Thursday, June 18 through Sunday, June 21, 2009

Thursday - Cleaned the corral again, today, happily. My favorite horse, Whiskey, and his partner, Missy, are in a pasture somewhere enjoying the grass. I miss him! He should be back soon. While I was out there, I saw about twenty-five vultures circling by the river. It was very cool. I've never seen so many at one time like that. There might have even been more . . . it was hard to count them because they were flying around. A few weeks ago, I saw about eight vultures flying around out there, and then noticed that one had a long "tail." At closer inspection, it was a blue heron flying with all the vultures! Michelle thought maybe it was trying to protect its nest . . . I think maybe it was just enjoying the flying!

While walking Moki tonight, I saw a double rainbow! It was awesome! The second one could barely be seen, but the first one was really bright. I got my camera and took a picture, but the second one was already gone, and the first one faded a bit. Still, you can see how cool it is!  The other picture is looking left from my house.

While I walk Moki every day, the fragrances around the river are awesome. It is really nice being out here.

I also saw that a bird had built a nest in the side of my house near the roof. I saw the mom with something in her mouth, and I could hear the babies crying. Then she went in through a hole to feed them. Baby birds . . . cool!

Friday - Tonight I went to square dancing . . . with Moki! Everyone loved him, of course! He was a little noisy at first. But, at one of the breaks, I took him outside, and when I brought him back in, he settled down and went to sleep. What a baby.

At square dancing, we are now getting round dance lessons. This is kind of slow dancing, but in a circle. Tonight we learned the rumba and the cha cha. I learned the cha cha many years ago when I took ballroom dancing lessons. But, the rumba was new. The problem with the rumba is that you have to swing your hips, but I've never been a hip-swinging kind of girl! Maybe this will teach me how!

Saturday - Although he slept most of the day, when he was awake, he was an incredible pistol! I had to do those submission exercises constantly. At least he's scratching the door to go outside now.

Sunday - Moki was back to being the perfect puppy today. I think he was just tired yesterday.

I walked through town today to the local health food store. On the way, I saw a cowboy on a horse "park" his horse in a restaurant parking lot, and go into the restaurant! I am SO in the perfect place for me! On my way to Cortez the other day, I saw some cattle in a field and the calves were so small and the grass so tall that you couldn't see the calves when they kneeled down. It was awesome! It's like paradise for me here!

Monday, June 15, 2009 through Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Monday - The phone guy came today. He said no one had had a phone in this place for over five years! He had to string a wire over some trees into the next lot. I asked if it would cost extra, and he said, "No, it's our dime." Cool! And next week, some other phone guy will come back to bury the cable underground. Finally! A land line! Awesome! No more cell phone! Well, I'll still keep it in the car . . . it's useful to me there . . . and makes sense.

I went to the mill today to buy some firewood. It has been cold and rainy lately, and freezing in my house. I need to build a fire! Probably, now that I've bought wood, it will warm up and I won't need it! This is the same mill that I bought the sawdust shavings for my composting toilet.

Tuesday - Moki and I went to therapeutic riding this morning. He stayed patiently in his "den" while I led horses and people around the arena. Everybody thought he was wonderful! I introduced him to a couple horses, and he was fine. And it was really great getting back to the "horse smell" that I've missed so much! Getting there this morning only took about as long as it used to take me when I lived in Durango. But, getting home, all the traffic had built up and it took almost an hour.

Wednesday - This morning while Moki napped, I drove over to Medicine Horse. Michelle, who usually cleans the corrals, was gone . . . so, I volunteered! I haven't cleaned a corral in so long, and I've missed it! It is just so zen! I only had to clean up after two horses, though, so I finished in five or ten minutes. Then I brushed everyone . . . and it was good to get back to that, too.

This afternoon, Moki and I went to the doctor so he could be wormed. She held him in her arms and talked to me, and I didn't realize she was examining him the whole time! It was pretty cool. He's fine, and healthy!

Later in the afternoon, just before my meditation, another really cool thing happened: I heard cows! I looked out the windows and couldn't see them, but I heard them clearly. It's one of my favorite sounds!

Friday, June 12, 2009 through Sunday, June 14, 2009

Friday - I drove into Durango today for some quick business. On the way, as I'm driving down the highway at sixty mph or so, up ahead, I see a big, lumbering beast crossing the highway. I think it was a beaver, but I'm not sure. I slowed down and changed lanes to "protect" him . . . and so many times this happens to me, you'd think I'd learn a lesson . . . my protection backfired. When he saw my car slow down to the side of him, he turned around and started back across . . . right in front of an oncoming truck! Thankfully, the guy saw him in time and slowed down and even pulled partially off the road to avoid hitting him. I feel so bad for animals that have to cross the dangerous road to live . . . this is indicative of habitat loss.

I learned something today. Moki has been nipping me lately, and I just thought it was puppy behavior. According to this great book called _Super Puppy_ that Pam gave me, biting, and some of his other behaviors are indications of dominant behavior. It's normal for a puppy to do this . . . it serves him in the wild . . . but, in a home situation, it must be controlled or you will end up the number two dog in the pack . . . and that "ain't" good! The book described how to put the puppy in different positions to basically show him that you're the boss. One of the positions . . . the puppy lying on his side, and you holding his scruff with one hand, and holding down his body with the other . . . well, Moki didn't like that one much. He screamed like a banshee! After doing it several times though (in a few hours time), he began to accept it and not fight much.

I was the number three dog in Tika's pack for eight years . . . and I don't want to do that again! So, I will remain diligent about encouraging submissive behavior with these practice positions.

Saturday - I drove into Cortez today to go to the Farmer's Market and the Craft Festival. The Craft Festival had a lot of Native American artists with their crafts. Amazing stuff.

Sunday - Rosemary came over and we drove to Cortez to have lunch. It was a great lunch, and then we went over to the Craft Festival again. Rosemary likes that kind of stuff, too. This will probably be the last time I see her for quite awhile. She's going on an extended road trip up to the north west through Oregon and Washington. I'll miss her a lot.

I've had Moki a week now, and he's already growing up. At first when I walked him, he would try to pick up every stick, every plant, every piece of gravel we came across. He wouldn't really "walk" . . . he would just explore and experience every thing he came across. I think it's the linear/non-linear deal.

Many years ago when Karen's son, Dylan, was just a toddler (I think he's twenty now,) I went to visit her and we went hiking. We followed a trail. But, Dylan didn't want to follow the trail. He just wanted to explore, and he ended up climbing straight up this big hill. Karen and I were thinking linear, and Dylan just wanted to experience and explore. Same with Moki.

So, that's how it's been, but today and maybe yesterday, he's started walking more . . . running sometimes, too! He still tries to pick up sticks and gravel and eat plants, but that's more secondary now.

The other difference in my cute, little guy is his sleep habits. He used to play and play and run around the house exploring and chewing inappropriate things, and eventually acting like a kid who is overtired. At that point, I would pick him up and put him in his "den," until he went to sleep. When he awakened a couple hours later, I would take him outside and then let him play again. This would go on many times during the day. But, now, when he gets tired, he just goes to sleep by himself . . . usually right at my feet, which is so sweet! He still occasionally does the overtired bit, and I have to put him in his den, but that's rare now. He sleeps when he's tired most of the time.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 through Thursday, June 11, 2009

Mancos, Colorado

Tuesday - Great to be home! But, I am still exhausted. Moki is finally starting to play with his toys now that he's getting used to his new home. Luckily, he sleeps a lot, too! I still have a lot of cleaning and putting away to do.

I gave him a bath/shower today. The breeder suggested it to get the puppy smell off. I wasn't going to because I like the puppy smell! But, he picked up some fleas on the rest stops on our way home, and I thought I might get rid of them that way. He didn't like it much. Then, the house was a little chilly even though I lit a small fire in the wood stove, so we took a drive, and I dried him with the heat on high in the car! He didn't like that much, either! He complained most of the way.

But, we took a nice drive to the other side of Mancos . . . across the highway. I found the little grocery store, the laundry, and a movie rental place. When I came home, I tried to get my second hand tv and second hand dvd player to work. No luck. I'm trying to download the manuals now. Tomorrow, I need to pick up batteries for the remotes, maybe that will help.

Wednesday - Finally feeling halfway human today! Went grocery shopping this morning, and was happy to be cooking for the first time in my new home. Oops. The oven didn't work. Luckily, I have a large toaster oven, and it worked perfectly. Awesome.

Moki is such a character. He likes "action" toys. He loves the ball, and he has another toy that when you drop it, it bounces. He loves chasing those around. And he also likes the set of doggy keys that I gave him. he also stalks his toys, which is unbelievably cute . . . this charcoal gray fluffball stalking his little toys. What a cutie!

I went to a yoga class in town this afternoon and ran into my back door neighbor. The class was a little tough, since I haven't been practicing as I should! But, it was good to get back to it.

Thursday - Ah, at last! A full night's sleep! Moki didn't wake me up until 5:30 this morning! Awesome! I feel great today!

This evening I went to the Ute Mountain Rodeo in Cortez, about fifteen minutes from me. The rodeo was pretty cool . . . I'm not sure about the animals, but I enjoyed watching the cowboys! Although, Pat from the ranch says that these animals have it pretty good. They only work about ten seconds a day. Some of the calves get thrown to the ground pretty hard, though. I didn't like watching that. The bucking broncos were fun.  And while I sat in the bleachers, to the right of me was Mesa Verde, and to the left of me was the LaPlata Mountains . . . with newly fallen snow!  It was beautiful and awesome!

Back on my soapbox . . . they started the rodeo off with a prayer . . . granted they said something about a free country where you're free to practice any religion . . . but the prayer wasn't an "any religion" prayer . . . it omitted Muslims, Jews, Hindus, others, and atheists. I hate when that happens. I do have to give them credit, though, for including the welfare of the animals in the prayer.

My favorite part of the rodeo - - besides the cowboys, of course - - was the "mutton-busting" - - when little kids "rode" a sheep. They had to stay on for as long as they could - - bareback - - I don't think there are any "sheep saddles!" The kids ranged in age from five to seven, and were they ever cute! They all wore a helmet and a body protection vest. The winner rode the sheep over halfway across the arena, and most of that distance hanging off of one side! These little cowboys and cowgirls at the rodeo were all darling, with their cowboy shirts, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. But, these aren't costumes . . . these kids are real cowkids! A five-year-old boy who was the son of one of the rodeo's organizers rode his pony all around the arena holding onto the American flag with one hand. It was incredibly cute!

Saturday, June 6, 2009 through Monday, June 8, 2009

Casper, Wyoming

Saturday - I left this morning at six A.M. for Casper, Wyoming. I used cruise control for the first time. It is kind of weird . . . it feels like auto-pilot, only you have to remember to steer! I had a weird thing happen when I made a stop about three hours into my journey. I stepped out of the car, and it felt like I had gotten off a boat . . . I got dizzy, and felt a little seasick! I had been driving seventy-five miles an hour . . . the speed limit . . . but, I'm not used to that and it felt strange. The dizziness mostly subsided after awhile, but after I got back in the car, I was careful and tried to stay more aware. My next stop . . . the same thing happened, only not as bad. Is it from going so fast? I don't know, it was weird! The following stop, right at the end of my journey, I felt no dizziness, so that's good. But, it was an unusual experience. I know what you're going to say . . . why didn't I stop?! It's just it didn't seem to affect me in the car, only when I got out . . . like I said, unusual experience.

