Smokey Bear

Smokey Bear is my favorite and I am lucky to live where he was found! 

The old timers still remember finding him and his trip to fame.

The town is called Capitan as well as the mountains where the small cub was found. The tiny cub was found clinging to a tree and the firefighters rescued him.  Due to the bandages on his feet where he was burned, he was named "Hot-foot Teddy."  He was renamed Smokey Bear and became the symbol of the Forest Service and fire prevention.

They had started an ad campaign in 1944 and Smokey became the living symbol of that.  He lived in the national zoo in D.C. to the ripe old age of 26.

Windows to the Past

I took these photos on our day trip to Lincoln and Capitan a couple of weeks ago.

I do sense the past closer in some places, and this is absolutely one of them....

If not for the pavement, you would swear you could see a horses and buggys....

Turtle 2

Well, look what was in the street.  Yep another turtle.  This one was by the truck this morning.  He is smaller than the other.  He looks like a two year old v. a 3 or 4 year old like the other.  He was quite active and insistant about being put down.  Maybe Speedy is a good name for this one.....

His markings are different on his shell.  The recent rains have brought them out.  I wouldn't want to see him squished in the street.  So...It looks as if we are becoming a turtle nursery.

Art

Here is creativity! He is cute and friendly even with the horns.

Decorated blue gate....

Strange Tree July 2010

This guy has grown alot so far.  I am a bit suprised considering that we chopped the second trunk limb off and tried to dig him up.  He recovered nicely.

RAIN

Yesterday we got a TON of rain!  Our guage read 1.9 inches this morning.  It rained slow and steady.  It brought us a visitor.

We had the door open to get the fresh scent of the rain and cooled air and looked who popped in?

I haven't seen a toad (of the four legged variety) in years!  He was a bright green I didn't want the flash in his eyes so the photo is kinda dark.  I am very happy he was out.

Name the Turtle!

So we have a new pet.  I found this little guy in the middle of the street. 

He is about half grown.  I think he is about 3 or 4 years old.  He is a box turtle and we have decided that we THINK it is a boy box turtle.

Here he is wet so you can see his pretty markings.  His eyes are not a discernable color yet so it is hard to tell if it is a male or female.  However with the long tail and a bit of orange on his front legs we think boy.

We need a name for him now.  Please leave comments and name suggestions!!

Thanks!