126: The Marmot
Posted: January 26, 2011 Filed under: 365 Life in the Bogs Challenge, Adventures in Life, Earth, home, nature, Photography, snow, Spirit, travel, water, weather, winter | Tags: Colorado, cross-country skiing, handwriting, marmot, postaday2011, Rocky Mountain National Park 32 Comments
(Marmot. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. August 2010.)
I asked this marmot to step in as a placeholder of sorts for me and he (or she) has graciously agreed. I need a little break from my usual rambles and long blog posts.
The break will give me a chance to catch up on email, read blogs, leave comments, and all kinds of other good stuff.
Today’s outdoor time will take place late in the afternoon. M and I are going cross-country skiing at a nearby park. I’ll take the camera along in case I have time and light to hike around a little after we ski. Even after taking the ski lesson, I am not confident enough to bring the camera along while I’m on skis.
P.S. After doing the post about spacing and handwriting (see This and that), I’ve read a few other blog posts on both subjects. I particularly like Quinn’s post, Bye-Bye Handwriting.
For a sample of my handwriting, click here. It’s an old post at my other blog, Bountiful Healing.
Life in the Bogs 
Yes, Quinn’s post was a great response to losing the art of handwriting!
Rest well. We all need a break occasionally. (Or in my case, about every 3 days!!!)
Thanks, Bo. 🙂
That is an interesting looking animal. its kind of a squirel rat looking thing.
They are interesting looking, that’s for sure, Gwen. More of groundhog-woodchuck sort of animal (to which they are related).
Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
Thanks for the marmots. We should all thank our inner marmot from time to time. Thanks, too, for linking to my “Bye-Bye Handwriting” blog. I read your earlier post and have deepened my standpoint. One space between handwritten sentences!
lol! You’re welcome, Quinn. I really enjoyed your post on handwriting and wanted to share it.
He looks just like my somewhat cute but definitely unwanted woodchuck .. the one that has dug tunnels all over my yard and is currently sleeping the winter away under my front porch (they must be very closely related)
Yes, the woodchuck (or groundhog) and the marmot are related, Bearyweather. What’s interesting to me is how I find the marmot cute and groundhog, not so much. We spend part of the spring and summer removing groundhogs because they dig into the dam of the pond and that will undermine it.
How do you remove them? I would love mine removed …
Bearyweather: Well, when we’re feeling kindly disposed towards the creatures, we use a Havahart trap. Groundhogs love apples so it’s easy to trap them by putting an apple in the trap. Then we move the groundhog to another location, far enough away that it won’t find its way back.
But there have been years when we’re overrun with them so we use WGD’s (Weapons of Groundhog Destruction). It’s a “bomb” of poison that you put in their den. I don’t like killing them but sometimes it’s a necessary evil.
Behold! The marmot!
Why isn’t he hibernating? S’chilly outside.
Yes, J. Behold! The marmot! lol!
It was August when I took that photo, and fairly warm. He’s probably hibernating now.
What an interesting creature! Your handwriting is beautiful! I think with all this technology we have these days, that will become a lost art…. I hear that some schools are even dropping cursive from their curriculum!!
Thank you, Holly. 🙂
What a cute little guy! They must hibernate in the winter (or at least hide!) because we were at RMNP in mid March and didn’t see any.
You have very pretty handwriting.
Thank you, Michaela. 🙂
Yes, they do hibernate in the winter, like the groundhog/woodchuck.
What a cute face, nice capture!
Thank you, Martina. 🙂
Very nice of the little fellow to pose so wonderfully for you!
He was incredibly cooperative, Kala. I think he’s done it before. 🙂
Your handwriting is beautiful, and thank you for showing me what a marmot is. I had no idea. I have definately been so busy lately I havent had time to read or comment so I understand where you’re coming from. Enjoy the break!
Thank you, Morgan. 🙂
Ah yes, the yellow-bellied marmot! It’s amazing these creatures live at the top of Trail Ridge Road, isn’t it? Enjoy your break. I haven’t blogged in 4 days and I’m starting to feel guilty about it.
I find almost everything about Trail Ridge Road (and RMNP) amazing, SuburbanMisfit. I wish I could visit the area on a regular basis.
What a cute little creature a marmot is…I’ve never even heard of one before! It looks like an adorable little face, poking out from a big woolly overcoat. 🙂
He was all fluffed up from the wind, Joanne. It certainly did add to his cuteness. 🙂
what a cute little creature!
bet they are in hiding in winter
enjoy your nordic ski lesson
[green with envy]
Yes, they do hide in the winter, Kel.
Come on back this way sometime. You can go skiing with us. 🙂
I hope you and M had a great time…and the little Marmot was a great host in your absence. I know he was supposed to be hibernating but I woke him up…Told him his watch was slow and he’d missed the alarm. ….Naughty? moi’? … I just wanted some company!! xx
I’m sure the marmot didn’t mind in the least, Pen. 🙂
I’ve never heard of a marmot. It’s very cute.
I think they’re cute too, Marianne. I try not to remember they are related to groundhogs/woodchucks (which I don’t find nearly as cute).