Saturday April 12 2008

Looking at Drifts in Front Corral

I Met a Smiling Face on My Walk Today and I Smiled Back

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The Red Tail is Back at It's Nest (click to see bird)

The Yard Today

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Today was nice, and very relaxed and quiet. The weather was warmer and calm, but still didn't get much above 40. Did some more typing up old letters; am on a new stack of them. The dogs and I took a small and leisurely walk. The cutest thing was meeting a smiling face along the road - a balloon. Not sure how long it might have been there. Every once in a while we find balloons that have floated in. Once I found one in the field from some kids school project in Oregon or somewhere far away.

The red tail hawk is back in the tree waiting at its nest. I've only see the one bird, so maybe its waiting for its mate. You can tell from the pictures that in the last week or so more snow has melted but its still plenty white. Joe went out and raked some of the ruts out of the drive through the yard. He hates for the road to get ruts in it. I made a pot of chili and some cornbread for dinner.

Last night I stood in the yard and looked at the ISS again, and saw it much better because the sky had really cleared off after sunset. Its interesting how it appears, brightening out of the distance and disappears the same way after it crosses the sky. Makes sense. Not like a planet rising and setting that stays the same brightness whether high or low on the horizon. The moon and stars were also pretty spectacular. I'm so glad I took the time to look and lucky I did because it won't be coming over us again anytime soon.

Pinedale is getting another 3-story hotel and probably two of them, and a new elementary school. There will be a quite large development that will include more affordable housing on the west end of town too.

Friday March 11 2008

Saddle Stand

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Boy talk about boring days. Have not done much that is fun to write about. Got to about 40 degrees today, so slowly the snow is starting to leave and the wind is blowing so that hurries it along.

One exciting thing, quite thrilling actually, is that I did see the international space station go across the sky last night. It came right out of the WNW at exactly the time their site said, and went straight across our roof. It was lost in the clouds heading to the SE but it was enough to say I'd seen it. Quite fast, very big and bright, much as Venus looks, and there was still some sunset glow. I suppose if you had a telescope you could actually see the shape of the ISS. I didn't take mine out, and it was fun anyway. I'll try looking again tonight, but we've had hazy clouds all day long, so might not be very successful. I've seen teeny satellites looking like speeding stars many years ago. Usually camping out, looking at the stars you would spot one of those tiny dots streaking across the night sky.

Today I stuck in a picture of the new saddle stand like I said I would a week or so ago. Joe has brought the saddle back out of the barn and I'll take another picture showing the saddle on the stand. This style is rustic, but goes with our paneling and country "decor". The other style they had at the saddle shop had a more panel and board look, and was just as nice. It was hard to choose. There is a peg on each end to put a bridle on. I would like to have my braided rawhide rope displayed too. It was made in the Rawlins state prison years ago. I traded a painting for it with one of our wranglers.

Still feelin' good. The pain I've had under my diaphragm ever since the surgery has diminished noticeably in the last week or so. I'm giving a lot of credit for that to Joan, who has been meditating on that particular symptom by envisioning erasing the spots on the liver with a large white art eraser. YOU GO JOAN!!

Thursday April 10 2008

Scene Near Silver Creek Yesterday

FLYBY ALERT: Tonight, the International Space Station (ISS) begins a week-long series of bright evening flybys over North America. The busily expanding station is now as bright as Venus even when it doesn't fly directly overhead; some observers report seeing it through clouds. US and Canadian readers, find out when to look using our new Simple Satellite Tracker: http://spaceweather.com/flybys You stick your zip code in and it tells you to the second when and where to look. (8:40 PM tonight here WNW.) Sounds like an exciting thing to see. The constellation Scorpio (that's me) is very beautiful right now as well.

Joe went to town early this morning. He invited me to go as he was putting on his coat and I was standing there still in my pjs and no breakfast yet, but I've been gone enough lately. Woke up 3 a.m. or so, and haven't gone back to sleep so might take a nap. Might not. I'm feeling pretty darn good.

