Daily observations of my simple life.

Control Issues:

Day before yesterday I was in town picking up the trees that I got planted and stopped to have an early lunch before coming home at the Chinese buffet.  I arrived at 11 a.m., just opening time. I was escorted to my table by the hostess and after getting settled I went over to pick up a plate and get my food. There were several other people in the dinning room. As I approached the buffet the waitress called out loudly, "Mamm---you can't take any of the buffet until the last entry is out. "  Startled, I looked at the buffet that was full of food waiting to be served up all but one slot. I went back to my seat and looked around the room to see all of us sitting there waiting to eat like good little children. Finally when the waitress went to the kitchen one man got up and served himself but the rest of us sat there,waiting. I was thinking to myself , "How stupid to demand that all of us wait for the last entry to be placed, how much easier if everyone could eat and enjoy what was there and get the last entry once it was out."  The waitress clearly had control issues. She was there to see that it was done her way, on her terms. Fortunately for the man she didn't notice that he was eating when she finally brought out the last entry and announced that now the buffet was open.

After helping myself to the line of food, it is a good variety of fresh vegitables and fruits for a $6 fee, I ate slowly, people watching. An older couple came in and again I watched control issues. The wife went in front of the husband and had to explain to him what each item was and dish it up. He followed slightly humped over , silently obedient. It clearly was her domaine, taking care of the food at home. I could see no evidence that he might have been compromised by health issues so I felt sad to see this man submissive and silent. No smiles, no conversation, beyond her directives.

I have issues with control issues. Those who must control often steal the soul from those they control, have you noticed that? I realize that control makes people feel important, a little higher up the social scale but they are really not, just taken in by their own self importance, showing their own neediness. How much better when each person is seen as important, a person with potential to choose and grow, treated with respect and concern for their choices, needs and comfort. I watched the movie " The Color Purple" last Sunday. It's the one with Oprah Winfrey in it. It's the story of oppression and redemption. Clear that there are control issues everywhere and people whether it's race, gender, or so called status try to control others for their own self agrandization. The games people play. We're all born the same way and eventually die, why do any of us feel we are somehow more privileged and better than.  I agree there are standards of conduct that make people more acceptable but think of all the damage controlling people do to those they seek to control .  Reason and example.

Last year in January I made several resolutions. One was to be more giving and caring of those in need. I went to the homeless shelter and offered to volunteer. The woman who enrolled me was kind and showed me around. A day was set up for me to come in and help cook for the evening meal. I was filled with anticipation but when I arrived two women were all ready in the kitchen. I greeted them and cheerfully offered my assistance. I was ignored by these two church ladies, so I went about peeling and chopping vegitables for the soup and salad. I took it in stride realizing they felt it was their kitchen and they were not willing to share as they felt very important, giving, my feelings weren't even considered. I let it wash off my back and went home going back on my next assigned day. I walked into the kitchen and was immediately asked why I was there. I said , " I was assigned to work this day. " "Why?" was the reply. I again took whatever grunt job was needed in the kitchen feeling very uncomfortable about the unfriendliness. I then decided they were making it too uncomfortable for me so I did not ask for another assignment. I then made it a job for myself to bring food from the food bank or other sources to the kitchen. My soul was hurt but I found a way to help. Even in charity it seems self importance  and control is very much an issue.  Well, off my soapbox, just some thoughts that came up from the buffet.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 19:12 | link | comments (4)

Rain:

The day before yesterday I worked all day, planting trees, cleaning pens, covering hay with the tarp in a stiff wind. Frank helped me with the tarp and I was so glad to see it covered tight. All night the wind was howling. Next day it rained all day. I kept the chickens locked up in the chicken house.  My whole property looked like a lake with huge puddles. I stayed inside and did paperwork and got bills ready to go out for the month ahead. By evening I could see it would be very difficult to even go to the neighbors and feed Cheriki. I called my neighbor and asked if she could feed Cheriki. She told me she had to have someone throw her a rope to get  from her car to her house, water was running so fast down the side of the road.  I was able to get out and feed Cheriki this morning and it was suprising how much water had been absorbed by the ground. Her pen looked pretty good. I brought oats and hay and carrots. She looked grateful.

