Breckenridge is very busy this week for the 4th of July celebration. Flowers are planted in front of homes and businesses. Hanging baskets sway from light posts. Wildflowers are blooming in yards and along trails. When I went to the market early this morning, it looked like locusts had descended on the shelves. Our town depends on tourists for its economy, so I'm glad people are visiting. However, I won't be strolling down Main Street through the throngs of people any time soon!
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| Along the Riverwalk, Breckenridge, CO |
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| The historic Dredge (now a restaurant) on the Blue River |
At my house up the mountain from town, it's quiet. My big news is that the foxes who live nearby had triplet kits. Their den is visible from our yard, but I didn't know there were babies until the parents brought them out to play a week ago.
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| One of the harried adults tries to have a moment of solitude. We call this kit "Marshmallow" - see the white tip on its tail? |
The kits are about about the size of a large cat. I can tell that the parents and relatives are keeping close tabs on them, though a spunky one we call "Sooty" ventures into our yard to play in the stream.
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| "Sooty" is startled and wide-eyed when he sees the white-haired creature on the upper deck |
I even spied him (why do I think it's a boy?) early one morning cavorting through my garden sprinklers!
The small fox who often visits us when we're relaxing outside at twilight is busy hunting to feed the three little ones. I'm not sure if she's one of the parents or an "auntie." She passes by several times a day with field mice or voles swinging from her mouth. Once she pranced by with a gray jay clamped in her jaws. As soon as the meal is delivered to the kits, the fox trots back into the forest to hunt for more food for the hungry threesome.
On the afternoon of the 4th, we may hike down the Burro Trail into town, trying to stay on the fringes of the crowd to hear the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band play. There is a fire ban in Summit County, so no fireworks this year. We are still very dry in CO, and wildfires continue to burn. For now, Summit County is spared. Each day we hope for rain!
Happy Birthday United States of America!
Oh Barb, those kits are so adorable. I've heard we have foxes in the field behind me, but of everything I've seen come out of the field, foxes are not one of them. Love these gorgeous images. Have fun on your hike and watching the Nitty Gritty. Love your header. Happy 4th to you and yours Barb. Carol
ReplyDeleteBeautiful close ups of the kits!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteI would love visiting your town Barb. I'll bet it's very quaint and beautiful. You have lots of Foxy friends, lucky lady!!! It started raining here a few minutes ago. Only just a bit so far. We've had five inches since April 1st!! There's more thunder so I'm hoping it means more rain. I hope you have a great 4th Barb. Love Di ♥
ReplyDeleteexcellent pictures of the fox... loved it all. Have a happy 4th
ReplyDeleteAm I relieved. When I saw Fox News update I thought you were bringing Glenn Beck back. I love your Fox pix. There are several that live right in midtown Tulsa along the Arkansas River. I've come across them several times over the years of running along the river trails during very early morning or after dark at night.They seem very bold. My appearance doesn't bother them at all.
ReplyDeleteHow cool to see the fox family near your yard. The young ones are adorable. I would love to see them playing. Wonderful photos. I wish you a happy 4th of July.
ReplyDeleteThe kits are adorable and I bet the family is sun to watch. Beautiful photos! Enjoy the 4th!
ReplyDeleteYou once again got some incredible pictures, Barb. Your little kits are as cute as can be.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad so many places have cancelled fireworks this year. I think there will still be some in Denver and one or two suburbs, but these seems like a year for extra caution.
Have a great 4th of July week.
Amazing post ~ i am fascinated that the foxes seem to trust you ~ and your photos are just awesome ~~ thanks, ^_^ (A Creative Harbor)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Barb! I love all the wild life in Colorado! My daughter lives in Littleton and sees many Elk, deer and an occosional black bear. My son in Denver has foxes living in a gulch near his home.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to have the fox family living close by, that is big news! I love your Riverwalk picture as well as the foxes and colorful birdhouse.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful springtime! I wish I had a family of foxes living close by!
ReplyDeleteI love that you get to watch, and photograph, the young foxes. I'd be staying far away from the 4th crowds, but the band would be great to hear. We'll have our annual water fight parade.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful post and i love where you live... Able to see fox babies :) Looks really a peaceful place to be!
ReplyDeleteYour place is certainly beautiful. The babies look cute.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place! Such a terrific post/photos for the day, Barb, and a wonderful look at your very beautiful world! I do love the foxes! Delightful! Wishing you a very Happy July 4th!!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
I can't imagine seeing these beautiful creature up close and personal. I got so excited years back seeing a red fox running also Shooks Run in Colorado Springs. For you, the red fox is something you see often. Yes, only those of you far from the maddening crowd can live close enough to such creatures so as to be able to photograph them.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful July 4th. I do pray for rain. I do pray that the mountains stay safe. I pray there will be no more fires.
Praying for rain for y'all...... wonderful to be able to see the fox kits! Love them. Geoff and Lisa think that maybe foxes (teen agers?) from last year's litter tends to come back and visit the den when there is a new litter.
ReplyDeleteOh, what amazing shots. You live in a beautiful part of the world. And how lovely to see those foxes visiting you.
ReplyDeleteHope you get rain and soon!
Nice views from your world. Love the shot of the fox, an inquisitive one.
