The Fields a Few Days Ago We have another beautiful spring morning. A good day for being out horseback. Richie's have taken their cattle to the desert this morning, actually beginning at dawn before I was even awake. All the ranching events signify marks on the calender of our lives more than just the dates. Its a never ending routine for all of them that can't be ignored by even those of us who don't raise cattle. I haven't had a chance to take any new pictures of the ranching goings-on, but you can see a few nice photos at Gina's www.horseback41.blogspot.com . She also has a great scene of feeding with a team and wagon.
Annoyingly, I finally realized yesterday afternoon that I also left my large black file box of reference photos over at the convention workshop room. It has also been found and will be returned to me with the paintings and matboards. Thank you very much Kay and Ron. Maybe next time I leave I should pack even lighter! - since I can't keep track of my posessions any more. What obviously happened is that I just didn't go back for my last load of stuff.
Joe has gone back to Pinedale today to get truck parts and a head of lettuce. He took Raven with him. Sparky had to stay home because he barked. He just gets too exhuberant and excited and Joe can't stand it. Poor little dog, I doubt he will ever really learn to control that excitement. But he's getting rather resigned to being sent back into the house. He will be so mad at Raven when she gets back. Now that there's water on the field they are both full of mud and dirt all the time.
Last night as usual I let the dogs out about 3 a.m. and after a few minutes they really started raising a ruckus. They bark sometimes, but this was serious alarm. I went right to the door and called them in. Raven was braver than I've ever seen her in her life, and just at the edge of the porch light's reach was a coyote slinking along the edge of the yard. Raven didn't want to come in and kept saying cum on let's all go get it, but she wouldn't go too close alone. That was the most vicious barking I've ever heard her make. Both dogs were very anxious. All three of us sat close and had to calm down. Likely there were several more of them a little further out. I'm always careful not to leave them out long in the dark because we know there are wolves around now, and people's dogs are getting killed right on their property. I hope I still have all the cats as well. Isn't it strange how they will welcome other dogs here, but hate the coyotes. It must be the same kind of thing that they know from a great distance that they want nothing to do with a mother cow.
There has been a beautiful Western Kingbird catching bugs in flight outside the studio window, coming back to perch on the fence between each bite. The frogs have been singing the last several nights. I'm always thankful when I hear them first time in the spring and enjoy the sound. I worry about the frogs disappearing. The wind and clouds came up something awful after lunch. Maybe it will rain.
My sister Gloria said this morning that she might be coming this direction from Green Valley AZ to Idaho soon to visit some of her kids who live around Twin Falls. There's a chance we could get together there. That is a 400 mile drive from here though. We will pursue the dates and plans.
Sent off the database list to Jo today. Next??
