Blog - And then.....: August 2011 - Anne Muller Photography

Goodbye Summer

last night we heard the elk bugling all night and this afternoon several were spotted trotting through the wetland. It occurred to me that summer might be just about over.

It was the talk at the grocery store that convinced me to come home and check the forecast. Yep. 83 degrees right now, 33 tonight.

I took a few true summer shots a few days ago....summer morning, summer night. Soon, surely by the 3rd week in September - 21 days from now, there will be shots of golden aspens and I will be praising their vibrant beauty. Still, right now, it is a little sad to say goodbye to what has, despite its brevity, been a glorious summer.

WHAT CHICKEN LITTLE SAW

..The sky fell into our pond last night.

Mahalia Moose Update

While we have not recently seen the twin moose babies we have been visited pretty steadily for the past 48 hours by Mama Mildred and Baby Mahalia, the moose twosome from earlier this summer. We are even more certain that the mama is the very same moose that was a baby here last summer for now these two seem very comfortable hanging out right under Eddie's window. ( there should be an explanation here as to why Eddie has his own room but we will leave that for another post.) That baby moose and Eddie had a very unique friendship for much of July and August '10 and even now seem quite comfortable sharing space albeit with a solid wall between them.
Mahalia was pictured here with her mama in, I think, early July. Now she ( ahem ...or he) is looking so good...shiny coat and fat on aspens, willows and not a few plants from our garden. This is good news because winter will be here sooner than it should for a little being like our Mahalia.

LITTLE SOUVENIRS OF THE SUMMER ~ ( + a little bit of learning)

I have been working on learning Final Cut for making movies. These are wee examples of the learning process as well as sweet memories for the grandmama!

BULL!

I just walked out past the cabin, solo, quiet and ever alert to the wildlife that frequent the wetland.

Looking to my right I see, in a strong ray of sunlight, an unfamiliar tree. A bit of magnificent movement revealed not golden branches but the antlers of a HUGE bull elk. After staring at each other for some minutes the bull and I, at the same time, slowly turned away - I to come back home to tell you about this, he to continue on his stealthy way with what is likely to be an ever increasing harem.

I have seen several herds here at 2750 in the past years ( Ariel spotted the first one about 3 years ago as she drove up at night). There have been at least 2 groups come through every year since as they head up the levee to cross the Snake. This is the first elk I have seen in daylight and up close. What a great life this is living here!

( most of the time I have a camera with me on the walk. This walk was to be just out and back before an appointment so, so in haste, I failed to grab it. THAT lesson AGAIN!)

Departures

And then they left. Very quiet around here. J described her crew as The Noise Brigade and rightly so but what wonderfully vital noise! I miss them all so much.