It's still grey this morning. Hope it's not going to rain too much this morning it's time for a break. Must have been more than an inch of rain. It's amazing how much rain we get here in the desert.

I'm hoping we'll have good weather this weekend as I have a crew of men lined up to get the corral up and part of the barn. My neighbor said I should get the garage doors today or tomorrow. I need to get the T posts and peeler posts and hardware to have ready. THEN----- Cheriki can come home. That will be wonderful.

Last night I had a great oven dinner and glass of red wine, curled up watching TV. Watched The Bachelor and then Swapping Wives. I had to laugh, the obcessed clean freak woman who vacummed all the corners everyday traded with the meditating relaxed mother of three. Somewhere in between the two lifestyles there must be a happy medium, a reasonably clean home . I know for sure that the clean freak mother was raising a boy I certainly wouldn't want as a husband. This child was waited on hand and foot, ate only what he wanted, was dressed in the morning, had his hair gelled and combed by mom, watched tv or played his video games and felt like a little prince at age 8 -10. Didn't get his age, I'm just going by the way he looked.

I will be cleaning my house today. Grin. It's getting a little on the rough side after so many days working outside. Guess I did learn something from the show.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:29 | link | comments

The Day Ahead:

It's still not light, I'm up early , well sorta, it's 6 a.m., but I've been up for a few. Yesterday, was a perfect outdoor day. I dug 6 holes for trees, that I will go to town to get today. Transplanted some Globe Mallow, a desert plant that has beautiful apricot/salmon flowers when in bloom. These went in my center cactus garden, the Jimson Weed is flowering beautiful trumpets tinged with lavender. I planted some more seeds of Jimson to make flowering sprawling plants in a year or so. Both the jimson and mallow are perrenials.

 Sunday, I worked on the plantings around the bathtubs and frig'es where my vegitables are growing. It adds a lot to have trees and flowers growing around these old appliances. My lettuce garden is growing very well and I have started picking. I planted mallow, redhot poker, and iris.

Sunday I also moved my lumber pile to a less visible area. Today, I'm taking my old washing machine, some lawn furniture, a microwave, and a few other metal objects no longer usable to the recycling center. They are loaded on the pickup. Gene and Dan, across the way came over and loaded for me. Once the pickup is unloaded I will pick up the trees and get them planted. We have a new storm coming in by Wed. Racing with time. I want to give Cheriki's pen a good cleaning before the rain begins so it won't get so mucky and rig up some sort of shelter to keep her dry.

My neighbor did the same. She set up a new flower bed and cleaned her yard. This wonderful fall weather inspires us to get ready for winter and then spring.

Frank changed the oil on my pickup and graded the front driveway where the rain had washed it. So nice to have help .

It will soon be light, the roosters are crowing and the days ahead.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 14:21 | link | comments (2)

Cool, crisp and beautiful:

Another lovely fall day. Bright sunshine but cool and crisp air. I have fresh hay stacked by the chicken house on pallets and new bags of chicken scratch. The feedstore guy finally made it out with my load. Good feeling to have clean pens, fresh hay and a happy farm all with me out in my denim ranch coat.

This morning when I took Cheriki her feed while we were doing our carrot routine she touched noses with me. That is a good sign. It means she's finally building trust and accepting me. When I took her oats in the plastic bag she smelled it , eased her nose down and then yanked them out of my hand. Next she put her head up and did a great horse laugh. I stood there laughing and said, "What a smarty". I poured the rest of her oats on the hay but felt good that now she is playing games with me, we're getting along.