ReplyDeleteOh, lucky you to have the whole fox famdamily come to visit you! How flattering to be so trusted, and how wise of you to have acted in ways that enable that trust. I hope you have a good Independence Day, and do stay safe.
ReplyDeleteOh how wonderful to see foxes - and the babies!! What a THRILL!!! Hoping you all get some rain soon!!
ReplyDeleteHave a Wonderful Holiday!
triple kitlets - absolutely adorable!! I'm jealous! Love the photos of the cuties, can't wait to see more :)
ReplyDeleteJust love your friendly fox and now, the extended family. Enjoy your Fourth, Barb!
ReplyDeletePS -- the Kent sign on the barn is for Kent Feeds, not cigarettes... lol.
How wonderful that you have my favorite animal so close and can follow their lives. We have a burn ban here also, my grass cracks when I walk on it. I too hope those who need it get the healing rain. Have a good 4th.
ReplyDeleteBarb, one day I will visit your town... it is so beautiful there. I don't blame you for trying to avoid the crowds... I am not a crowd sort of girl. Oh my gosh, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band... I believe my parents took me to a small venue concert of theirs when I was about 10! Oh, your little foxes are so cute. I'd be watching them all day if I were there. Yes, it seems the monsoons have arrived. Not much rain in town, but a little. However, yesterday I was in the mountains hiking & sanding pots & it absolutely poured. It was refreshing! Yes, I have moved again... to a cute, funky little place in town where I don't have to wear earplugs to sleep at night, lol. A little cheaper, but it is also on the market, so we'll see. I'll enjoy it while I can! :)
ReplyDeleteYour photos of the foxes are wonderful. We visited Colorado for the first time last year, although we didn't make it to Breckenridge. But we're going to have to put it on our list of places to visit when we get back there, hopefully later this year.
ReplyDeleteWe saw a fox with her two kits crossing the road the other day. You are so lucky to have them nearly at your doorstep. Have a great 4th on the fringes!
ReplyDeleteThe kits will be such fun to watch grow up! I'm not surprised there will be no fireworks. The Colorado fires sound just awful!
ReplyDeletejust a few miles from here we are also experiencing fires. Several homes have been lost. It is just sad and horrible. The flowers are so pretty and what a very wonderful thing that everyone is on board and spiffs up their yards and shops with flowers! Perfect for a sweet mountain community!
ReplyDeleteYou are getting some wonderful shots of the family. And, the town, too, for that matter. I am sure no one will mind not having fireworks this year. You all have seen enough fire to last a while. Enjoy the holiday!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the photos of your fox family!
ReplyDeleteGood luck staying away from the worst of the crowds as you attend the concert. Should be fun.
I hope we all get a little rain next weekend. Looks like the best chance we've had in awhile.
The wildflowers are gorgeous. I love the story about the fox!
ReplyDeleteThe wildfires are so terrible. My hearts go to many animals and birds which lost their habitat as well as affected people. To little rain is dangerous for the mountain and too much rain is also dangerous causing flooding and landslides. I wish our rain are transferred to CO. The kits are so adorable and the parent fox filled my heart with warmth. You gave nice names to them, Barb.
ReplyDeleteHappy America’s birthday! Wish everyone having a good time.
Yoko
Hi,Barb!
ReplyDeleteI really envy you. You have such adorable friends! The photos of your fox family make me smile and my heart warm.
Tomoko
Such sweet pictures of the foxes !
ReplyDeleteThe riverwalk provides good picture opportunities I see.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
The foxes are very cool....send more pics.
ReplyDeleteOh Barb, the fox family are adorable. Sooty in particular. Have a happy Fourth and enjoy the band.
ReplyDeleteHello Barb,
ReplyDeleteI pray for the wild fires be extinguished very soon, and all animals, birds, plants, all beings, beautiful lands be safe.
How adorable they are!! As you gave nice names to them, I feel more familiar with and closer to them. Your photos made my day!
Congratulations on the birthday of your country!!
keiko
Triplet foxettes! Oh how sweet, Barb. Like snowwhite up above, I am praying for the wildfires in Colorado to stop. Now. Knowing you is such a special gift. You enlarge so many of us when you share about your world.
ReplyDeleteBarb these photos really grabbed my heart. Im in aww. How beautiful they are. You live in such a nice area and I too would not any time soon go to town and fight the crowds.
ReplyDeleteMy fav. flower in among the fox. The Lupin. I just love it. Its so Gorgeous . Stunning photography.
Thanks for taking me along.
I Loved it. :)
Hi Barb, Happy 4th! Its been a while since I last visited and I love the transformation of your blog.
ReplyDeleteSights and sound on America's birthday are always wonderful.
The purple and gold flowers are lovely, they represent my sports team!
so cute and heart warming your fox-family-report! I love these fluffy creatures:-) really adorable the bird house too!
ReplyDeletewe had some big storms and rainfalls in Europe, I am sending you some water clouds straight ahead...all the best!
I'm always amazed at how many people are here for July 4th. We still had thousands show up for the parade, even though we didn't have a fireworks display at night.
ReplyDeleteWow! Love seeing the foxes who live nearby your house! It's really a privilege to have such beautiful creatures near your yard. The fox family are adorable. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFox babies! Be still my heart! What a gift that they share their space with you. Many smiles here.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your foxes! What a wonder they are. How very cool that you get to have the experience of them.
ReplyDelete