Daily observations of my simple life.

Looking For a Handyman:

I have certain chores about that I just can't do or if I did do it would be with a great deal of sweat and swear. Being a somewhat overthehill woman, I lack the strength to do some things.

My neighbors crew of misfits have offered to help and when they do come for work I pay them $10 an hour. My son-in-law has done some work for me on the same pay scale but he works full time and burdening him is not my idea of good relationships.

This morning the nice but not quit full quid fellow from across the street was supposed to appear to do some work. I want to make a chicken pen/shed. I watered the area where the post holes were to be dug. He was a no show but last Saturday when I wanted the afternoon to myself he showed up and I wasn't ready for him.

I placed an ad last week and got three calls. I had specified; no alcoholics and no tweekers. One fellow called and during the course of the conversation he told me he was a devote Christian, honest, and had the skills I needed. He said he was a long haired 52 year old who road a Harley. I asked if he was coming over on his Harley. He said yes, then he could come cross country and avoid the cops. I asked why was he avoiding the cops? No license he said. Why? I asked. Drunken driving was the answer. Sigh. Oh, it's no longer a problem.he stated. I asked if he collected guns. Yes, he wore one. Umm. Got his name and phone number but will not invite him on my property. He also stated that he never stole but had been living off the land for a few years, people gave him stuff.  Uh huh.

Next guy that called was just looking for a place to live. Said , he could do some work but really wanted a place to live. Oh.

One man may be ok. I will call him and see how he works and if he shows up. Sure could use a handyman.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 01:42 | link | comments

Jimson Weed, Oleander and ----------:

Monday started out beautiful and busy. Early morning and I'm out feeding the critters. Take a brief break and have my cup of coffee/cocoa/milk drink. Then I head over to see Cheriki. We spent about an hour together. It is a slow process but I do believe she trusts me. Then I headed out to get a load of water. Along the roadside there are many Jimson Weed. To this most unromantic name belong a plant with a most beautiful white trumpet flower. I love the flowering plants. I'm trying to grow some in my garden as they make great ground cover, bloom all summer and are perenial. Jimson Weed is a halucinogin. Youngsters or others sometimes use it to get high and can have very bad reactions, along with brain damage. Perhaps there are some medicinal properties if used wisely. As a flower it is beautiful.

Oleander too blooms continuously throughout the summer. Many people plant them in their yards because of their bushy nature and lovely flowers. They create shelter from wind and dust along with beauty. They are deadly poisonous.

Hemp is another plant that is very useful. I have never smoked it as some people do but I do understand that it is very useful for fiber and could easily be a great lumber substitute. Hemp is illegal to grow because some use it for pleasure. I am amazed that a plant can be made illegal. At the local dollar store there is a cold remedy that teens and adults use indescriminately to get high, it can cause brain damage and even death yet it is sold over the counter. In the same dollar store there is glue. Ah but some will sniff glue and hurt themselves. Then there is wine, alcohol , cigarettes and other known harmful substances, that are very addictive, yet they are permitted.  I have to say it must be a serious case of prejudice that makes hemp illegal because it can't be common sense.

This is what I'm musing about this morning after looking at the beautiful but dangerous Jimson Weed. Yes, there are dangers in the world and those dangers are up to us to manage in a non distructive way. Our lives should be developed around purposeful, useful events not wasting it on harmful events. If a plant is beautiful or useful let it be for that purpose as a gift .

Posted by: cactusandquail at 19:22 | link | comments (2)

This Week:

It started out cool and ended hot. I planted my eucalypsus trees thinking it would be cool, fall weather. Now I must carefully water everyday until they are established due to the heat and dry winds. I've planted more iris and bulbs, and put the fall garden into the bathtub. Just one or two little sprouts already. It will be a happy event when it grows forth in abundance. I love gardens. I cleaned my porches and swept out my garage. Two hens hatched chicks and I lost chickens to dogs. Cheriki knows me and lets me touch her nose. She stands still when I'm in the corral and even comes up to me. Sage, my burro is making little breys when I come out doors or go indoors to let me know she wants my company. She is touching my hand with her muzzle. Little progress but gratifying.

I've been cooking up tomato's and baby spinach to preserve.

Fun day on Thursday. My neighbor who takes in all kinds of strays, dogs, horses, burro's, people, called and said the old man she cares for, a throw-away,  (nobody wanted him and he was homeless at 80),wanted to go to Laughlin to gamble on the horses would I like to go and keep her company. She hates casino's so we planned a day of mall looking and picking up stuff for our salsa at a Mexican store.

