DOG PACK ATTACKS GATOR IN FLORIDA!!!

DOG PACK ATTACKS GATOR IN FLORIDA!!!!

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a raw beauty, and even a certain justice manifested within that cruelty.

The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the "apex predator", can still fall victim to implemented 'team work' strategy, made possible due to the tight knit social structure and "survival of the pack mentality" bred into the canines.

See the remarkable photograph below courtesy of Nature Magazine.

Note that the Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on the gator preventing it from breathing, while another dog has a hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog attacks the soft underbelly of the gator.

Not for the squeamish!!!!!...................

OUR SUMMER WEATHER IS WONDERFUL FOR ALL MY PLANTS AND THEY ARE GIVING ME SO MANY WONDERFUL SIGHTS AND COLORS. IN THE SPRING I MOVED THIS TORCH PLANT FROM A LOCATION THAT SEEMED TO BE TO HOT FOR IT AND IT HAS REWARDED ME WITH DOUBLING ITS SIZE AND PUTTING ON MANY OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLANTS AS IT TAKES VERY LITTLE CARE AND PRODUCES SO MANY LEAVES AND COLORFUL FLOWERS.

MY JAPANESE IRIS WERE AGAIN IN BEAUTIFUL BLOOM THIS YEAR. THEY ARE SUCH A INCREDIBLE BRIGHT BLUE WITH WONDERFUL ACCENT COLOR AT THE BASE OF EACH LEAF. IF YOU CLICK ON THIS PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT YOU CAN EASILY SEE THE INCREDIBLE COLORS I AM TALKING ABOUT. AND THEIR SOFT THIN LEAVES THAT STAND ABOUT 3 FEET TALL STAY A BEAUTIFUL GREEN ALL SUMMER AND LOOK WONDERFUL WITH A GENTLE BREEZE BLOWING THROUGH THEM.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TO POST PHOTOS TO THIS SITE BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO THAT. SO I DECIDED TO QUIT WHILE I WAS AHEAD AS THIS IS THE ONLY PICTURE I COULD GET ON MY BLOG. MAYBE IT WAS THE WRONG TIME OF DAY!THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE ISLAND FLOWER BED IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 50 % MORE FLOWERS TO BLOOM YET AND EVEN NOW IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I THREW IN LOTS OF SEEDS LAST SUMMER SO A FEW NEW FLOWERS ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP. WHAT FUN!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHEN MANY OF MY PLANTS ARE COMING INTO FULL BLOOM SO I AM GOING TO SHARE SOME OF THEIR PHOTOS WITH ALL OF YOU. SOME OF THE FLOWERS I HAVE NOT FOUND IN MY FLOWER BEDS BEFORE BUT THIS SPRING AND SUMMER I HAVE WATER EVERYTHING WELL AND OFTEN SO MAYBE SOME OF THE ONES THAT STRUGGLED LAST YEAR PUT DOWN SOME GOOD STRONG ROOTS THIS SPRING.
THIS PRETTY CLEMENTIUS KEEPS GROWING THROUGH THE BAMBOO SHADE I HAVE ON THE NORTH END OF OUR DECK. IT IS PUTTING ON A BEAUTIFUL SHOW RIGHT NOW. IT IS FULL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PLANT.
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY BEAUTIFUL LILIES THAT I TRANSPLANTED FROM WASHINGTON STATE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO. THEY SEEM TO LIKE IT HERE TOO!

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY HIKING GROUP WENT ON A GREAT ADVENTURE IN THE WOODS TODAY. THE WEATHER WAS WONDERFUL WITH VERY FEW INSECTS TO PICK ON US AS WE VENTURED UP BOLDER CREEK TRAIL FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THERE IS NOTHING AS ENJOYABLE AS SITTING BY A COOL REFRESHING MOUNTAIN STREAM WHILE EATING YOUR LUNCH FROM YOUR BACKPACK. EVERYTHING SEEMS TO TASTE SO WONDERFUL OUT IN THE WOODS.
THIS IS A PHOTO I TOOK AFTER RETURNING FROM MY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE THIS AFTERNOON. I AM SO ANXIOUS TO TASTE THESE YUMMY CHERRY TOMATOES FROM OUR OWN GARDEN. SOON, VERY SOON!!!!
OKAY, IT'S LATE, I AM TIRED SO ITS OFF TO BED FOR ME!!!

