Phyllis Loc: NE PA

Hi gessman,

Thank you for your comments. I appreciate hearing from you.

No, I am not a smurf. I've come out of hiding and updated my side photo.

Love Molly. :) She's a beauty. Dogs are great. I am happily owned by the wire fox terrier pictured below. :)

"My name is Koobuss & I am a wire fox terrier." Nikon D700, 60mm, f3.2, 1/300, ISO 1800

Phyllis Loc: NE PA

Yopper,

Beautiful photos! Great job!

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Thank you, Phyllis. I see that you are out in Northeast PA; I was out in your neck of the woods twice this summer. My wife has been working near Reading since last October, and I made a couple trips out to see her this summer. The first time (end of April) we spent 4 or 5 days in E. Stroudsburg photographing the waterfalls in the Poconos, and in July, stopped for a day in Wilkes-Barre on the way back from the Finger Lakes to shoot in Ricketts Glen. Beautiful scenery there, and very rugged.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Phyllis, Koobus looks like she is a ball of fun. She also looks like she could be an imp; good job with her photo.

Phyllis Loc: NE PA

Thank You, Yooper. You are right about Koobie. She can be an imp, but she is also a real sweetie.

We live in the western Pocono Mountains, about five miles south of Wilkes-Barre. I'm glad that you were able to visit NEPA and that you liked it. It is a beautiful area with mountains, lakes, creeks, wildlife, small towns, small cities, colleges, and universities. There are lots of photo ops here.

Wilkes-Barre, its suburbs, and my alma mater, Wilkes U, came within less than a foot and a half of being inundated by a massive flood this past weekend. The Susquehanna River, which runs through Wyoming Valley where Wilkes-Barre is located, crested at 42.66 feet on Friday morning. The levee system protecting the area is 44 feet high. The dikes held back billions of tons of rushing water for several days and did not break. Phew!! Parts of the region not protected by the levee system flooded badly and suffered massive devastation, but most of the area dodged a bullet. What a relief!

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

Beautiful country there. I had heard that the Susquehanna was at flood stage, and that things looked bad, but didn't hear anything specific. I'm glad that the levee worked as designed (I'm a Civil Engineer so I understand a little of the design process). It's too bad about the area outside the levees, but that is one of the problems with putting up a levee; you protect some areas, but cause more harm elsewhere. I wonder what all the rain did to the waterfalls? I'd like to go back to Ricketts Glen for about 3 days sometime; beautiful place, but challenging terrain.

By the way, I thought your old avatar was very creative.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

The fox has been an attraction, perhaps because they're not all as readily observable as other animals. I had never seen a silver fox until last year and found one frolicking among a group of red foxes long about mating season. Not sure what that means for the old adage one of my biology teachers used to explain why bluebirds and cardinals don't mate, i.e., "birds of a feather flock..." So much for that unless I'm missing something here that isn't evident.[/quote]

Just looked it up in my field guide and the silver fox is a phase of red fox. It is like cinnamon black bears.
And by the way I love the fox pictures. The elk picture just doesn't grab me.
Just consulted the mammal expert that resides in my house. She said that they raise the silver ones in Russia and that they are uncommon in the US and we don't have any around here.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

Mollie is beautiful. I have a Clyde. He isn't near as pretty or as intense as your Mollie, he doesn't herd sheep in fact he is afraid of them, but we love him anyway and think he is handsome.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Just looked it up in my field guide and the silver fox is a phase of red fox. It is like cinnamon black bears.
And by the way I love the fox pictures. The elk picture just doesn't grab me.
Just consulted the mammal expert that resides in my house. She said that they raise the silver ones in Russia and that they are uncommon in the US and we don't have any around here.[/quote]

I guess I was missing something that wasn't evident.

:-) And Clyde is a fine looking fella. Having spent three years in England, I knew of the reputation of Border Collies but had never experienced one up close until Mollie came our way via our oldest son and his wife who got her, thinking it was a good thing only to have her to turn out to be too much maintenance. These dogs are so important in Britain that if a herd is being tended by one, which they mostly do, and you hit one of the herd, be it cow or sheep, you have to pay for that critter and five generations. If not attended and you hit a cow or sheep, the farmer is liability for your damages. If you hit one of these border collies, you are tried for manslaughter. That's how important they are in that environment.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Cute wire haired. Nice picture. They worm their way in, huh. Thanks.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

:-) And Clyde is a fine looking fella. Having spent three years in England, I knew of the reputation of Border Collies but had never experienced one up close until Mollie came our way via our oldest son and his wife who got her, thinking it was a good thing only to have her to turn out to be too much maintenance.

:D They are a dog that you have to learn to live with. Our first BC-Polly was well bred and had drive. She would watch the chickens for hours in her BC crouch. They definitely have to have a job and an active life. Clyde does pet therapy at a local nursing home and is learning Treibball right now.


These dogs are so important in Britain that if a herd is being tended by one, which they mostly do, and you hit one of the herd, be it cow or sheep, you have to pay for that critter and five generations. If not attended and you hit a cow or sheep, the farmer is liability for your damages. If you hit one of these border collies, you are tried for manslaughter. That's how important they are in that environment.[/quote]

I will definately have to be careful if ever driving in Britain, which I would like to do some day. :D

gessman Loc: Colorado

I will definately have to be careful if ever driving in Britain, which I would like to do some day. :D[/quote]

I think everyone should, if for no other reason than just to see how much alike and yet how much different we are. Courtesy of the service I was there for three years - a wonderful experience. Sure wish I'd had a digital camera then. There is subject matter everywhere, especially when the pubs let out at night.

:-)

TraceyG Loc: SW, Fl.

LOVE England.....I think one of my fav places was the Cotswolds and Stratford upon Avon. Didn't have my digital back then either. :thumbdown:

gessman Loc: Colorado

Those two are hard to beat. It is really hard for me to pick a favorite. I was at an air base outside of Leicester, almost dead center of the country and we could spring in about any direction on a given opportunity either by train or car. Probably the most culturally enriching experience of my life.

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

I got Bo from my brother and sister-in-law a couple months ago because they felt he wasn't getting enough attention, and he had pretty much adopted me when I went over there. He would herd their chickens into the chicken coup and watch the door, only to have more show up; he didn't know the back door of the coop was open. Now he keeps track of my cats, which stay in the basement since he came, but that doesn't stop him from watching. He is a good companion, but definitely need something to do. Interesting info about Border Collies in England, as well.