Midsummer Night's Dream
©2007-2009 Shreve Stockton. All Rights Reserved.
All images and content are copyrighted material and may not be used in any manner without prior written permission.
All images and content are copyrighted material and may not be used in any manner without prior written permission.
60 comments:
It makes me think you're about to call him in for the night. Like when we were kids, outside playing with our friends until the very last drop of sunlight was gone.
Beautiful, makes me miss warm days
oh summer, how I love thee! Charlie makes my day everyday!
How is Eli handling the snow?
Hope you guys are staying warm!
He looks so much fuller now, it makes me curious how big he is today.
A very beautiful dream...
Beautiful pic! I agree with everyone else, it makes me miss the warm weather.
Gorgeous photo
OH! Forgot... the one in my mail this morning! We're ALL in love. Awesome pic of Charlie. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL.
the end of a beautiful day and just the just the beginning of a cool night !!!
Have to get here early before the dozens and dozens of bloggers make their comments. Can't read them all!! Another wonderful photo of Charlie.
a perfect remedy for a cold winter morning.
I'm a sucker for sunspots.
this photo looks like it came right
off an album from the 70's.
love it.
Thanks for giving me something to look forward to every morning.
A coyote killed my cat. I hate coyotes!
A cat ate my goldfish. I hate cats!
a goldfish ate my rottweiler. i hate goldfish!
Nice photo, as usual.
A rottweiler ate my mother. I hate rottweilers!
(Love the pic. Luv it luv it luv it!)
a dingo ate my baby, I HATE dingos!
I thought the picture in my e-mail was the best picture ever and now I see this one! But I think I still like the "I'm in love" picture - he looks like he is looking into your soul. How will you ever pick which pictures should go in the book? What a happy task!
just beautiful (both charlie and the photo). butchy, i too, am a sucker for sunspots!!! shreve you're so talented and you always outdo yourself each day.
You must carry your camera with you constantly! Now that it's winter are you getting any outdoor photos?
Ok, I keep reading comments from the folks that "subscribe" and get emails from you. Guess I'm gonna have to do it. I'm a Charlie addict.
I see why there's a time delay for Charlie pics---because now that it's winter, you can feel some summer!
Beautiful, as always.
That picture is a work of art worthy of a frame.
That Im keeping for my desktop.
Thank you Shreve :)
Definitely a wonderful picture on a cold day (not nearly as cold as Wyoming's -30).
Shreve, have you ever tried a featherbed? A nice, fluffy down-filled pillow top that you place on top of your mattress. A feather bed with a good quilt (or several blankets and hides, if needed) is the closest thing to a human nest you will find.
Dogs and cats love them too.
I'm sure you're appreciate cuddling up to that coyote warmth more now at -30 than you did in midsummer. Warm coyotes and killer goldfish--a wonderful way to start my day.
Yes, another beauty. Each day is another glorious surprise! Thanks
Your photos are so lovely and your story most, utterly unique. I have to say it is my favorite of all the blogs I click onto!
You've got so many people who care for the sweet trio in Wyoming- thank you for sharing Charlie's evolution with us.
Dear Anonymous,
I, too, lost a cat to a coyote (as did my brother). But I don't blame the coyote......I blame myself (and my brother) for letting our cats outside at night.
Where I live the coyotes are HUNGRY!, as we keep encrouching on THEIR territory.....so what do we expect?
He looks like he's getting ready to pounce. And that tail! Could it get any fluffier?! He's a handsome fella.
My dog kills squirrels, cats, and rats. I love my dog, like squirrels, am indifferent about cats, and hate rats.
pow: I'm pretty sure your dog shouldn't be killing cats...
How does this read to you Pow:
My cat kills squirrels, dogs, and rats. I love my cat, like squirrels, am indifferent about dogs, and hate rats.