IT'S AN AMAZING CHANGE OF LIFE HERE IN MONTANA. WHEN WE LIVED IN WASHINGTON STATE, DRIVING INTO THE LARGER TOWN NEAR US WAS JUST 10 MILES DISTANCE FROM OUR HOME, BUT WE WOULD PUT OFF THIS TRIP AS LONG AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE TIME AND ALL THE TRAFFIC. BUT TODAY, AS WE TRAVELED TO THE BIG CITY, I REALIZED THAT WE NOW GIVE NO THOUGHT TO THE FACT THAT OUR TRIP IS A DISTANCE OF 73 MILES ONE WAY AND FILLED WITH TERRIBLE TRAFFIC JAMS WHILE NEGOTIATING AROUND THE CITY. UNTIL WE CAN PURCHASE A CHEST TYPE FREEZER FOR FOOD STORAGE, WE TRAVEL THERE ONCE EACH MONTH WITH A COMPLETE SHOPPING LIST IN HAND. AND WE DO ENJOY MAKING A FULL DAY OF IT BUT AS WE LEAVE THE CITY AND BEGIN OUR TRIP HOME, WE BOTH NOTICE THAT BY EACH PASSING MILE WE ARE FEELING BETTER AND BETTER AND OUR MOODS BEGIN TO AUTOMATICALLY BRIGHTEN. AS WE PASS THROUGH EACH OF THE 4 SMALL TOWN ALONG OUR HOMEWARD BOUND ROUTE, THE TRAFFIC GOING OUR WAY BEGINS TO LIGHTEN AND BY THE TIME WE REACH OUR PART OF PARADISE WE ARE OFTEN THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD. AH, OUR REWARD FOR COMING HOME. HOME, SWEET HOME!
WE DID STOP AT A FARMERS MARKET IN ONE TOWN AND JW WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME ENGLISH GARDEN STYLE PEAS SO HE ENJOYED THEM ON THE WAY TO THE BIG CITY. WONDERFUL!
WE HAVE PLANTED THE SAME TYPE OF PEAS IN OUR LITTLE GARDEN AND THEY ARE NOW IN FLOWER SO WE HOPE TO HAVE PEAS TO HARVEST IN THE COMING WEEKS. THE PLANTS LOOK GREAT AS DO OUR TOMATO PLANTS WITH MANY YUMMY LOOKING TOMATOES STARING TO TURN THAT WONDERFUL RED COLOR. I CAN'T WAIT TO WALK OUT MY BACK DOOR AND PICK A GLORIOUS RED RIPE TOMATO RIGHT OFF THE VINE AND SIT RIGHT THERE AND EAT IT!! OH MY GOSH....NOW I AM HUNGRY!

THIS IS ANOTHER OF THOSE "A MOMENT IN TIME" CAUGHT BY SOME LUCKY PHOTOGRAPHER.

A LITTLE BIT OF CUTE TO START MY DAY....
I SUPPOSE SOMETIMES WE REALLY SHOULDN'T LAUGH SHOULD WE?? I KNOW, BUT IT REALLY IS FUNNY!
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE POOR CATS WITH A OWNER WITH A URGE TO BE A PAINTER. RUN KITTY, RUN!! RUN VERY FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS AMAZING WHAT KIND OF PICTURES YOU CAN FIND FLOATING AROUND ON THE INTERNET. THAT IS WHERE I FOUND THESE PICTURES OF CATS THAT THEIR OWNERS HAD COLORED FOR SOME CRAZY REASON!!!



ANOTHER AMAZING "MOMENT IN TIME" CAUGHT ON FILM.

WE HAD TO DRIVE INTO HAMILTON TODAY AFTER JW GOT OFF WORK AND WE FILLED THE TRUCK WITH GAS ON THE WAY HOME. YAHOO!!! WE FOUND GAS FOR $4.03.9 CENTS!! OH BROTHER---WILL THIS EVER GET BETTER???
JW HAD A DENTAL APPOINTMENT PLUS A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND WE FINALLY HEADED HOME AT 8:00 THIS EVENING. THE DENTIST IS VERY GOOD ABOUT WORKING OVER TIME WITH HIS STAFF AND JW TO GET THE WORK DONE AROUND HIS WORK SCHEDULE. SMILE DEAR!!

WE'VE ALL HAD A DAY LIKE THIS HAVEN'T WE?! SOMETIMES THINGS JUST GO LIKE THAT. THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I FEEL EVERYTIME I PULL UP TO THE GAS PUMP AND FILLER UP!!

