Thursday March 13 2008

This is a photo of the ranch Gina and Bob took from the plane a few years back. It has been on email back then but never in the blog yet, so thought I would put it in today. The right angle track is our snowmachine trail out to the county road. The other tracks are from the horses wandering around. You can see them at the right of the house on their feedground.

Yesterday we drove to the Troy's auto repair place and picked up Joe's truck. The repairs are finished, except for the paint job. It will be done in a couple of weeks. They are busy until then. So he drove his truck home. He asked me if I wanted to go to lunch in town, but I didn't feel like eating much. I sure don't turn down many offers to eat out.

On the way back I stopped at Dr. Susie's and got the dogs their checkups, shots and worm medicine, and their glands cleaned out. I was sorry to hear that heartworm, which we haven't had here in the past, is being brought in by dogs from the south with people who are working in the oil fields. So now our dogs will need heartworm medicine during the mosquito season. It is given once a month as long as there are mosquitos, about six months. If we do this as a preventive measure they will be able to stay free of this awful disease. Sparky is still about 15 pounds overweight. He gets very little at dinner time, but somehow manages to beg or steal (from Raven's dish) more food than he needs. Joe insists on dropping pancakes down their throats and I try to adjust for that, but its not working. He weighs 57 and should weigh about 40 pounds. Raven weighs 80 pounds and is doing well. She behaved so well with her checkup this time, but Sparky was a big sissy, crying the whole time. He never used to cry.

Today is very overcast, and looks like it wants to snow. The weather report says we should get some, maybe one or two inches. It looks about the same through the weekend - chance of snow. There is a breeze but it doesn't feel very cold. This morning Joe went in to Pinedale to get his haircut, so will probably eat lunch in town. I'm watching a John Wayne movie, and want to size some of my photos of the snow here at home from when I walked last Sunday. I'll put a few on the blog into a photo essay.

Beverly wrote: "Today I went to Debbie's after work and right when I turned onto her street, there was a lady passed out cold on the sidewalk and part of the street. I ran over and someone had already called 911, Debbie came with me. We waited for the paramedics to come and they took her to the hospital. I said, man! A lot of excitement happens on this street, that's where Tayler's car burned up."

http://www.e-water.net/viewflash.php?flash=irishblessing_en

Wednesday March 12 2008

From the Bondurant Weather Cam

HELL

- by Dele Ball

They say hell is a firey place,

With heat and flames like furnace blast,

And temperatures too hot to face,

Where demons live and you can't last.

I say they're wrong. I know a place,

That's cold and lone, piled high with white.

Where frigid breezes skirt the drifts

And, like the mind, sometimes takes flight.

For months on end, the piled up snow

No matter how you rave and rant.

Lies four feet deep on top of fence

Oh, hell, they name is Bondurant.

Dele was a friend of mine and a wonderful poet. She was also an artist, and made many of her own colors from colored Wyoming earth. She created unique scenes of her country with those paints. She passed away a few years ago. I love this poem, as well as many others she wrote, and since we've been doing so much "Bondurant" lately, and experiencing the deep snows there, I've been thinking of this poem and decided to put it in the blog. I hope her family won't mind that I've used it. I'd like to share another of her poems or two, maybe later. Dele and her family ranched over on Cottonwood at the foot of the Wyoming Range, relatively close neighbors to Joe's brother Jim.

Tuesday March 11 2008

Snow Shoveled Off Roof - A Winter Job

We're baaaaccckkk! Today's trip to Jackson went well, and much like most other days. Started off about -5 and mostly cloudy, but not stormy. We met at the Boulder post office and I parked over in the corner there and Charm drove her Tahoe. When she drives I really relax both up and back. It was warmer in the afternoon, and the roads were dry all the way. Snow depth was lessening in some places, still deep in some. A new look was where wind had blown some of the ridges bare and then dirt had blown downwind over on the snow making it all brown. Good for the deer and animals that some of the ground is baring up to make it easier for them to find food. We saw about 6 or 8 moose and a couple of bighorn sheep today, and one elk in the river. Plus the 700? elk on the Fall Creek? Feed ground. I saw a lot of deer both going and coming near home.

