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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Cool Mountain Streams

Last weekend my friend came up from the hotter part of the state in hopes of cooling off a bit and doing some fly fishing. The weather was not cool at all with the thermometer hitting 100 degrees both days! However, mountain streams are cool and refreshing and she was able to wet her line in a couple of them over the weekend.

 

Saturday afternoon’s creek

 

A nice deep pool

 

Sam enjoyed the cold clear water

 

Pine drops, Pterospora andromedea

 

According to the USFS, Pinedrops is a member of the Indian-pipe family  (Monotropaceae). Pinedrops is a root parasite, depending on its association  with a mycorrhizal fungus that is also associated with a pine tree. Pinedrops produces  very little chlorophyll and is therefore not green in color and does not  conduct photosynthesis.

 

Sunday morning creek. The dogs didn’t get to go this time.

 

This water was even colder than the previous day’s water.

 

I was fascinated by the patterns of water and rocks

 

 

Cold foot

 

I played with capturing moving water although I had left my tripod at home.

 

There is an insect inside that tiny bundle of sticks and stuff

 

 

 

 

A cutthroat, caught and released.

 

 

Hot Summer Days

Hot Summer Days ended rather abruptly at the beginning of this week. I’m not sure what happened but it sure feels like fall is in the air. Here are a few images from last week!

Homemade peach and almond sorbet

 

Amaryllis are supposed to bloom in the winter. I’ve never been real good at managing them.

 

I welcome this flower anytime of the year.

 

My friend brought me fifty ears of super sweet corn from the Basin!

 

Most of it went in the freezer. Now I wish for more!

 

Clouds and Reflections

Just a couple more images from Lost Lake last week.

Morning Clouds

 

And their Reflections

 

Splash!

Ok, I admit it. I like my dogs. And I like to photograph my dogs. Especially when they are having fun. These dogs love to play in the water. Sam, the brown one, just loves to swim. It takes all the weight off of her old sore joints and she is once again mobile and she remembers her glory days of youth and good health. For her sake, I wish we lived on a lake. Luna loves to swim after something we’ve thrown. Tennis balls are her favorite. In hot weather she can do this longer than we can throw the ball.

 

 

 

 

What Luna lacks in grace and style she makes up for with enthusiasm.

 

Look at those ears! No wonder she gets water in them.

 

I love how the water comes off of her in sheets.

 

Sam displays calm determination.

 

 

 

I got it, ok? I got the job done. I’m a working dog.

 

Just swimming for fun on a hot afternoon.

 

 

Look – I can get the job done too.

 

 

Common Loons of Lost Lake

Common Loons are a favorite bird of mine and around here they are not so ‘common’. One of the charms of Lost Lake is the fact that the loons not only spend the summer there but there is a nesting pair. This year they hatched two, or maybe three, depending on who you ask, chicks. One was killed by a Bald Eagle who has also made meals out of the Canada Goose goslings. The remaining loon chick is maybe half grown now and too big for an eagle to catch. The parents and the young bird spend their days moving around the surface of the lake, fishing, preening and resting. Occasionally they make the unique loon sounds that echo off nearby mountain sides. It’s truly a haunting and beautiful sound. I have read that loons make four distinct calls and they all are used to communicate among themselves and declare territory. My favorite is the long drawn-out wail, similar to a wolf howl.

 

The young bird. It lacks the distinctive plumage of the adults.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent searching for fish

 

The young bird is learning from the parents.

 

 

 

Everyone needs a good stretch once in a while.