Just a bit more about her taking in people. She has behind her house what she calls a bunkhouse where an old cowgirl lives. She's going to help me train Cheriki. In a 5th wheel lives a man who is just shy of the full quid. Not really retarded but -------somewhat disabled. He helps her haul water, and is the one who built the wonderful bench for me to sit and watch the horses. Also, behind her place is an old travel trailer where another man lives who was homeless. She gave him a place to stay for the repair of her vehicles. Right now she has three men and a woman, all were down on their luck, with no body to care and she has integrated them into her little "Ranch" as she calls it. She has 5 acres, but it does seem like a ranch. She has chickens, geese, ducks, many, many dogs, a cat, a crippled abused donkey, a run away stallion, and the cowgirls horse. And now my Cheriki stays there too as I don't have the required kind of corral.

Off we went in her rickety old car. We pull into the handicap parking spot at the casino and she takes her old fellow out with his walker and takes him into the casino to get him settled at the horse races, then we head for the mall. It was fun looky lou-ing through all the stores. I had one chore to do. Get a pair of shoes. We spent a lot of time in a Nature store eyeballing all the wonderful looking clothes and animal fixtures. In the background was some wonderful guitar music. It made me realize that I need to add soothing music to my life. Background music that I enjoy. That is going to be a goal to work on. Sitting on the front porch watching the sunset listening to guitar music. Add a margarita and that should be just mellow.

I have very difficult feet. Well used feet and hopefully I will continue to use them well, but they are sensitive to shoes, very much so. I must buy a certain kind of sandel. Two years ago I found the sandel that worked for me at K Mart for $10 a pair and bought 4 pair. Last month two pairs broke and one other pair had already met it's demise, so late in the season I was in need of sandels and fall shoes are on the shelves. I went into Shoe Factory and they had a pair of Tevas in my size. $50. so I bought them feeling a bit dis gruntled at the price.

We went downstairs and had lunch, then went back upstairs and went through more stores.
Good exercise and lots of fun ohing and ahing over stuff. Neither of us is a big spender nor can we be. After the mall we went on to the wholesale grocery store and then to the Mexican outlet store area. Before we went in to get grocery items I went into K Mart which was in the Mexican outlet stores mall parking. There at the back of the store were 4 pair of the sandels I needed in my size only, for $3 a piece. Boy did I snatch them up. 4 pair for $12 bucks, that made my day. So after getting the goodies for salsa we went back to the mall and returned the Teva's . Grin. Told them they didn't feel right and I had sensitive feet. Can't help myself , I'm just cheap. I realize that other people have to make a living but it only stands to reason that the money you don't spend is there for other needs or emergencies. Just common sense.

The week has been busy.going back and forth to my neighbors to care for and get acquainted with Cheriki,;spending time with Sage; looking after chickens,; planting gardens; and walking in the evenings with my dog. This morning my daughter came over so she could see how my horse is progressing. She told me Cheriki had my number and I needed to start being a little more agressive. Can't help it, I'm just a softy.

Leisurely Sunday afternoon , soon a new week will start.  One project on the agenda for this week is I need to find the right part for my little car so I can get it fixed. Will be signing the papers for the back 12 acres on Tuesday. ------------It all begins again.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 21:38 | link | comments (2)

Momma M:

As a young adult she walked across Germany home to Italy from the concentration camps after world war II. Later she became an immigrant to the U.S. She and her young husband settled on the West Coast on a hilly, rocky piece of property about 16 acres. They built a house, with a stone foundation and they planted walnut trees and cherry trees plus a vineyard. Not the easiest ground to farm but they endured.

I came to know Mamma M through my son. He would go up and work for her, shooting blackbirds from the cherry trees and building this and that. One Christmas we went up for a visit. She greeted us on top of the rocky hilltop in front of a small house, on crumbling rock foundation. Around the house were many herbs and other garden plants. She greeted us with purple hand knit slippers and a hand knit pull on purple hat. It was a piece of old Italy. Happy to see us she began to sing Italian love songs to my son and invited us into the house. She had a small grandson sitting in a highchair next to the table, she was cooking ravioli and offered us a glass of homemade wine. Rich, full and very very STRONG. She sat us at the table and while she was talking and singing she was dishing up a plate of homemade ravioli for my son. Between chores she was giving her grandson sips of her very heady wine. She fed my son and then offered my daughter and myself a small plate of ravioli. It was very different and I couldn't help but wonder if the meat was the black birds my son so faithfully shot for her. The sauce no doubt was well laced with her very rich red wine. She was an indearing soul, very independant, her husband long gone. She survived on her little piece of land, paid taxes and other necessaries from the sale of her walnuts and cherries. I doubt that she had invested in the stock market. Her investment was her own labor, her productive trees and her land. I think she had sheep and chickens too. She was a survivor and she had enough.

