This gallery contains 5 photos.
If you’re out in the woods and you find a big W painted on a tree, just remember W is for wildlife. When planning and laying out a timber harvest, foresters have to protect the other resources in the forest, … Continue reading
So why is Blitz laughing, because she is a naughty girl, that’s why! I think she has a very disturbed sense of humor, but what would you expect from someone who says hello by sniffing butts. Boy, was she pleased with herself or what.
“Don’t you make that face at me Blitz…you are a bad girl!”
Do you remember this flower from my previous post. What a unique and beautiful orange flower. I had never seen one like this before. It must be truly rare. Worthy of a National Geographic magazine cover no doubt, and I found it! This flower was probably the only habitat for the equally rare three spotted pygmy jumping spider too. A potential biological grand slam. All I need is the perfect shot and fame was going to be mine!
Lovely, wasn’t it. The stigma and stamens look kind of like the Pillsbury dough boy.
I got one nice picture, then I carefully, so carefully, framed the next shot. This was going to be The Money Shot. “Snap” went the camera and “what the heck” went the photographer. All I got was a bunch of blurry furry!
It’s a golden retriever Tsunami!
Blitz performed a, 9.5 deserving, Roll of Joy right on top of the rare and beautiful, National Geographic cover worthy, previously undiscovered orange flower, instantaneously crushing it in a blitz of red dog fur. I could almost hear the members of the Native Plant Society weeping for this tiny bit of tossed salad.
Does this dog look remorseful to you?
Maybe is was just an unfortunately timed Roll of Joy that all golden retrievers are want to do. Perhaps she was trying to add that extra action or interest needed for an award-winning photograph. Maybe a cry for help (doubt it). Whatever the reason, I’ll never know, and she isn’t talking. Blitz….no doggy biscuits for you!
This gallery contains 20 photos.
Summer ended and with it the wildflowers, or so it seemed. So I’ve watched and found many wildflowers here are still trying to squeeze out the last bit of warmth from the season. Most have lost the luster of Spring. … Continue reading
Black oak leaves showing off.
Forestry Friday is a new weekly feature on The Forester Artist. Features will be whatever I want them to be, but related to forestry and forests. As you may have guessed this week’s theme is “Red”.
Pacific dogwood
Poison oak. You can look, but don’t touch!
Red Bud
Blitz, the red dog!
The Gray Fox
When I was a young child my mother had the record album Jimmie Rodgers Sings Folk Songs. I loved this record. One of the songs on it was The Fox And The Goose.
I came upon this little gray fox not long ago, and this song played in my head all day. I think the fox was a vixen, because she posed like a Parisian runway model.
The Fox And The Goose
by Jimmie Rodgers
Well, the fox went out upon a windy night,
Prayed to the moon, a gonna give him light,
He had many long miles to go that night,
Before he’d reach-a that town-o, town-o, town-o,
He had many long miles to go that night,
Before he’d reach-a that town-o.
Well the fox, he came to a great big pen,
Where the ducks and the geese, they were kept therein,
He said, “One of you’s a-gonna grease my chin,
Before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o,
One, one of you’s a-gonna grease my chin,
Before I leave-a this town-o.”
Well, he grabbed the grey goose by the neck,
Throwed a duck up across his back,
And he did not mind their quack, quack, quack,
And their legs all a-dangling down-o, down-o, down-o,
No, he did not mind their quack, quack, quack,
And their legs all a-dangling down-o.
Well old Mother Flipper-Flopper jumped out of bed,
Threw back the shutter and stuck out her head,
And yelled, “John, John, John! Well, the grey goose is gone,
And the fox runs away from the town-o, town-o, town-o!”
“John, John, John! The grey goose, he’s gone,
And the fox runs away from the town-o!”
Well old John went up to the top of the hill,
He blew his horn both loud and shrill,
And the fox said, “I better hurry up with my kill,
They’re gonna soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o!”
Yes the fox said, “I better hurry up with my kill,
They’re gonna soon be on my trail-o!”
