Friday, June 22, 2018

Where the Boys Are


Obviously, I didn't publish a northern post last night as I had hoped.


Peek-a-boo!  I See You!
Three Bucks Enjoying the Last Day of Spring
Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.
June 20, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved




I'm okay.
I just got carried away with getting our home ready to sell
in case we move to Arizona in the near future.
I keep forgetting that I am not twenty-eight or thirty-eight
and that I can't burn the candle at both ends.

I was feeling great and pushed too hard physically,
so my body reminded me that time has marched on carrying me with it.

On Wednesday I took a long walk in the open space along Piney Creek.
The riparian environment was green, fecund, and alive with birdsong,
the perfect antidote for a sore body and a tired mind.

Rampant construction in our area has banished the antelope 
and has displaced or strongly stressed other living things.
This spring I've been searching for the mule deer I've observed for years,
and I've found little evidence of them:
footprints crossing mud, a patch of flattened grass, stripped bones by the creek; 
so I was filled with delight when I discovered where the boys are.


On Alert in the Green Grass
Three Muley Bucks
Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.
June 20, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved


Three bucks with velvety antlers rested in cool and shaded grasses
near bullrushes in one of the marshy areas along Piney Creek.
I walked on and when I returned, they were stirring.


I've got my eyes on you, sister!
Three Muley Bucks
Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.
June 20, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved


The mule deer and I parted ways and went on
about our business on a perfect afternoon.

I'm grateful for the foresight and funding that preserved this open space,
a refuge for wild animals and plants and for me.


Moving On
Three Muley Bucks
Along Piney Creek, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.
June 20, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved



See you next time ~ older and hopefully wiser.
  

23 comments:

  1. Yes, good thing they have protected space to go to!

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    1. Happy Saturday, Debra! I hope that it is a good one for you and your Rare One!

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  2. They stand and look, what a place to be, shelter from people and the season 's weather. Moving? Sounds like a lot of hard work, hope all viewers take notice of your efforts, too much in too quick a time is not good.

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    1. Hi, Jean! Moving is still a maybe. We're planning to go back to Surprise, Arizona in November, and "road test" it a little more. Meanwhile Terry and I have been getting the house ready. I don't want to get hit with a sudden move in a hot real estate market. Move or stay, I'm approaching one sparkling house and trimmed down possessions, a win-win situation no matter what we decide.

      I did myself in last week, and I thought I was okay to get back at the heavy duty things this week. Wrong! I think it's finally getting through my thick skull that I have to slow down a little. Getting older is hard to internalize. I'm grateful for the gift of being older, and I hope to get a lot older.

      Wishing you and Hugh a lovely rest of the weekend! And sending you a big hug!

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  3. Moving is always a big pain in the arse. Going where there is no snow is a win though. Not sure on that summer heat. Blah to that. Great that they have a space to stay as humans advance on everything and ruin it for most of nature.

    You mean age isn't just a number? I've been lied to? Geez. How rude.

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    1. Hey, Pat, where you're at! If we do choose to move, no snow is the main reason. If we don't, summer heat is the main reason. We're still debating and are going to give Arizona another "road test" late this fall. Moving to another state is a costly proposition, so we want to be sure.

      Unfortunately I'm discovering that age does bring some limitations. I always joked that I was 29 forever. I guess I have to up that a little ~ maybe 49 forever (physically that is; mentally I'm definitely 29! LOL).

      I'm rereading your "The Connective" right now, before I go on and read "The Disconnective." The cover of "The Disconnective" is so creepy ~ kudos to Anurag Singh for his artwork. "The Connective" is such a vision of evil, and your kiddo protagonists are so real because of their going after the demon, almost blindly, but with determination and lack of adult judgement. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

      All the best, my friend!

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    2. haha I nailed both reasons, heat and snow. No middle ground place?

      29 in the mind sure is the way, screw what they body has to say.

      They grow up a bit more in The Disconnective after all they went through. Made them go through the ringer big time in the second.

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    3. No middle ground place, Pat! Can't wait to get into "The Disconnective." Have a great week, my friend!

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  4. So good to see nature thriving!

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    1. Isn't it, Sandi! Nature fills my soul. All I have to do is look at our gorgeous living planet in space to realize how important it is for humans to protect nature. It is our spaceship, our life support. Have a good one, my friend!

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  5. Replies
    1. Hi, Adam! I thought the muleys were so cute, too. I've never seen them with their new and perfect velvety antlers, so it was quite a thrill. All the best to you and Daisy this weekend!

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  6. Amazing to see three at once!
    Sorry you wore yourself out. My body likes to remind me that I'm over fifty and not under it.

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    1. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw them! It's the silhouette of their big ears that give them away. It was my own stupidity and stubbornness that led to my problems in the last ten days or so. I'm getting the older part, now I've got to work on wiser. I hope that you and your wife have a great weekend!

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  7. They are beautiful, how blessed that you saw the three of them! They look like they're up to something lol! I hope you're feeling better Louise, I can't relate but I'm sure your pain is unbearable when you push yourself too much. I had to remind myself that I have a 50 year old body the other day when I attempted a new weight training program lol...eek. yoga it is lol... :)

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    1. Aren't young guys always up to something? You've gotta love them! I'm coming along. I'm discovering that it's taking longer to recover from a bad fibro-flare than in the past. Thanks to your recent posts and Martha's recent posts, I've been resting, getting back to my outside walks, and making time for reading during the day. I have to accept that I can no longer do eight, nine, ten hours of physical work at a time, especially for several days in a row. I need to follow my husband's approach which is much more laid back and balanced. I'm a slow learner ~ LOL! Thanks for your kind and understanding words! I hope that you are having a lovely day!

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    2. I loved my fifties, Rain! I do an hour of weight training two times a week, but I had to drop way back in weights when my body flared up some ten days ago. I'm not too happy with how my body looks right now, especially since I've lost a little weight; but I'm trying to roll with it and love who I am right now. Losing even a little weight has made me feel stronger and younger (until I went overboard ~ but I'll recover.). Happy hiding out!

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  8. Oh my gosh, how beautiful! Those velvety antlers...I've never seen them before. How amazing.

    And make sure to listen to your body! Slow down and don't overdo it. I'm scolding you and wagging a finger, too...LOL

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    1. Hi, Martha! I had never seen velvety antlers like these before either. They took my breath away. And thanks for the scolding and finger waggling. I know now that I can't get away with things that I did in the past, like staying up to three or four in the morning. I was thinking of you and Rain today, and of your recent blog posts. I went down to Red-Tailed Hawk Park today, even though I "didn't have enough time." I am so glad that I did. Female cottonwood trees were releasing their seed carrying tuffs of cotton, and it looked like snow flurries against the bright blue sky. It was magical, and it was thanks to you and Rain that I made myself go! Sending you a big hug, my friend!

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  9. They are so beautiful! Thanks for taking these pictures Louise!
    Please take it easy with your move!!! You are special to us! We don't want anything happening to you!
    Big Hugs!

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    1. Big hugs back at you, Stacy! You are so kind! You made me feel such peace and happiness. Thank you. I'm truly trying not to be so driven.

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  10. Hey you! Happy you stopped for bit and got to experience these beautiful creatures!! Great photos too, Louise.
    What do you mean we are not 38 any longer!! lol
    Enjoy your weekend......as I catch up on your 'letters'.

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate them very much.