OUR WEATHER HAS COOLED A BIT AND WE HAVE TAKEN A FEW WALKS THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE WEEKEND. AND OF COURSE WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT THE NOISY 4TH IS OVER WITH. YOU TEND TO FORGET HOW WONDERFUL THE SILENCE AND CALM CAN BE UNTIL THE SKIES AND AIR ARE FILLED WITH FLASHING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GUN FIRE. AH, QUIET BLISS! OUR NEXT EVENT TO USHER IN THE LOUD NOISES WILL BE HUNTING SEASON EARLY THIS FALL. THAT IS ONE DRAWBACK TO LIVING SO NEAR THE FOREST..ALL THE HUNTERS AND THEIR GUN FIRE. OH WELL, THAT'S LIFE AS WE KNOW IT HERE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL VALLEY.

Spread the Stupidity

Only in America ......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America ......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in America ......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America .....do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America ......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America ......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'

Only in America ......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

WE HAVE SPENT MOST OF THIS WONDERFUL DAY CATCHING UP WITH OURSELVES. 3 GLORIOUS DAYS TO DO ANYTHING WE WISH...AMAZING. THE WEATHER HAS BEEN WONDERFUL...A GOOD HEAVY RAIN ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 4TH OF JULY, THEN POPS, BOOMS, WHISTLES, AND SPARKS, AND BANGS FROM NEIGHBORS AS THEY DO THEIR CELEBRATING WITH ALL KINDS OF LOUD FIREWORKS. BUT SILENCE FINALLY WAS RESTORED TO OUR BEAUTIFUL VALLEY BY 11:30 LAST NIGHT SO A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP FELT SO VERY GOOD.THE BELOW PHOTO IS ANOTHER "A MOMENT CAUGHT IN TIME". SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY.
THE GAS CRISIS IS DEFINITELY AFFECTING OUR LIFE STYLE AS NOW WE ALWAYS ASK OURSELVES IF WE REALLY NEED TO GO TO THE STORE, OR OUT TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST OR DINNER. WE DID CANCEL OUR MONTHLY TRIP TO THE BIG CITY UNTIL OUR SHOPPING LIST IS A BIT LONGER. EVEN FILLED THE GAS CAN TO MOW THE LAWN MAKES US STOP AND RETHINK THINGS. CAN I, AN AVID GARDNER, EVER LEARN TO LOVE BROWN GRASS????

MY HIKING GROUP VENTURED OUT INTO THE FOREST EARLY THIS MORNING TO TRY TO BEAT THE HEAT THAT WAS SURE TO COME. WE CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND SAW THE MOST INCREDIBLE VIEWS IN ALL DIRECTIONS. THE TRAIL WAS RATHER STEEP SO IT WAS A HARD CLIMB UP BUT THE STEEP TRAIL GOING DOWN WASN'T ANY EASIER. BUT THE SIGHTS WERE WORTH EVERY STEP.


THIS PHOTO BELOW IS TITLED "A MOMENT CAUGHT IN TIME". IT IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME..MOMENTS I HOPE FOR EVERYDAY. HOPEFULLY SOME DAY I TOO WILL FIND THIS TYPE OF AMAZING MOMENT.

WE HAVE HAD ALL KINDS OF WEATHER TODAY.... STARTING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN EARLY MORNING. AND ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER I STARTED MY WEEKLY WALK TO THE LOCAL POST OFFICE THE WELCOMED CLOUDS PARTED AND THE SUN BEAT DOWN ON ME TILL I THOUGH I WAS EITHER GOING TO ROAST OR MELT. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE POST OFFICE THE TEMPERATURE HAD REACHED 92 DEGREES AND I WAS VERY THANKFUL FOR THE LITTLE STORE NEXT DOOR TO THE POST OFFICE WHERE I COULD SIT AWHILE WHERE THERE WAS AIR CONDITIONING AND HAVE A COLD DRINK AND A SCRUMPTIOUS ICE CREAM BAR.
MY WALK HOME WAS NOT TO BAD AS ABOUT THE TIME I HAD GONE A MILE TOWARDS HOME THE CLOUDS MOVED BACK IN AND STAYED TILL I WAS ALMOST HOME. IT WAS SO GOOD TO GET BACK HOME AND TURN ON THAT WONDERFUL AIR CONDITIONER OF OURS!

OF COURSE, JUST AS I THREW MY FRESH HAMBURGER PATTY ON THE GRILL THAT INCREDIBLE MONTANA WIND CAME THROUGH LIKE THE JAPANESE AND FRENCH BULLET TRAINS COMBINED!! BUT AS USUAL, THE WIND DIDN'T LAST BUT JUST A FEW MINUTES. BUT WE DID NOTICE THAT THE TEMPERATURE WENT FROM 90 TO 68 IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. THAT WILL BE GREAT SLEEPING WEATHER!