Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Go Way...


This Red Shouldered Hawk was out in the front yard
this morning. I whistled at him, but he was busy
and not at all interested in me.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Sunday Stills, Canine Conpanion

This weeks challenge is our K9 companions.
JS and I stated looking for a new pup a few month after
our 14 year old Chesapeake Bay retriever had to be
put down. I...wanted a Welsh Corgi....JS didn't know
what he wanted, but is wasn't a Corgi. We looked on the
Internet, another Chesapeake, maybe a Golden Retriever,
how about an Australian Shepherd?

I had seen an add for Aussie pups at the feed store, so
we called and made an appointment to go see.
What a mob! Sherry Carter had three females and two
had pups. It was a rainbow, blue, black and red and
every one was so dang cute! I could have pick two
or three, till we stated talking price.

we went home and thought about it and two days later
Cubby "Starr's Blue Carter"aka Ranch Dog
came to live with us.

She's four now and it seems like she's been with us
forever. Setting at the back door waiting for belly
rubs or biscuits. Rides in JS's truck or in the orchard
with me. Hanging out in the morning for coffee. or
the occasional "Raccooon Rummmble" episodes.

She's our only kid at home now and we love her dearly.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Holding Down The Fort

Nothing much going on here, the menfolk have left of
the mountains for their Father / Son snowmobile trip
and I holding down the fort. It's pouring rain, winters
getting in it's last big push. I hope it's the last.
I just like taking pictures of this big old oak tree and
thought I'd share. Have a wonderful and safe weekend.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Thursday's Thoughts

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

"HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY"

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Snowshoe Adventure, Almost ?

Saturday after the dishes and chores were done , I decided
to take a break. Thought I'd be adventures and use the
snowshoes for the first time. With camera in hand I
took off down the trail to the lake.

The sun was shining and warm, didn't even wear coat.

200 feet later the sun was gone and once I past the tree
line the warm was gone also.

I stepped out on the lake edge and the wind coming
off that frozen lake hit me. I took this shot
and said forget it!

Went back to the cabin were JS and I planted our selves
on the coach with a hot cup of tea and a movie.
"I'll be adventures some other day."

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Cabin

Zachary our youngest has been planning a father son
weekend for a while now and it keeps getting pushed
back because of the storms. With all the snow JS
wanted to check every thing out, so we headed up
Friday after work.

When we got to the cabin our friend Kenny and his son
Chad had already cut snow stairs down to the front door
and fixed the crushed chimney cap. Kenny's the kind
of guy that if your matching favors you can never catch
up with him. Thank you Kenny and Chad.

That night Kenny, Chad, friend Chis and his daughter
Jillian came for dinner and the next morning we went
to Chris's for breakfast, thank you Jillian. After JS
started flattening snow drifts making parking for
the snowmobiles and I did the dishes from the night
before and pick up the cabin.

We didn't go for any rides, Chad and his wife had friends
come up and they borrowed our helmets and one of the
snowmobiles. That was just fine, we had things that
needed to get done for the big weekend.

We did how ever take a ride into town that night
to Riley's and visited with neighbors.


Monday, March 14, 2011

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday Stills, The Letter P

This weeks challenge was any thing that started
with the letter P. I took other pictures, Pepsi can,
Polaris snowmobile and the label on the
Peppermint Schnapps. I decided to go with,

"Pine Needles"

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Stylish Blogger Award

Posted by Picasa


This is Pretty Cool... Brenda at Horses Are Our Lives,
put me as one of her stylish fellow bloggers.
I've seen the award on some of the other sites.
I have to be honest with Brenda.....
"I'm shooting from the hip here and admitting I'm
still a little confused at to why I have a blog?
But it's fun, I guess that's all that counts.

Another thing, this award is a bit of a chain letter
and I,m not a big chain letter fan, but Brenda
went our of her way for me and several others so
the least I can do is to return the favor.

This is how it works (they don't just let you bask
in the award spotlight .....no you have to earn it)

The rules are as follows...........................................
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.
THANK YOU BRENDA and I truly mean that it did put
a smile on my face. Brenda and her husband Tom
raise Quarter Horses in Nebraska. You can check out
her blog at "Horses Are Our Lives.blogspot.com"

2. Share 7 things about yourself.
(I'm thinking!, I'll get back to you on that one)

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
This is the hard part. I think all the blogs on my side bar
are great or they wouldn't be there! I'm going to break
the rules here, I know that some of then have already
gotten this award so I'm just going to pick the
younger gals. They work side by side with their men
while raising kid, some in isolated places. They amaze me.
Fresh From the Farm
From the Ranch House
Cattle, Kids and Chaos
The Life of a Texas Rose
Brandie's Prairie
Beef Matters
Views from a Smokey Mountain

4. Contact those bloggers and till them about the award.
Trust Me!

Please take time to read my Other Blogs To Visit,
their photography and writings are wonderful and
all deserve awards.

Thursday's Thoughts



It's spring fever, you don't know quite what
it is you want, but it just makes your
heart ache, you want it so.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Photo Play




For the most part all of the pictures you see here are mine
and the few that aren't, I have made sure those
contributors have received the credit.

Another thing about my photos is that "what you see is
what you get", the picture is as it was taken.
To be honest! "Because I didn't know how to change it."
Other wise there wouldn't be a big blade of grass
over Ranch Dogs noise in the header photo.

Full Disclosure, the photo I posted for the Sunday Stills
was, "Computer Enhanced." The picture was great, but
the color was boring. Their was no sun and a haze covered
the valley. I really liked the shot and didn't have
time to try again.

So here's a couple of examples with the original shot
(bottom) and the enhanced (Top)

Just for Fun..............Hope You Enjoy

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday Stills, Your Favorite Place

Of course theirs "no placed like home" and ever thing
is second when it comes to being with my kid.

It's not so much I have a favorite place, but how a
place makes me feel. Wide open spaces are the best
for me. Up in the mountains with JS, snowmobiling.
Montana, Arizona, Utah, big places
where you can see forever.

Modoc county where my Dad is from, always feels like
home, even though I'd be viewed as a stranger.
But if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the place my
Moms family is from, a little mountain range,
The Sutter Buttes

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Daughter Dawn and Freind

This is my girl Dawn (left) and college friend Liz.
You might remember the beautiful white lilies at
Christmas time, Liz is the one who sent them.

She's been in the states for a few weeks now and
spent this last week between Dawns house and ours.
Liz is a Cardiology nurse in Sweden and is studying
to take her nursing test for the US. We use to get
a lot more of her time, but! now there's "James"

Friday, March 4, 2011

Quick Hello

Just wanted to say a quick "Hello" to all of you who have
stopped by the last week or two. It is very much appreciated.
The goal for the weekend is to return the favor
to every one who left a comment.
Have a great weekend and hope Spring
visits you soon.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

In A Rout

JS and the kids would be the first to tell you, I'm a little
persnickety about things. "Trying to leave the anatomy
out of it." I like the orchard to be neat and clean
(and the house, the yard, gave up on the garage)
mowed, no trash, some place you'd like your food to
come from. Big routs running the length of
almost every row does not make for a happy Sam.
There is no way to avoid them, lots of rain and
lots of weight make for lots of routs.

"Thank God for Box Scrapers"