Mary Found Her Lamb

All it took was one bandanna to turn a little boy into a lamb. 

Addi was rummaging through my drawer and found two brightly colored bandannas, "These are perfect!" she exclaimed.  Apparently she tied one on herself and one on her ever-so-willing little brother. They both came crawling into the kitchen. "Look, Mama. I'm Mary and I've found my lamb." 

I am pretty sure they were practicing trick-or-treating in this one!

As long as she is playing with him, he doesn't care what they are doing!

October Visitors

We have had a great month full of visiting friends and family.

My wonderful friend, Elizabeth, called and asked if she could drive three hours to visit and stay the night. She said,  "I want to see you, the family and your home." She may not know how that simple act of wanting to visit us means the world to me. Elizabeth and I had a lot of wedding plans to catch up on! Her and I were able to sneak away for dinner and a movie. It was a great visit with one of my oldest friends. We always manage to pick up right where we left off last time as if no time had passed. {somehow I didn't take one single picture, so not like me.}

Our friend Danny also stayed with us for several days this past month. He was hoping to bag some pheasants. Well, he came up empty-handed, but we had a great time catching up with him. Somehow three years went by with out us seeing him. Too long, way too long.

Grandma D and Grandpa J spent several days spoiling us! Grandpa brought raspberries! Grandpa always brings berries! Grandma & Grandpa were able to watch Addi in a gymnastics practice. We made a yummy rib dinner and went on walks around our town. Grandma and Addi collected leaves and drew love notes on them.

Grandpa and Landon playing pattie cake.

In awe over his Halloween pinwheel!

The party decorations Addi & Grandma made for their special jungle party.

We are so looking forward to our end of October visitors - Sara & Ellie! Yay!

Dishwasher Fun

Some of my favorites pictures of baby Addi are these, sweet 9 month old Addison:

"Helping" me load or unload the dishwasher!

Landon is becoming equally as 'helpful' with the dishes!

{Landon 15 months old.}

Addi's First Field Trip

Addison had her first field trip on Wednesday with her preschool class. It was cold. Windy and so cold, but the corn maze was F-U-N!

Corn Cob Fort

Hay jumping pit.

Spider web.

Hay bale maze.

My sweet love.

Running with her friends through the maze.

She is a rancher at heart!

Water pump duck races.

Landon checking out corn in the wheat sand box.

Miss Piggy.

Cow barrel tractor train.

Lately - In Pictures

{Once in awhile I remember to put down my iPhone and takes some pictures with my real camera!} 

Addi having some quiet time, all dressed up of course!

Silly Baby Silly Daddy

Addi's first soccer season was a success!

Landon's favorite meal, butter & cheese noodles. 

Leaf pile fun.

Reading. 

Lil' Explorer

Looking for frogs.

He has no interest in walking, but he will stand on his own.

Enjoying a beautiful fall day at the park.

A Day With The Goldens

I had the opportunity to get back into the field and help out with migrating golden eagle research. I invited my little brother Jake along. His love for the woods and for wildlife is clear and I knew he would appreciate the work, have a great time and maybe be inspired to follow his love of wildlife into research! We were lucky to spend a crisp fall morning with a great team of biologists and bird enthusiasts under a bright blue, clear, Montana sky. I love this work so much. Rob the founder and lead biologist of RaptorView Research Institute is so great to work with. For years he has talked about getting me out to help with the eagles. It finally happened! I have worked with Rob banding Swainson and Osprey chicks in the past. I always have a great time, learn a lot and feel like my time, experience and knowledge is appreciated.

Released. 

After a vigorously steep two mile hike onto a saddle overlooking the Sawtooth wilderness we set free the spring-loaded bow nets from the frozen ground and gently tethered the bait. The sky was clear and the wind was just right to bring the migrating eagles over our research station. As the air heated up Rob predicted the thermals would be perfect about 11 a.m., by then we should have our first eagle. We all hunkered into camouflaged blinds and had our eyes peeled to the sky, waiting for the dark brown spot to appear in the binoc lens.  No lie, right at 11 a.m. an eagle was spotted and she was flying our way. Once the eagle was spotted, still unseen by the naked eye, we sat motionless and watched as she began her hunt on our tethered pigeon. Her first attention was paid to the decoy owl set up to bring the eagle closer. The eagle was trying to decide if the owl was a threat she had to deal with. Once she locked on to her prey it was seconds before she tucked and landed, talons fully extended. She was anticipating her target to try and flee. Because of this anticipation she over-shot her first attempt. Before she could re-position and re-attack, the thin, light-weight net was triggered and before I could really focus Rob was running out of the blind and had the eagle out of the net and in his arms. It was intense and so, so beautiful.  I loved watching Jake get so excited over the whole process. He was amazed by the eagle's power, beauty and strength.  I knew Rob would allow Jake to be apart of the process. After we captured the eagle we took her into the processing tent and Jake was the one to hold the eagle while Rob collected his data. Rob explained to us exactly what he was doing and why. Jake asked some very intelligent questions and was so eager to learn. I loved it. We leg-banded the eagle, took leg, wing, beak and talon measurements, tagged her wings with large ID tags (able to visibly identify her by these tags without re-capture), took a sample of blood for DNA and lead testing and took pictures of her wing and tail plumage. Why do I absolutely love working with Rob? He cares so much for the animals he studies. He goes above and beyond to ensure their safety. He puts as little stress on the animals as possible and he only keeps holds them long enough to gather his data. Before we released her Rob treated a natural hunting wound we found under her foot with antiseptic cream and gave her a full crop of deer tenderloin. The eagle expends so much energy attempting to hunt the bait and with the added stress of the capture and migration, a full belly gives her back the calories she burned.

Eagle Whisperer, Jake!

Helping with blood draw and wing tags.

Have you hugged an eagle today?

Her eye color was so beautiful, unusual and ornate. 

The talons, the business end of an eagle!