I sometimes wonder about her, if she is still alive, and if her little homestead is still there. That rocky hillside is in a fast growing area where the wealthy love to buy. No doubt those 16 acres are worth millions these days but does the money have as much value as a life well lived on your own productive land?  I don't wonder or doubt that what she did had far more value than what those big buck guys do with a piece of productive land. I thought of her when I wrote of Italian self sufficiency, yesterday.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 19:19 | link | comments (1)

Trade offs: Pass it Forward:

There's a little shop in the valley that has all sorts of recycled stuff. Inside a petite little lady runs it, but she runs more than that. This ambitious little lady just couldn't see anyone go hungry in the valley. Somehow she has created a wonderful Food Bank.

When I first heard of it , I thought, "Well, I don't need it, I manage just fine" and I do. At my neighbors urging, she calls everytime a truck load of produce comes in, I decided to check it out. In comes a semi truck full of produce that didn't sell at the city market so it's donated to food banks. Huge bins of whatevers in surplus. That first day I took a few squashes and felt grateful. Later, I thought, "Oh, if there are any left I will take them into the homeless mission." So I went back and there was a lady loading up the whole back of her pickup truck. I asked what she did with all that squash and she said she used some and then the rest went to the pig farm. Since then I have not been a bit shy about going to pick up produce. This week the larder was tomatoes and baby spinach. Usually they have bread, the day old kind.

Last January I decided to start a new program of giving to charity. I applied at the homeless mission and went in to cook from time to time and I began sponsoring children. Children whose families live on as little as $600 a year. I have my pictures of my children on my frig and I often think of their lives.

Today , I cooked the tomatoes, blanching and peeling them. Remembering when I used to can tomatoes from my garden, thanking the more than likely Mexican laborers who sweated, bending over in the sun to harvest the crop. While I cooked I looked up at my frig and saw the pictures of my children. I could not send them any of the tomatoes or the baby spinach but I can send help with cash. It is passed forward.

Thinking about what to do with the baby spinach I thought of the simple ways of the Italians. Once I saw a travel show and the traveler was standing under a huge olive tree with a group of Italian ladies. There they were making noodles. Big bunches of flour, domed like volcano's, they break in eggs, and mix them in well. Let the dough rest and then roll it out and slice the noodles. Hmmm--spinach noodles, I have lots of eggs, what could be fresher and more filling. I have made spinach salad, wilted spinach with bacon, rigatoni with tomatoes and cheese and spinach baked. Have you ever thought about the Italian diet? Big batches of polenta with greens or tomatoes, cheeses, eggs. All simple farm foods and so healthy.  I have made salsa with the tomatoes and a favorite soul food is stewed tomatoes with chunks of french bread tossed in to soak up the juice.

Years ago, I went to Italy. While passing through an area where there were olive orchards I noticed that these ladies had the most wonderful skin. Even though they were working out in the sun, some were clearly older, yet there skin was beautiful and translucent. Olive oil inside and out is good for you.

In the movie, "Pass It Forward", the concept was that if someone did something good to you, you should pass it forward three fold. I have a lot of passing forward to do to pass on the energy and dedication of the petite little lady who brought the food bank to our valley. Anyone can come, there are no income checks, no questions, no id's. It is just there for everyone , something to be grateful for.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:30 | link | comments

Footprints of a Terrorist/Life and Death:

This morning I found the footprints of the terrorist that killed my little chickens. A little dog print. I knew there would be prints. Mr. Mr., Worthless, Princess and her two chicks, and Blondie are gone to chicken heaven, victims of a terrorist. Princess went down fitting, protecting her chicks. Her body was across the field by the fence no doubt flying in the face and attacking the predator. Her chicks were dead in the barn, along with Blondie who looked like a cloudy evening sunset. Her beautiful crowned golden head and throat softened into a strawberry blond color on her chest that blended into soft grey at the fluffy tail. Mr. Mr.  my proud and beautiful arracana rooster lay in the barn yard along with Worthless, like war victims. Such a waste.

The same afternoon while in the garage I hear peep, peep and there is snow princess with her two cute, cute chicks. This morning peeking out from under rosie is a little black chick. Life goes on, the new replaces the old and the cycle of life continues.

I read a blog the other day at http://www.thepelican.motime.com/  about the will to live and death. It made me stop to think about life and it's meaning. My little chickens are up at dawn like me scratching and scurrying , calling out to the day. By mid day they have found a shady spot like me to hang out till it cools, late afternoon they are out darting here and there and scratching before sunset when they settle down for the night. During the day, one or two hens will lay an egg or there will be a hen setting or tending chicks. They don't wonder about the purpose of life they just do it with joy and when it's over it's over. They are not couch potato's , wasting life away in front of a tv or game boy . They don't live to be entertained.  We can learn from their industriousness and balance. They live with the seasons and adjust to their bodily needs. They have social lives, scurrying about with their favorite companions. You do not see them taking more than they need and they replenish the earth with their refuse and scratching. They have meaningful lives. Chickens are staple livestock in poor rural areas. I think of my little aracana laying her beautiful blue eggs everyday. More than I eat so I set them in baskets or under other hens. Productive, thrifty, useful.