I saw a small flock of meadow larks sitting on the corral today. Surely they are just reconoitering the territory, as I can't imagine they can find food here yet. Maxine saw cranes and also a bluebird, and she still has nearly as much snow as we do. It got to about 34 degrees today with a stiff wind blowing. There are more spots of bare ground beginning to show in the field.

Got the photos downloaded. and guess what, I took photos of that big herd of deer through the windshield and the camera focused on the water drops on the glass and the deer are ALL out of focus. Bummer. Too excited to run the windshield wiper? Kind of like buck fever I suppose. Some I got out the rolled down side windows will be o.k., but sure not as impressive.

A few days ago one special member of Gina and Bob's family passed away. Remember their dog Dell from when I went to spend some time with them. She had a stroke and they put her to sleep. She was 16. I know it has left a big hole in their hearts, and that Garfield also misses her, no one to pester and harass. Gina says: "there's definitely something missing in our house...ie right in front of the door. :) The Cat cries for an hour in the morning wanting to know where she is...in and out, in and out. Then settles down."

Charm said yesterday, "The county plow is clearing the road into their place at Boulder Lake Ranches. But they are having troubles getting through. A wing broke off the county road grader just past the Forest Service cattle guard. Jim helped Bill get it off, the bracket off, and all loaded into the county pickup. Yesterdy they still had the worst of the drifts to clear, not to mention the passage through the trees." Then she said, "They made it the rest of the way today. What a good job the crews did, but with that arsenal they had, it should look good....first the grader that broke; then a big Cat; then a snowblower. Jim and neighbors are in the process of moving vehicles in. As much snow as was pushed way off to the side, it shouldn't even be very muddy for long."

Today I'm did some online shopping for when/if a trip to the desert materializes. Maybe something to wear to Tayler's graduation, and a few nicer pairs of shorts and tops. I ordered a pretty lightweight skirt in Eddie Bauer. And a short sleeve hoodie and crop pants in "petunia" Frency terry. I'll probably wish I'd gotten the long pants, even for our summer.

Sheral, Virginia and Pat called today and had very nice visits with them. Virginia has a cold.

Wednesday April 9 2008

Betty's New Socks

Betty sent this cute photo and note yesterday: "Hi Y'All: Lynn sent me some "spring" socks -- aren't they great? Blue birds, cardinals, orioles, but I don't know what the one on the foot is. Kitty Caitlin had to come over and put in her two "scents" worth. Love, Me'All " She says if anyone knows what the bird on the toes is to let us know.

I'm off to Jackson this morning and wouldn't you know it's snowing. Charm wrote and said it was "snowing at her house like it means it". We had an inch or two with misty visibility. I could see anyway so told Joe if it got bad at Pinedale we wouldn't go.

Our lane was a slip-sliding muddy and drifted ride out to the gate, kind of fun actually, as long as you don't end up in the ditch. A little excitement to start the day off. All the way to Boulder was more or less a wet snow covering the road, the kind that could be pretty slick, so took it slow. In fact some nut drove out of a side road right in front of me without stopping and did some fancy "S" moves then sped off and didn't stop at the highway either. I just threw my hands in the air, and was glad me and the truck in back of me could avoid an accident. Before the Boulder Creek bridge he pulled off, then after I passed roared by me with black smoke pouring out. Maybe some drunk on his way to work.

The most special thing at Silver Creek was a herd of 200 or 300 deer, too many to count. They were all trotting down the highway and I followed them slowly just like driving behind a herd of cattle. Before the bridge, they began to follow one another and half jumped over the fence to the west. The other half crossed the bridge and jumped the fence going east. I have never really seen anything exactly like this. Although I have seen them many times migrating across the hills several hundred at a time. I stopped for at least ten minutes waiting so not to make them panic, and got a whole bunch of photos. That's how long it took for them all to get over the fence and out of the road.

At about Boulder Creek the storm lifted and the sun was shining with blue sky ahead. Picked up Judi at Rendezvous Pointe about 9. Standing in the sunshine, she asked "What is all this? The car was solid ice and frozen mud nearly to the windows. We kicked some of it off the wheel wells and running board. Then met Maxine at 40 Rod and she got her things. It was good to see her, she looked good. She may go along with Charm and I to Jackson next week.

