DEER AND THE SHRUBS

Deer are always chewing on Connie's  plants and trees.  This one was really brazen, well all six in the yard were!!

Our weather has turned back to winter - so I have a little time in the house.  Trying to learn my new computer and thought I would change the blog a little.  100% chance of snow this evening, 90% tomorrow.  That is why there are Arizona flower pictures on the blog.

TIME WITH SOME ELK

Connie and I were riding yesterday east of our place and got really close to a small herd of about 20 elk.  In fact, we got to ride through them!  Of course we did not have a camera so no pictures.  My horse Stryder was a bit nervous while we were among them, but Connie was riding Baylee and she was pretty ho - hum about it all. I am sure we were within 100 feet and probably as close as 60 or 70 feet to a couple of old cows.  They are really looking scraggly right now.  In fact when one old cow got up, little clumps hair fell off her neck.  We must have spent 30 minutes with them.  What a trip.  Also got to see 6 deer just before we came up on the elk.

My old laptop has just about quit on me so I am now posting this on a new one.  Will take me a bit of time to get used to all the new features and still have to upgrade to a new version of windows office. 

SPRING IN THE BITTERROOT?

We have been pretty busy since we got back from down south so haven't posted in quite some time.  Well, it is spring.  Seems like there is a lot of things that need to be done this time of year.  Been cleaning the irrigation ditch that brings water down to us from up Willow Creek a ways.  Not to much left to do with that.  Some of the horses have been trimmed and a few have been rode.  Been working on the Memorial Day Parade trying to line up floats and help.  This is always a busy time for the American Legion Post.

We do have some flowers that are starting to bloom.  I grabbed my camera and walked around this afternoon taking a few pictures of these early ones.  Also the Bitterroots are having a bumper crop of plants again.  I hope they have lots of flowers.  Their leaves are just starting to go back into the ground and by the 1st of June we will have some blooming.  We have one place at the start of the horse path to the arena that has at least 24 individual plants within a couple of square feet.  I have never seen that many plants in such a small area - and on our horse path!!

Had a pretty good spring storm last evening.  The wind blew with lots of lightning and thunder.  Zeus just loved that!!!  We ended up getting a pretty good rain out of it which we really needed.  Made walking a little muddy this morning though.  But on our walk we did get to see some elk.  First since we have been back.  They were not to afraid of us.  Got to see them going and coming back.  Phil the peasant must have found a girl friend and is shacked up with her as we have not seen him in days.  We saw Matilda the turkey the other day, but she also has disappeared.  Maybe she also found a boyfriend or is looking for a place to start laying eggs. 

An arrow-leaf  balsaroot just about to bloom.

One in bloom.

Still some clouds hanging around this afternoon.

A few little daisys.

Here are the bitterroots blooming on the start of our horse path.  Click to enlarge.

The ornamental cherry tree is loaded with blossoms this year.

PHIL AND MATILDA

We had a couple of fowl around the yard today.  Phil the pheasant and Matilda the turkey were hanging out around the sliding glass door this afternoon.  Phil fights himself or his reflection in the door.  Makes a lot of noise sometimes.  Matilda was just cleaning up under the bird feeder.

We are getting everything put away and cleaned up from our trip.  Still a few things to do before we are back to normal.  Brought the horses up into the corrals today so we can start working them.  Will also give the pasture a chance to grow.  Plus we have to clean ditches, harrow, etc.

BACK HOME IN MONTANA

We had a nice visit with Aunt Jane while we were in SLC.  Also had Easter Dinner with the Turner family at Van and Wendy's and got to see all the Turner kids living in that area.  Was a great dinner and Connie and I ate a lot of food.  Can't eat like that in the camper!

Got to meet the latest grandkid of Van and Wendy, Emma Jane Harden.  What a doll.

Left on Monday and headed back to Montana.  Our south trip is over for this year.  Trip back was good, and we did not have to drive through as much weather as they were forecasting.  The jeep sure needs washing though as it gets a lot of road grime thrown on it.  Everything seems good around here.  Phil the pheasant has made a big mess on our front porch though.  He tore up the door mat and pooped all over.  He likes to fight himself in the glass storm door.  The deer have been in the yard also.  But when you live out in the woods, things like that happen.

Connie Jane with Emma Jane.

NORTH TO SALT LAKE

We are in Salt Lake now.  Left Roosevelt Lake and drove up to Winslow, AZ where it was cold and windy.  Left there and drove to Blanding, UT through the Indian Reservations and monument valley.  Stopped at the Hopi Cultural Center and went through their museum which was pretty interesting.  The weather was pretty cool.  A few pictures of the drive up here.

Some of the painted desert.

I had to take a picture of this lone cow in monument valley.