Baths~ By Morris

So SHE says,
*jeeze Morris you stink*
after I'd been running around while she was doing chores and making water go to the big tank for the mules to drink from.

I'd been playing with the hound dogs and Pressure [she's a hound] invited me in her doghouse to play. We wrestled and tumbled in her house until I get called.
SHE knows how to end a good time.

But I went back and Pressure tackled me again. Did I mention that Pressure is about 65 lbs to my 12 lbs?
She takes one of her big paws and pushes me down. I roll over and play dead until she lets me up.
Then we run around and around again.

I got full of straw chafe and got pretty mucky. I thought I smelled just right.
Panting and smiling, I ran to the house when called.

Then SHE informed me that it was bath time.

Jack Russells are not supposed to like baths.
I don't mind it really...unless SHE uses some sort of 'fruity' scented soap on me.


I always get wrapped up in a nice sweatshirt afterwards and snuggle down for a nap.
I smell like 'Sugar Vanilla'.
It'll be a while before I can hold my head up around the hounds.....

Country Girl goes to the city...

Everyone needs a buddy. Sometimes being isolated on the farm is really quite nice, and at other times you wish for someone to talk to.
[That is, someone other than the Jack Russell Terrier or mules and donkeys]

My husband is a fine fellow.
But he doesn't get the 'girl' thang. Where you can hang out with another female and just 'do stuff' and talk 'girl stuff'.

So this morning I headed out the door to meet a friend in the Big City.
Okay.
LaCrosse is not a Big City. But compared to Folsom [4 farms]~it is a city.
We met at *Wally World* because it was easy for me to find.

We ended up at the mall where we walked and talked, had lunch and just plain enjoyed our friendship. We laughed.
ALOT.

Laughter is a great thing, it makes you feel good inside.

Thank you to my friend for knowing exactly what I needed today.

Walk on The Wild Side

Every once in a while I get a 'wild hair' up you know where...

Yesterday was one of those days.
Grab the coveralls, the camera, ... consider taking a mule, then don't...make sure I have on the water proof insulated boots...and
I
am
off.

No Morris in tow this time, I'm heading for the area that has a couple of coyote dens. The coyotes are in *season* now which means they are very active and aggressive especially towards other dogs.

Much to my disdain, I carry a small cheap two way radio. It is a conciliatory measure for hubby who thinks I am braving dark and dangerous things in the Big Woods.
Yes we have coyotes, yes we have black bear, and yes I tend to get into areas that an old lady [cough, cough] shouldn't go...

I like to climb steep gullies, moss covered rocks, even explore a cave if I get it in my head. I am not aware of any physical reason not to.
So I carry the radio in a *thingy* attached to my pistol belt and carry on.

I find two dens. Coyotes are not very good housekeepers, they toss their trash [bones, fur] right out the den opening.
I don't see any 'Yotes but see many tracks.
I head towards the far end of the First Valley and find all sorts of fun eye candy for my camera.


What interesting things do I find?
A chair...

Hmm, if I set up here, then I can work without any bother from hubby, the phone, or other distractions! I wonder if I'd get wireless here...
There is another option closer to my house. But the seat is a bit rough.
On I go drawn by the sound of...what?
Waterfalls?
Of course, the snow is melting and at the far end of the valley the water runs harder.

Delighted I untie the tripod that has been hanging from my belt [and banging the heck out of my leg]...and set it up.
The walk for me, has all come down to this.

Water.
Waterfalls.
Yes silly isn't it?

I set myself up in the creek. [Now you understand the need for insulated water proof boots].
I spend a long time observing and 'shooting' the Huge Waterfalls that are in actuality only about 8" tall.

So what.
I found it.
...and it makes my day.

Worth the effort I think.
I return home slowly, thinking about how awesome it is going to be if we get a huge snow melt all at once.
...and wonder,
do I have tall enough boots?

Innocence

......................

My husband in 1962...or near there. I found these in an old album laying loose.

To think that in 8 years after these photos, he was drafted and went overseas. You look into the eyes of this young person and see some resemblance to the man I now know.

We all loose some innocence when we grow up, but in some ways he has lost more than just his childhood innocence.

It is striking to go through the old photos of him growing up and then compare them to those that are current.


Yet I still sometimes see those 'child eyes' on rare occasions.
I just have to look harder.

Shhhh...

Hubby's Black and Tan Hound~~~

Looking forward to a few days off...

Midnight Musings

3:30 AM

The river runs slowly and silently under the ice I'm looking over. It is a powerful river, the Mississippi.
There is open waters further down from where I stand. Last year it too was frozen over and we could watch the deer walk from island to island across the snow covered ice.

The lights from behind me make the frost that is floating in the air look like diamonds. Although the 'diamonds' seem to have a fairy like quality of their own. They float and dance, covering the ground, the trees, the fence, and even the ugly weeds low on the bank of the river.

The air is cold and crisp and I breath it in and listen.
There are no sounds except the sigh of the light wind which will chill you to the bones if you stand too long in it. The wind is damp carrying moisture from the 'Big Muddy'.

I feel pretty darned good for 3ish in the morning.

I am in awe of the river. It is powerful, it is unassuming, and it is indifferent to people. It provides people for recreation and it can be the source of destruction.

Come sunrise ice fisherman will walk through the morning mists under pink pastel skies to their fishing holes.

I will watch the skies above the bluffs for that first hint of day.
Sunrise is at 7:04 on the ridge.

For now I am happy watching the 'diamond fairies' dance in the air. I turn away from where I am standing and continue to walk.
The river is on my mind.

A breath of fresh air

We certainly needed it today. Since I was going to stay close to home I let Morris come along.
I'd walked this hillside yesterday afternoon and found no sign of coyotes.
The den they've used for the past few years is empty.
I counted 10 deer beds around the old rock.
The paths are well traveled in the woods.
The tracks of mice and squirrels criss-cross the fresh snow.

Running seemed to be the theme of the day.
Morris played a JRT snowplow.
He loves the outdoors, that is pretty obvious.

A bit like his owner, I think. We both need our outdoor playtime.
It helps us to behave while inside the house.

Morris resting in a sunspot on the living room floor after our walk. Notice the toys surrounding him.
He likes to keep them close.