I wonder about humans, with their drugs, alcohol, gangs, etc and we count all their lives as precious but are so lacking in concern for the lives of other creatures who live productive lives. ????????? Something to wonder about. Something to wonder about for sure. Humans have the capacity for greed, animals do not except to get full and then it is enough.

Ah, life. For now I am happy to live simply with enough. 

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:45 | link | comments (3)

Indigo Blue:

A terrorist hit today. This morning five of my little chickens were dead in the chicken yard. I slept inside last night, sigh. The work of a dog for sure, coyotes, foxes, other wild critters kill to eat. Someone said a little black dachund was running loose in the neighborhood. Small enough to get through or under and ornery enough to do damage. Chickens left are locked in the garage tonight or on the chicken shed roof. I will sleep outside tonight. Feel bummed out.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:26 | link | comments

Open Space:

It was a hot afternoon but the breezes were coming up. I had the front door open and was wearing a raw silk blouse with some of the buttons missing. I was barefoot. My house sits back from the road, I have a lot of privacy. I look up and outside my open front door is a reators car. Century 21.  Puzzled, I walk out unconscious of  how I must look. A man gets out of the car with a plate map. He's asking about the piece of land directly behind me. I explain the boundaries while thoughts of development and houses go through my head. I ask, is it being sold? He said he got a call from Arkansas and they wanted to list it. Hmm. I thought. "Oh,"  I countered, "I've been meaning to write the owners and make an offer but I didn't really want to go through a realtor." The realtor said, "Well, make your offer, I can wait, there's lots of land out here and I'm not sure I want to be bothered with this ."  So, that very night I sat down at the table and wrote up my offer and mailed it. By Monday I received a call and the deal was sealed. It's now in escrow. 12.33 acres @ $1000. per acre and payments of $100 a month. This is my wilderness. I was so surprised when I paced it and found the corner post, how far back it goes. Meadows, washes, prairie grasses, palo verdes, yucca, barrel cactus, plenty of room to wander and explore and a great campground area. Yes, I bought some open space to save it from development. This valley is growing fast, too fast.

We had a great storm this weekend and all the washes were running. Things like old hot water heaters were sitting in the middle of the roads and road crews were out in force , cleaning up. Many a road was washed out. I watched an old couple digging their car out of their driveway on my way to pick up water. I had to go an alternate route to the water station.

Rain comes and  it's time to plant more trees. This morning I planted three eucalyptus trees and two pines. I planted some century plants and hauled rocks for my rock garden.

I had hay hauled from town today and three of my neighbors were there standing around the horse pen, enjoying the new babies. They all helped with the chores and one neighbor just had to get in the pen with the mustang for a training session. Cheriki is a sweetheart. A gentle soul but still very cautious about people. The feeding by hand routine has made her aware that I come with the food, I talk softly and she is touching me more and smelling me. We're making progress. We made her pen larger so she can exercise more.

A beautiful day, not hot, and the sunset was gorgeous. Took a long hike to my wilderness and then went and finished the day off with Cheriki. Spent time sitting in Sage's pen, the burro and came back this evening to spend time with her. All in all it's keeping me busy. No stress, just happy busy.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:25 | link | comments (2)

Greening the desert:

An interesting article  about how we can help those in Africa, not with food, clothes, but with seeds. My niece went to Africa with the Peace Corps. to teach raising trees. Very hard for a girl but a life enriching experience.

http://context.org/ICLIB/IC14/fukuoka.htm

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 05:20 | link | comments (1)

Small Farms and Sustainable Agriculture:

On Saturday during my rest time I watched a show about Farm Aid. Of Course Willy Nelson was there and John Melencamp but also others who spoke eloquently about the need to steward are land and to preserve the family farm. The vast majority of us run to the grocery store for whatever we think we need. We don't care where the food came from or whether workers were treated fairly.  We just indulge.

Of course, I'm grateful that food is available and abundant but I'm also concerned about the soil , the environment and the natural habitat for animals. I have books about organic gardening, sustainable agriculture, and other alternate type systems that work with nature. Years ago when I raised my children we had a very small family farm. 2 1/2 acres. We grew so much of our food. Vegetables, milk, eggs, and meat. It does not take a lot of land to grow food and it can be very satisfying.

