Riyescott Ranch

Not me. But I did take a photo! I was so excited to see green fuzz!

After a long day Sunday of clearing brush and burning piles Dale took Mei and me out to Whaleshead for dinner. We don’t go out often and we don’t go to the little restaurant at the bottom of the road hardly ever. I was impressed the waitress remembered Dale drank milk. Anyway, a man and his wife came in and were shown to a table near us. They were most likely in their early 60’s. The husband walked behind his wife and helped her out of her coat. He put it on the chair back. Then pulled the chair out and you know pushed it in as she sat down. They chatted for a while. She must have indicated to him her coat was making her chair uncomfortable. He got up and placed her coat willingly on the chair beside her. Wow! And I expect he held open the door of the car for her too. There is a movie, “Take the lead” where Antonio Banderas is a ball room dance teacher gets up to open the door for the girls as they leave the room. The young man asked him why he bothered. “To see them smile”

Lynette asked. Well since you asked…….I mucked out the barn where the ewes who need to be bred to the big Finn ram have been shut in all night. Looked for sun but must have blinked for the fleeting moment it appeared. Did some spinning on my spinning wheel. Cooked up a huge pail of left over bits of the deer for the dogs. Fed the baby sheep several times. They are growing like weeds. Oh I walked out to see how my fields were doing. Nothing yet, I hope the crows have not eaten all the seeds. Had lunch. Talked a bit too long on the phone this afternoon. It is 8:16 and I have fed all the critters and now I need to feed me. Dale is at the gym. What a terribly interesting life I lead. Actually I would not trade it for anything. Well there are a few places that are not quite perfect but for the most part life is good. The fog tends to bring on the doldrums (can’t believe that is an actual word) but when I look at what is happening all over the place, fires, floods, war, poverty, AIDS….is there more bad stuff than good stuff ? Just always seems that way. So I will not let a little fog get me down. Tomorrow is another day to achieve great things. I would settle for a finished hat! Tomorrow is Ms Sara’s birthday, my only grand daughter will be six. November already…

I don’t remember what I was doing the other day but someone pulled up and the dogs were barking. A very excited Betty was asking for help to pack a deer out that she had just shot. She had a tag and had been trying for a few days. Bam! this one made a mistake and showed himself just before the fog rolled in which would have hidden him and just before they were going home. One of those moments when it all came together.

Nobody else was here. Dale was at the gym and the other guys had gone to town. It was me. I rode with them down the canyon as far as the truck could get. Walt took a stick that he cut from the brush pile.

When I saw the deer I thought I would be sick. His tongue was kinda hanging out. Betty chatted about how he was really running. His neck was thick, in full rut she said. At first she estimated him to be 150lbs. Then 175 and then he must have been 200lbs and the three of us carried him to the truck. I was wondering how we were going to get him up into the truck. Then the Tommy lift was activated and we got him in, no sweat.

So please don’t look at this photo if you are squeamish. Betty, what a gal! is cutting him up into steaks.

Fire, when used for its proper intent is wonderful. Fire place, BBQ, beach fire or my logging fires. But how can people deliberately set fires that will cause not only expensive damage but destroy memories and life styles. Cause death and distress? Last night I watched my fire burn and as the wind kicked up and sent the embers scurrying in the air I was a bit afraid it would spread. But we are still wet from the recent rain and it was a long way from anywhere it could damage. But still it would be terrible to be in the smoke and heat of an unfriendly fire. Not to mention the toxins that are in the air. We are told not to burn plastic. The houses that have burned over the past week or so have mattresses and couches and ash felt and well, all kinds of toxins. Where are they now? In the air. My kids are there but are safe. Hope yours are safe too.

I looked through my photos from my recent trip to England. This is one you might like. I stayed with a family in the Lake District. Home of Beatrix Potter. Do watch “Ms Potter” If you get a chance. Anyway on one of the days I was there the daughter, Hazel suggested a walk up in the hills. I miss walking for pleasure. In England it is quite common to walk to the Shop or just to get out.

Earth
Wind
Fire
The wind photo is a stretch because the white caps out on the ocean did not show as well through the camera. Earth because I have uncovered the rich soil in my pasture. Wind that came up and kept me inside for all day yesterday. Fire as I have burned several very large brush piles and the soles of my feet. Most people would stay out of the ashes but I was trying to get everything to burn….

Water should be part of it too because I am going to have a well deserved shower. No photo of that, sorry.

Dale said she was a Warrior Princess.

Brandy was from a very dark grey mother and a champion father. I think that was why she was so high strung. To get cancer at only 8 years old was terrible. I had taken her for her check up a few weeks earlier and to get a Rabies shot. Was it the shot? Or was she sick for a while? She had been off her food. Beneful. Although I cook chicken and rice for the dogs I also give them just a little kibbles. Could it have been that? Or in her family. We have long since lost touch with the parent’s owners.

All I can do is remember her.

She could run so fast she almost did not touch the ground

She would sit on Brook

When we bred her to Dusty she cried and yelped through the whole process. But she had some of the best looking Weimaraners ever seen

But some of those pups and Brandy herself had some bad luck in their future. One of the girls had a broken back, Pinky we (foolishly) kept her alive for a year.

Kaiser was killed in a car accident

And we almost lost Brandy when she developed a uterine infection. They spayed her and removed her spleen. They gave her a slight chance she would recover. But she did and lived for another few years until the cancer got her.

I have lots of photos of the girls here is one of my favorites

But in late October I’ll take it!

Two fields are almost done. My friend Dale loaned me a pull behind disk attachment for my Tractor. I have not had so much fun in ages! It churns up the top few inches. Then I throw seed. Winter oats, peas and vetch. Then Bil went back over with the chain link fence. In a few months this should be tall grass!

And here is Michael who helped out too

Can you believe this weather? We have had the nicest two days and I think more is to come. Sunny clear and no wind. What a treat after the rain last week. The farmer’s tan? I am really going to look funny naked!