Cool Morning Walks, Literally

For the past two mornings, I have awoken in Niwot. I have watered potted plants and let Spike out for his early morning roam around the yard; then I have gone for my walks. Walking out and around Niwot is very different from walking in Boulder - the scenery is much more bucolic, and the number of different critters and birds and insects is much higher. Yesterday i thought it was just my imagination that I felt chilly while out walking - it turns out it was 47 degrees, and, as usual, I was walking in sneakers, shorts and a T-shirt. It was 54 this morning, but felt warmer.

Walking around Niwot I have seen prairie dogs, fox, cottontail rabbits, cats and dogs, horses, cattle, goats, sheep, llamas, and a black bear. I've seen meadowlarks, bluebirds, red-winged blackbirds, blue jays, gray jays, and several smaller birds that I'll have to look up in my bird guide. (Eastern birds I know, pretty much - western birds, I'm learning.)

Spike has been in fine fettle - he patrols the fence-line several times each morning and evening. We spent last night curled up togteher and watching Jimmy Stewart in Harvey - one of my favorite movies. Maybe I'll end up like Elwood P. Dowd and be adopted by a pooka, too!

Old Town Niwot - 2005

Niwot Arts & Crafts Show

I arrived in Niwot yesterday to take care of Spike for a while. He is a sweetheart. After checking in with him, getting the mail in, and unpacking my few things, I headed over into Old Town Niwot and looked over the Arts & Crafts Festival. There is also one in Lyons this weekend, as well as the 5-mile Lyons River Run (where my sisiter and brother-in-law are this morning). The different types of art-work in Niwot were amazing - some breath-taking beautiful, some so-so, and some (in my poor judgement) simply awful. But the small community was really buzzing - it was so busy that I ducked out earlier than I intended due to the crowds.

Spike had a restless night; he was up almost once every hour. I know this because he rubs his nose and chin all over my nose when he returns to bed, which awakens me. But he seems fine this morning - had a nice turn out in the yard before I began watering the plants - and chowed down well. He is currently sleeping in my lap while I write and post this. Will head home for a couple of hours to see and love my kits, and then return to Spike.

Farm near Niwot, looking west

Ready for Spike

The cold front has arrived, bringing cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. It felt positively brisk out this morning, during my walk. This morning I walked the Boulder Creek Path up to the mouth of Boulder Canyon and then returned home through the historic walking district of old homes and then on up to the 29th Street Mall and back around home. It was almost, but not quite, 5 miles. I'll be walking more today on my way from the Niwot Park-n-Ride to Spike's house.

DeJa was his usual sweet self for his visit yesterday, even though he'd left a mess for me to clean up - but then, he's an old man and accidents happen. Spike and I will probably spend most of our time together (for the next 4 days) sprawled on the sofa, reading together, or observing the sprinklers in the yard at dusk. He's a snuggler, and the only problem we have is that, in the summer, his furry bod is a bit too warm for me.... and sometimes I'm too warm for him.

I'll be home for several hours each day to love my two kits - Banichi and Lovey usually understand when I'm off pet-sitting; and they seem to love me more when I finally return and sleep in my bed with them. I'll feed and love them, let them out for a short run, clean their litter boxes, top off the bird feeders and love them more. - Have a great weekend!

Red Fox Kit

Fox Kits are Thieves in North Boulder

A cold front was due from Wyoming during the night, but hasn't yet arrived. Today is warm, cloudless and with a slight breeze from the north. Hopefully we'll get rain this afternoon; there are 2 wildfires burning already this morning in the state, and the grass, pasture and crops can use the moisture. Walked my 5 miles this morning, and drank two bottles of water while doing so. No, I don't normally buy bottled water - I drink from the tap, but I always carry water when I go out walking or hiking. It was warm even before dawn, and the birds had started singing at 4:30, so I just got up and went out. Birds, squirrels, raccoons, and fox were my walking companions this morning...

I spent a few hours with DeJa yesterday evening, and am heading back to his house for a few hours today. Tomorrow afternoon I begin a 4-night, 4-day care session with the Spike Meister in Niwot. My kits won't be happy when I return home each day with Spike's scent all over me, but they're used to it - and they know that they are my babies.

There was a column in the local paper saying that a bunch of fox kits are into mischief - they are stealing single shoes, gardening gloves, etc. from the porches of folks in north Boulder and leaving them in a wide variety of places. The neighbors have gotten together and designated a single pick-up spot for "found" items - at last count, there was one pair of matched shoes, 17 single shoes, 8 single gloves and 5 bandannas. - Those kits have been busy!