To anonymous: I don't want to start a whole thing here, but... My dog is confined in a fenced yard (spayed, vaccinated, Frontlined for those who care). I have neighbors who feed feral cats that sometimes wander into the yard. Sometimes my dog is out at the same time and she catches and shakes the cats. Although I often tell her she shouldn't do that, she is defiant and ignores my pleas. Or maybe it is that she can't distinguish between a squirrel, a cat, or a rat. They may all look like something to chase and catch to the dog...she's not talking. I have also asked the cats and rats to stay out of the yard, and the squirrels to stay in the trees. None heed my warnings. Who's to say that she shouldn't be killing them rather than that they shouldn't be risking their lives treading on such dangerous territory? I've also seen cats catching mockingbirds. They shouldn't be doing that either. It's a cold, cold world out there.
I love this site!!
Just this to anonymous:
To me it reads the same as
The coyote/ cat/ goldfish/ rottweiler/ dingo/ ate my cat/ goldfish/ rottweiler/ mother...just funny. Relax. Let's read some more coyote stories!
DELICIOUS sun flare! He's DREAMY!
My mother eats red meat. Red meat should stay out of the grocery store.
Atmospheric, evocative photo.
I love today's comments -- y'all are great.
Just wanted to let you know that you brighten up every day with your photos..when snuggling with charlie does he feel fluffy or is there much weight beneath that beautiful coat? My mal is both fluffy and BIG under all the gorgeous coat he wears..
Today I laughed! You were all very entertaining, and the picture is gorgeous!!!! Thanks, once again for brightening my day!
I saw a coyote today, and instantly thought of Charlie. Thanks for sharing. I look at them completely differently now
Wow, Shreve, yesterdays "happy trails" email pic looks identical to my Siberian. Beautiful.
Shreve:
Ignore what you can. Feel the love from the rest of us. Hope it warms you as much as what you give warms us.
Je t'adore.
Looks like Charlie is gazing at a golden passageway, eternity maybe, in this ethereal shot. Of course, he's probably just sniffin' sage, scrub oak, warm earth, mice and scat in that fragrant few moments at dusk, just before the sun dips behind the mountains. His form of the Daily News.
Thanks for brightening my day Charlie!
stunning! and i cant imagine a better title. thanks shreve
becca in ireland
I would like to know how to reach "Coyote". Do you have a blog?
coyotekisser, what do you think this is?
Thank you, Shreve, for the beautiful pictures and words.
I lost my cat, Kai, on Jan. 23. He died of a urinary blockage. He wasn’t even 3 years old. The vet tried to save him but couldn’t. A friend of mine found him as a tiny kitten at a gas station and brought him to me. My friend is allergic to cats. So am I. It didn’t matter. I love cats. Having Kai was without question one of the purest, brightest (he was black :)), unstained joys of my life.
I live in Los Angeles, near the Hollywood hills. In 2006 there were quite a few coyotes around here. The neighbors were worried, telling me to keeps him inside. He was so unhappy about being confined - I’d always let him out eventually. A neutered tomcat is still a tomcat at heart. Gotta patrol his territory, chase away other male cats and hunt rats. He never had fight injuries. Maybe the hugely fluffy tail intimidated all interlopers. A mother and pup pair of coyotes started coming to my street regularly. I think momma coyote tried to eat Kai once but he quickly jumped onto the stairs leading to my front door and she didn’t have the chutzpa to follow. I could only deduce what happened based on what I saw when I heard the commotion and ran to open the door - cat at the door, coyote out on the street, really intense vibe in the air. I didn’t yell, throw stuff or chase her away - I love coyotes too. I just gave her a look. She gave me a look. She went away. Kai was not intimidated - he continued his nightly forays. After a while the young coyote started coming by himself. It didn’t look like it was even foraging - mostly curious about all the human weirdness - streets, cars, houses etc. Cats. I saw them checking each other out. Then I saw Kai running like crazy after the coyote and the coyote running away. This was repeated on a few different occasions and reported to me also by astonished neighbors. Maybe the small coyote wasn’t really that scared of the cat - he kept coming back and being chased by Kai. I think they were playing!