My daughter came by and we looked the burro over and my grandson helped unload the horse panels we got at the salvage yard. I got the goat pen cleaned and put the hay and droppings around my trees.

I'm taking a little break right now but will be going outside in a few to do some more chores. Great time to dig planting holes and fence post holes.

Last evening my dog and I took a walk on the back 12 and enjoyed the crisp, damp air. The desert plants all look so alive and sparkling now. The wash ran good. I found three heart rocks last evening. I often find rocks shaped like hearts and put them in my potted plants.

What a good life I have, I love farming and living where there is open space and wilderness.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 19:38 | link | comments (3)

Sunshine and Cowboys:

It was a clear, crisp beautiful morning. Clouds floated over the beautiful Hualapai Mountains. Apricot clouds reflected in the puddles of water. Frank and I walked on over to feed Cheriki so he could see how the garage door barns were built. Cheriki was happy to get her morning carrots and oats and hay, greeting me . We had walked because my pickup had developed a noise I didn't like. Sounded like a blown engine but didn't make the noise when the engine was turning but the truck wasn't rolling.

I asked Gene to come over and take a look at my pickup and he did later in the morning. He said he thought it was the lifters in the engine were a bit rusty and on cold mornings stuck. His recommendation was to put in some (transmission fluid ?) in the oil, drive it a bit and then change the oil. Frank understood and so we followed the recommendation.

After breakfast, a late one, I went out and cleaned Sages pen. It was getting messy with the rain. I just got in the house and was in the shower when the phone rang, wouldn't you know. I had to let it go but when I got out of the shower there was my neighbor at the door and said BLM was on their way out to check the horses and burro's. Just had time to dress and get over to my neighbors to meet the tall cowboy. He was pleased with the conditions and then came over to check out Sage. I was pretty happy I had just cleaned Sages pen. We passed the inspection. Yea! Sage was really upset about the  cowboy. I think she remembered being loaded and moved by cowboys and the hat and dark glasses made her hide behind the shelter. Cowboy asked if she was tame at all and I said , "Oh yes, I can scratch her under her chin." Cowboy said he could move Cheriki for me when I'm ready to move her home, he can also trim their feet. One problem solved. I hope in about two weeks I'll be able to move Cheriki home to her new corral and barn. I'll have their feet done then. Once Cowboy left in his big truck, Sage came out with a relieved look on her face. I guess she thought cowboy was going to take her away.

One sad note, my daughter told me that little wolfy, the weak puppy didn't make it. The other one that had nursed on the dachound was doing great and getting fat.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 19:22 | link | comments

Yellow slickers and  cowboy coats:

Last year I was in my favorite thrift store where they sell clothes for $1 a piece. I spotted this beautiful yellow slicker, like paddington bear wears.  I'm kind of a romantic so the idea of having a yellow slicker to wear in the rain made me feel like a Martha Stewart, always the right thing for the right occasion.  There it was in the back of the closet  on the second day of down pouring rain so I donned my slicker and headed out to do the morning chores. I felt so together.

Took Cheriki some carrots and oats and gave her extra alfalfa to help her steam up and keep warm. I put the oats in double plastic bags and rolled them back. She got her nose in and took one bite but was a little edgy about the plastic. I put the rest on her hay and gave her some relief.

After the morning chores were done it was time to go in the house and clean out the refrigerator and make a big pot of soup. Had it simmering in the crock pot most of the day. Did some other organizing in the house and enjoyed the rainy day. Had a big bowl of homemade soup for dinner. Smelled so good and taste spicy and hot.

Another time last winter I was in my favorite thrift store again and came across this blue denim ranch coat with leather collar and big pockets. Grabbed it up for $1. Oh, am I happy to wear my horsewoman ranchcoat out to feed the animals.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:59 | link | comments (2)

Wailing wind and puppies.

Tuesday, storm clouds were on the horizen. How beautiful it all looks with the lights and shadows on the mountains. I got busy after unloading my pickup and replacing the water tank, hauling water. I watered all my trees. I told Frank , "I'm making sure it will rain." Grin. Never fails.