Here on my little place I am growing vegetables in old bathtubs and refrigerators to keep the chickens from scratching and destroying the plants. I had a wonderful salad garden this spring and early summer. I will be planting again soon. Here in the desert plants need shade. My neighbor has wonderful squash, gourd, and melon vines growing under her trees. They help to mulch the trees and preserve moisture.

Bill Moleson of Australia has written a great book on permaculture, a method of agriculture that creates a permanent food source, wood source, ponds, etc.  I think it is time for man to stop being mere users but protectors of our resources.

www.farmaid.org.       http://contest.org/ICLIB/IC14/fukuoka.htm

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 05:00 | link | comments

A Saturday Morning:

I'm enjoying sleeping out by the burro pen. Waking to find her sleeping close by me and a heaven filled with stars. Waking early as the sun just begins to color the sky. The mountain silhouette, dark against the horizen. Just as I was ready to hop in my pickup and drive to the neighbors to feed my horse, Cheriki Feather, my daughter drove up. We went together to take care of the horse. I had to go into the pen and untangle her rope from the water container and used that time to do a little training. I slowly walked up her rope so she came closer and I was holding the rope more firmly so there was a little pressure. She handled it well but was a bit ansy. She is showing me more and more that she likes me and is reponding. 

Yesterday, when I was there feeding her in the morning one of the fellows who lives on grounds was busy building something. When I came back at noon I found a lovely bench sitting beside Cheriki Feathers pen. What a kind gesture. There is a small eucalyptus grove beside the pen. Nice.  

My daughter and I went to town and did the weekly shopping and ordered hay. When I got home I had to clean the burro pen, put in fresh water, and then go do the same at the neighbors with Cheriki. Keeps me busy. 

A beautiful storm is coming in. Great columns of clouds. AND----- my chicken Snow Princess suddenly appeared. I was so happy. I had thought maybe a fox got her but no she's busy setting on a clutch of eggs. Now I know where she's setting and such a relief to know she's alive. 

After the evening feed session. I sat out and watched a wonderful lightning show. All across the sky the lights dash out. Soft cool breezes cool my head. Shall I sleep out tonight?  Hmmm.  

Posted by: cactusandquail at 05:12 | link | comments

Snakes and lizards:

I love to observe snakes and lizards. I often see lizards but snakes are more elusive. Last year I saw three rattlesnakes, this year none.  My daughter and I have talked about it as there have been no rattlesnakes on the roads at all.  I saw one huge track in a wash when I was hiking and I'm sure it was a rattler but nothing else.

Last year, one morning I came out and was about to reach down and get some goat food when I spied a young rattler sitting quietly behind the bag. He/she was coiled. I said simple, " I'm going in the house and when I come back you best not be here." He/she was not, nor have I seen that one again. One evening I went walking to the wash behind my property and on my way I heard the familiar buzzzzzzz. I looked down and not too far from my foot was a very young,small rattler warning me to stay away. I walked the other way relieved for the warning because I'm told the babies can be very deadly. They do not know how much poison to release so give full dose. The same evening I came upon a huge rattler sunning itself in the sand in the wash. I gazed at it for some time and then traveled on.  That was last year.

This year I have come upon two longnose snakes while hiking. One was sunning itself on the side of the road and seemed undisturbed by my presence.  They are harmless and beautiful with red and black rings across the back and sides are golden with what looks like writing in brown.  Last night as I walked out across the back pasture I came upon another one. It was startled at first but when I simply stood there gazing quietly it went about searching for dinner, poking it's head down spider holes for insects.  After watching awhile I thanked it for allowing me to observe and went my way. About three weeks ago I was out watering and went to turn the water off when I spied a snake in the planter under the facet.  I looked it over and realized it was a gopher snake. I told it, it was welcome to stay and live at my house. I hope it has. I also almost stepped on a young gopher snake one night out in the back pasture. I'm always happy to have gopher snakes on my property as they help keep rattlesnakes away and they eat mice and other rodents that can cause lots of damage. They could possibly eat chicken eggs and chicks too but so far I don't think that has happened.

One night when I was hiking I came upon a horned lizard. I love those little guys. I was so tempted to bring it home but they are an endangered species and best left alone. I always feel I have been given a special treat if I come upon a snake  or special lizard  and I have. 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 23:55 | link | comments (1)

Tall Cowboys and sleeping with burros:

Sunday was the last day of the fair and the last of the wild horse auction. There were some cowboys around, the real kind. The cowboy who brought my burro and horses home was a tall cowboy and good looking. He had a ranch up by Fort Rock. Another cowboy was from an old pioneer family and they had several ranches. He was accompanied by some pretty little girls who for sure knew horses. They had neat little braids and freshly starched and ironed shirts and jeans with big buckles.

