Daily Walk

Bald Eagle in the Tree

Young Moose nibbling on the Willows

Mama moose across the River

Since the first of the year I have tried to on a walk every day. I think I have only missed two days and that was because the temp was 20 degrees and the wind was howling. I go out to the state park to do my walking. I'd rather be skiing, but this year there isn't enough snow to go skiing so I walk. I hadn't seen much wildlife until this week.

Sunday afternoon I thought I saw an eagle soaring, but I hadn't taken my binoculars so I couldn't tell for sure. And for the first time for a long time, I saw fresh moose droppings.

On Monday I saw more fresh droppings and as I came around a bend, there lounging in the willows was a small moose. She was about 20 feet off the trail and I didn't have my camera and I didn't know if mama was close by, so I walked fast.

Tuesday when I went out, I was prepared with camera and binoculars. I saw mama moose across the river. She was far enough away I was safe.

I passed the place where the little one was on Monday and she wasn't there, but I soon I saw her nibbling on the willows. I got some great pictures of her.

When I got closer to the car and the end of my walk, up in the tree was one of the eagles I had seen earlier. As you can tell by the picture, it was a beautiful winter day in the mountains.

2009--The year in Review

2009-where did it go and why did it go so fast. If I had to summarize it in one word it would have to be TRAVELING. I did a lot of that.
January and February started out slow-they alway do due to the cold and wintery weather. But come March and April I am ready to get out of the house.
Roy moved to Sarasota Florida to oversee the Florida division of Valcourt which meant he would be going between Maryland and Florida on a regular basis. It also meant Nate and I would travel to Florida whenever we could. Our first trip was over spring break and "we" had a great time. The beach was wonderful and we could always slip over to the pool for a dip.
Over the course of the year, I flew to Florida 3 times and Nate made it 4 times. Over Thanksgiving we decided on a townhouse and it will be finished in mid May.
In May, Roy bought me a new Hyundai Santa Fe which I love driving. I drove it Cheryl's a lot over the spring, summer, and fall; to Michelle's for fun times with her; Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks 5 times, but the best trip of all was when Michelle and I traveled to Albuquerque with Allyson. Allyson had come to spend 2 weeks with me. I had a blast. We visited Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Canyonlands, Arches, and Mesa Verde during that time and went camping with Cheryl, Jason, and Ben.
In the fall, Nate and I met up with Roy in Baltimore for a long weekend. I got to see some of our PA friends while we were there.
We spent time with all the kids; Dave and his family when we traveled to Albuquerque for Ryan's baptism in August; Carolyn and Stew for the 4th of July with Chelley, Jon, Cheryl, Jason, and Ben; All the kids, except Carolyn and Stew for a long weekend at Bear Lake, and Thanksgiving with Carolyn and Stew in Florida.
2009 was a great year with many wonderful blessings, but 2010 will be a great year, too, with Nate's graduation coming up, another grandson, a family vacation with everyone to Yellowstone, and the move to Florida. (And traveling back and forth to Wyoming.)