Charm had a mammogram scheduled today and both our appointments were set at 11 a.m. Yesterday Carol from oncology called and asked if I could come at one instead because they had changes in their patients, and I said yes. She said to still stick my head in the door when we got there and see how they were doing. I did that and fortunately there was an empty chair, so I was seated about 10:30 and we were out by 12, pretty quick. My port (and two other patients at the same time BTW) were blocked and had to have heperin before, as well as after, to thin what probably was a small clot there. They had all of us leaning over one way and then the other, and then Paige had me recline in the chair. Well, that led to them asking if I wanted a warm blanket and next thing I knew I napped nearly through the whole treatment. All the patients but one were sleeping today, and I heard one of the nurses ask if they should put on some soothing relaxing music. Someone else said no, or they'd all be asleep next. I'm off next week, so don't go back until the 25th and will start my 5th month then.

We went over to The Bunnery for lunch. It was really hard but I resisted all the bakery things there. Charm needed a necklace repaired so we went into a jewelery store next door where they make all their own BEAUTIFUL jewelery, to have it fixed. LOVED seeing the lovely designs and such great workmanship. Then we went on to KMart. I needed to get my pain pills refilled although had enough left for a while. When you're out in the boonies you don't want to run out. The pharmacy was closed for lunch until 2:15 so while we waited I got a few other things, and we both shopped for greeting cards. The pharmacist told me the generic version had been recalled, and my Humana Part D probably didn't want to pay for much of the brand name. Actually I believe the last time I bought the generic it was about $9 and the brand name today was $96. I said I would wait a while and see what happened. So that was a waste of our time. Then we went for groceries at Smith's (where I bought irresistible giant bakery muffins) and came on home.

When I got in my car at Boulder the temp read 51 degrees!! In about 10 minutes it was 48, and 15 minutes later was about 27. The county road was good; Richie Road and our lane were sloppy slushy ice. Arrived back home about 6 p.m. This morning had left some pot roast in the crock pot, and that was ready for dinner.

Well, while I was putting the groceries away, I saw water on the window sill above the sink and thought I'd splashed it up there. Wiped it away and in a few minutes the puddle was back again. I told Joe, "Uh-Oh, Trouble!" Water melting off the roof and icicles had leaked back under the eaves and was coming down through the wall and somehow under the cabinet over the sink without any water being in the cabinet. I sure hope it isn't backing up doing damage inside the wall or ceiling. We've had very little trouble with that, but Joe has always cleared that off more often than he has this year, since it seemed to be coming off on it's own pretty well. So he got out there on the ladder with his tools and got a lot of the ice in the roof valley knocked off as far back as he could reach. The drips lessened up right away.

Charm called and said a few of my groceries had jumped over into her bag, including the dog's jerky treats. I had missed those but not the other stuff yet. They will have to do with biscuits for treats until I see Charm again.

Got in jammies right away. Am tired, but so far not feeling too bad. Will see what tonight and tomorrow bring.

Monday March 10 2008

First Redwing Blackbird - This Morning -

Spring is Near

Gorgeous morning, and should get above freezing today. It has still been below 0 in the nights. We were really socked in with fog this morning, and it left everything frosted. Joe went off in the mists to get his blood tests this morning. He thinks he is getting shingles again, but forgot to ask them to check it out at the clinic.

Later I noticed that a big tractor with a snowblower on it came into Norm's clearing out their road, another sign of spring. They do the road and then go in and clear out the haystacks too before they drive the cattle over. Was surprised to see that their two dogs came all the way in to our yard checking things out. Mine were asleep inside so no confrontations.

Had calls from Sandra and Mary. Sandra's old cat, Cat Man, is sick and she might loose him soon. She's had him ever since they moved here from Michigan. Mary also called from Rock Springs. It was nice to talk to her. She said they had 8" of snow south of there, where they winter their sheep, about the time we had that last 2".

This morning I tried again and was able to download my latest photos. Maybe I'll do another small photo essay to show what the snow looks like now. Crazy tempermental computer. I need to call Best Buy just to tell them it still isn't working and see what they say. Later I sat and updated my address book, now that it is working. Gradually I'll have to make sure that everyone's new email addresses are correctly in there since it's been a long time since I've been able to do that, and I know there have been changes.

