Dream Big.....

A Walk in the Woods

Strutting His Stuff

A Week in Spring

What can I say.  We have been home a whole week and I have failed to post on this blog.  I am finding life more engaging than sitting down to write a post.  Well, actually a comfy chair after a day full of trying to beat back the overgrowth of weeds in our yard.  It was a hard battle, but we did finally succeed.  Sort of.  It is still a wild and rustic yard, but you won't be attacked by any thistles anymore.

The only thing that overwintered in our vegetable garden was swiss chard.  I love swiss chard.  I love the taste, the color and its amazing ability to survive without any help.   That's the veggie for me.

We did plant our summer vegetable garden this week: tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, lettuce, bunching onions, carrots, corn, green beans.  Most of them are seeds in the ground, or bundled up in plastic and wouldn't make for a very exciting photo.  If they survive, which is always in question this far north this early in the spring, I will post them.

We managed to catch the last bull this week.    That is a story all its own.  I must tell it someday.  We also took around trace mineral blocks and salt.  Their winter supply was just about gone.  We checked the cattle, who were all doing fine and the steers for neighbor's freezers are fattening up nicely on the thick clover we have this year.  If you want a side for your freezer, let us know.  We always sell out early. 

We took lots of walks this week.  Beautiful journeys through a sea of green.  We are becoming compulsive walkers, but I think it is a good thing.  The walking started in October, when I was caring for my then bedridden dad on hospice.  It was a way to unwind, decompress.  It still is really.  I love watching the miles roll out behind us.  Mark and I are using walking sticks now to help our knees and we love the way they 'click' in unison.  Even though our strides are quite different, they somehow match up after about a quarter of a mile.  Kind of like marriage.

 The wedding, by the way,  was wonderful.  And our last son is married to a wonderful young lady.  May their walking sticks click in unison.  :-)

Dealing With The Elderly

  Charlie is 30 years old.  That's pretty old for a horse.  Some folks have seeing eye dogs.  But Charlie has Flower.  As well as being nearly blind, Charlie is also very hearing impaired and he counts on Flower to keep him informed.  Usually they stay right around our house and barn and life is pretty safe. 








I recently found them far from home pigging out on clover.  Not such a good idea right now.

Because Flower is expecting any day and predators might just find her kids a tasty snack. 

 I told them to go home.

Which they did.



It is kind of funny to say this, but elderly horses are a bit like elderly people.  Without their sight and hearing their world shrinks and it is all about them.  You should see the looks Charlie gives us if we are late with his old horse food.  And he might just run over you if you aren't careful.  Life is all about him.    But after all those years of faithful service we don't really care.  He deserves his special time of pampering.

We are heading south again to help my parents and attend our oldest son's wedding.  WooHoo.

Backpacking at Home

We hope to do a long back pack this summer in the Sierras.  Sort of a bucket list item.  I was diagnosed with COPD this spring.  A hereditary thing, I don't smoke.   While I am in the early stages,  I know my days of hiking and active pursuits are numbered, so we are trying to do things now while I can.  We should all really live like that because you just don't know what tomorrow brings. 

We've never slept out on the ranch, well, except our own deck, but that doesn't count, so we decided to do a little backpacking trip this time at home.  Worked all day and then packed up and took off. 

We got stares.  Lots of them.

But we had a lovely sleep out at the falls.  They roar right now and we both dreamed of the ocean.

Do You See What I See

 Right by the log is a deer.  See it?

If you didn't see a turkey, then try this one.  It's easy.

Lots of little green frogs in the prairies right now.  They serenade us all night.  Sweet dreams.