KAYAKING AT WEST FORK LAKE

Connie and I have been going to the upper end of West Fork Lake for a number of years in the spring and launching our kayak at the State Park there and paddling to Blue Joint Creek for lunch.  We then head back to the park/campground and head home.  Just one of those things we do.  Of course we take a few pictures.

Lots of Swallowtail Butterflies on the beaches again.

Connie and Zeph checking out the headwaters.

The blue "canoe".

A few frogs hanging around in the rocks.

A Merganser giving a ride to one of her young.

This is where Blue Joint Creek empties into West Fork Lake.

Me and Zeph.

This is my view of kayaking.

 The dam at West Fork.

Connie's view kayaking.

We came upon this doe next to the waters edge.  I really think she was maybe starting into labor.  Definitely pregnant as you can see from the pictures below.   She could not get comfortable and was up and down a few times.  Reminded me of an old cow that was getting ready to calve.  She did not seem to care if we were floating just off the shore.  The kayak does not seem to spook animals or birds like motor boats.

A big belly.

And her bag (udder) was really starting to fill out.

Another picture of the Mergansers.

Another picture of the dam at West Fork Lake.

The cat and dog had to do some playing when we got back.

A tender moment??

THE DOG AND CAT

Zeph and Dell just keep amazing us.  If you don't like dog and cat pictures, you can just skip this post.

They just run and jump at each other.

RAINING IN THE BITTERROOT

I poured out .7 inches of water out of the rain gauge this morning.  I think it rained most of the night, not really hard just steady.  We needed it and there is some new snow in the mountains which will help the fire danger this summer we hope.  Did a little walk this afternoon as I seem to have been to busy for them lately.   Took the camera of course.

The valley after the rain.

 The 3 sisters in the background.

That is Mill Creek across the valley.

The 3 sisters up closer and below is the same pictures with a lot of saturation.

A rain shower headed across the valley.

Some nice bitterroots.

 

I wish I had seen these when they were in bloom.

UPDATE 16 JUNE 2014

Spring has rolled into summer around here and now it is back to spring.  We have a forecast of 4 to 6 inches of snow at Lost Trail pass tonight and tomorrow.  We hardly had any moisture in May and the first part of June and now we are getting a lot of rain - and forecast snow in the mountains.  We do need it that is for sure.

The elk are calving and Connie was surprised by a calf elk this morning on her walk as it was laying down at the edge of the road.  Zeph went right by it but when Connie got close it jumped up and ran.  Connie said it sure startled her until she realized what it was.  We have not seen any baby white tails yet though.  I did see a VERY pregnant doe this evening when I was down in the meadow irrigating. 

A few pictures taken in the last few days.

Moonrise.

The Bitterroots are really starting to bloom.

Our peony bush flower is hard for the camera to figure out the color.

A hawk had all the robins and birds headed for cover the other morning.

We have a number of nests of small birds in our bushes and bird houses.

 The peony bush was really loaded this year.

Some of the horses taking a little nap but woke up when I approached.

Another shot of the moonrise.

ZEPH AND DELL PLAYING

The dog and cat really get into playing sometimes. 

NEW CAMPER

Connie and I got a new camper the other day.  It has a slide out and is much bigger than our old one.  We are still trying to organize it and get it loaded up.  A couple of pictures below. 

There are three posts behind this one as I am trying to catch up on this blog.

CAT AND DOG GETTING ALONG FINE

We are really lucky that Zeph is so good with our little kitten.  They are getting to be really good buddies.  They sure like to play together sometimes.  She sneaks up on him and then chases him.  Cute.

Dell sees Zeph and starts sneaking up on him, then he runs.

A couple of pictures of butterflies on the lilacs.