Sunday May 20 2007

Venus and Luna

This photo I lifted from Spaceweather.com,

where there are more interesting pictures,

and where I read that on the 22nd

Saturn will be next to the moon.

Last night there was a beautiful sight in the Western sky. A crescent moon with Venus just below it. I've seen it a few other times in my life. My grandmother showed me the same thing once when I was about six, but the star was close to the tip of the moon. I've never forgotten that and think it was she who instilled my love of these beautiful things in the universe. It is a special memory standing together in her back yard watching that same moon and star. Now that memory seems as if it could be a sharing and continuity of awesome things passed down from our earliest ancestors. Perhaps when she was little she also stood on a summer night like that with her grandmother. She would be amazed and thrilled at all we can see today in the photos from huge telescopes and that man has walked on that moon.

My Photo of the Moon and Venus in Wyoming

I took photos of the moon and venus, and quite a few other things during the last several days, and then downloaded them off the card and thought I put them where I usually file them, but couldn't find them anywhere. So that is why I lifted the photo of spaceweather.com's photo of the moon and venus. (Days later I did find the file with the photos.)

Yesterday we had some thunder and hard wind again, with another 10 drops of rain. It got up over 70 but still felt cool. Sparky was terrorized by the thunder, but we are working on ignoring all that instead of consoling him. It seems he is a little better than he used to be, but while I try to ignore him, Joe holds him on his lap. So much for that theory. Today the morning was gorgeous, but by afternoon clouding up again and very windy.

Joe has nearly everything out of the shed where the cats live, so I've raked the ground in there while I could get to it and cleaned the place up. Also am watering the yard - it needs water badly. I can't believe how dry it is for the middle of May. I have lost three of my nice plants, all dead, and I'm sure it was because of that very long cold spell we had with 40 below for so long. They had done well for three summers. BUT!!! .....It looks like my 30 year old knee high lilac bush is going to bloom for the first time!!! (I would not be one bit surprised if it froze and killed the blossoms now.) I put three of them in when we bought the ranch from Joe's dad and this is the only one left.

Since I had several new paintings to hang I worked on reorganizing the Art Show in the Barn this afternoon. It is ready now if people want to come and see the artwork. I will have quite a few more new pieces to be framed too. Presently I'm working on a pastel painting of a tipi, which is not going well, but I intend to persevere.

Today I changed the sheets and did two loads of laundry. We had rib steak and onion roasted potatoes for dinner. We share one steak, so there is only one bone any more and I have to keep track of whose turn it is to get the bone, not an easy task. Raven got it tonight and it was really big and juicy. Her eyes were huge when she saw it. Sparky knows the routine and expects special scraps in his bowl if he doesn't get the bone - they are so funny.

Sorry I didn't feel up to going in to the dance recital last night so I hope I will have another chance to see Connie and Bernie soon. Maybe we can have lunch some day when they are in Pinedale again.

Saturday May 19 2007

View Toward the Big Sandy High Country Across Leckie's

The faint road lower left center is the Oregon Trail

and the one going up the distant hill goes to Big Sandy Openings

1955 International Stock Truck

Mechanic King Again

Joe's working on his old yellow stock truck. He's taking out the drive line, I think he said. He has two tractors and four trucks to maintain. Between his mechanic-king on all his equipment and irrigating he's been spending a lot of time outside in the nice weather. Then its watching the NBA playoffs, but most of that is with his eyes closed.

Yesterday afternoon I spent some enjoyable time working in my photo program and printing out a lot of prints for painting reference. Now to see what I do with them.

