ZEPH THE DOCK DOG

Connie has been looking forward to our county fair since last year.  They had a event there called "Dock Dogs" where dogs jump into water after a stick, ball, or favorite toy.  Zeph has always liked water and Connie has been working on him jumping from rocks at Lake Powell, Apache Lake, Lake Meade, and here at our little lake Como.  Well, today she finally got to get him on a real Dock Dog swimming pool down at our fair.  Zeph was not sure of jumping into this pool as it is different than a lake.  But he finally got the hang of it and did quite well.  They did not enter the competition, but had a great time.  The main idea is to see how far the dog can jump.  Zeph got a few 12 footers and one that looked like a 15 foot jump. 

Some of his first attempts were not so far although he got better as time went on.  But he would not give Connie his stick when he got out of the water.  She had to take him out on the grass behind the dock to get it from him.  

This stick he found in New Mexico last spring and went with us down into Texas and back here to Montana.  It just hangs around the lawn and I have to move it every time I mow.  But he thinks it is a great stick obviously.

Here is a sequence of how it is supposed to work.

They had a great time.

UPDATE 25 AUGUST 2014

We have had some rain here for the last week and now it is clearing up with temperatures returning to normal for this time of year.  The nearly one inch of rain was welcome although it made putting up hay for our neighbors hard.  And the big thing is that it pretty well shut the possibility of local forest fires down for the year.  And that is good.  We have had some smoke in our valley, but it was from states to the west of us.  But we have not had any fires locally that have put smoke in the valley to any degree. 

The cooler temperatures have also brought the elk back though.  We had so many tracks going through one of our gates to the meadow, it looked more like a cow herd going through that some elk.  And lots of tracks can be seen while doing our morning walks.  Oh well, the elk are just something we have to deal with.

Connie and I took a nice ride on the horses the other day.  And no dust!  Carl and Deb were here for a couple of days on their way to a new job in Helena.  Carl has worked for Boeing in the Seattle area for many years, now will be working for them in Helena.  We are all happy he and his family are close to home again.

Connie riding Bill with Zeph in tow.

We found a flower to the east of us that we had not seen in this area before.  Will have to look it up and see if it is a native.

THE REST OF OUR TRIP TO EASTERN MONTANA

We (Connie, Ike, and Brenda) stopped in Hardin (where I was born) and went to the museum there.  Also met my cousin Terry there for a short visit.  Then we headed down to Garryowen where we stayed in a very nice RV park for a couple of nights taking in the Crow Fair and visiting the Custer Battlefield. Left there and headed further south into Wyoming driving road (14A) from Ranchester to Lovell, WY.  It is a very steep pass but a wonderful drive.  I would recommend it if anyone is in that area.  We ended up that night in Cody, WY and the next day drove over the Dead Indian Pass and then took the Beartooth Highway down into Red Lodge, MT.  Another great drive.  Stayed in Big Timber, MT for the last night out and then back to the Bitterroot.

Connie and Ike standing in front of the arrowhead collection of Jack and Sis Clawson who were very close friends of my parents.  They were the main babysitters for me and my siblings so we knew them well.  Click to enlarge any photo.

It rained a lot while we were in Hardin.  This is in the museum parking lot.

Ike standing among the graves of Custer's regiment.

View from Custer's battlefield looking south.

We were treated to a lightning and very heavy rainstorm at the RV park the first night.  This is looking west up towards the Billings area.

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area - Connie and I are going to kayak this next year.

Connie and Brenda at the Devils Creek Overlook.

Looks like a great place to kayak although campsites might be in short supply!!

Connie, Brenda, and Ike.  And of course Zeph who is with us all the time.

At the top of Beartooth Pass looking south.

Having lunch.

Still snow at this altitude.

The house in Lodge Grass where I lived the first 7 years of my life.

This is the Catholic Church next door to us that I used to think was so big.  But it is really not.

CROW FAIR

Connie and I went with Ike and Brenda to the Crow Fair at Crow Agency, MT last week.  It was not as good as we hoped, but the Indian Relay Race on horses was very good.  And that is what we really went to see.  We had read about it in the National Geographic last year.  Anyway, below are pictures of some of the fair and the relay race.

There were a lot of ropers at the rodeo.  So many that it delayed the rest of the rodeo.  This guy got a quick loop on his steer for a fast time in the break away roping.

And lots of horses, both big and small.

 And the kids were leading their horses all over.

I think this was the queen of the rodeo.

The relay race consisted of three horse and three men.  One was the rider of all three horses and the other two were handlers.  The rider would jump on and race around the track then jump off that horse and jump on another.  A few wrecks did occur, but not as many as one would expect.

The first horse ridden at the start.

One of the handlers earing down the second horse for this team.

This rider made a great leap off his first horse and a fast mount up on the second.

Another team getting on the second horse.

This time the rider did not get all the way on his third horse but held on until one of his team mates could come out and help him.  This is the sequence of the first part of this remount. 

This is the winner of the race on his third horse.

Being congratulated by his family.

THE BAERS VISIT

Niece Lesley, husband Bill and children Andrew, Aiden, Walker, and Avery (the supervisor) came up to visit us from Salt Lake.  We had a great time riding horses, kayaking and fishing at Lake Como, a few walks, camping in the Big Hole at the Hogan Cabin, playing hopscotch, and playing golf/frisbee and other activities.  Needless to say, we were busy while they were here.  And we remain busy trying to put up hay and the other things around here.  Got the garden shed painted - Connie did most of it. Anyway, below are some pictures of the the Baers visit.

Connie found some wax mustaches for the boys and they were a hit.

The three amigos.

A family portrait.

The cleaned up amigos.

Fishing in the big hole.

There was some kite flying at the Hogan Cabin also.

The small creek had a quite a few trout in it.

Sandhill cranes were always in the meadows.

It was a little cool early in the mornings at that altitude.

Just waking up with a fire in the pit.

Lots of bug killed trees in this area.

The cabin.

Kickball was played every night.

And Aunt Connie got her feet tangled up and did a little dirt digging fall.

Washing the hands.

The meadow that the cabin is in.

Our beach at Como Lake.

Kayaking - Zeph was not happy he was left out of the fun so jumped in as soon as they got back.

I think the kids enjoyed the kayaking.

More horseback riding.

This pic belongs in the cabin area, but somehow ended up here.  Fog early morning on my walk.

You want me to trot this horse??!!!

Walker on Baylee.

And quite a bit of painting.

Even some tractor driving.  Avery picked it up pretty fast.