Taking in Life Around Me......#Sundaystills Theme: Animals

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

We have been on a trip through Colorado since September 24th. We head back home on the 7th. When I saw the theme for this week, I knew I didn't want to miss it. We have seen some awesome wildlife on this trip. I LOVE wildlife and just animals in general. 

I have always wanted to see a moose. While they live in some parts of Washington State, they are not where I live. When we were in Canada and also the upper NE States I didn't see any either, even though I knew they were in the areas we were at. 

While in Breckenridge, CO (on the 3rd), we happened across this guy walking through some condos to the wooded area behind them. WOW. I saw him while we were trying to find a place to park to go on a nearby trail. I said "moose...skip the trail, drive that way". My hubby got some video also. I was so excited. BUT then, we saw him on the trail we were on...he was actually on the other side of a fence. My hubby was taking a video and he decided to jump over the fence. We were all a good distance away, and he went on his way. 

He went down into the woods and as we walked further, we spotted him down in a small meadow. This was a bucket list check for me!

I loved this herd of cattle out in some pasture as we drove to our destination. We stopped often at viewpoints or just to get out and take photos and stretch. I did see some antelope but we couldn't stop to get a picture. Which I'm so sad about, but I know I saw them.

At the beginning of our trip, we spent time in Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is elk rut season and they were out in all their glory. The sound of them bugling is amazing, and kind of eerie at night. I do wish we would've seen some in town, but they did not make an appearance. 

These two guys were locking horns for a bit. Fun to watch. 

We also spotted several chipmunks. So cute. 

I even fed a few. 

We also visited the D & SNG museum in Durango, which had so many incredible exhibits. It is owned by one family and they are always adding to it. You could literally spend hours here. From old trains, cars, guns, a covered wagon, and "stuffed animals". These were pretty cool. My dad was a taxidermist so I always love seeing the work of others. 

These print castings are pretty cool. 

While in Breckenridge, we visited the EdwinCarter museum which was free. It was very interesting and I was fascinated to learn that he turned to taxidermy after a stint with mining. If I understand correctly he wasn't thrilled with the destruction to nature he was observing and some consequences to wildlife, such as two headed livestock, and other deformities, etc. They had some of his work on display, including this bison which he did in the 1800's. My dad was a taxidermist so it was interesting. The first photo is in the museum. The second photo is of my dad with a buffalo he mounted for a local man. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin