The Road to Alameda

I have a couple of days off work and I agreed to leave The Ranch and head to The City with my cowboy. He accepted a new position with another company based in Alameda which is in 'the Bay area'; land of heavy traffic, tall buildings and one-way-streets. This trip he needed me along for moral support..... well not really, he needed me so I can drive one vehicle back home while he drives home his brand new Ford truck that the company is supplying. The company is providing a very nice hotel for our stay. The secretary gave me a city map and some ideas of things to do and see while Jerry is busy working for these 2 days. As we leave the hot,dry valley; the sky is overcast and the temperatures cooler. From the Central Valley, you cross the Coastal Mountains before reaching the ocean.

This tunnel goes under some mountains. There is another one that actually goes under the bay, which they call 'the Tube'.

Traffic wasn't too bad, the bridges and over-passes amaze me, I feel like a tourist with my window open so I can take pictures of cars and roads. Maybe I need to get out more.

The picture below is of special interest. Note the crane towering above the buildings. Jerry pointed it out to me on the way to the office. Almost a year ago he was up on top of that crane and slipped. He was holding on to a support and all of his weight loaded one arm, dislocating his shoulder. They lowered him in something called a man basket and took him to the hospital. We were dating at that time and he called me from the hospital, just to let me know. It was a strange conversation since he was loaded up on morphine and they hadn't reduced the dislocation yet. He did well; he had the Dr. teach him how to reduce a dislocated shoulder himself (one never knows when you might need this); and it saved him from snow skiing with me last winter. Our hotel is right on the bay and has a huge marina. This is my view from the room. Lots of pretty boats!

I love traveling and exploring new places. Every where I go I think of loved ones and wish I could share with them. You know who I thought of at this corner!

I found my way to the beach. It was a foggy cool day, normal for this area. That is San Francisco across the bay. I spent a couple of hours walking the beach, sitting on drift logs, listening to the waves and the gulls, and enjoying the peace.

This one is for Kayleigh! I was talking to her on the phone and let her listen to the wind and waves. I tried describing this guy with his kite and surf board, dressed in a black wet suit; it was cold out there, but sure looked like a blast.

Self-potrait in the wind.

Labor Day Weekend

Sunday.

Sunday afternoon we gathered maps, lists of homes for sale, and headed out to look at properties. We saw some 'interesting' places, most of 'em we wouldn't want to live in.

We did drive by this old barn and cattle in a 'golden' pasture. Lots of character. This one wasn't

for sale.

Monday.
Today we stayed home and relaxed. Jerry and I will be working out of town for a week or two and wanted to have some quiet peaceful time together. We decided to go ride for a while before it got too hot. We called our three horses in from pasture, saddled up and headed back to the river.

Remember the river? The Cosumnes River runs behind The Ranch. To refresh your memory I am posting a picture of the river as it appeared in May when we had our mini Extreme Cowboy competition. This one was taken as we charged across the river as a group. Do Not Try This Stunt At Home!

THE CHARGE of the COSUMNES RIVER!

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This is The Cosumnes River as it appears today. A dry river bed. This is not an unusual occurrence, by this time every year, it is dry until the rains come again in late autumn. It does make for a neat ride.






The river bed changes from gravel bed, to deep sand, to areas of odd looking red stone formations. It was hard work for the horses, I know this first hand. I got off 'Rock' and walked along beside her for a while, a very short while.

Jerry is on 'Remington', leading Cheyenne; I am on 'Rock' taking pictures. The horses spy a deer running up the river bank.

'Remington' decided he was hot, sweaty and tired of walking. He was down rolling in the sand before Jerry knew it.

After a long, hot ride, a roll in the sand is just what Remington needs. He waited until his tack is off and the ride is over.

Don't get so close to that fence fella!

Saddles and bridles off, a few good rolls in the sand; now time for scratches. 'Rock' demands her turn first and gets a satisfying neck scratching from Jerry and some love-bites from 'Remington'.

The End.............

Good Day

Today was a good day. Yes I had to work on a Saturday and it was a busy day. But I saw and worked on some interesting cases.
The temperatures were in the 100s again today, and again I was glad to spend the day in air conditioning.
There is a large 'fall gathering' here at the Ranch this weekend. One of the well known equine instructors in these parts put on a thank you day for his clients. There are lots of rigs, riders and horse&mules here, starting yesterday. Lots are 'camping' out in the field. Must be over 100 folks here! Jerry had a fun day on horse and mule-back playing with the cattle and riding obstacle courses. Did I mention I worked all day....
We are friends and live here on the ranch, so we were invited to join the 'doings'. I got home in time to chow down some catered b-b-q out by the river. A flat bed trailer was set up with a sound system and we were entertained by a blue grass/country band. Sitting on hay bales, a plate of tasty food on my lap, a country band playing, over looking the river, the sun setting, my honey by my side.... I am thinking, 'life is pretty good'.
Did I mention I worked all day? ;0) Funny; I look and feel much less tired than all of those folks who spent the day out in the sun 'playing' on horse back.
Sweet dreams......