I brought us some of the banana nut crumb muffins for a snack. The trip was like a playback of most of the others, but from near Boulder on to Jackson the road was dry and the drive beautiful. A take on the Navajo poems - In beauty we drive, In beauty we drive. In beauty it is done. The rivers were running open and sparkling with chunks of broken turquoise and white ice along the deep banks. Boulders in the stream looked like cupcakes piled with divinity frosting. The fences were still covered with snow and drifts all the way through the Hoback. We stopped for some bighorn ewes, and then another small herd of deer, and got more pictures.

Was right on time at Chemo and they weren't very busy so the treatment went quickly this time. Everything was fine. They didn't give any new information, except will see the Huntsman doctor on the 25th and I said I would be there. (Means I won't go to WAA Convention.) I have cat scans next week but no chemo. We ate lunch while the treatment dripped. Then drove over to the new gallery near Wilson to check it out for Kay. It's quite obscure and out of the way. Stopped at the Hoback Market and got a few groceries. It's fun how even shopping with a friend can be a good adventure. We laughed at a house in Bondurant where deep snow had slid off the roof in an intact slab and totally covered the front of the building and porch from roof to the ground. Back to Rendezveous Pointe with hugs bye to Judi for now. Since I was in town, I went back to Country Lane Gas again but the bookkeeper/manager wasn't there, so I will need to go back or ask her to mail me copies of receipts with Joe's signatures to show valid charges on that bill they sent me.

At the East Fork I saw birds flying and at first glimpse -driving/peripheral vision - my mind interpreted it as a huge flock of blackbirds. But something was not right - they were too big. You know how sometimes for a minute or so your depth perception for size of things is out of kilter. But as they came closer and I pulled over and stopped there, they were geese beyond counting. What a sight. They all dropped quickly down into the willows along East Fork. I opened the window and listened to all the honking. We also saw our first osprey of the season sitting on a nest at the Snake River. Wow! So many special gifts today. Lots of signs of spring.

The road on home was also dry now. Coming in Richie Road was quite good. The loads of large gravel dumped and spread over the last several years here and there are really making a difference. Years ago you probably would have been off in the sagebrush for the mud, making some memorable rides. There is always a mucky place coming up out of the creek and I punched it into 4WD there and bounced from one set of chocolate pudding ruts to another. Through the gate and down our lane it was more like driving a boat, you know that wallowing in the mud and slush, back and forth sideways, slipping in and out of the tracks. Lots of water splashing. The dogs met me at the gate and were wet and muddy too. Home by about 4:30. Found some leftovers to heat up and got the dogs fed.

Thank you again for going with me Judi. We hadn't seen each other since January because they've been traveling and I loved having a wonderful visit with my dear friend. We couldn't talk fast enough to get it all in.

I'll download the photos later and in the next several days show you some of the best ones - hope there are some best ones there. I took so many that - according to the law of averages - there should be a few that will be fun to use.

So far I'm feeling good again.

At Chemo

See the IV line going into the port in my chest, which is working pretty good BTW. The light from the window is blocking out all the IV bags hanging on the pole. The green folder is my records. It grows larger every week.

Tuesday April 8 2008

Still ..........

Another very quiet day. A few paperwork tasks needed to be accomplished. And I sat here and went through my inbox to send a response to messages that had been sitting there, many from when the computer was broken and dated last December. Most of my notes were small, since people seem to come to the blog for the news, but I felt like I still wanted to answer when you had questions etc. For a while I would get 10 or 12 answered and 15 would come in when I connected. Whew. Have the inbox down to 4 (that's four!), and if you are one of those I'll write soon. This is a good feeling. I also got more Nancy D letters transcribed and can send the originals to her daughter in a couple of days now.