Tomorrow Charm and I will head back to Jackson, so may not blog tomorrow.

LETTER FROM DEBBIE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT - Now we've all had our vehicles trashed: We had an interesting afternoon today. I was working in the yard and Tayler decided to go get us a sandwich. She got around the corner form the house (on Torrey Pines) and smoke started coming out of her air vents. She tried to call the house, but I was in the yard with the blower on and didn't hear the phone. She parked her car on the side of the street and walked home, told me what happened and I asked if her car was parked in a safe place, she wasn't sure.

We got in my car and went to where her car was and I told her I would see if I could pull it into the parking lot on the other side of the street which belonged to a church. When I opened the car door smoke came pouring out and there were flames coming out of the dash. Two guys across the street where going into church and noticed what was going on and the yelled at me to get away from the car (Tayler was in my car). I asked them if they had a fire extinguisher, and then remembered I had one in the back of my car, ran back to get it.

One of the guys called 911, for the fire department, they both came over and one of them knew how to use the extinguisher, so he doused the flames.The fire truck came and they made sure the fire was out and disconnected the battery. I called the insurance and then we waited for the tow truck to show up. Curtis came home from a ride he had gone on while we were waiting for the tow truck. He followed the tow truck to the VW shop for repair(?) We will wait to see what they say about the damage.

We are thankful that 1) Tayler didn't get hurt, 2) She was close to the house, 3) Those two guys helped us out, 4) The fire department came, 5) We have insurance, 6) We get a rental car. Although we don't have Tayler's car right now, there were many blessings. I think this was probably good for her to see what to do in an emergency situation.

I was going to just leave the car there until Curtis got home, the only reason we went back was because she wasn't sure it was parked safely enough. I guess it would have been totally burned had we not gone back. Other than that, it was a beautiful day today. Love, Deb

Sunday March 9 2008

Early Spring Evening

A good day, even prettier than yesterday. It's not supposed to storm again until Tuesday when we go back to Jackson. I've been delighting in watching that fox hunting mice in the field. Lots better than a TV program. He listens for the rodents under more than a foot of snow, and sneaks here and there stalking, tiptoeing, creeping, then leaps high in the air and dives headfirst after the meal. With the snow pretty crusty right now, it seems like the hunting might be a little difficult for the fox.

Jackie, Betty and Pat called this afternoon and sure enjoyed talking to them. Betty's flowers are beginning to bloom down there in Mesquite. Just hearing that kind of feels like a wisp of spring reaching up to us. I was glad to hear Pat's Fred is recuperating well from his knee surgery. And Jackie has good news about their kids being able to come back and work and live on the farm.

This afternoon that frosted up freezer kept calling me. I might have mentioned that Joe didn't get the door shut tight on it while I was gone and the freezer probably ran solid for two or three days before I found it. The door was pushed to, but not sealed. Everything was still frozen, but all frosted up. So today I defrosted that, cleaned it up and organized all the food. Well, that led to having to use some of the older stuff, so made a turkey noodle casserole, a blackberry pie, and 7 loaves of banana bread. I thought the batch would make 6 loaves, but got 7 out of the big bowl of batter.

That big crockery bowl was Joe's mother's and I used it all those years at the lodge and here at the ranch ever since. Couldn't stand to put those bananas back in the freezer, so the finished loaves will go in there instead and be handy to take out every so often. They are in the oven now and hopefully they will turn out o.k. as I skimped down on the oil and sugar to make them more healthy. It was either throw out the frozen leftover bananas or make something out of them. Betty opted for throwing out the bananas. She has been known to take home House on Muddy banana bread however.

I hate to waste food, but this time it was necessary to throw some of the old stuff out. Thought I could make chicken soup out of some August '06 thighs, but they went bye bye. We aren't eating much anymore, and I've been throwing out more food than I would like to lately. It will be necessary to have some self discipline and not to over buy stuff at the store, even if it IS on a really good bargain. This all seems to show some progress with my cleaning and purging. My pantry shelves are looking better too - no longer so crammed full and cluttery to where I don't even know what's in there. It's a good thing.

