Fine With Phoebe

Posted on July 29, 2014 by foresterartist

The Black Phoebe in pen and ink.

Every year we have an addition built on our home. We don’t build it ourselves. The black phoebe families build their mud and twig nests under our western roof peaks when they come to stay.

This beautifully beak crafted addition to our home is a classic phoebe nest.

At a different roof peak, another phoebe family built their new nest on top of last seasons nest. I think this addition was built by the Picasso of the Phoebe world.

These little flycatchers strike fear in the hearts of mosquitoes! They’re always welcome moving in with us. Besides, I don’t mind a little mud.

“It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.”
Aesop

The Blackberry Foxes

Posted on July 10, 2014 by foresterartist

Along the road to our home are blackberry brambles. In one bramble patch is the den of a family of gray foxes. Some mornings I glimpse the foxes hanging out on the road. The foxes have lived in the area for years. They’re attracted to the area for the cottontail rabbits that also live in the blackberries. They appeared in my earlier post The Fox and The Song

“The Vixen” pen and ink.

The other morning, I was on my way to work. I came around the corner and surprised the fox family. There were four kits and the vixen playing in the road. When they saw me coming they scattered. Foxes were darting here and there diving into the blackberry bushes. I grabbed my camera to get a picture of the group, but they had scampered away. When I stopped in front of their blackberry patch, two of the little kits were peeking out. Before I could focus my camera they disappeared.

This brave little fox graciously pose for me.

The gray fox kit.

However, a couple of days later, I was fortunate to have one brave fox kit sitting out in front of their thicket. This little one posed graciously while I snapped a few pictures. It is always a treat to see the fox family. I just hope they stay far away from our chicken house.

Forestry Friday … Mendocino National Forest

Posted on June 27, 2014 by foresterartist

The Mendocino National Forest is one of our beautiful Northern California forests. It’s located in the coastal mountains and is worth a visit.

Elk relax near Lake Pillsbury.

Sugar Pine

A Dog’s Life

Posted on April 30, 2014 by foresterartist

“Blitz” Redtail’s Rogue Lightening SH

Mary and I couldn’t have asked for a better companion than Blitz. She grew to be the perfect dog. She rode shotgun with me for over seven years traveling the back roads of Northern California. Featuring her in my blog posts felt a little like cheating because she was so lovable. Here is her life in pictures. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Baby Blitz in Mama Nellie’s arms.

Blitz puppy meets a young Hawk.

Thirty-four days old.

The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Family picture day was too exciting for little Blitz!

Blitz at four months.

An eight months old Blitz in a field of lupine.

Hawk and Blitz were best buddies.

And hunting buddies

Blitz and Nellie taking a break for a swim at Lake Prairie

Nellie and Blitz

Blitz loved the woods.

Teka and Blitz train for the hunt tests.

Blitz training.

There’s gold under that rainbow.

Blitz watches the distraction bird.

My proud girl after running in a sucessful event.

Blitz retrieved like a girl possesed.

Blitz and Teka out in the woods.

Being a forester’s dog is exhausting.

Tim, Teka and Blitz.

In the twilight.

Flying high.

The consumate stick dog.

Catching a nap.

yardwork, forester, flames, fire, golden retriever

Blitz spots for me. She has seen this all before.

Blitz does a celebratory roll! Any day in the woods is a good day.

forestry friday, friday, golden retriever

It seems Blitz is not impressed. 😦

Blitz, golden retriever, forester, forester artist

Blitz is a happy dog, now that we are in the woods.

Blitz the happy dog.

“Squirrel, gotta go!”

“Hey lazy dog, you’re sleeping on my sketchbook!”

Fall colors, yellow, nature, photography, golden retriever, dog

Looking good.

Whoop whoop

Squirrels tremble in her presence!

Blitz, golden retriever, The Backdoor Artist.

Mary and Blitz take a stroll on the beach.

Blitz, road trip, Smith River, golden retriever

On the road home and Blitz is dreaming of ducks.

Blitz finds a fish for me. “Hey Blitz that one is dead.”

Lumberjack Fiesta, logging sports, timber sports, lumberjack sport, picnic, Americana, McCloud, watermelon eating contest, horseshoes, softball, Red Tail Publishing

Blitz gets a “little” love. 🙂

golden retriever, hunting, photography, pheasant

Blitz on a water retrieve.

Blitz is happiest while doing her work.

Chainsaw carving, dog carving, dog, golden retriever, Blitz, logger, forester

The forester’s dog and the loggers dog.

She was still that little puppy at heart.

Feel the love.

Me and Blitz.

Blitz’s last hunt with us.

August 6, 2006 — April 25, 2014

Blitz passed from our lives last Friday. We miss her dearly. Your comments are welcome and appreciated, but we probably won’t respond to them. Please don’t take offense.

The silence of a falling star

lights up a purple sky

and as I wonder where you are

I’m so lonesome I could cry

Hank Williams

Dogwood3

Forestry Friday … Forest Snapshot Coastal Douglas-fir

Posted on April 25, 2014 by foresterartist

Blitz and I have seen a lot of country in our travels. This shot was taken at Lake Prairie in the Northern California Coast Range where the Douglas-fir forests intertwine with coastal prairies. This little lake has been a nice place to stop on the way home to cool off on a warm summer day.

Douglas-fir, Lake Prairie, Blitz, Golden Retriever, forest, forestry

One of Blitz’s favorite stop off places is Lake Prairie.

dogwood, wildflower, nature, photography

I’m so glad that the dogwood are in bloom at this time.

Forestry Friday … It’s Take My Followers To Work Day!

Gallery

Posted on April 18, 2014 by foresterartist

This gallery contains 26 photos.

It’s take my followers to work day at the Forester Artist. Come along on one of my typical days. Having said that, rarely are my “typical” days typical. Let’s start by out checking in at the Pole Plant to see … Continue reading →

Where Have All the Flowers Gone

Posted on April 8, 2014 by foresterartist

doe, deer, lupine, wildflowers, spring, photography, wildlife

Munched by young deer everyone! When will we ever learn.

lupine, wildflowers, spring, photography

Lovely Lupine

Mmmm……nice bouquet!

Forestry Friday … Otter, Otter, Otter!

Posted on March 28, 2014 by foresterartist

This week I’m going to lighten it up. Animals are always fun and what is more fun than a playful otter, except maybe three!

pen and ink, otter, wildlife, nature, ink, pen & ink, drawing, animals

Three otters resting on a log.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted some art. I hope you like it.

Bookends!

These are our otters that live at the mill. They travel around the mill site from pond, to river and to canals. I never know where they are going to pop up next.

Itchy!

The three amigos.

In the forest setting, otters don’t ever become an issue during our harvest operations. They live in the water and riparian area. Harvesting is minimal in the riparian zones.

Blitz, golden retriever, dog, photography

Blitz says, “Can’t trust em’, they remind me of cats!”

Pipevine Time

Posted on March 18, 2014 by foresterartist

The Pipevine Swallowtail

Pipevine flowers

Pipevine Swalllowtail, butterfly, butterflies

Pipevine Swalllowtail, butterfly, butterflies, white margined butterfly

White Margined Butterfly I think.

Pipevine Swalllowtail, butterfly, butterflies, Mourning Cloak Butterfly

The Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Nothing says Spring has sprung like butterflies! The Pipevine butterflies are out in force in Northern California and the Pipevine flowers are in bloom. They even had a few friends show up. Enjoy the show. Click on the images to enlarge.