Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Southwest Boise

A favorite walk near my home is a jaunt of nearly 3 miles around this large alfalfa field. There is always a flock of geese or, in summer, a family of rockchucks to be seen.

Winter Afternoon, Boise

Two old cottonwoods flanked by a couple of upstarts along an old and disused irrigation ditch. These trees and their tie to the history of this place have inhabited my mental landscape for decades.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Vintage Ski-Doo and Sleigh

Today I walked the half-mile to my nephew's school Christmas program and encountered this quaint little sleigh sitting at the edge of a field. I wondered if somebody's grandchildren had spent a happy snow day with their grandfather, and what memories they will have and cherish of that time.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Bunch Grass Porcupine in Snow

"And each particular hair to stand on end, / Like quills upon the fretful porpentine. -Wm. Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5.

This phrase is the first printed sorce of the expression "hair stand on end". Thank you for that fine image and coinage, Mr. Shakespeare.

Walking in the Snow close to Lucky Peak Reservoir near Boise Idaho

The sun was bright and temperatures were above 20F degrees for the first time in a week, so what could I do but go a-walking? Saw lots of deer tracks, magpies, and some sparrows. It was grand until I rolled a stone with my upslope foot and found myself slammed onto my left side. Sharp reminder that the solo hiker should always have his wits about him.