Some time back I found a book at the thrift store that was signed. It told the history of the families who settled the Wikieup area and big ranches that came into Kingman. The fellow with all the little girls was a descendant. I like the feel of being around good ranch people.

I paid the tall cowboy his transportation fees and we all headed out to take the two horses and burro home. Tall cowboy did it fast and efficient, all in their pens out of the big rig.

I almost had a heart attack when my burro began running straight into the fence over and over. I asked my daughter for help and she said, " Go sit in the pen" . I did, sat there all afternoon and talked gently to her. She settled down. I was also told if I really wanted her to bond with me and follow me around like a dog, I needed to sleep in her pen. Last two nights I have been sleeping beside the pen. She lays down as close as she can get to the pen fence right beside me. In a night or so I will be sleeping in the pen. Let her come up and smell me . I have taken my dog in the pen and we just sit. She seems very at ease having us there.

I'm making progress with my horse, Cheriki Feather, too. She eats from my hands and has on a number of ocassions smelled my hand touching it. She allows me to brush the flies away from her eyes. Her capture date was in late June. She has been in captivity since then. She has a very gentle nature and is such a beauty. Deep brown eyes, perfect head. Black mane and tail. I have gone in the pen with her and she tolerates it well.  She stands and watches the mountains, that makes me feel sad. It's like she is longing for her freedom. BLM is catching more horses because of grazing contracts. Man squeezes freedom out of life, I often think.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:24 | link | comments (2)

The County Fair:

Friday morning my neighbor called and said the county fair was going on, "Why don't we go do the fair ?" , she queried. So we did. Being Friday it was not nearly as crowded as it would be on the weekend. We wandered from booth to booth. I signed up for some raffles. I enjoyed the barn that had all the hometown stuff, like the gardens, quilts, arts, photographs, and displays of local organizations. I wandered over to the animal judging and watched awhile, leisurely walked through all the animal stalls. The cutest thing was when I walked past one stall and this young boy had his head on his pigs belly sleeping away. They looked like great pals and pretty comfy.

There was a country singer that sang his heart out and was good. We ate, then we took a wild ride in some kind of visual rollercoaster screaming and laughing. Then it was time to wander over to the wild horse auction site to check out the captured wild horses and burros up for adoption.  Well, I picked out a burro and decided to come back the next day for the auction.

Next day, Saturday, my daughter , my neighbor and I headed on over for the auction. I got my burro and my daughter got her horse and then they said we who had won a bid got to get another one, horse or burro for a buddy for $25.  Come Sunday we went home with two more horses.  That's another story. Now, I have a horse, Cheraki Feather, a beautiful little mare. My neighbor has a horse, Spirit, and I have a burro, Sage. We've spent most of our weekend getting everything done for our menagerie.  Special fencing, hauling, gentling them to get them settled in their new homes. All n all I think all the animals are settled in and all is going smooth. Nice horses for being in the wild. They like to stand and look at the mountains with longing eyes. I wonder why.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:58 | link | comments

Ants:

In the desert ants are abundant. I rarely disturb them because I have such respect for their busy, hard working ways. It is a sight to see them carrying bits and pieces of plant material far heavier than their own weight. They struggle , they manuever, and they succeed.

One of my grandchildren put a tire around an ant nest. This morning I was amazed when I stopped to peer down at them,  these smart little creatures were making the inner rim of the tire a storage house.  All around the inner covered rim they were piling food storage for the winter, safe from rain and wind.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 17:03 | link | comments

Days:

I have different levels of energy. Yesterday I woke so refreshed long before the sun rose. I was out and about with many chores. My daughter drops my grandson off here early in the morning so he can catch the school bus at the corner of my street. Otherwise he would have to walk a mile to catch the bus. He is in highschool. I'm busy and cheery and in the mood to finish projects when Kevin walks out. The bus arrives around 6:30 a.m. and he sleeps for an hour and a half before he goes out to catch the bus. "How are you this morning?," I said. "Well----," he answered so I knew something was up. " I lost my name tag yesterday, and they won't let me on the bus without it." The highschool here is like an armed camp. Everyone must wear a name tag around their neck and they lock the metal gates once school starts. No coming in late, no leaving. Security guards stand at the gates. I haven't explored all the reasons but I will say it does keep drug dealers and such from just wandering on campus.

I told him what I had seen the day before with the sheriff and the bus. He said, "That was my bus." I asked, always curious, "What happened?" He moaned, " We had to sit there for all that time, because some kid did something stupid and the bus driver made him get off the bus. Then his girlfriend began yelling and screaming at the bus driver and threatening her"  Ah mystery solved, typical teenage stuff. Sheriffs had to impress the girl about safety and not threatening bus drivers etc. Good they are there to back up needed services. I couldn't help but wonder if Kevin in exasperation threw away his name tag so he didn't have to ride the bus. ????

