Springtime in the Rockies- Sheltie Pups at Play

Play, Play, Play

This is Grady (L) and Fergie (R) doing what they like to do best-- playing.

The Pull-Toy

The Little Foxes

Fergie, Grady, Destin

Forward March

Fergie Follow

Dogs just want to have fun

Grady- Sun Dog



White Bird and Mr. Robin

White Bird



Spring begins this Sunday, but along the Front Range of Colorado it really started today. Robins are here, along with goldfinches in their winter plumage. A leucistic red-winged blackbird (RWBB) also made an appearance. With mild temps come the birds looking for food.

Leucistic red-winged blackbird

White Blackbird and friends (RWBB's)

American Robin in Colorado

Robin eye

Robin in the last rays of the sun.

The Sheltie - Red Sables, Bi-Black, Blue Merle

Missouri River Bridge

In St. Louis Day 1- Time to do a doggie exchange. One Blue Merle baby from Colorado is delivered - another Red Sable boy is picked up. Arriving at Wentzville, Missouri, I got to see some truly gorgeous shelties. Here they are.

Champion Gabe- Sheltie Special with numerous BOB wins across country. 

Shelties Galore- Left to Right

Connie, sable and white sheltie w/ dark overlay

Gabe-Sheltie champ being specialed all over the country

Grady- Red sable male now living in Colorado

Red sable sheltie behind Grady

Zip- Bi-black sheltie who really resides in Colorado

Kate-dream girl, sister to Grady

Gidget-Blue merle puppy in playpen-newly arrived

Zip in the middle-Colorado bi-black girl showing around the country.

Linda G. getting acqainted with Gidget

Larry, Linda G. and Billie - Dog Talk

Sally and Larry watching Linda G. at Sally's house

Zip, Gabe and Connie watching us depart with Grady.

Last remaining male sheltie in litter watching us leave Wentzville, Mo

Gidget Goodbye from Wentzville, Missouri

A fine group of Shelties, good talk, and the best little sheltie dog coming home to Colorado. When I tried to pack Grady's bed the day we drove back home, he must of thought that I was trying to ditch him. He hung onto his new bed for dear life. I eventually did get the truck packed with Grady. He was a delight all the way home strutting his stuff.

Grady at home in Colorado.



World Bird Sanctuary-Kathryn G. Favre Foundation Assist

While visiting in St. Louis recently I was taken to the World Bird Sanctuary west of the city. A couple of friends thought that the birder among them might like the birds there. They were right. This particular sanctuary is really a rescue center for birds, complete with bird hospital. Birds that are injured end up there more or less on a permanent basis, some birds are short term guests as part of a breeding program, and others are in transit to new homes.

Generally speaking I do not enjoy seeing birds in cages or captivity, but if a bird is injured and rendered incapable of surviving on its own, such facilities display them and maintain them for educational purposes.

Such is the case for the World Bird Sanctuary. Many stunning birds call the place home.

American Eagle Classic Profile

Eagle Eye

Eagle

Peregrine Falcon

Sea Eagle

Turkey Vulture

Fred- American Turkey

Fred- Strutting his stuff. Very friendly bird-not shy.

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl whom I believe to be missing his right eye.

White Pelican Snooze

White Pelican

Saw-whet Owl

Deb Miller, my St. Louis guide.

Carolina Wren- St. Louis

Deb's birdfeeder

Tufted Titmouse- St. Louis

Deb's birdfeeder

A Visit to the St. Louis Arch at Mardi Gras (2nd largest in nation)

The St. Louis Arch

Since I was already in St. Louis, I simply could not resist the opportunity to go up into the St. Louis Arch which depicts the Gateway to the West. In reality, Chicago became the real gateway to the west via the railroad but St. Louis claims the mantle nonetheless. I had always thought of the arch as a concrete structure over the Mississippi River. Wrong. This arch is one of the most beautiful stainless steel art forms ever created. It's earliest beginning started in 1947 as the arch was planned to attract visitors to the gateway city. Construction began in 1962 and the arch was completed in 1965 with no loss of life -- a period prior to OSHA. It is a marvel of construction as each piece is a triangular form- a sandwich if you will - of concrete, re-bar and stainless steel.

A good friend of mine in Colorado is an AKC judge and it is her sister who played host to me and accompanied me to the arch. We went up inside the arch to the top observation windows via a very tiny and claustrophobic tram. It was great fun.

The Arch

The Left Foot of the St. Louis Gateway Arch March 6th, 2011. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial administered by the National Park Service.

Elongated Arch

St. Louis Arch Portholes at top upper right. This is where you go if you choose to take the tram inside the arch to the top. Of course I did.

Gleaming Arch of Stainless Steel in the Sunday Sun.

Arch elongated extreme angle.

Arch portholes.

Old St. Louis Courthouse where the Dred Scott decision occured. A slave successfully sued for his freedom.

The Arch- Right Leg

The Arch in Winter - St. Louis, Missouri

Gleaming Arch

Gleaming Arch Extended in Sunday Sun

Angle Arch

Arch Pantomime

Deb Miller, my host in St. Louis