BLACK BEAR… BLACK BEAR OMG… MOTHER AND CUB!!!

This morning ABOUT 6:45, as I casually strolled back to the kitchen (from my computer room) with my empty cereal bowl in hand, I couldn’t believe my eyes… a young black bear eating the Finch Food right out of the feeder, about 15 feet from my face - fortunately outside. When it’s mother immediately but slowly waddled into the frame of my kitchen window view,  I grabbed my iphone camera, carefully woke Don up and whispered softly in his ear… “two bears in the back yard - get the gun” - quietly, softly and bleary eyed he obeyed.  The adrenaline rushed for the next 20 minutes as I shot over 45 photos and Don did his own kind of shooting… with a harmless shotgun - trying not to hit the car, the truck, or the propane tank!!!  The rest of the story accompanies the photos… although the funniest thing was probably Don in his undershorts and me in my nightgown, sneaking around the house and yard.  No photos, we were both busy!!!   Bear photos taken out the window, less than 12 feet from the back door.

FYI, California is home to about 40% of the Black Bears in North America and a majority of those live along the north/south mountain range near the Nevada border.  At its normal pace black bears waddle slowly and casually. When in danger or hunting for prey they have the ability to burst into running mode with speeds up to 25 to 30mph. They can run only for short distances (whatever “short” means).

http://www.centerforwildlifeinformation.org/BeBearAware/Bears_of_North_America/Black-Grizzly_ID/black-grizzly_id.html

YUMMMMMY... Thistle seeds are really good.

Is that you MOM?  Is this the place you showed me
a few days ago?

Good Girl, you found it again.  (Now imagine this 250+
pound bear meanders through these small spaces
without touching a thing!!)

Sniff, Sniff... nothing here this time!!!

Even though you're sitting down on the job you did good
investigative work.

Thanks MOM...

How about sharing?

Wait... do you hear something ?  (shutter on my camera - I'm
only 12 feet away - didn't even have to zoom in).

I do!!!  (Cub then wander's off- smelling the flowers
as she leaves.)

Mmmmm I forgot how good this is and easy to get.

Can I have some more MOM?

Not now, it's my turn.  (Did you notice the cub was right pawed
and the MOM left pawed?)

OK, lets see if we can find something more substantial...

OH BOY, Dave's bread, corn on the cob and even a beer
for a thirsty bear!!!

Don sneaks up to the end of the sidewalk (near the flag)
and fires thru this small opening between the trees.
 (Photo from where the bear was standing earlier eating garbage.)

Can't tell which end the chewed bread came out at the sound
of a very loud blast!!!

But this is what 25 mph starting skid marks look like!!!

Don and I sat down inside to look at
the photos on my computer and within a few minutes
MOM is back... this time out front.  Looking right,

looking left,

meandering past the  jet skis - under the blue tarp, 

and down the drive way to the right (easier than going thru the brush).

As we surveyed the yard, we both chuckled at the large
black bear "prints" that decorate our front walk...
Must remember to keep our eyes pealed as we
roam the wide open spaces of our yard!!!

April Flowers bring May Showers…

With flowers in hand, from the garden where Don’s parents lived in downtown Colfax for many years, (where brother Bill and his wife Petra now live), we headed to the beautiful country setting Colfax cemetery and placed bouquets at the 7 sites of family members. 

Deer continue to visit us almost daily, and the hidden blue jay nest outside my computer room window has sprouted 2 new babies.  After I pruned their bush, (with my loud electric trimmers), I peaked in to find several green leaves gently blanketing the new borns.  Their eyes were barely open and gentle in and out breathing continued as though nothing had bothered them.  I left the scene undisturbed and the parents continued making many daily food finding missions - so all appears well.

Hikers (22 of us) gathered for our annual “Salad Day” at Bob and Julie’s after a 4 mile hike along a scenic canal near their home in Auburn, and weaving completely stopped as we got back to the yard work.  

In only 4 hours we managed to unload  8 scoops (technical term) of bark, two 8’ truck bed loads piled high. Then a softly falling May 5th rainstorm settled the dust.   A few days later we did the remainder of the “barking” (another 4 cubic yards), taking advantage of the unseasonably cool 60 degree temperature.  When we laid out the “beds” around this place 23 years ago, (shortly after we had our manufactured house delivered),  Don suggested that we leave enough open room on the hilltop to allow for easy delivery of plants, trees, decorator items and bark via his pickup.  That surly did make this 4 pickup load, 8 cubic yard “barking” job very easy for us, at our advanced ages 76 & 75.  

Today a day of rest as we head for our daughter's home.  Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mom’s and your Moms and your daughters who are Moms.  See you in a few… 

Don, Petra and Bill in front of the Harvey's plots.  This will
be our final resting place also...

Don's Dad and Mom passed away within 30 days
of one another after 69 years of marriage!!!

The herd is back grazing after a cold, wet,  stormy night.

One of the younger ones laid down on the
remains of the burn pile - must have still been slightly
warm after 7 days...

A pleasant 4 mile hike...

before enjoying a tasty salad luncheon...
an annual event for our hiking group.

Our host:  Julie and Bob

Got Bark...

Looking west... towards the driveway

Load 2, Don moves to the front yard...facing South.

Admiring the completed work,  looking East

and Southeast - AH much better.

Next load to finish the front, looking Southwest.

Finished... the view southwest

and then the reverse view - heading northeast
 along the front walk...looking good!!!

Don's got another load and carefully maneuvers around
the back yard - Northeast,

and backs up to the Rock Rose/Rock Garden

FINISHED and the rocks are replaced... which we've collected over 44 years,
from many locations along our RVing way,  from CA to Yellowknife NWT,
Nova Scotia,  and the rest of the United States as we visited all 50!!!
Blame Don,  his Dad was a rockhound!!!

During the final "walk around" a hummer feasts
 on the red hot pokers... (left side of the tall center one)

and I enjoy my latest acquisition - a beautiful
and unique Petunia plant (wired to keep the deer
from having it for breakfast, lunch or dinner).

Every time we moan and complain, we take a look at this photo
to remind us of how it  looked  23 years ago when we were young
and foolish... and had more physical energy.

We prefer this...  Time for wine!!!
Now the only decision - where shall we sit, which
view shall we enjoy.