Another sunny morning, with cloudy bright this afternoon and chance of snow OR RAIN! It got to about 38 degrees and the snow is noticeably melting. At least no wind so far. Sunday I heard cranes in the distance but haven't seen any here yet. I know they are in fields where the snow has gone off. So Welcome Cranes~! Our blackbirds had left for a while when they saw how much snow was still here and no food available. I saw a flock in the trees again yesterday morning.

Joe went out today and cleared the ice and snow off the top and caps of the propane tanks (remember I said the drifts had entirely covered them now). I have no idea how he got over there, but it's a very good thing he has very long legs. The dogs didn't go with him. They knew better. The feed sleds are also more covered than I have ever seen them.

Tonight we're going to have shrimp scampi, rice pilaf, artichokes, salad with homemade ranch, and banana nut crumb muffins.

Tomorrow morning I'll meet Judi at Rendezvous Pointe and we'll go up to Jackson. Will meet Maxine on the way to give her things to her.

Spaceweather.com has some interesting night sky events. You can check it out if you're interested, but they sound beautiful. One was last night actually, but I procrastinated getting this in yesterday.

http://spaceweather.com/

Monday April 7 2008

My friend Debbie, postmistress at Boulder PO

She is also in Mixed Media.

Today began sunny and bright. We went to town this morning. Joe had his blood tests at the clinic. We got papers for changes in the trust notarized and picked up our taxes at the accountant. Next we went to the bank - our safety deposit box has always had a heavy bunch of silver coins in it, so heavy we could hardly lift the box to get it in and out. Joe wanted to take them out so whoever could lift the box when they need to. We took a small suitcase and it was just funny to be walking out of the bank with a suitcase of money. It felt like we were hauling off the loot. Don't know why we've kept it all these years - Joe collected silver coins years ago. Now I don't know what we're going to do with them since there are no dealers around here, but we need to cash it all in. There are no rare or valuable coins in it, but I would suppose we should get more than the face value if we can take it to the right place.

Had lunch at the Mexican place. The ambiance and food are not good as it used to be. Went to the store and got a few groceries. Boy was that a filthy mess today - almost didn't want to buy food in there. They have opened up all the back that used to be storage and offices, and are moving around many shelves. Kind of interesting because they have put entire aisles on dollys and moved them intact with the cans still stacked on them to other areas. I think the floor needs to be replaced. So all is chaos.

And then over to Covill funeral home and paid for both our funerals. I wondered ahead how it was going to feel for both of us to be doing that, but as soon as it was done it was a calm relief.

Our bill from Country Lane is messed up and I went in to talk to the bookkeeper. I've paid it every time and have the cancelled checks back, but maybe one time some months back we didn't get a bill and then it got behind and has really messed it up. She says the bill is correct. I have to sit and figure this out. Just what I want to do right now.

Then home. As we left Pinedale there was a snowstorm coming in from the west. The clouds were black, but we got home before it hit. Our road was very sloppy slippery slushy coming in. We no sooner got in the house until the ground blizzards started again, with some new snowfall. The wind is still blowing the drifts higher. Although snow is starting to melt now are bigger than any time since we've been here.

Was sure tired tonight and went to sleep at 7, so now I'm up at 3 a.m. Decided to write a little and am watching the movie "Blink".

HEROINE

Indian Paintbrush

24x20 Oil Painting

by Lynn Thomas

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It's the birthday of the Shoshone woman Sacajawea, born in Idaho (1786), who served as interpreter for Lewis and Clark's expedition (1804). Born to a Shoshone chief, kidnapped at 10 by the Hidatsa tribe, and sold into slavery, she was then bought by a French Canadian trapper named Charbonneau, who married her. When Lewis and Clark hired Charbonneau to guide them to the Pacific, his teenage wife — with her two-month-old baby on her back — was part of the package. Officially she acted as interpreter, speaking half a dozen Indian languages, but she also knew which wilderness plants were edible and saved the explorers' records when their boat overturned. She served as camp cook, housekeeper, and peacemaker with the watchful tribes they met along their way.

HMMM..... HOW WOULD "THEY" EVER KNOW HER BIRTH DATE?