Tag: Photos

Wayzata.com reader and neighbor Guy Grafius sent over these photos of a different fox with this note:

Dan,
I saw your photo of the fox that I had seen in the neighborhood the past few weeks. Just now I heard an odd animal noise looked out my front window and there were TWO foxes on my front steps. By the time I grabbed my camera they had moved to the back yard and I only got a photo of the mangy looking one. Hopefully they are eating those nasty red squirrels in my yard and a few of the loud crows.
Guy

Fox on the deck. Photo by Guy Grafius.

Fox on the move. Note the lack of hair! Photo by Guy Grafius.

Fox sitting down. Photo by Guy Grafius.

This fox has been roaming around the old Holdridge neighborhood, trying to eat all the rabbits in mine and my neighbor’s yards.

Red fox in the old Holdridge neighborhood. Photo Dan Gustafson.

Have you seen him, or his brothers and sisters?  Did you get any photos of the fox or any other animals you would like to share with the community?  Send them to wayzata@gmail.com and we will publish the best ones!

Update 6/23/2011 – More photos here of a different fox here!

Stay tuned to Wayzata.com, your red fox in the old Holdridge neighborhood leader.

Yesterday when I was out photographing a turtle that was crossing the road, who should run past but a rascally rabbit!?

My mind instantly raced to the classic tale we all know and love.  Now for your enjoyment, the Tortoise and the Hare from Aesop’s fables:

Once upon a time there was a hare who, boasting how he could run faster than anyone else, was forever teasing tortoise for its slowness. Then one day, the irate tortoise answered back: “Who do you think you are? There’s no denying you’re swift, but even you can be beaten!” The hare squealed with laughter.

Youngsters marvel at the size of a snapping turtle crossing the road in Wayzata. Photo Dan Gustafson.

“Beaten in a race? By whom? Not you, surely! I bet there’s nobody in the world that can win against me, I’m so speedy. Now, why don’t you try?”

The rabbit runs past at lightening speed.  Photo Dan Gustafson.

Annoyed by such bragging, the tortoise accepted the challenge. A course was planned, and the next day at dawn they stood at the starting line. The hare yawned sleepily as the meek tortoise trudged slowly off. When the hare saw how painfully slow his rival was, he decided, half asleep on his feet, to have a quick nap. “Take your time!” he said. “I’ll have forty winks and catch up with you in a minute.”

The hare woke with a start from a fitful sleep and gazed round, looking for the tortoise. But the creature was only a short distance away, having barely covered a third of the course. Breathing a sigh of relief, the hare decided he might as well have breakfast too, and off he went to munch some cabbages he had noticed in a nearby field. But the heavy meal and the hot sun made his eyelids droop. With a careless glance at the tortoise, now halfway along the course, he decided to have another snooze before flashing past the winning post. And smiling at the thought of the look on the tortoise’s face when it saw the hare speed by, he fell fast asleep and was soon snoring happily. The sun started to sink, below the horizon, and the tortoise, who had been plodding towards the winning post since morning, was scarcely a yard from the finish. At that very point, the hare woke with a jolt. He could see the tortoise a speck in the distance and away he dashed. He leapt and bounded at a great rate, his tongue lolling, and gasping for breath. Just a little more and he’d be first at the finish. But the hare’s last leap was just too late, for the tortoise had beaten him to the winning post. Poor hare! Tired and in disgrace, he slumped down beside the tortoise who was silently smiling at him.

“Slowly does it every time!” he said.