Elk Heads or Buffalo Prints?

Taxidermy: noun▸the practice of preserving dead animals, birds, or fish by filling their skins with a soft material so that they look as if they are still alive. Someone who practices taxidermy is called a taxidermist. (Macmillan Dictionary)

Anyone who has read my previous blogs knows I like to start my blogs with a definition or two. The word I was thinking about today as I write this is taxidermy. Read on for why…

I’ve been starting to think about what kind of home decor belongs in a Poshranch. Recently I’ve gone to some stores and looked around at types of home decor for the rustic look. Our new home in Cheyenne looks much more ‘country’ than our current, more contemporary looking home. Does that mean it must have pictures of buffalo or elk heads?? Does that belong in a Poshranch?

You may or may not be wondering why I started this blog with taxidermy. Most of you probably already figured out what I am talking about. See pic below of the decor that was in the big main room when the home was occupied by the previous owners.

Part of the definition of taxidermy is for animals to look as if they’re still alive, or at least their heads are still alive (huh????). I know, I know, many people have whole animals preserved in that way. But what about the eyes?? Do they follow you around like in those creepy old-time painted portraits where the person’s eyes follow you wherever you go? If it is made to look like it is still alive, then it seems the eyes would follow you. I once worked with a nurse whose husband was a taxidermist. That is one job you don’t think of too often, but someone has to do it, right?

But I digress…Those animal heads in the picture are beautiful representations of animal heads; if you’re into that sort of thing. For clarification, I am not opposed to hunting at all, it’s just not for me. I understand why one might want to put their prize catch up on the wall in their living room (sort of…). Those animal heads are very majestic looking over the fireplace. And they definitely add to the rustic, country look one may think of when they think of Wyoming.

But….stuffed animal heads are out for me.

The only reason I might see myself as a hunter is during the zombie apocalypse, and that would only be for food. (Anyone watch The Walking Dead??) No, I don’t mean eating the zombies (ewww), but hunting for the animals that haven’t already been eaten by the zombies.

Speaking of elk…below is a picture of a live (not stuffed 😂) elk that wandered onto the grounds of a lodge where we were staying last week. This was a huge elk, and the rack on this elk was massive. It was just wandering around, checking out the foliage for food. This truly was a beautiful animal, though I was a little anxious when I turned the corner and there it was walking up the path. This was in Estes Park, Colorado. Never seen one that big that close. I’m a girl from suburbia, remember? My outdoor preferences are something like this quote I’ve seen on a funny coaster, ‘I’m outdoorsy in that I like to drink on patios.’ However, I hope to change that and become a bit more outdoorsy, the sort of outdoorsy that belongs on a Poshranch. And I can’t imagine hunting that beautiful animal. Again, not opposed, just not for me.

I was walking around Scheel’s recently and saw this…

I have to admit I really liked this. Buffalo are also majestic animals. This painting is stark, but I was drawn to it for some reason. The buffalo really stands out against the desolate background. I never thought of buffalo as pretty animals, but I love it in this picture. I contemplated buying this, but I didn’t, thinking since we haven’t actually moved in yet I’m not sure if and where it would be a good fit.

Ok, back to home decor. I’m sure our home will look very different than the previous owners, just because of the decor we choose. We have lots of wonderful photos of our children and other artsy-fartsy prints and photography that are landscape based, but not including pictures of buffalo or stuffed animals. However, I will likely go back to Scheel’s at some point and see if they still have that buffalo painting, because I think I NEED it for my new home, in the country, the Poshranch.

I’m not that great at decorating; anyone have any good Poshranch decorating ideas?

If you’ve made it to this point I want to thank you so much for reading! Until next time…