Since Kevin couldn't ride the bus without a name tag I was obliged to drive him the 20 miles to school. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my morning. Traffic by the highschool at that hour is ungodly. I can't really do any errands in town at that hour because most of the stores are not open except Walmart, and grocery stores. I decided to run into Walmart since I was there and get some more chicken scratch and wrapping tape. Couldn't help but pick up a few bulbs too. When I got home it was off for water and do the laundry. By noon my busy day had to slow down. It gets hot and I do not go out in the sun.

In the evening hours I planted some of the bulbs and cactus and Joshua trees. I love the Joshua trees and yucca. They are members of the lily family as is garlic.

As the clouds begin to color up with the evening sunset I headed out for a short evening walk behind my place to the wash. I love the wash, like I love most of the desert.

This morning my energy level is slow. I slept outside most of the night and it was a lovely night. The clouds gave the sky a different dimension. It looked like white angels gathering and floating under the stars. The moon was a deep orange slice. But my grandson was gone and off to school by the time I woke up, 7 a.m. I drank my morning drink in a day dreamy fashion and had nothing accomplished by 8:30. It seems my days run like this. A few with high energy and others I could just wander through the day with little done. I guess that's what retirements all about. Old men and old women sitting on their front porches for long hours, talking to the cat or a neighbor. Pictures of Greek villages run through my head for some reason.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 16:53 | link | comments

The Storm:

Sitting at my computer I can look out my window at the mountain range across the valley. A hot and muggy day the clouds begin piling up from behind the mountain range. Great fluffy shapes that release to floating islands in the sky with dark undersides. One after another they push up till they become one solid mass of dark grey topped with fluffy white. Gusts of wind blow through my window and send papers flying. Across the valley close to the moutains I see a funnel extending till it reaches the ground. It moves out towards the valley and  becomes defused and grey sheets of rain.

I shut the computer down and take a break. Outside , standing in the cool breezes, deep earthy, pungent smells greet me. The smell of wet soil and creosote gives everything a freshness. Across the valley a rainbow grows larger and deeper in color in the same place the funnel cloud appeared. Behind me lightning darts across the sky and soon the great boom of thunder. The sky is black now and greyish sheets extend to the ground. Raindrops fall gently on my face while the wind blows my hair.

The heat of the day has brought the monsoon rains. I stay outside till it appears I could be hit by lightning. Standing inside the door I watch the storm move slowly away as the sky clears. Beautiful, bright, stars come later.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 21:04 | link | comments

Empty Nest:

For a week past Rosie my little hen has been acting broody. I have been leaving the eggs in her nest hoping she would settle down. Each day she sets a bit and then goes out to play. Finally I gathered all the eggs and left an empty nest. Rosie settled in on an empty nest. Now she sets patiently on an empty nest waiting to hatch nothing.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 20:02 | link | comments

Bits and Pieces:

When I got up this morning I turned on the tv while I drank my morning cup.  A cheff was showing how to make gourmet pigeon in wine sauce. < refer to fat pigeon blog> Chuckle. That started the day off just fine.

I'm watching a funnel cloud that has touched down coming across the valley. Looks like it's dispersing. I hope, I hope.

On the way to town to get mail and do other errands I noticed a little orange flag like surveyors use or the water co uses to mark new areas of laying pipe 1/2 block away. "Oh no, I thought, they're going to put water on our block." I'm not nuts, it means development and growth, subdividing and houses, houses, houses.

Further up the street two school buses were pulled over beside the road and one sheriff was interviewing a young girl and her mother. Can't help but wonder what happened.

Came back from errands and now there were two sheriffs and one school bus still interviewing mother and child.

Further down the road, just as I passed ,the little orange flag was blowing across the road. Not a surveyor flag at all but a piece of orange rope.  Chuckle again. Such is life in the desert , little bits and pieces of not much, like misunderstood surveyors flags.  

Posted by: cactusandquail at 01:36 | link | comments

Hauling Water:

Water, it's the essence of life, without it we soon die. In the desert natural water is scarce. Here in the valley we are not far from a great water source , the Colorado River. Through the valley there is an aquafer and the water co. here has wells. From these wells they transport to water stations where those in the neighborhood can come and haul their water.

 It reminds me a bit of some of the third world countries where locals go to the well or river and cart home water. Women and children walking with buckets on their heads winding long paths back home with the precious substance. Perhaps some enterprizing soul gets a cart load pulled by a donkey and sells it to those who can afford to have it delivered. Water is used wisely and precious to those who must go through much to get it.

