Bear . . . Again

Treed Bear next to our house!

My first blog, my beginning of this blog, years ago . . . was posting of a bear. Every year we see bears. I've had these pictures on my desktop for awhile and figured I'd get this post done with.

Monte and his brother Mike treed this bear in September. This tree is but a number of feet from the north side of our house, out Monte's office door, and next to the chicken coop.

We might occasionally see a bear in the summer, tho usually in the fall. One year I walked out our front door and a bear stood up, right there in front of the garage door. Kinda put a damper on the rest of summer   . . . Like did any of us camp out in the meadow or the bunkhouse again?

 

Bear at compost bin (wood bear statue on the front porch)

Walking down to my lower garden I have to walk a bit in the woods to get to the gate (we have a 6 foot fence to keep the elk out) and thinking of a bear possibility, I did not want to scare it, so knew I needed to make noise. I decided to sing without much thought as to what - "Bears eat oats, and Does eat oats, and little Lambs eat ivy ..."

They don't seem to be attracted to the compost bins, tho this one the following day checked it out.

Usually not till the end of summer, when the bears are trying to fill up before hibernation, do we see a bear in the back yard (which is surrounded by an electric fence to keep deer and elk out). It must smell the bird suet.

I was at the kitchen counter  and out the corner of my eye . . . I was thinking . . . "that's a mighty big bird!" A bear at the bird feeder! This feeder is only a foot away from the window. A little too close!

Bear at bird feeder next to window!

I scared that bear away! Yelled at it. And it proceeded to walk over the front porch. I thought it had gone, but not long after, I realized it was out back, on the back deck, where the suet was and more bird feeders.

It had downed the suet and feeders, rolling them around to lick up all the seed. I scared it away. Going out, I saw that it had left a mess . . . along with a dump!

Bear dump and downed, emptied, old bird feeder that's survived bear for years!

I've not put the bird suet back out for a month and no return of the bear!

Christmas Time with Family

My boys came for Christmas. Travis and Sarah with their two munchkins stayed for several days. Our wood stove keeps the chill off our great room when cloudy cold. Emery really liked keeping it stoked and our home's mass was quite warm!

Travis in the rocking chair reading

Emery stoking the fire

Little Scout was not feeling well, but pretty cheerful in spite. I stayed home with her one evening as everyone else went to downtown Denver's Zoo lights. Travis took some great pictures with his new camera!

Scout leaning in to hug me, her Oma

Dawson and Splarah silhouetted and Monte framed by the elk antlers

Splarah and Dawson looking at their breath

Dawson and Splarah made their Nephew and Niece some pretty cool Christmas presents: a "lappy" for Emery that has magnet closures for the wood laptop as well as the "pad" chalk cover, along with a cloth carrying case; and then a vacuum.

Chalkboard "Lappy" with magnetic closures

Carved to resemble a Mac

Vacuum

Scout loves her vacuum!

Emery loves to sit and color

Scout playing with the crayons too

Emery loved sledding this year

My back deck

Our Home

Sunrise

Elk in our meadow

Getting Dirty is Healthy

I read about a study . . . A soil bacteria called M. vaccae activates neurons in our brains. It releases serotonin that helps balance our immune system, decreasing the cause for depression. This dirt bacteria helps our brain's cognitive function and regulates our moods; also improving vitality and quality of life.

So diggin in the dirt is good. Exposure to soil microbes, and being outside breathing in good bacteria helps our immune system learn the difference between good and harmful bacteria and viruses. Helps teach our bodies to fight the right fights and lessens infections and allergies.

I got my dose of M. vaccae today!  I dug in my compost. I shoveled all the compost from the center bin into the right bin, readying the center bin for winter composting. Once down near the bottom I shoveled the new dirt, well composted kitchen scraps and garden refuse - what I call "black gold!" - thru the end sifter into a wheelbarrow. I needed compost for the garlic I was planting (garlic bulbs are separated and planted in the fall to grow new bulbs and get harvested the following summer).

So don't be afraid to get dirty! Let your kids play outside!

My compost bin

Will

Emery and Will

Scout

Emery's first fishing trip with Grandpa Monte

Our fire pit

Wisconsin Fall Colors

Reflection

Monte and me went to Wisconsin for a few weeks. Got to watch the progression of their fall colors. Monte grew up in Wisconsin and his mom and two brothers are still there. Monte's family roots homesteaded in Ogema Wisconsin - and the Swan Christmas Trees are famous! We visited family and also went for Monte's high-school reunion (I won't mention year). It was a combination of years for the first group of kids to have started at this new high school in a suburb of Milwaukee. And our sister-in-law grew up, never leaving till college, Wisconsin's little Washington Island - access only via ferry. So here's a stream of photos I took.

Driving to Ogema

The view from Monte's Mom's front yard

View of Wisconsin's highest point - Tim's Hill - from the Hill of Beans cafe

Washington Island cabin

Monte and brother Mike getting ready to fish

Ferry to Washington Island

View from Monte's Mom's Kitchen window

Monte fishing while I rowed

Reflection and old oar on the old boat we were in

Reflection

Reflection

Colorful Reflection

Kitchen window view again with lots of leaves blown off

Deer and Elk in Velvet

I see a lot from my kitchen window . . . Lots of Wonder-FULL views! These photos were taken within one week of each other. I missed a good picture of a fox almost in the same spot!

Deer in velvet

Elk in velvet

Elk in velvet

Elk in velvet

Mid Summer Gardens

Thompson Seedless grapes in greenhouse. LOTS of clusters this year!

Thompson Seedless grape cluster in my greenhouse

Veggie Garden view of our house

Garlic Scapes

Chipmunk planted Sunflower from birdseed

Heirloom Black Hollyhocks

Heirloom Black Hollyhocks and Raspberries

Wildflower Garden view of house

Veggie Garden view to north

Swiss Chard

Elderflowers

Wlidflower Garden Stump

Wildflower Garden view south

Tomatoes in Spiral Bed

Spiral Bed

Lillies

Catmint, etc, and Dawson's metal fence he made me

Herb Garden view of back of house - Clematis blooming

Our "Scarecrow"

Deck by hot-tub 

Rose Campion

Looking north

See chicken coop?