Frank was busy changing the oil on my motorhome and I was thinking about my trip later in the week. After spending a busy morning outdoors watering everything, the wind was picking up, so I planned a quiet afternoon in the house. I started sorting and filing my mail when the phone rang. It was my daughter. She was upset because her dog had had puppies in a tunnel she dug under an old trailer. They had found two of the puppies at the head of the tunnel  cold and almost dead, but couldn't reach her dog and she was afraid she might be in trouble. Could I take the two puppies and raise them as she worked and couldn't give them the attention. Emergency plans were laid and I headed up to her house. They spent three hours before dark trying to dig her dog out while the rain began. We snuggled the puppies up and I took off for home but first I needed to find something to feed them with. Got a bottle of visine,  cleaned it out very good and made a small bottle for the pups. Next I got on line and looked up orphaned puppies to see what I should feed them. It told me to keep them warm, 90 degrees, wipe their little bottoms with warm water on cotton balls to stimulate elimination, and  feed  milk with egg yolks every two hours. I didn't realize how like real babies puppies are. They cry. All night long I set the alarm two hours ahead for the next feeding, while the wind kept up a constant wail. 

 Early morning beside the wailing constant wind I could hear the rain burst from the sky in buckets. I was up to take my grandson to the bus stop between feedings and crying babies.  I felt like a mother raising twins. At the bus stop we were met with beautiful double rainbows. What a sight. I fed Cheriki and then  the rest of my animals in the rain.  I ran to the feed store and got some puppie colostrum and formula and a syringe. I also priced a panel gate for the horse corral. Whew, cost more than all six of the panels I got at the salvage yard. I'll make do.  Then back home where the routine continued. My neighbor called mid afternoon and said bring them over she thought her dachound who was just weaning her pups might take the puppies. It's pouring rain, really pouring.  I wrapped the basket all round with blankets with the babies all wrapped inside the basket with wool shirts. One of the puppies took right to the mother and the other was not strong enough to nurse so I left one puppy with my neighbor and decided to try to hand feed the other, hoping it would make it. Orphaned pups have a hard time surviving if they don't get the colostrum.

Got the pup home under my shirt and was resting for a bit getting dry when my daughter called. She was on her way home from work and they were going to try to dig her dog out again, if there were any more pups would I take them?  I told her about the neighbors dog and yes we'd try to save them.  About an hour later my daughter called and said, Chelsea's in the house with three pups, we got her out. She's happy and nursing her pups. We couldn't figure out why she had pushed the two out of the den but shes' a first time mom. She is half wolf so that explains the den but she seemed confused about the procedures it seems. In the storm one of the pups was laying in water and she didn't think it would survive. In the drenching rain I went for the pup at my neighbors and we got them all back to mom. Last we talked they were nursing and Chelsea was accepting them.

That will be a day to remember. I 'm starting to wonder if my simple life is not so simple. The rain just poured down, so glad I watered my trees, grin.

My poor horse and donkey it was raining so hard. Guess the barn and corral are the next project.  One thing the post holes will be easy to dig now that the ground is soaked.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 16:01 | link | comments (2)

Monday started off with  Frank and I running to town to the salvage yard. My neighbor and I had been there on Friday and picked up pipe for the horse corral and I had spotted some welded panels that would work well. The salvage yard is messy but very interesting. The creative juices begin to run when you see all that discarded material. We dickered with the fellow and got a price. I paid and Frank loaded them up on his pickup, then I went looking for railroad ties for the barn. I went to one hardware that advertised and bought 6 # 1's for $10 a piece. Got out to the pile and wouldn't have any of them so we headed for the #2 pile. There I picked out 3, still have 3 more to find. They each cost me $2 less. I sometimes think that when they see a woman they think they can charge the high prices and sell them junk. Couldn't help but wonder if they took me to the #2 pile first and then I got the #1's for the price of the #2's because I wouldn't accept junk. It's so annoying to be treated like a second class citizen by men who like to snicker and laugh at making a woman a sucker. Power plays, shzzzzz, it's all about ego, not about being good humans and real people.

