Bob & Mom- Q-Time

Mom & Bob took off for Arizona New Years Eve, Day, we sure had a nice visit. Tuesday Larry Miller and I were preparing a little some thing for the picnic basket we'll be taking to Idaho next week.

Just another day on the Ranch! Yep this will go along pretty well with the 4lbs. chuck roast I smoked just before. Hope there will be enough to get us through the next couple days!

I don't know if that will be enough to keep Miller busy on the Smoker. What do you think DUDE? I don't know, why don't you check with Redman, excuse me, I meant TOBY VAN CAT! You know I have to clear every thing with the Boss, let me check on it AFTER my nap.
What's going on around here now you guys?

I don't know about these guys around here, believe I'll go back to the fire place and have a cold one-------Mikey!

Excuses-Excuses-Excuses

Well here it is nearing Christmas again! This week on my days off it was my intent to tell you more about the ranch, bbbuuuttt, things didn't work out that way. My Blackberry decided it was going to purge because of the first snow storm in Las Vegas in five years, dumping all the pictures I wanted to send in. This is a shot from State Line Primm, Nv. Looking at Whiskey Pete's sign shortly after Interstate 15 closed due to inclement weather.
Not the place I would like to go swimming right now. Anyway should I get out to the ranch in the next few hours the Columbia Pass won't be a problem, keep your fingers crossed. More details coming tomorrow.

I'm sure glad we got some firewood in-------------Mikey

No Not Enough

This just isn't enough, I know I'm being greedy, but I can't help myself. Can't wait till this weekend so I can get a few more loads. Love that ugly old truck, but, "pretty is as pretty does".

Here's what I was really interested in sharing with you. Since this appears to be the tree & wood season this Mondale Pine had a short career on Irene's place so I brought it over to the quail habitat. Gopher Bait, they just love to eat the roots off these things, there is only one long root left. Yet for some reason they only kill off about 15% of these trees. The rest seem to do all right. We try too use everything we can around here, besides the Pine needles make a quick fire starter.

That reminds me see you there--------------------------Mikey

Easter's View

Hey Mikey, it sure is nice around here lately, you know I didn't think the racket in the LMA's girls dorm was ever going to slow down!

Hey Ginger I wonder if Easter is telling Mikey about those two new dogs in the neighborhood, the ones you were explaining the rules to while he was getting that wood. I didn't know you felt that way about dogs!

Yeah Ginger, Hey-Girl and I will keep a look out for them while you rest up. Well at least we'll stand up while we are napping that way it will appear as though we are watching.

Just another busy day on the ranch.

See you at the fire-------------------------Mikey

Firewood

What a nice mourning, really would be a good chance to work outside. Straighten up the fire area, good idea.









There, thats a little better. You know now that I'm looking at it there dosn't seem to be enough wood here.

Maybe if I look around I'll find some more.












This should be enough for a while!
























Nice day for it better get started.

Mikey!

Checking in with everyone.

This photos title "Say What? You talking too Me?"

Here's Ginger keeping an eye on Hey-Girl.


Why do I call him RED MAN?

DUDE------------12/01/08, 19 Mos. old.

Hey-Girl & Ginger- eyeing DUDE.

EASTER; JACKIE JO; DUDE'S cousin, HEY what is Mikey doing in my space, and where is DUDE?

I know this is going to be a HAPPY HOLIDAY season, family and friends all reaffirming our love for each other. Mikey sincerely hopes for the best in all things for each and every one of you! Here at the LMA we try to look at life in a light hearted way, the more we do the faster time seems to fly. I don't want to grow old any faster than I have too, but I don't want to miss out on the fun of life either. Every new day brings me a new story to tell, this medium is terrific, even out here in the Desert away from everyone I feel I can reach out and touch you where ever you are, not as close as my HEART though.

It is very refreshing to follow all of your Blogs, the looking glass into our lives.

Again HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all-------------------Mikey.

For Deb & Terry

I often sit by the fire reminiscing, the other night I was looking through photos Mother sent me. Remembering that her friends Terry and Deb seemed to have a nice time,there were pictures with the horses; the front garden; Zukes; melons; and squash. What tripped my trigger is Deb was sitting on a log I was using for a bench, which gave her a little wobble, luckily she maintained her balance. I kept telling myself that it was a warning and Mikey better do something about it. So this is it, rest in secure comfort, by the fire.

Here's me trying to get a photo of Irene with Reinie, one out of two isn't bad right? This one was taken earlier in the year while I was still trying to figure out my Blackberry. I'm faster now although we have different schedules I'll get her. For those who don't know her she is my next door neighbor, and she has three horses. The people near me are really nice, and we all keep an eye out for each other without intruding too much.

The weather has been fantastic for this time of year, but we still make fire wood. Here's Brian lining up four by fours, we use up all the old post, pallets, and crates we can find. Some of my neighbors have business's at home, this gives them an out that is good for all, plenty of kindling.

Poplar& Elder trees grow out here fairly fast, they live approximately ten years in this environment, and grow nearly fifty feet before dying off. The best thing is to get them started then stop watering them as much, this forces them to grow roots quickly, my water is only down forty feet. With a modest amount of work you will keep plenty of shade around plus an abundant supply of trees to cut up.

As you can see Brian is almost done here today he is one person that just loves to cut wood, says it keeps him young. Helps "work up my thirst", is what I tell him.

You know where I'm heading-------------Mikey!

More Q Time- Thanksgiving week.

