Antsy Antelope or is it Paranoid Pronghorn?

On a recent Sunday afternoon ride, Steve and I came across quite a few antelope. They don't like their picture taken because they are very shy and won't stand still for too long. But they're so fun to watch!

This hill is melting quickly from the sun. Antelope like hills because then they can see what's coming - an enemy, a car, a butterfly? eeeek

The locals all call these antelope, but technically they are pronghorn. And pronghorn do not like to jump fences. So when we come across them, we drive real slow so they can find that hole in the fence or an open gate. Otherwise, if they get real scared they will attempt to jump the fence, get caught in the barbed wire, and eventually die. We come across too many carcasses out here. You can see on the far left an antelope waiting for these two to join him.

They have real big eyes high on their head. They have a wide vision area. Many times I know I'm being closely watched though their eyes are not on me. And I guess they can see very far also.

And with their brown and white patched fur, they are pretty incognito this time of the year.

Class is over. You may go now with your vast amount of antelope/pronghorn knowledge.

Oh, and by the way, I shared an appetizer recipe on my food blog Cabin Cleaver  if you'd like to take a peek at yumminess.

Anytime Roll Up Appetizers PRINT RECIPE By Debi VanDyke | Cabin Cleaver in Appetizers Web Page http://cabincleaver.blogspot.com/2017/02/anytime-roll-up-appetizers.html Prep: 10 minutes                      Level: Easy Refrigeration: 1 hour +             Makes: about 35 roll ups Ingredients: 2 – 8 oz. packages creme cheese, softened 1 package ranch dressing mix Ground Black Pepper 5 flour tortillas 1 cup finely diced bell pepper (see my note below) 2 green onions, sliced fine Directions: Thoroughly mix the creme cheese, ranch dressing mix and the black pepper together until smooth. Mix the peppers and green onions together. Spread the creamy mixture on the tortillas, and then sprinkle over the creamy layer the vegetable mixture. Roll up tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour. Before serving, slice the roll ups into small wheels and place on a serving platter.  Note: You can get creative with your bell pepper colors. At Christmas time you can use red and green, in the spring or summer yellow and orange. So many possibilities and so yummy!

It's Still Winter By the Way...

After our snowmobile trip up and down the canyon, the temps shot up, the sun shined for days, and drip, drip, dripping could be seen and heard everywhere. The creek went from a babble to a roar. We went for hikes and one day Steve even took his shirt off due to the warmth of the sun. I had spring fever! Let's get fishing!

And this rainbow, to me, was a sign of an early spring!

Boy, was I wrong.

On Wednesday we heard it was coming.

 In the afternoon the winter storm watch was upgraded to a winter storm warning so we hopped in the truck and headed to town for some supplies. The heavy snow and wind wasn't due until the next morning.

And two days later everything is all white again, and it's all right, too.

It is really quite beautiful and tranquil. There is no breeze today and the sun is trying its hardest to shine through the haze of leftover clouds.

Outdoor picnics will have to wait.

And can you believe we have had our morning coffee at this table a couple of times with the dogs laying at our feet?

The dogs...I'm pretty sure Ike had spring fever, too. Yesterday he wanted nothing to do with the out of doors unless he had to do his business, and then he returned so quickly I barely had time to shut the door before reopening to his one "woof". Steve timed him once and he was out approximately 5.26 minutes.

Now Bear on the other hand LOVES the snow and proceeded to roll in it (her version of a bath), made a hole, circled the hole, then laid down in a ball for a nap.

I hear the weather has been crazy all over the US this winter. How's the weather by you? 

Snowmobiling the Canyon...

Steve and I doubled up on a snowmobile he recently bought and took a ride up the Crazy Woman Canyon. This is the scene once we reached the top of the canyon. So serene yet a bit windy but the air wasn't bitterly cold so it was wonderful.

We were about the only ones on the trails.

Steve taking pictures of me and my snowy back and backpack.

Hi!

Lots of snow up in these here mountains.

Sunshine! We can see our shadows!

Back down the canyon.

The Crazy Woman Canyon Creek

I often look at that crack and say hmmmm....don't stop here.

Such a beautiful canyon...

That is the canyon in the distance. We could not snowmobile from the flat land to the canyon today. We've lost quite a bit of snow on the plains.

Have a great week everyone! Time for me to get ready to go to the neighbors for dinner. Fun!

My Feathered Friends

I was trying to take pictures of my feathered friends, but they wouldn't sit still long enough for the shots to come in clear.

I started feeding the birds out here when we arrived at the end of December.

It took them about one week to figure it out.

Now they are here all the time.

I know this shot is crooked but I get a kick out of  the finch on the bottom left. Does he have snow on his nose? er...beak?

Some of my male finches are really getting their yellow on.

I have juncos, chickadees and finches. There are magpies all over the area but they eat meat like the eagles. Love my feathered friends until they fly into the window and feathers go flying. That's not too pretty.

Hunkered Down...

On Monday it was in the mid 40's and the sun was shining and we went for a nice walk (through a little mud!) with the dogs. The snow was drip, drip, dripping off the cabin's rooftop. That was Monday...

Tuesday we waited for the 4-6 inches of snow we were suppose to get. Today is Thursday and we have at least 10 inches on the ground and it is 9 degrees.

The dogs don't even want to go outside.

Ike is snoring as I type.

At times you could hardly tell the line between the ground and the sky, and you wouldn't have known there were mountains out there.

But I have to admit it is pretty.

There is a valley down there.

Certainly didn't see any elk.

No glimpse of the valley at this point.

No canyon out yonder...

But the cabin is warm and cozy with the wood stove cranking up the heat.

I'm not complaining...