Also got more hardware and stuff for my upcoming building projects. My life doesn't seem so simple right now but it's good to get these things done.

My Sunday afternoon at Laughlin was a kind of relief from my routine. So happy when I left the casino with a $50 in my pocket and headed for the mall. Fortunately for me I am not a problem gambler. I go in with $40 and that's a set limit for the afternoon. Had a nice lunch on the comps too. At the mall the discount book store was more of a threat to my pocketbook, I must say. I love books, especially about home and garden. Sooo---- needless to say-----.

I met a woman a couple weeks ago at the Safeway coffee shop. She sat at the next table and we started to talk. She had an rv and I mentioned I was looking for a caretaker for my property. She sounded interested but told me she was having problems with gambling since she came out from Florida. I think it is sad that some older folks spend their retirement money at the casino's hooked on the idea they are going to get rich. They don't know what hit them when they wake up from their mizmerized mind set and find they hardly have enough to live on.  It's gone, gone, gone. forever. Then you'll see them working at Mc Donalds or even the casino's to get by. Sigh.

I like Laughlin. It's small, love walking the river walk in front of the casino's , even camping overnight parked in a casino parking lot looking out at the river. They have some a kind of bird that sings this wonderful tropical song. Moonlight on the river, the balmy breezes, the soft air,it can be lovely. There's people and activity, a restaurant that has live entertainment on the river walk. People sit out over the water on a deck with fireplaces and listen to music.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 15:16 | link | comments (2)

It's been a week of adjusting. Frank and Shirley moved on property with their 5th wheel. They are a very nice couple and they seem happy here. I've been busy with co-ordinating my handymen, 3 this week. Wow, didn't have a one for quit awhile now 3. Frank is very eager to do chores, and Dan across the way is working on a little project I set up for him, creating a potting and composting center, Wayne has finished the chicken house. Next project will be the back porch or the horse corral.

Took a run with a neighbor up to a little town some miles up the way. Met up with some of her friends for business. I'm buying some large wooden garage doors for the horse shelter. We stopped at a little cafe where many locals meet. Interesting, sitting in a small town cafe where everyone knows everyone. The lady we met up with took us to her house. She had hundreds of costume dresses and ballroom dresses. I couldn't believe it. She had three buildings full. That is what she does, buys them but she doesn't know where to sell them and so just keeps collecting. Unfortunately some of them are being ruined by poor storage. I had a kind of sadness when I left, like I had to do something to help her get her business started and help her sell her collection. Sigh.

After that visit we looked at the garage doors and there is diffenitely plenty to choose from. Then we went to a great little hamburger place and had the best burger I've had in a long time. Took a drive through a Joshua tree forest, and up to see lake Mead. Not much water in it right now.

Fall has arrived. The air is cooler, wind is blowing, clouds in the sky.

I'm going to go to Laughlin today. Walk around the mall, go to the computer store, have lunch and maybe put a few cents in the machines. Hope for a good week ahead.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 18:51 | link | comments

Roadrunners and Cactus Wrens:

I always feel it is a good omen or special blessing when a roadrunner runs out across the road in front of me. They are such characters. Of late a roadrunner has been visiting me every afternoon. He/she comes for water and to hang out. Climbed up on the veiwing chair in the center cactus garden. Trys to steal eggs sometimes from the little hens. A number of years ago I was living elsewhere in the country. I had a big garden area I was planting iris and garlic of all things. A road runner would visit when I was out working and run up and down the rows cleaning up bugs . I felt like he/she was my partner. When work was done the low branch of a tree was a good perch where he/she would sit to watch me dig and weed. I loved that interaction.