Well the fox, he came to his cozy den,
There sat the little ones, eight, nine, ten,
Said, “Pop, Pop, Pop, you better go back again,
‘Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o!”
“Pop, Pop, Pop, you better go back again,
‘Cause it must be a mighty fine town-o!
Well the fox and his wife, without any strife,
Cut up the goose with a fork and a knife,
And they never never had such a feast in their life,
And the little ones chewed on a bone-o, bone-o, bone-o,
No, they never never had such a feast in their life,
And the little ones chewed on a bone-o.
The End
Here is a rendering of Blitz and Teka by another artist, Gabriarte. It was from a photo of the girls in the previous post. Thanks G!
Teka with the wind in her face.
We have been on the road a lot lately, but it is now time to check in with you all. One weekend not long ago we took the Blitz and Teka to a hunt test in Smith River, California. Go a bit North of Smith River and you’re in Oregon. Here are a few pictures from our travels and a bit of pen and ink.
The cormorants moved like poetry in the surf.
Sailer yard art, you have to love it.
We stayed at a RV park with this ship in the front yard. I thought lumberjacks had big yard art, but I have to admit the sailors win the “BIG” prize.
A pair of cormorants in the surf were my inspiration.
Blitz and Teka on the beach near Brookings, Oregon.
Sitka Spruce cones.
Blitz chills after an exhausting day of events. “Don’t get up Blitz, but I need to get into the refrigerator!”
Mary and Blitz take a stroll on the beach.
Sunset where the Smith River meets the sea.
On the road home and Blitz dreams of ducks.
Mary aka, Sneaking Bliss, loves writing about bliss. Today she is celebrating a birthday and a big one at that. Some birthday bliss is just what she deserves.
Thinking about the day that she entered the world makes me reflect on the bliss she has brought me and so many others. It is difficult to sum up all the experiences we have shared together. Sometimes the journey has been like a bullet train moving way to fast leaving us wondering where the time went. Other times it was like a wagon train head West, a difficult journey, but full of spectacular sights and hope for the future. I’ve loved the journey with her.
Mary digging for gold.
It is your birthday today Mary, but I feel like the one who has been given a great gift. Thank you for being my bliss. Happy Birthday and I love you.
“If they gave me a fortune my pleasure would be small. I could lose it all tomorrow and never mind at all, but if I should lose your love dear I don’t know what I’d do. For I know I’ll never find another you.”
The Seekers – Tom Springfield
I’ll Never Find Another You
Lost in the wilderness again.
This weekend we had the good fortune to attend the 66th Annual Lumberjack Fiesta. It was pure Americana like a Norman Rockwell painting. The Fiesta takes place at Hoo Hoo Park in McCloud, California. I posted a few iphone photos when we were at the event. Those pictures didn’t really tell the whole story. Let me show you around.
Great form at the axe throw.
Hoo Hoo Park in McCloud.
The Lil Lumberjack competition. This boy lets one fly!
Nice throw young man!
Mt Shasta provides the perfect backdrop. The softball tournament went all weekend.
There was even a horseshoe tournament.
We were signing books for Red Tail Publishing.
This was the Red Tail Publishing gang on Saturday. Mary Livingston, The Backdoor Artist, Tim Livingston (me) and Ivy Smith, were there signing books. Phil all around good guy helps us out a bunch!
Mary visits with a guest who admires a cuddly turkey vulture toy.
Venders were there with food, art, clothes and all kinds of interesting stuff.
What picnic would be complete without a watermelon eating contest! The big boys had to sit on their hands.
Blitz and Teka came too. There were lots of dogs in attendance.
Blitz gets a “little” love.
The ladies axe throw. The timber sports events were for anyone who wanted to participate.
Spectators enjoy the men’s double buck competition.
What better souvenir then a chainsaw carved bear!
The men’s double buck competition. These guys are cutting like “a house afire!”
TIME!
A special thank you to Linda Martin Andersen for having me as her guest blogger last week on A Writer’s Playground. Go check out her awesome site!
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