FEBRUARY 2012

VALENTINE'S DAY BROUGHT A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET OF FLOWERS TO EILEEN FROM OUR DAUGHTER ELLEN AND HUBBY MARK!

What a lovely surprise.

WOW!  FOR OUR 43RD ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH WE JOURNEYED TO......... SURPRISE, SURPRISE........THE GRAND CANYON, AZ

The weather made picture taking on the rim very difficult this year.  It's a good thing we had other interesting subjects.

For the first time we spotted elk. They gathered at the entrance and counted heads. I guess they weren't sure they had the correct fee. Ha!  Ha! They caused a traffic jam at that entrance but were unapologetic about it. As a matter of fact one of them stuck out their tongue at us.

This mother is not setting a good example!

All jammed up.

Head counter.

Not a milk mustache but a snow mustache.

Each year we go to the canyon in Feb. it's different from all past trips. There was the year a deer ran into the car as we drove the last stretch of highway.  One year there was a big storm and power was out for a time. Our beds have been in many different lodges over the years. Some years the weather is good enough for a hike down one of the main trails. Another year I required a trip to the hospital in Flag before we even arrived at the canyon. This was the year for critters. 

Deer have been prevalent over the years but I never saw one peeing before!

Look close.

I kept looking and looking at this next picture trying to figure out what caused the blur around the deer's head on the bottom of the picture. Then it hit me. She was yelling at the other deer about the dangers of being too curious of dark and scary places.  It was winter and her hot breath hit the cold air.

Back lighting worked for me this time.

Huh, a panda in the park.

Larry spotted a hawk flying across the road and told me to spot it's destination. It turned out it spied it's lunch running scared in the brush on our right.

Don't watch me eat.

This critter was just catching some rays on an out of the way rock. I must have a dozen snaps of him so I isolated a shot of him on the move and you can see him better in the circle bottom left.

The weather did improve enough to show you this traditional photo of the canyon.

And finally............drum roll please....................................................................the beautiful raven!

I can't wait for next year!