Friday, July 12, 2013

A Summer Walk to the Beaver Pond

It's trying to be monsoon season here at the Nickel and Dime, and in areas nearby they've even had some flash flooding with puddles, actual puddles (!) alongside the roads. Since most of the yearly moisture  comes during this July and August rainy season, everyone has been hoping and praying that the rain will keep falling, but not so much that we get flooded out.

There was rain last week here at the ranch, so the grass is growing a bit and the steers think it's candy. Sadly, our creek isn't running, though, so bring on more rain!

Yesterday Ms. Pearl and I took a walk through The Enchanted Forest to see how the beavers are doing.

Here's our empty creek bed.



If you look closely at the photo below, you might be able to see Ms. Pearl exploring an area just above what Tom calls "Bridget's Bottom." 


 Yeah, there she is! C'mon, you goofball!


Sometimes when we're walking around I can't find her. So I'm calling, a little worried, and she just appears, usually right behind me, looking like, "Didn't you know I was here the whole time?"

You've seen the pine trees all around here, but watch where you're going because these grow here and there on the forest floor:

Prickly Pear Cactus

Nylon Hedgehog Cactus
Don't the spines on this Nylon Hedgehog cactus look like embroidery?


So here we are at the beaver dam. Not much water left, so I wonder what happens to the beavers? Do they pack up their bags and find a better place? Research is necessary.

Come on and rain some more. We want the beavers back!

What is cool, though, is a chance to see how they built the dam. That's a lot of earth moved, don't you think?


You can see that even though I have been providing fresh water in a civilized water trough for the steers, their hoof marks are visible in the mud. Don't drink that stuff, you guys!

So we have green grass, pine trees, pretty cacti, rain, an empty creek bed, missing beavers, and a chance to experience both the beauty and the sadness of nature right in our back yard.


It will sort itself out eventually. It always does.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the walk, it was beautiful. Miss seeing it for myself. Why did Tom get to name everything? Miss Prissy looked like she enjoyed the walk too.

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  2. Miss P. almost looks painted into that landscape in the last picture. I'd guess she lives for these jaunts. So many interesting scents.
    Thanks for sharing your wild life with us.
    Hugs

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  3. If it's any consolation, we have been getting some early monsoon rains here in Flag, and they are heading east... hopefully to fill up the dam and green up your grass! Lots of precipitation in our 10 day forecast, and I'll keep fingers crossed they head your way too!

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