Plans to reopen are in the works but we still need to be vigilant, patient and in the confines of our domestic bunkers. In the meantime here’s another breakout from the outbreak.
I went on a safari through my archives to find some photos of our animal kingdom.
“Birds were created to record everything. They were not designed just to be beautiful jewels in the sky, but to serve as the eyes of heaven.”
~ Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
Heron – Louisiana
Wild Turkey
Duck. San Pablo Bay
“A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf.”
~ George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
Grey Wolf. Yellowstone National Park
“…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
~ Vincent Willem van Gogh
Elk. Yellowstone National Park
Bighorn Sheep. Yellowstone National Park
With flowing tail and flying mane,
Wide nostrils never stretched by pain,
Mouth bloodless to bit or rein,
And feet that iron never shod,
And flanks unscar’d by spur or rod,
A thousand horses – the wild – the free –
Like waves that follow o’er the sea,
Came thickly thundering on.
~ Lord Byron
Cora and I often go to Reno to gamble (that would be me), relax by the pool (Cora) and overeat at the buffet. Early in the morning while Cora sleeps in and the diehards sit at the slots and take the previous night’s edge off with a screwdriver I’m in the desert east of Rend looking for mustang horses. 
This photo was taken at a Bureau of Land Management holding facility near Pyramid Lake, Nevada
It seems almost inconceivable, demeaning even, to call a dog an animal, hence the title Animals and Dogs.
“Dogs are minor angels, and I don’t mean that facetiously. They love unconditionally, forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happy, etcetera. If we attributed some of those qualities to a person we would say they are special. If they had ALL of them, we would call them angelic.” ~Jonathan Carroll
“I’ve changed my ways a little, I cannot now
Run with you in the evenings along the shore,
Except in a kind of dream, and you, if you dream a moment,
You see me there.”
― Robinson Jeffers
Our Rainey, Like all dogs gone too soon.
Animals always get a smile out of me, thanks for sharing! LOVED the Yellowstone grey wolf!
Thank you. I guess in some ways animals are getting the best of this crisis. I wonder if the animals in Yellowstone are noticing the difference.
I’m sure they are! You know I live in LA, and I’ve noticed A LOT more birds out at night chirping and singing away. Don’t know if they’ve always been there and I just couldn’t hear over the noise, or if they’re taking back the city now that humans are tucked away 🙂
Those are some great shots. Whenever I’m out for a walk and see folks with or without masks walking their dogs, I think of how the dogs don’t know about our world upheaval. They just know that they’re enjoying their favorite part of the day. Makes me smile to recall my walks with Pudge.
Thank you Scott. Dogs are pretty amazing. I think they sense that things aren’t like they were. If for no other reason than their humans are always home.
loved the post Paulie! all of them are wonderful. I would love to see a grey wolf some day!
Thank you Pam. Hope to get out and photograph nature sooner rather than later.
Your gorgeous shots — nay, artworks — put me at ease, flatter with their natural beauty. Open a gallery, Paulie, when all this rot settles. I melted a little looking at these radiant photos.
Thank you Chris. I don’t know about the gallery buy I’m sure looking forward to the rot settling. Be well.
So, this was just a lovely post! I would like the opportunity to photograph horses, especially wild horses (or kind of wild). So beautiful! And then the dogs, and the wolf 💙 …. Well, it brought to mind the movie we watched Saturday, “The Call of the Wild” (just out). I think there was some amazing technology going on there, but the dog in that move stole my heart. I just loved your post here 😊
Thank you so much Lisa. The Call of the Wild has been one of my favorite stories since my dad would read it to me when I was a child. I can’t say how many times I’ve read that story and I’m certain I’ll read it again. I saw that it was made into a movie and I’ve been hesitating on watching it.
I don’t know how the movie compares to the book. But since I have not read the book, I thought the movie was fantastic, although sad in places. The dog in the movie was awesome! We think it was somehow digitized because some parts didn’t seem quite real. But still pretty awesome. 😊
The book always leaves me a bit sad. I highly recommend the book by Jack London. London also wrote White Fang which is a sort of opposing story to Call of the Wild.
I love to read. I may read it. But like you said, when it ends I was sad, but I still loved it!
Great photos, Paulie. The heron, the turkey, horses, dogs — so much expression in those faces. And thanks for the quote from Jeffers too.
Thank you so much for the kind words Audrey. Very much appreciated.
You’re welcome, Paulie.
Great photos! Could not stop smiling 🙂