I also have a cactus wren who sits at the window when I'm on the computer. Since it's summer the window is open. The little wren hops up and down on my plant stand, peeking in . This same bird often visits me when I'm sitting on the porch, hopping about and even under my chair. The cactus wrens look like they could be relatives to the roadrunners. I think it is interesting that a number of the desert birds don't fly a lot. Quail run about like chickens and fly only when it is a get away tactic. It amazes me how far these little birds run.

I feel blessed to have these birds in my life.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:55 | link | comments

Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening:

It was the soft apricot sky imprinted by the outline of the mountains I woke to . I love sleeping outdoors and waking to the beauty of the early sunrise. I roll over and speak to Sage and she's looking at me. She's taken her ball I put in the pen for her to play with and dropped it in her water. I roll out of my bed and stagger into the house. I never have much balance in the first waking . I dress and take my coffee out to sit with Sage while she eats breakfast on the way out I feed my dog. After coffee I go feed the goat and sheep and chickens. The new chicken house is about half done. So glad the progress continues. My handyman showed and worked hard. The fellow across the street showed up too so I had him prune my palm trees and dig a hole for my new pecan tree that I bought on Friday. I also got  a pistachio and another fig, mission, I have a black turkey variety already. The pistachio is a female. I want to get another female and a male, make a small section of trees.

On Friday I got all the nails. Was proud of myself when I slid up to the counter and said. 5# of No. 16's. Like a real builder pro.

So, off over to my neighbors to feed my horse when the lady across the street came out her gate and said she was ready to play with my horse. She did a great job of working with Cheriki  and made some real progress. She was able to touch her all over her body with the whip. Dont' use it to hit her just scratch her. Sunday evening when I went out she came up to the fence and I got a real pat on her nose, then she nibbled on my sleave. Made me feel like we're making friends. My beautiful little Cheriki.

A couple who called about the ad for a handyman came out and looked the place over. They may come here to live as caretakers. We're discussing it.  They seemed nice, the kind I wouldn't mind having living here.

Beautiful evening, perfect weather.

My handyman told me this story:  He was out walking his part wolf dog in the evening. Walking in the wash the dog took off suddenly after something. When he caught up with the dog he could see an emu standing it's ground, kicking dirt in the dogs face. Guess there must be wild emus running loose in the washes.

My neighbor across the way told me this story. When she was a girl she lived on a farm. They were rounding up the cows on horseback when suddenly the cows stopped and formed a circle like they do when something catches their eye. In the center of the circle was a little killdee bird all puffed out looking for a fight, protecting her nest. This tiny bird had stopped a herd of cows.

Another week ahead.  

Posted by: cactusandquail at 04:13 | link | comments (3)

Horses and handymen:

My little burro, touched noses with me. She calls softly whenever I come outside. She nuzzled my hair and tried to nurse on my knew. I feel good about that.

Cheriki, let me lead her briefly and the pats on the nose are getting met with less defense. She has a favorite corner in her corral and I just go out and hang out with her. I try to lean in as close as I can so she can get used to being touched. She tolerates my presence well. It's slow but hoping it will pay off. I had to decline the person who offered to train her. Too, rough and not enough respect for my wishes. I don't want' to spend my time arguing with someone who thinks they know it all. I noticed Cheriki is very stressed when this person is close, so that will stop. My baby is not going to be terrified and bullied.

Looks like I have two handymen.  One called and came out on Wednesday and if he shows up Saturday I think he will be a keeper. I'm having problems learning to have all the right materials handy for the job. Didn't have the right nails. Fellow across the street came over and I found some little jobs for him too, so things will get organized and cleaned up outside. I'll have a chicken yard and compost bins and maybe I'll even have my back porch put up. That would be good. It's been a productive week but I was very tired one day.

The weather is beautiful. Not too hot and easy for working, and hiking.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 01:48 | link | comments