Orange Crush

Last week this little kitty was found laying by the side of a street, almost lifeless. Animal Control brought her in. She had been hit by a car, the trauma had created a large hernia, allowing abdominal contents to slip where they didn't belong, between her skin layer and ribs. The plan was to allow her a few days to stabilize before attempting surgery. By Tuesday, her condition had deteriorated as more intestinal loops, and portions of liver and kidney slipped further out of the abdomen, were entrapped and were being squished. So it was surgery Tuesday or probable death. It was my surgery day, oh hurray..... This kitty was tiny, the incision was long, the hernia was deep and out of sight, with very little opposing tissue to repair it. I wish now that I had pictures of her tiny little body open to the world, her intestines all in a neat little pile outside the gaping hole in her 'tummy', while I struggled to repair her injuries.
She has been recovering well, improving each day; we finally stopped calling her 'the orange kitty' and gave her a name today. The unanimous favorite is 'Orange Crush'. (My suggestion of 'Road Kill', wasn't even in the running!)


So... here is 'Orange Crush' tonight, relaxing in my recliner, surveying the new surroundings. She is very sweet and friendly. We have been pampering her for the past 3 days at the hospital. I will be seeing her for the last time tomorrow, soooo I brought her home with me just for tonight. Gets her out of the cage for a while and gives me some warm cozy kitty cuddle time.




She was not so willing to show her naked tummy and incision. It is healing quite well and I am thrilled with her progress! Please forgive me for patting my own back, but I am just tickled she's even alive, and I really like this little 'Crush' a lot!



'Orange Crush' has been a delightful house guest. She is very generous with her hugs and purrs. She'll soon go back to Animal Control and they will make sure that she is adopted by someone perfect for her.

Dog Days of Summer

Hot, sultry August days, cranky clients, grumpy dogs; I am glad to be working in air conditioning all day.

Someone forwarded me an e-mail claiming that Mars would be as large as the full moon on Monday night. I got up at 1:30 a.m. just to disprove that silly claim. Of course Mars wasn't huge, even difficult to see, due to the brilliance of the full moon. The bonus = I was awake to watch the total eclipse of the moon . Anyone else see it? Very cool stuff.

I sure enjoy the comments made to my blog. I try to reply but for some reason my blog does not accept my own comments. Thanks to you all for reading and for the remarks. I will keep trying to figure out how to answer.

I sure enjoy my digital camera. Sometimes I just experiment. The following photos are for fun. They are all nature shots. I've always enjoyed games, no one here will play Scrabble with me so here's a new game, no rules, just identify the pictures.

Picture #1

Picture # 2 (sorry)

Picture #3

Page #4

Picture #5

CAMPING 101 #1.THE BED-ROLL

Wilderness camping..... #1. How to sleep comfortably in the back country.

After playing outside in the mountains all day, I love to snuggle down in my 'bedroll', listen to the wind in the pines, fall asleep watching the stars, and not worry about getting cold or feeling the stray stones and pine cones dig into my back on the ground beneath me.

At one time I thought a 'bedroll' was just a cowboy term for a rolled up sleeping bag tied onto a horse, behind the saddle. I was wrong, a sleeping bag is NOT a bedroll. But wait! Don't throw away those sleeping bags, they are an important ingredient in building your own warm comfy bedroll.

To begin, you will need one large canvas mantee, a foam pad (or two), a sleeping bag, and a pillow. The cowboy is optional, I prefer one.

To build your bedroll; start with your large rectangular mantee spread out on the ground. Next center your foam pads. I prefer and use 2 of the waffled foams for single beds. On top of these place your zipped sleeping bag and your favorite pillow.

Pull the bottom of the mantee up and over the sleeping bed ensemble. There should be a few feet of extra mantee above the head. Next, the sides of the mantee are folded over and meet in the center of the sleeping bag, use the little hooks to secure all in place. Smooth and straighten the extra canvas above the bag, this extra bit is used to tent over your head if the weather warrants extra protection from wind, freezing temps, snow, rain. (Won't be much protection against bears.)

Start at the bottom and roll your roll. Tight and compact. Brush off that dirt.


Looking good!




Rolled tight and strapped. Ready for the next luxury night in the woods.

Attaching your bedroll securely to your pack mule is another lesson, for another time.

Happy trails!

Loon Lake

Saturday was a busy work day for me. We had plans to head up the mountains to one of my favorite places, Loon Lake, for a day of fly fishing on Sunday. After supper Sauturday, Jerry suggested heading for Loon Lake right then and spending the night. Sounded good to me! We packed my truck with food and drink, our fishing gear, bedrolls, and we were off.
In the dark, aided by an almost full moon, we found a narrow dirt road and a nice flat place to settle down for the night in our bedrolls. Up early in the morning for a tail-gate breakfast, a day full of fishing, peace, and good company!






We had a wonderful day.

Did I mention we didn't catch any fish? But we didn't care!