Yesterday I gave both dogs a bath and then brushed them out, the entire day of spa treatment. What an improvement and I bet they feel lots better. Raven is not lady-like at all and gets totally muddy, full of dirt and filthy, frequently snacks on horse manure. Sparky wasn't a lot better. It was a new experience because for the first time I bathed them in the bath tub. This is because I can no longer lift them into the utility room sink. The double sink is the perfect place to wash them because, once they are in there, there is no bending over. But the bad part is I have to lift them in and out. Also the hose with a sprayer I had wore out and I've never gotten another one, so it was the tub or the hose in the yard. Sparky was first into the bath tub. And he didn't want to get in but with encouragement he did and we got the job done. He loves to have a bath. Raven came in a few times to see what was going on. Draped with a towel to catch any unallowed shaking off, Sparky carefully jumped out of the tub and I led him with the leash to the back door and turned him loose outside to dry.

Later... after I rested... it was Raven's turn. She never comes in the bathroom much, and was scared to death of the prospect of getting into that white "pond". It took about 10 minutes of encouragement and me in the tub sweet talking and trying to get her to jump in. She weighs about 70-80 pounds now, (and Sparky is 65). Have you ever tried to move an 80 pound dog who doesn't want to budge?? She was glued prostrate to the linoleum saying "Mom ask me to go in any bottomless mud bog full of anacondas and I will go, but pulleeze....not the white pond!!" So at one opportune moment when she stood up from cringing on the floor, I grabbed her around the middle and got her front legs in and cutting her off from getting out, shoved her back end in too. Oh..... that wasn't so bad after all.... and of course she loves the scrubbing and attention. I couldn't believe the icky dark brown water and all the floating hair in our tub. When she was all rinsed off, and had the towel draped over her she daintily stepped out with never a shake and out the back door. So maybe there is hope that next time she will jump into the tub for me.

Well of course the whole bathroom needed to be cleaned and mopped up. I think I clogged the drain and have to work on that today. Then a washer full of sopping towels and the rug was run. Wish I'd gotten photos of them being bathed, but I had my hands full, so maybe next time. Later that evening I brushed out big wads of loose hair from them both. They fight over whose turn it is for that procedure and I have to keep ordering one of them back from trying to get under the brush so I can get the first one done. And Raven just cannot hold still. She is more wiggly than any dog I've ever had. I just sort of keep taking swipes with the brush as she passes by and eventually have brushed the whole dog. Still to do is to clip Raven's toenails, which also scares her to death. She shakes like a leaf through that whole horrid operation.

Yesterday evening I was invited to go to a dance recital in town tonight, but not sure I'm feeling up to going and driving home about 10 p.m. I'm spending the day considering what exactly to do, so that's iffy. Connie, who bought the lodge from us, called and invited me or us, as her granddaughter is in the recital and she wanted me to come and see them. What are the chances of Joe going? I'll let you know.

Friday May 18 2007

Pair of Red Tailed Hawks

Nesting in Tree on Our Ditch

This is a small slice of life at House on Muddy - hawks that are nesting nearby. (See the tree in yesterday's photo.) It's not that these are wonderful bird photos. They are just the best I can do with my dinky camera. It is not made for wildlife photography. I cropped and worked on them in the photo program to get the pictures this good. I'm ready for a nice new camera with a big zoom lens. We finally got a close enough look and have determined they are red tailed haws, which I suspected all along.

Six or seven skeletons were found on land near Pinedale when a skull rolled out of a backfill dirt pile where a new house is being built. They have been determined to be of greater than usual historical significance, Native American, and somewhere between about 2000 and 7000 years old. Some beads were also mentioned being found and possibly other artifacts. So far there are many mysteries. And the home owner who now !!owns the bones!! has put the septic tank work on hold so the bones can be recovered. We can go sift dirt if we would like to volunteer.

Our Dr. Judy Boyle's contract has not been renewed. I am quite unhappy about this turn of events. Our Rural County Health Board is management-challenged, and acts like a bunch of eight year old kids at times. O.K. I'm being really nice...... they are like eight year olds all the time.

My girls gave me beautiful golden earrings and a spa gift certificate for Mother's Day. Plus other things too. They were waiting in the mailbox when I got back from the convention, so that was fun to open presents.

No news here to speak of. If something happens to write about, I'll be back. Off and on its looking like it wants to rain. Chances are we will get none.

Thursday May 17 2007

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??