Masters of the American West show at the Autry National Heritage Center in L.A. - One of the best western shows in the country. I love the way this website works and the art is beautiful. Wait to look until you have time or come back several times to see it all, there is so much..

http://www.autrynationalcenter.org/masters2008/artists.php

Saturday March 8 2008

Betty's Horse

(Magpie on its back)

We've had a big red fox out hunting in our field for the last couple of evenings. Raven sure lets us know its there.. I'm not so sure I didn't see a wolf run across the road early one morning out near the creek on the way to Jackson. It was a very dark color, but disappeared so fast and at such a distance, it could have been a coyote. Just didn't look quite right though.

It's a warm, calm and sunny day. About 30 degrees in the shade as I write in the early afternoon. Those old Muddy Hills are turning more brown, as its finally warm enough to melt off some of the snow from the rocks. All the snow and ice has come off the roofs in the last several days. "Spring-like". At the moment anyway. This morning I've been thinking of spring cleaning and a mom and her daughter in Pinedale have started a house cleaning business, so I'm really considering having them come out when the weather gets good and cleaning each room top to bottom. I've never had a house cleaner in my life, so it's about time to experience that luxury. And the house does need a deep cleaning. That should let us easily just spiff things up ourselves for a year or so.

Took a walk down the road with the dogs. We went as far as out of the gate, a little more than a mile. That is the furthest I've gone, as yet. Was able to walk on a line of bare dirt for a lot of the way. And could smell that odor of damp spring earth. Got too warm on the way home even. Dogs had a great time. Very quiet and relaxed otherwise. Doing a little reading. Joe's watching basketball games.

Yesterday I got calls from Sheral - was sorry to learn she has been very sick -and Edis called too, so was glad to have a nice visit with her. They are looking for a new house there in Bozeman.

FEEL BETTER SOON, SHERAL.

.

Friday March 7 2008

From My Studio Window

18x24 oil painting

by Lynn Thomas

Click for details

SEVEN HORSES

Right now we have seven horses.
Frosty is my mare. She is about l5 and is an appaloosa.
Her color is grey roan with black spots

and a sparse mane and tail.
She has a big bump on her nose and between her ears.
Joe says I should wear a paper bag on my head when I ride her
so no one will know it is me because she is so ugly.
Before her I had a wonderful bay mare, Trixie,

but she’s gone now.
Joe’s horse is Ace, a brown and white pinto gelding

who is about 15.
His mother was a pinto POA and his father was a work horse.
They thought the two year old work stud

was too young to breed.
We got Ace as a catch colt.
We have a sorrel gelding, Brandy, who is almost 30.
He has been a wonderful horse
Especially when we were running

the dude string in the mountains.
He belongs to my daughter Beverly.
Debbie’s horse in those years was Brandy's sister, Ginger.
She died some years back. She was a good horse too.
They are pretty horses. And big.
Brandy, Ginger and Rosebud were from our Morgan mares
And a sheepherder’s big sorrel draft horse stud.
We put the mares and that stud together

several times after dark in the big meadow.
Daisy is a bay mare. The smallest of all our horses.
Her mother was April, an Arabian.
She is always good, but acts bad like her mother

as if she might want to throw you off,
She is just nervous and doesn't like flies.
Even when its not fly season she is afraid there might be flies.
She wants to be going and get the job done

and come back home.
She is getting old now, turning gray around her eyes.
Then we have Peanuts. Steady and faithful,
He is a buckskin gelding and getting old too.
We also have Sox and Bobbi.
Sox is Ginger's colt, but her quarter horse stud was high spirited
and we never could break her to ride safely. Joe tried.
Instead he broke her to work and pull the feed sled.
The same thing happened with her colt Bobbi.
They are both big sorrel mares with light manes and tails
and white stockings and blazes.
They would rather run than anything
and we had many runaways on the feedground.
We also are taking care of four of the lodge horses
who are old and need extra feed for the winter.
So there are eleven in the field.
It is nice to look out the window and see them all out there,
all different colors in the changing light and seasons.
They walk around the field a time or two a day

and come past the house.
Sometimes they take their naps outside the studio window.

.

by Lynn Thomas

written about 1996

Muddy Creek