Good Fences

The electric fence was very common in Switzerland.  Most fences were there to keep the cows form going someplace where they could get hurt.  They are all free range and their range seems to be limitless.  They are all over the mountain side and in low areas like this one.  In the Mountains, drop offs are guarded by the electric fence.   If you click to enlarge you will see that the cows all have bells on them ... if you didn't see my Saturday's Critters post, you can go to it and click on the video where you can hear the cow bells making their music.  It is pretty awesome, especially when you are climbing in the mountains and the bells are ringing all around ... from a distance so it isn't a "clanging" effect as in the video.  Enough said ... Happy Good Fences Day Everyone ...

Andrea

NF DAM Digital Art Meme

My FH and I just stay home for New Years ... we are past the party age and it is easier just to watch it on TV.  But I have friends who are young and they throw a heck of a party.  This is confetti left in their yard after an outdoor game of Croquet in 20 degree weather ... you know they had their share of antifreeze, right?  Anyway that is as close as I came to festive, so I am sharing it with you today.

Daytime partying ...

Night time partying ...

I know, I know ... there are a lot of ways to be festive, but this one was just for fun.  Hope all of you started your New Year with a bang!  

Andrea

Wild Bird Wednesday

We have had open water on our lake for several weeks and finally the eagles appeared.   At first there were two ... a gorgeous adult male and a very large not fully mature female.  I thought they may be a pair, but then in another day there were five eagles ... two adults and three juveniles at different stages of development.

The Adult Male ...

The immature female ... it is hard to tell in these pictures, but she is much bigger than he is, as is usually the case in the raptor world.

 Adult pair ... they were in my tree and I didn't see them until they flew ... :(

I'm trying to ignore the fact that some of these pictures (if not all) are of poor quality.  I am quite certain that it is my camera that is not working and not the photographer ... hmmm :)  Maybe I am getting to old for this gig, but I will shot pictures until I drop ... hope you can tolerate my lack of mastery:)

Just a short comment ... there are four eagles sitting in the trees outside as I type this ... probably the fifth is around and I just can't see him.  As for different perspectives ... my neighbor is taking her dog out on a leash so she can grab him and run.  (Buddy is the little boy that was in the picture with Izzi on my NF Catching Light post yesterday. :)  Life is Good!

Andrea

NatureFootstep ... Catching Light

You can just feel the cold without stepping outside on a morning like this ... beautiful as it is.  I have had to add another layer to my clothing when I go out with Izzi and today she will wear her boots on her walks for the first time all winter ... But, we do love playing in the snow :)

No boots when she plays because they just go flying and then we lose them in the snow :) 

Enjoy your week ... we are getting back to normal post holidays which is something of a relief :)

Saturday's Critters

I love Gruyere Cheese, so this Swiss Dairy Cow holds a special place in my heart.  Don't you love the bell?  All of the cows in Switzerland wear bells so if you are out in the country or in the mountains it sounds like music everywhere. 

I have videos, but Google wouldn't let me upload them, so I picked one from You Tube so you could hear the bells.  Have a great weekend ...

Andrea

Also linked with ...

Weekend Reflection

First post of the new year and it is a strange one ... much better if you click to enlarge :)

At some point in time I will explore the history of this building.  I can't help but wonder if the architect intended the glass to distort the reflections or if that is secondary to some other function in the glass ... whatever, the results are mesmerizing.

Andrea

Good Fences

Remember when we used to have these on the end of our trains ... now they sit as decoration in somebody's yard ... with a fence in front of it, of course :)  Such fun ...

Happy New Year,
Andrea