Butterflies in Winter ??

We saved this little guy from the cold and snow.  He seems to be doing well.  This was the first day we had him.  He is sunning himself next to his lunch



He wasn't sure about this orange.  





His new digs with some natural surroundings for him.  



He lives on the counter and we have only found the cat staring in at him once.  Don't want to make him a kitty treat.  

Winter is still upon us...

A little update...

We went to sleep the other night and woke up to this !!!  I can honestly say I don't like the cold up here in Idaho and am ready to boogie on down to some warmers temps... 

The animals and birds up here don't even come out they are snuggled up in dens watching Netflix.  This is why photos have been few and far between. 

Sharp Skinned Hawk Hunting....

We found ourselves under this guy while he was hunting in the fields after some of the snow melt.  

The Lazy Days of Winter

Snow is still on the ground up here in Northern Idaho.  I know it's winter but the snow and short days make for lazy times.  It's hard to get motivated to do much of anything.  I don't think I am liking this much.  I understand why my brother hates snow so much.

The area around our RV got packed with snow.  After all the driving on it, walking on it coupled with warmer days of melting it to slush the whole area became a big ice skating rink.   We had to put some insulation around the bottom to keep the floors warm.  It's a little redneck for the time being but it helps keep the coach a bit warmer.

Here are some of the family on the ranch where we're staying.

When we arrived there was a big guy here named Bean.  He's a cutie.  His new name is Bacon because now he's in their freezer.  I did not get attached as I can do very quickly.  He was a sweetie !!  RIP 

This is Nene the leg rubbing dog.  She'll come up and rub her back leg on yours to get you to pet her.  I love this girl.  She loves her job of rounding up the animals. 

Gracie is the momma of the group and can get a bit grumpy when her kids don't mind. 

We found this guy across the road one day hanging out with his girlfriends !!!  

One of his girls in the trees.  We'll get some much better photos soon.  We haven't been able to get close enough yet. 

 

Cow Pies!!!

Our little darlings have found Cow Pies.  It seems this is a quite a treat for our 2 little girls.  While walking them around the property where we are staying they came upon a rather fresh Cow Pie.  Still a little steamy and quite odoriferous.  I thought they would walk right by it, but NOOOO....

Coffee began licking it like chocolate pudding.  Being completely grossed out I told her to stop which, like a good girl, she did.  I walked by enjoying our little walk when I realized Sam was not in front of me.   She's usually in the trees looking and sniffing.  I stopped and looked around but can't find her.  I turn around and behind me I find her. Her face smashed into the cow pie like a kid in pie eating contest.  She is just going crazy over this SH**.  In my complete amazement I was speechless for a bit.  Then I told her in stern voice to "Leave It"  She turned around like a kid caught with their face in cow pie and flung what was outside her mouth on the ground.  She then came bounding at me cow poop squeezed between her teeth and cheeks happy as any dog could be.   So proud of herself and the discovery of this wonderful treat.  

She came up and sat down right in front front of me like to say "That was awesome"...."What did I do?"  I was laughing and disgusted all at the same time.  I told her to keep walking and we proceeded with our walk.  They got a little ahead of me and as I came around the trees I find them both now with their heads in another pile.  This time a big almost frozen one.  I think they thought they had chocolate ice cream.  At least that's what I hope they thought.  They both were devouring it.  I  told them to leave it.  Which they ignored for moment to get the last few bites and licks in.  Figuring I was far enough away they could get some more.  They got the message after I scolded them with a stern voice.  Now I am completely grossed out and want to give them both Listerine when we get back to the coach. 

Now they know about these little piles of Happiness and have set out to find them when we walk.  I don't think they know the Steer is the maker of them or they would just follow him around all day to get the freshest morsels.  

Tom laughs, I cringe when it happens.  These two won't be kissing my face any time soon.  Unless I brush their teeth....

They look so innocent !!!!  

A Few More Great Shots

Here's a few more shots.  

The Eagle got his prey in this one.

He or She was none to happy I was disturbing lunch.

Beautiful Hawk....

Looks like he's gonna get this one.

I don't think the fish planned on traveling this way today.

Pelican playing in the Lock and Dam waves in Iowa.  Pelicans in Iowa???

Woodpecker doing what they do best. 

We are currently planted in Idaho for a while looking for wild life to photograph.  We found some Elk, deer, and a Buffleduck.  Those photos will be coming.  Need better shots.  

Have a great day...

Temporary Roots and Tree Branches

We have arrived in Idaho and put down some temporary roots.  Since our travels have been a little rushed of late we decided to stay put for a while.  I know there's snow on the ground and it's currently a chilly 21 degrees but we just have to deal with it.   Here's a picture from my phone of where we are.

Better pictures will be forthcoming, I just wanted to give an update.  

On the way from Iowa we had all those crazy problems well they didn't stop.  Our drive North was a good one.  The weather was nice and the roads were fair.  Tom did a great job getting us over the pass into Idaho.  Upon arrival in Idaho we stopped at a Wal Mart parking lot to get organized and water the dogs before heading to our new home.  I opened the door to find our auto step go out and just as I was about to step on it the darn thing came right back in.  As I looked down puzzled not really comprehending what was happening, the step popped back out, then pulled back in.  Like an accordion being played by a master musician the step kept going out and coming in.  I started to laugh because it seemed so crazy that things kept breaking.  After a bit of watching this in disbelief I jumped out and just went on my way.  Coming back and going in was another story since it's a bit high to climb in but we did it and off we went to our new digs.

We are currently staying on a 9 acre Ranch with some really nice people who rent out an RV space they have. Upon arrival we realized our coach was too big to go under one of their trees, since a branch extended over the driveway.  They didn't want to cut it so the decision was made that I should go on top of the coach and hold the branch up so it could go over the air conditioners, the satellite dish and vents.   So up I go, let me tell you the roof was rather slippery with ice and snow which had fallen on it from the trees.  Tom had some difficulty getting into the driveway with the ice but all was well after he spun the drive tire a bit.  

I positioned myself at the front of the coach on the roof.  Tom began to push on the gas pedal but the coach spun the tires again.  He had to back up a bit to get a run on it.  When he did the branch came up and over the front of coach a little faster than I thought.  I grabbed it not really thinking about what to do with it since I was facing forward and not backward.  My body became the buffer between the AC unit and the branch as it moved over me, from my feet up my legs,across my chest and then over my head. I can honestly say you really don't want to be 12' in the air on top of a moving vehicle with a tree branch moving over you while your husband tries to get traction in the snow with a 45' bus. We just do what we have to do.   By radio I had to tell Tom to stop so I could get out and hold it up the rest of the way. I proceeded to then get on my knees since then if I fell I would fall a shorter distance and maybe be able to grab hold of something so as not to roll off the roof.  On my knees with Tom now moving again I walked the branch the rest of the way across the roof only losing my balance a couple of times. 

Now we are parked and will not be moving until the snow is gone and the fixes are complete.  

Our dogs can run around with their dogs and play.  Sam and Coffee have met a pig, two steers, and 4 horses.   We are all content and loving our new temporary roots.  

More pictures to come....

By the way Tom adjusted the step and unplugged the motor so the step just stays out, until he can fix it.

The journey continues.....