Well here you go, Larry giving Dude a little attention. This is the first time Dude was saddled up. He really took to it very well. About a week ago we started putting a sweat bit in his mouth, to get him used to it. Another thing we did was let him wear my old bareback rigging all night, these seamed to send the message to him without disturbing him much. Matter of fact as you can see Dude is rather nonchalant about it all. I didn't have a chance to photograph it, without mounting Larry also stood in the stirrup on each side of him. After an hour or so of just fooling around, making sure Dude felt like he was the star of the show we led him past the arena so all the girls could check him out, what a good boy he is.

Naturally Easter was interested"right", he knows who the real star around here is. Trust me when I tell you, this boy will be my star for the duration.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone-------Mikey.

Quality Time

The weather out here was really nice for the start of Thanksgiving week.




Some of the things on the agenda were to re stack the Hay; put a very heavy lumber tarp over it; rotate the tires on the Accura; ride Easter and Jackie Jo; add a few trees to the ranch; get the International tractor started; and so on and so on.

Having hibernated all Summer I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for a ride on Easter, since he does have a new set of shoes. I have always cold saddled him just in case we ever needed to leave in a hurry for some reason. He has that program down really well, also he stands very still until I have my seat, and stirrups just the way I like them. A blessing of fore thought in early training. But just because he lets me get this far without a problem does not mean he isn't really excited deep down inside, and I Know soon we will have a little problem. Larry was not to sure about Jackie Jo either, he opted to lunge her for a while just to see what kind of mood she was in, not bad actually, such a good girl. Ready Murph? Sure thing Larry why don't we head out to the west towards the Wilderness area? Sounds Good. Easter! What the hell was that? Come on boy, that was a nice jump though. Here we go not two hundred yards from the place and Easter decides he wants to run away from some furry little barking mutts. Not good Easter, lets start doggies training right now! Well they didn't seem to bother you did they Jackie Jo? What's that Larry? Oh yeah he has some very agile moves doesn't he. Thank heaven that was it for the day, you know it is getting a lot better but I need to work him more often. That's why I wouldn't tell anyone he was broke,one quick move like that and most people would be getting up from the ground.

We spent the rest of the ride, about fifteen miles, just looking over the country side, had a couple of cold ones on the way home, talked about how the horses were working so well. I could get on either of them and head out with confidence, nice.

The next afternoon Larry decided to give Hey-Girl (haven't heard from the AQHA yet) a little quality time, early training saves time and effort later on.

See you soon-------------Mikey

Poor girl has a tummy ache.

Hello again, as I promised you I would send more current pictures unfortunately I am still little behind since there are two more days before my weekend. This a mid October mourning shot. Jackie Jo is in really good health overall, although this mourning we noticed Ginger was shading her for a nap not usually on her schedule. Another thing strange was the way she pawed at her stomach from time to time. This was observed by Larry not myself, he only mentioned it after I voiced concern about her unusual behavior this mourning, she also let Ginger get more breakfast than normal. That is a sure sign that Jackie Jo has some thing wrong, most likely what we refer to as an Indian Tear Drop. Nothing a little special fiber we keep here won't cure, for those of you who are getting the drift I'm hoping you feel better too, her problem is that she throws her feed on the ground in this sandy and dusty soil, there fore creating something smooth;green; and very hard to pass. Jackie Jo is young and healthy so after a few hours she felt like her usual self again and Ginger " her faithful companion" got less dinner than she had breakfast. Anyway this fire photo is more current.


Waiting to see you there sometime soon--------------Mikey.

Has anybody seen Jackie Jo?

I just wanted everyone to see her no special occasion. Naturally I have to keep from getting too attached (Difficult) since she is special. Jackie Jo is quite a bit more mature now, this shot was taken in April. The original title of this shot was to be "Has anybody seen anything to eat?". Be prepared for quite a show when she sees you coming out late to feed. Like I said she hasn't been getting the attention she deserves and this should help repair her ego. She is so much like Easter and Dude in disposition, personality,and intelligent. Here at the ranch we have to be really careful about how we school these horses because once they learn something they won't forget it. Best advice I got for them was you have to win them not battle with them. Believe me this is proving true everyday. I'll have to give Larry Miller a great deal of credit having been her trainer since she came back from boarding school where she got basic ground training. Jackie Jo will wear multiple styles of head gear and respond the same to all of them. Fringe benefit of spending the time. Speaking of time I have to go now, it's getting close to feeding time.

Besides I need to get the fire set up---------------Mikey

At least the trailer works!

Hello everyone.



My stories are beginning to settle down a little. Mostly mundane chores. Last week I told you about the chain saw lessons, as a result I needed a way to transport the fruits of our labor closer to the fireplace. My brother Pat made me a good deal on this trailer a while back. The Green and White buckets are full of Mulberry sawdust. Instant fire starter, I'm here to tell ya. As you can see at 4 o'clock the shadows are getting pretty long, that means the fire place will be going for the sunset show.

The photos will be getting more current. I am curing some of the remoteness problems. Next weeks article will be more current. Anyway we got quite a bit done this week, Dads rototiller worked up the Victory Garden (by the Fireplace), and the front garden. We are hoping to have several gardens this year, the weather has been so good lately we're afraid to water anything fearing a voluntary crop. Although the front had to be watered so the top soil would not blow away.

Hope to see you soon---------------Mikey.

PS:
I was going to send this little fellow out for everyone on Halloween. I still thought he is interesting. I am sort of a wildlife nut.