In the valley more and more are getting water pumped in from the community system but my street is not yet on that system. I am content because I know that I now appreciate how I use my water. I have an underground storage tank  and a tank on the back of my pickup. I have a pump that needs to be maintained and in my house water runs just like in any regular home in the US.  Showers, toilets, sinks all work but what is different is my attitude toward water.

Most mornings my routine is to feed and water the animals and plants. Yes, they must always have water. Then I climb in my truck and go the 2 miles to the water station. I pull up beside the hose and stop. I climb out of my truck, lift the hose to the top of the tank, go to the back of my pickup and lower the tail gate then climb up to stand on the pickup bed. I lift the hose into the tank hole and climb back down. Next I walk to the coin slot and put in a quarter. For that quarter I get 60 gallons of water.  I usually get 120 gallons each trip as my pickup is lightweight and I don't want to overload it. I put the tailgate up and head for home where I stick the hose down my storage tank and let it fill up. When I water my trees I simply drive from tree to tree and let the hose down to fill up the water ditch around the tree.

When I first moved here I didn't have the big water tank so I just bought those 22 gal size storage containers and put them in the back of my pickup. I'd fill them up and haul water by hand to animals and plants.

We have enterprizing water carriers too. They come with big trucks to your house and fill your tank for a fee. Usually about $25 for 1500 gals.

I've come to enjoy my daily runs to haul water. Sometimes you meet a neighbor and chat awhile . It's a common site to see all kinds of rigs coming and going on our dirt roads to the water station for water. I don't want community water because I am afraid that I will lose my appreciation for the wise use of water. Have you thought about your water useage today?

 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 21:11 | link | comments (1)

Swapmeet and wooly angels:

Some people are traveling through and may stop and stay awhile at my place so I can travel. They'll be caretakers of my animals and grounds. They want to sell some of their stuff so I told them about the swapmeets here. They offer storage units for $40 a month and you can sell on the weekends, so they asked me to get phone numbers and contact info. I headed out to see what I could find out and while at the swap meet I did a bit of looking around. In the back part of the swapmeet they have a series of small garage like buildings. Here little businesses are set up. Some are open all week. I walked by a place that had home made furniture and stopped to talk to the fellow. He invited me into his shop and he had made a very nice office, shop area and storage area from his space. My head began to click with ideas I could do with my garage. We talked about how we both loved the desert. He had come from Maine and said he truly loved it out here. Nice to meet new people and especially skilled craftsmen, he's on my list to do some improvements to my home and property.

Chocolate my sheep is a barbadoes sheep. She is brown with black markings. During the winter she grew lots of wool and thoughout the spring and summer she has been shedding big chunks of wool. She is finally finished except for two clumps, one on each shoulder. They are pulled out and look so much like little angel wings on her shoulders. She reminds me of animal angels I have seen in drawings. A little chocolate wooly angel.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 21:10 | link | comments

Barnraising and Apricot clouds:

There's not much to say about the barnraising, it was an event that didn't happen.  A neighbor found a source of old garage doors for $20 each. Old garage doors make great barns and so there was a barn raising on the agenda. I was invited for food, fellowship and work.  Sounded like a good experience and I was primed to go. Then my neighbor called and said it was off, due to a bout with some ailment. I'm still looking forward to my first barn raising, although I doubt I am strong enough to be much of a benefit. I did bring food but alas no one there to eat it. Sigh.

My days go along at a leisurely pace. Being retired has it's advantages. By evening I was ready for a nice hike out in the desert. The air was cooler and stretched across the sky I saw scattered apricot clouds.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 20:53 | link | comments

Fat Pigeons:

I make weekly trips to town to buy scratch for my chickens and goat feed. It seems to me it should last much longer than it does except for the pigeons. They wait patiently and swarm to grab as much as they can. They clean up all the feed I put out morning and evening for the chickens. I love birds but these are pests. I have wondered who owns these birds and if I should just mention it to them that their birds are demolishing my chicken feed.

I mulled this over day after day with a little resentment. Then one day at the local feed store I saw a hand written sign up advertizing, FAT PIGEONS. " Yea, " I thought, "Sure they're fat, they eat all my grain."  I grinned as I thought of calling and asking for a percent of the sale of their FAT PIGEONS. That would set matters straight.

A few days later I was talking to my neighbor and asked her where the pigeons lived. She pointed out a barn about a quarter mile a way. "He raises fat pigeons." she said. I said, "Yea, they're fat, they're eating all my grain. "  "Oh," she said, "Fat pigeons are a breed of pigeons, the pigeons you and he are having problems with are wild pigeons. He has been trying to keep them out of his barn so they won't inter breed. "   Guess I got told. No commisions on those birds, they are unclaimed. 

Posted by: cactusandquail at 22:27 | link | comments