rose bushes and finished off the remaining dead petunias. They also found an abundance of apples under the tree. In this photo we find two of the elk “bobbing for apples” in the knee deep snow.
Returning home yesterday, about 3:30 p.m., Hilda and I came upon a group of wild elk about to cross the road. We guessed that they were coming down off of the hill to drink from the creek. Out came the camera and I squeezed off several shots through the windshield. The local elk in this area don’t seem to be extremely shy when a car passes by. However, when you stop they turn their rump towards you and slowly drift away. Our stop was for only a short time. I didn’t want to place any more stress on the animals. I enjoy this cropped photo of an elk standing in the brush. A car makes an excellent photo blind.
A couple of days ago Hilda and I walked up to the creek crossing about a half mile from the house. It was just after a light dusting of snow. This is where we turned around and returned to the house. There is always something to photograph here at the ranch. I am not a professional photographer. When I see scenes like this something inside me seems to click and I haul out the camera. I shoot for the sheer enjoyment of capturing nature behind the shutter. I like this photo of the creek crossing!
This little version of red squirrel, sometimes called “chicory” is common throughout the pine forests in southern Idaho. It builds nests in tree cavities and nest boxes. It rears families and spends nights in these cavities. During the warm summer months these little guys can be seen gathering seeds, nuts and other food items and storing them in caches for future consumption. When we go out exploring in snowy winter days we often encounter a pile of hulled pine cones under a tree or by an old stump. Our little friend has dipped into its winter store and paused for lunch. We sometimes hear it chattering nearby warning other creatures of our presence. They become quite gentle when attracted to feeding stations and with a little effort, on your part, may be enticed to eat out of your hand.