Wednesday May 16 2007

Working Cattle Next Door

This is the time of year the cattle are taken off the ranch fields and driven by the cowboys first to the desert pastures, and then in about 6 weeks to the mountains. The calves have been branded within the last week or so. They are miserable for a few days, but heal up fast. The cows wait at the gates ready to go and knowing they will be free until late fall.

First thing this morning I wrote an article for the papers about Mixed Media traveling to the convention and announcing the prizes everyone in our group won. I had a nice photo of our group to send to go with it. Yesterday I contacted the WAA president and they did find my package of matboards and two workshop paintings. A friend in Riverton will keep them for me until we get together in about a month. Was lucky to have them saved and returned, so am thankful for that.

Yesterday nearly finished up work on a large database address list for the new conference and art center by working on it most of the day. I'm waiting to hear back from a few people with their info and will be done with it for now. Glad to put those kind of things behind me. There is plenty with my other volunteer jobs to keep me very busy though.

Yesterday was still cool here, about 64 and breezy. But finally it is warming up with nice days. We are having smoke from somewhere making the atmosphere very hazy. It's finally nice enough to go out and garden. I'm planning a major change in the flower beds and it will be a lot of work. Should do it before the ground gets baked like a brick.

We've made plans and are looking forward to a camping painting trip in June up in the mountains with other artists. I can't wait for that one.

Heard a really discouraging thing recently. About how many meals you make for 50 years of marriage. Well I figured I'd been cooking meals three times daily since 1957 and that makes about 55,100 meals. And think about 25 years cooking at the lodge!! Yikes!! Just bringing it up because I have to go cook lunch now.

Joe is doing the dragging now (smooshing down the horse apples on the hayfield). The dogs go round and round with him for a while until they get tired and then sit on the porch and howl. He waits a while longer than most of the ranches because the horses can stay on that field until the grass starts to grow more. Now they will have to go to the sagebrush pasture on the other side of the creek until after haying season.

Joe Dragging the Field - John Deere B

Tuesday May 15 2007

Tom Lucas with the Bow Unstrung

Stringing the Bow

With the Bow Strung

Pulling the Arrow - 60 Pounds

One of our WAA artist members, Tom Lucas, was at the convention. He does regular painting, usually of beautiful still lifes of Indian artifacts, such as beaded moccasins or other items. But he is also well known for learning years ago how to build the famous Sheepeater Indian Sheep Horn Bow exactly like they made them centuries ago. He also is an expert flint knapper, which means he makes authentic stone arrowheads. He makes the arrows too which are very beautifully fletched. He has produced four videos of the various Native American artifact replicas he makes. The Sheepeaters lived a very reclusive existence in the Wind River Mountains. They hunted sheep and their bows were very prized by other tribes and were famous in the fur trade era. There happens to be one of the real Sheepeater bows in the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale, which was found some years back on the Upper Green. I'm not sure if this is the only one ever found, or if there are a few more somewhere. Apparently the Smithsonian doesn't even have one. I should have asked Tom how many of the bows he has made, but several. It takes a set of bighorn sheep horns to make one bow. I was happy to get these photos of Tom with the bow and arrows.

Monday May 14 2007

Antelope on the Lander Cutoff

Our Mixed Media Group

at the Wyoming Artists Convention

in Riverton WY

May 11, 12, 13, 2007

Part of the Kathy Wipfler Oil Workshop

Convention Visitor


Another View of Oil Workshop


Lynn Newman Pastel Workshop Teacher
Painting Cherry Trees in Japan

Our Group's Studies

Lynn Working in Pastel
- "Vincent Van Goat"


Cottonwoods on the Hoback
Won Best of Show and Peoples Choice!!


