Once upon a time, in a small woods on the edge of a big pond, there lived a wise old owl and a curious young fox. The owl, who had lived in the woods for many years, knew that he should only come out at night. He wanted to see what was happening in the woods and at the nearby farm, but it wasn’t safe. So during the day he stayed perfectly still, hidden in the branches of a gnarly old cottonwood.
He was hidden so well that people, and dogs, and yes…even foxes….walked right by him without a clue that he was there.
Every so often he’d move into the open – just a bit – and calmly look down on the activity below him.
And the fox? Well, the fox couldn’t resist. He wanted to know what was going on in his woods, and over at the farm, and out on the frozen pond, and he trotted all over the place, leaving his marks everywhere.
He was curious, that’s for sure, and when a visitor spied him on one of his jaunts he stopped and stared right back at her.
And when she followed his tracks and found him at his den, he was just as curious as she was.
He finally decided that he should go into the woods, away from this strange creature. But his curiosity got the best of him and he just had to come back and give her another look.
The visitor saw him the next day, as well, when he was sharing his breakfast with a new friend.
Meanwhile, the wise old owl continues to keep an eye on things…
And the visitor? She’ll keep watching as well…
Off the Beaten Path: Hikes, Backpacks, and Travels 
I love this. Because I know you sit around doing nothing all the time, challenge you to put our a darling children’s book on this very real and wonderful story. You continue to amaze me.
You write the book and I’ll take the pictures!
Awesome post, gorgeous creatures, well done 😀
Nice. Thank you!
Love love love! This is wonderful, and the photos are glorious. I thought I was reading a book, maybe a kids’ book but maybe not.
🙂 I wonder what the lesson of this fable will be? Have to wait to find out, I guess, but I’m worried for the fox: he needs to get more cautious or he won’t make it to spring. Fingers crossed for him!
Really enjoyed this – great story and beautiful photographs!
Thanks so much.
Terrific pictorial!
🙂 Thanks.
Wonderful curiosity all around.
🙂
Wonderful story, and your photos are stunning. Fun post.
Thanks!