Fox video

Sorry, the quality isn't what I'd hoped for...

A mother fox and her kits from MarkB on Vimeo.

A little more video

On the Chama

Early season kayaking from MarkB on Vimeo.

Climbing Hamster

Climbing Hamster from MarkB on Vimeo.

HOT CHICKS !!!

Glossy Ibis

We were in Pagosa Springs recently and saw these birds that looked very "out of place" in Colorado. I believe they are Glossy Ibis (or is that Ibi?) Plegadis falcinellus.

When Mom went away

Here's some pictures (all off my cell phone) of our time without mommy. Most are at the Albuquerque Museum of Science.

A day's work

 
 
 
 
So I was headed to Lumberton to the water plant when I saw a lot of smoke in the sky. Turns out this Chevy Blazer took it's name litterally and decided to self immolate. I called 911 since no one was around and then helped shovel dirt on it to slow down the blaze until the Dulce FD showed up. It got so hot at one point that the side of the house in the background melted off.

Momma fox

 
 
The neighborhood fox set up house under the old shed across the street. 6 kits later, she is looking a little worn out. These guys are a riot to watch, the jump all over her and their siblings. Video in a bit.

A drive in the country

It was a nice enough spring day after the 3 inches of snow we got yesterday. We decided to go for a drive in the country. We had lunch at our favorite local resturant, Cookin' Books and then headed south to El Vado Reservoir. We drove all the way around the lake and then on to the Reservation and up through Thompson Gap. When we got to the intersection I turned left on a whim and headed for a place I've always wanted to visit but never have, Ross Springs. Here's some pictures:

Mean looking zoo animals

 
 
 

The kids and I sent mom away for a little "get away" trip to NH for 4 days this weekend. She had fun and we did too. The first day we went to the Albuquerque Museum of Science and took in an IMAX movie about dinosaurs. We spent about 4 hours walking around the museum and then went to the mall. The next day, we got the Combo-pass for the Zoo and the Aquarium. 6 1/2 hours later, we stumbled out and drove the 3 hours back home. Saturday we were at home and Sunday was 8 hours in the van driving back to Albuquerque, picking up mom, and back home again. Fun times.

Trouble in The Box

Here's some footage from last weekend in the Taos Box. She was in Powerline Rapid and ALMOST made it....

First day of the season

We all went over to Taos with Craig & Mandy and our friend Jim for the first day of the 2008 kayaking season. It was a rushed affair, they didn't show up until 9 on Saturday and had to be back to Pagosa Springs that night. We did the Taos Box @ about 1400 cfs. Sara and Mandy watched the kids and went to the park (thank you ladies!)
Here's some pictures:

Easter Eggs

Here's the kids hunting Easter Eggs:

Untitled from MarkB on Vimeo.

How do you like it?

So I've got some new video from the camera. I think that when I actually embed the video on here it makes the page load slower. I can either embed it like I have before (Eagle Video below) or post the link, like this:
CLICK HERE

Which do you like better?

Arden's afro

Arden has had her hair in tight pony tails for a few days. This is the result when it came out.

We're in trouble

when these things can start manufacturing themselves.....

Dad, PLEASE......?

So we went to Farmington to get our taxes done on Friday. Relatively painless and we get a little of our own money back.

Afterward, we ran some errands and then, for a treat, stopped by the PetCo store to look at all the cool animals. We saw a tank with some "feeder" gold fish that were going for $0.12 each and started talking about getting some. Aquariums were only $11.00 so we figured that each kid could get 5 fish and we would still only be into it for less than $15.00.....
Well, one thing lead to another and the kids decided they would like something they could "Take out of the cage" and play with. Mason sugguested the Burmese Python ($125.00) would make a nice pet, but was shot down in a hurry. I started thinking about the $7.00 hamsters that were up in the front of the store. Wife and I had a hushed discussion about whether or not she could stand one and she went off to look them over again and see if they triggered the same feelings of revulsion she experienced with the white rats in the cage next to them. She returned shortly and thought one might be 'alright'. I was thinking "$7.00 hamster, $11.00 aquarium.... maybe a couple bucks for food.... still under $25.00, not bad for a bit of entertainment for the kids."
By the time we left the store, the total was more like this:


$7.00 Hamster
$11.00 Aquarium
$5.00 food
$6.00 waterbottle
$3.50 waterbottle holder
$6.00 exercise wheel
$5.00 bedding material
$10.00 little house to live in
$8.00 hamster book
$10.00 exercise ball to run around the house
Total.......... $77.00

We left the store and headed for home with CHEWIE in his cardboard box temporary home. During the two hour drive, he began to gnaw on the box to the point that Sara refused to hold it and we had to pull over to put him in the aquarium for the remainder of the trip. We are hoping he outlasts the 3 weeks that Freddy (the guinea pig) lasted.

Indian attack on the beach

More video from Florida:

Indian Attack on the 'Explorers' from M Blakemore on Vimeo.

Bald Eagle

Here's a little video I shot on Wednesday.

Bald Eagle from M Blakemore on Vimeo.

More FL pix

Here are a few more Florida pictures for your viewing pleasure. We had a great time and it was fun seeing so many people again. We counted up 26 different people that we spent time with on this trip. Seeing Eric, Lori, and Jananne was a complete (and great) surprise for us. We wish they could have spent more time but the couple days we had were great. It was also nice to let the kids play with their West cousins since they hadn't been together much before this trip. Mason and Kylie were still trying to work out some 'issues' when they left. (I'll have to try to scan the letter she sent him)
I found 997 shark teeth this year including 4 of the biggest ones I've ever found. I have to thank my little brother, he told me where to look and then didn't find any for himself. I was sure I would break 1000 but Arden came down with an ear infection the morning of the day we left so I spent several hours in the Urgent Care Clinic with her just before we left. She is getting better, taking antibiotics externally for a week.