Monday, April 30, 2012

The Kolden Report: Week in review, April 30, 2012

Hi, kids!
 
Thank you to the anonymous donor that left me the envelope containing box tops for education, for Miss Meiya.  If you let me know who you are, you WILL be thanked properly!
 
My photo computer died Friday and some considerable time was spent getting another in usable condition.  Thanks to Jim Samsel for the donation of his old computer to the cause and also to my Jim for swapping hard drives and ram.  The good news?  I am back in business!
 
Much needed rain fell this weekend and the countryside is tinged with green, already!   We are all glad of it and maybe the dust won't swirl so fiercely next time the wind blows.
 
Now, on to the report!
 
 
Backlit buds.
 
 
 
Blowzy blossoms. 
 
(I spied this apple tree covered in bright pink blossoms last week, as stopped to shoot it.  Today, that entire yard is stripped bare to the ground and the glorious is tree laying in a heap.  Apparently misfortune befell that homeowner and their water or sewer was dug up.  This is the last time that tree will bloom!)
 
 
 
 
Always love the rising sun on a cloudy day.
 
 
 
Paddling perfection. 
 
 
 
I raced along the bank trying to capture the "perfect" shot of them as they sliced through the calm water.
 
 
 
I was stunned to see the reflection of the bridge in the water.  The river is rarely calm enough to see this or perhaps it's like my duck pond?  (I didn't notice it before...)
 
 
 
 
One evening, I spied the 'road less traveled', under fat clouds.
 
 
A coworker and his family were fishing a bit farther down the road.  I stopped to visit and was shown this patterned bug.
 
 
Duck quartet.
 
 
 
 
 
How the term "horsing around" came to be...
 
 
 
 
WINDY day, when whitecaps are seen on the river. 
 
 
 
Henny Penny
 
 
 

 
Fierce...
 
 
 One little....
 
 
Two little....
 
 
Three little ....mule deer. 

 
Cirrus or cumulus?  (My college meteorology class hasn't done me much good, has it?)
 

 
'Stealth' red wing black bird.
 
Lone soldier....

 
Serenity.
 
Dew kissed grasses I
Dew kissed grasses II- (Couldn't decide which I like best.)
 
 

 
 
Misty morning. 
 
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities." -  Aldous Huxley
 
 
 

Monday, April 23, 2012

The Kolden Report: Bull snake comes to visit.

Hi, kids!
Here is my week in review:
(If you can't stand the sight of snakes, this is NOT the report for you.)
 

Meadowlark perched,  singing his heart out in hopes of catching a girl. 
Mr Sun, peeking through clouds.
Amber reflection.
Misty morning.
 
Bridge peeks.
Rooster, preparing to fluff.
Full-fledged FLUFFING!
Back to the wind.
Eye on the sky.
Somewhere......over the rainbow...
Hair-do.
Feathers of fog fade.
Spring blossoms.
Shadow.
N-a-r-r-o-w.
Bull snake comes to visit!
Eye-contact.  (Is he smiling?)
"Tasting" the air.
Posturing.  (It was here that I backed up a bit)
The great escape.  Notice how the snake raises its "hackles", like a cat does?  Maybe to make it appear larger.  I watched it disappear down the irrigation pipe on what appeared to be a well traveled path.  Hope we have fewer mice and moles this year because of it!
Thought for today: 
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly.  -  Marcus Aurelius

Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Kolden Report: River Update and a goose with seven eggs! 4-18-12

Hi, kids!
 
Burn....baby, burn! 
How cormorants "dance".
"Sundown, you'd better take care...."   (Gordon Lightfoot)
River reflection.
Bewildered.
How many patterns do you see on the rooster pheasant?
Rooster stroll.


Canada goose, hides on her nest.
The closer I got, the lower she crouched. 
Turning her head to get a better view.
TOO close for comfort. 

Seven viable eggs in a well feathered nest. 
This shoreline would normally be under water.  The river channel has been scoured clean and deep.
Waves lap.

The top of this sand bar is normally the river's edge.  I now FULLY understand how steamboats (and Lewis and Clark) navigated the river. 
Many pair of Canada geese guard the sand bar.
Spring growth.
Sprouts in ruby and lime. 
Floating in unison.
And again....
Large cottonwood, abandoned on the sandbar by receding waters. 
Buffalo bone, polished by blowing sands.
Rare occurrence along the Missouri:  gravel.
Ragged edge in soft sand.
Layers.
Toe nailed tracks. 
What "busy as a beaver" looks like.
Do they come in ladies, size 10?
Thought for the day:
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think another negative thought."   - unknown