Little Thief

We have lived here 6 years, and have only seen 2 squirrels in our yard.

We have had a new guest in the back yard since June 28th (date on 1st picture). She is a 'Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel'. We thought she was a chipmunk until I checked google. Chipmunks have the side stripes going from their eyes all the way down their side and back, and golden-mantled squirrel's are larger and only have stripes on their back or sides.

See her tummy laying on the rock?

She was fatter when we first saw her so we figure she was going to have a litter. She would go and collect straw and other things to take to her burrow for a nest. We saw her through July 6th and then she was gone. We thought she must have moved to another yard, or was picked up by a hawk. But then, she showed up again on August 9th ... a lot trimmer. We have watched her the past week or so, coming up to the bird feeder in the tree out the window. Filling her cheeks with seed and then running to the back of the yard and disappearing under the pile of old yard trimmings and pine needles. She actually jumped from a rock at the edge of the patio up 2 feet to the platform we have set up for bird seed. I hope the babies come out soon so we can enjoy their visits.

Click on the pics to see how fat her cheeks are!

Baby Skunks

Mama skunk knows she can come to our yard and get leftovers and old eggs for dinner. This past week she brought her new family. I couldn't get them all in one picture. There were 5 skunks at once, checking out everything. She had 4 babies this year. It's not easy trying to take pictures of skunks... trying not to get sprayed 'n all. They are so stinkin' cute though. The babies LOVED the leftover mashed potatoes w/sour cream in them. They actually had a little fight over those. The babies are about 5-7 inches from nose to back legs (not that I'm going to go out and measure). I was at the back window, leaning out, so I was only about 2-3 feet away.

Look at the claws on that egg, WOW!

Check out mom's claws.

I was tagged by Sarah

Rules: Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answers.

Ten years ago:

1. I don't remember that far back...oh yeah, living in ABQ.

2. Working for a dentist.

3. Mountain biking the Sandia Crest at 10,678 feet elevation (Five+ miles on "downhill blue" ski slope in the summer, see photo. I did this 3 or 4 times).

4. Directing the church choir (1st time for everything).

5. My youngest was 16. I went to his band & youth philharmonic concerts.

Five things on today's to do list:

1. Feed the cats.

2. Feed the chickens.

3. Gather the eggs.

4. Dishes, laundry, etc.

5. Add 50 people to my genealogy file through research.

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Dark Dark Chocolate w/almonds.

2. Buttery popcorn and ice cold chocolate milk.

3. Jelly Bellys.

4. Cashews.

5. Mother's Circus Animal Cookies (iced pink & white).

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

1. Get out of debt.

2. Travel to see family.

3. Buy the top notch camera of my dreams.

4. Take photos of tombstones, for genealogy.

5. Travel for fun.

Five places I have lived:

1. Princeton Ave., Fresno, CA

2. Osuna Rd., Albuquerque, NM

3. Suburban Dr., Austin, TX

4. Glen Hills Dr., Rio Rancho, NM

5. 8th Ave., Show Low, AZ

So I tag: Jenna, Hannah, Brandy, Lyndsay, Dylan.

Mountain Bike Trails at Sandia Peak

Close Call

Last night someone came to the door just before I was going to go out and put the hens up for the night. After our guest left so did my thoughts of what I needed to do, sooo I didn't get out there until after dark. I opened the gate and went out back, then I saw her...our friendly skunk, about 3 feet from me. I didn't trust that she might be super friendly enough to not let me have it! I backed up and went back in and got the flashlight, made a lot of noise so she would take off. Yowza, I was a little worried there. We enjoy leaving out old eggs, and leftovers for her. She has never "skunked" us in the 6 years we have lived here, but I sure didn't want that to change last night. I lucked out. Here is a picture of her from last year. I was standing by the back door with the window open to take this. How do I know she is a she? She brought her 2 babies last year to eat, and I can tell by her size, compared to the daddy skunk we've seen.