The coyotes are gone. I read somewhere that when people complain about “problem” coyotes in Los Angeles county the coyotes are trapped and euthanized. No loger will I hear the yips and howls up in the hills whenever a fire engine or ambulance blares its siren at night. I get angry sometimes and want to turn into a big werewolf and reduce the number of humans at least by the number of coyotes which are no longer here and then let the humans kill me so I don’t have to participate anymore in their screwy world. Maybe we’ll learn eventually to love and care for all living things instead of stepping on them and crushing them. We’re bound to not like the form in which some of the lessons will come. But I hope we absorb these lessons someday and put them to good use.
One time I came outside and saw the small coyote sitting in the street not even 20 yards away. I stood looking at him, he sat looking at me. Kai appeared out of the darkness and sat at my feet. The three of us stayed like that for many minutes, looking, enjoying each other’s presence and the beautiful night.
Coyotes are magic. Coyotes are forever. Kai was magic. I hope he’s running and playing with the coyote pup in some better world.
Goodbye, my beautiful cat. Thank you for staying with me and letting me be your friend.
So sorry you lost your Kai, kalibhavan. My heart breaks for you.
from kalibhavan:
Coyotes are magic. Coyotes are forever. Kai was magic.
All our beloved animal companions are magic if we let them be, whether they're our pets, our neighbors, or just fellow-travelers on a hiking trail.
Despite the fact that the neighbor's husky dog killed my cat, the dog and I are friends; I let the cat into danger, and the dog was only following his instincts. Despite the fact that my parents' first cat was killed by a coyote, I still like coyotes; the (outdoor) cat was getting old and slow, and mama coyote had a new family to feed; my parents could hear the pups at night.
We can choose to protect our pets from other animals, or suffer the consequences. It doesn't make the other animals evil. I suspect Charlie, if sufficiently hungry, would make a quick meal of any of my kitties were they available. Charlie is still magical and wonderful, and a proper coyote.
I had to come back to this "midsummer night's dream" and tell you that it has inspired a painting. The magic moment of falling light. thank you S and C and E... also your neighbor!
Save for the season I was going to say, "A Winter's Tale." ;D
Just to respond to Kalib Havan. I think there are few things more powerful than appreciating and connecting with wildlife. Oh, the stories I have hooting with owls and calling out to hummingbirds and hawks. I once came upon a bobcat not 8ft. in front of me moving as quietly and gracefully as a soft wind. What I'm trying to say is I know how you feel - I think most of us who visit TDC know how you feel. I am also sorry for your loss. I pray that we all keep on loving animals and pushing for conservation. I can't do as much as I'd like, but I am signed up to receive various petitions via e-mail for PETA, the Humane Society and a few others. It takes a few minutes a day to help these agencies succeed with their demands for animal protection or conservation. It does make such a difference.
Shreve, would it be possible to set the main page to only show the X most recent updates instead of loading the entire history?
To Kal - Thank you for opening your heart like that.
When I lived in Georgia, I'd tell people my name (Coyote), and the almost universal response was "No, what's your real name?"
When I moved to Colorado, the nearly universal response was "Wow! What a cool name!"
When I moved to California, the nearly universal response was a darkening of the features, followed by, "A coyote ate my cat/dog/gerbil/flowerbed/etc."
Sigh.
My little Midsummer Night's Dream is a cute little fox terrier named Puck. :-)
Keep up the lovely photography, please!
Okay, fine...you have offically lured me out of lurk-dome! This is the most beautiful photography I have ever seen.
Yes, I love you and your story...
Yes, I love the accompanying photography...
But this?
Perfection.
Beautiful.... Words are not enough to explain this wondrous moment.
Charlie is magical, bewitching and truly a trickster.
Folks, I'm reading some negative comments about coyotes on this site. Give it up - If you don't want your cat or small dog eaten, keep them indoors. Coyotes have increasingly fewer places to live, and urban coyotes are opportunists - just like HUMANS. Please take a moment to appreciate their beauty and stop trying to persecute them for being what God intended them to be. That's just freaking ridiculous.
Shreve, keep being true to yourself - you're living proof that we CAN all live in one world.... thanks for opening people's eyes to the beauty of the coyote.
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