Jody Photographing Flowers in the Wyoming Wind

South Pass

Red Canyon - South Pass

Friday we started over to the annual Wyoming Artists Association Convention to be held in Riverton. Charm and I met at our mailbox. We each drove our own vehicles because she went on to South Dakota after the convention to visit her folks. We went down the dirt road to South Pass called The Lander Cutoff (of the Oregon Trail). We had an uneventful trip over, except at the South Pass Rest Stop we saw a couple with two bum lambs they had put in the fenced "Pet Area" to let them walk there. They were very cute, and very tiny. They had them in their small SUV in a big plastic tub to travel to Vernal where they were going to give them to their granddaughter. South Pass had a lot of quite large snowdrifts scattered on the hills from the storm we had last weekend - the pass had been closed during that heavy snow. It was about 89 degrees this afternoon. We ate lunch at a new restaurant in Lander. We stopped at the Sprout's Greenhouse to get a gift certificate from Mixed Media for a member friend for a tree to plant in memory of her husband who passed away a few months ago. On to Riverton and registration, hauling in our painting entries for the art show. Checked into the motel. Driving around town was fun and interesting and the lilac bushes were blooming in profusion - very beautiful. I got some interesting photos of an old barn with an orange cat up in the high window that might make a good painting. Then later that evening we had the quick draw. I did a painting in an hour of Joe and Buster feeding 5 horses in a snowstorm. Kay A. bought it. Our oil teacher was Kathy Wipfler and I was lucky enough to outbid Sandy to get her quick draw painting. I love it and feel very fortunate to have it. I told Sandy I would share it with her. There was a bountiful hor d'ourve table at the quick draw so we didn't need to go to dinner, which was nice.

On Saturday it was up early and to the workshops. It's always so much fun to see all the artists and acquaintances again and get to catch up and visit. We also missed the ones who weren't there. It was a smaller group this year. I had decided to try the pastel workshop, hoping to find something that will shake me up into being more creative and out of my present "artist's block". Our teacher was Lynn Newman from Cheyenne. He worked loosely and quite abstract. Hard as I tried to begin the way he was teaching, I could barely force myself to get out of my rut more than momentarily. But did work quicker and had a lot of fun painting from one of his reference photos of a herd of goats. Then I learned I had won Best of Show with my pastel painting Cottonwoods on the Hoback. We had a buffet lunch and the business meeting at noon, and back to the intensity of the workshops. That evening we had a banquet with other celebrations. Charm, Sandy and I left early, and later when the others got back to the motel, a bunch of us sat out in the parking lot in lawn chairs and reminisced about all the past conventions. I laughed until I cried. One noticeable thing was how pleasant it was to sit outside in short sleeves in the evening. Something that only happens for a few months in Wyoming.

Sunday we repeated the morning agenda. Today in the workshop I began a colorful fall aspen scene with a road. We had some critiques of the paintings in the art show which are always very interesting to listen too. Then I was speechless when they told me I had also won People's Choice for the Cottonwoods, and got two more honorable mentions and a painting chosen to hang in the Wyoming Congressional offices in Washington DC for the next year. And at noon the convention was over. We packed up our paintings, a group of us had lunch together and then started on our different ways home. Jody rode with me to the Sweetwater, then got back in with Ruth and Sharon. We had a nice visit. There was a quite dramatic change in the two days we'd been gone. The hillsides on South Pass were covered with Yellow Mules Ears wildflowers instead of snow drifts. At the top of the bluff above the Sweetwater River I turned north and the others went on toward Big Piney. I had a beautiful drive home through the back country. Got home in time to fix Joe's dinner, but fortunately there were leftovers so it wasn't too big a deal. Unloaded the vehicle and found I had left my workshop paintings in Riverton somehow. I hope they haven't disappeared, because I was sure enjoying the two that I did. In the brown paper wrapped package was also a bunch of mat boards I use to do pastels on, and they aren't cheap. After feeding the cats I had enough time to download all my photos and got them sorted and labeled, and many of them "fixed" a little.

This morning - Monday - Joe mowed the front "lawn". He had done the back while I was gone. Its greener here than when I left a few days ago, but our country could sure use some rain. I have a lot of housecleaning to catch up on and some phone calls to make. Especially I need to track down my lost paintings and see if I can arrange to get them back.