I'm staying at the campground where I'll meet the puppy people tomorrow.

Sunday - Sleeping in the car last night wasn't such a great idea! First, I tried sleeping under the sleeping bag. That didn't exactly work. Finally, I broke down and got inside the sleeping bag, but since I couldn't really put my feet pajamas (!) on, I had my clothes on, and the pockets of my jeans were full . . . so that wasn't that comfortable, either! Then, I had bought a camping pad to put under my sleeping bag, but the sleeping bag kept sliding on it! And since the back of the car doesn't fold all the way down, my head was a little elevated, which was okay if it hadn't been for the sliding situation! It was silly, but an interesting experience! Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep!

Moki arrived about nine-thirty. Oh, is he ever a doll! He is the pick o' the litter, if I ever saw one! He cried quite a bit when we first drove away, but then settled down. He is the sweetest boy! I think we're going to be very happy together!

The breeder said that they had to drive through a blizzard yesterday from Idaho to northern Wyoming . . . and snow today the first hour of the way! I thought they were kidding, but they weren't. And it was pretty cold outside where we were at the time.

I can say one thing about Wyoming . . . it's windy! I had to really grip the steering wheel, because the wind kept blowing me around. Mostly cows and pasture land around here. Once I entered Colorado, it seemed much greener! I saw a cool road sign today, "Eagles on roadway." Unfortunately, I didn't see any. But, I did have to slow down for a couple prairie dogs.

It was too late and too far to drive home in just one day, plus I'm exhausted from so little sleep, so we stopped in Craig, Colorado for the night. Moki wanted to get up at three in the morning to go outside! Bummer!

Monday - Home at last. It was another long day of driving with too little sleep, but we made it safe and sound arriving home mid-afternoon. I am exhausted. Moki just wants to investigate his new surroundings.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 through Friday, June 5, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Tuesday - I left early and had a beautiful drive to Santa Fe.  I went a different way, and it was much more beautiful than the interstate!  Karen and I had lunch with my sister Carol.  Afterwards, Karen and I drove back to her house, and went walking through the plaza.  The plaza is downtown Santa Fe - a redone area that is upscale and expensive art stores and tourist places.  But, the heart of Santa Fe is still here with old churches and cool places.  We walked by a church with a statue of Saint Francis out front.  I have always loved statues of St. Francis - - patron saint of the animals - - but, I had never seen a statue like this . . . with him and a dog by his side.  It was awesome.  In the courtyard, close to the statue, was a labyrinth.  I can't resist those, and Karen and I both followed the path to the center, and then followed it out again.  Labyrinth's are supposed to be very introspective "devices."  I'm not sure if I had any epiphanies while I walked, but I did think it was fun!

Wednesday - Karen and I walked to a used cowboy boot store today called Kowboyz.  The interesting thing is that when I was in Los Angeles, staying with Karen's mother, Edie, we were going to go to this store, but I found out that they had moved to Santa Fe!  So, I finally returned to Santa Fe and went to the store.  

We walked on down the street and found another western store, and I bought a cowboy hat that I had been looking for.  Then, we ate lunch at a place called Cowgirls!  It was a cowboy kinda day!  We also walked through the oldest church in the United States.  It was pretty awesome . . . built by Native Americans, and they still had the remains of an old Native American village preserved under the church.  It was interesting.

Thursday - Today, was my grand niece's or my great niece's (my niece's daughter . . . I don't know the official term) graduation from middle school. She had a solo piano piece, and she did wonderfully! The music sounded beautiful, and the way her hands moved across the piano keys was also very beautiful to watch.

When I got back to Karen's house, the four of us - - Karen and I and Checkers and Benton - - walked down to the plaza. We did some people watching, and the dogs enjoyed hanging out down there. I had written in a previous blog entry that men my age aren't cute. Karen insisted that they are, and she showed me some that I had to admit were . . . on the cute side!

Friday - I went to lunch with my sister, Carol, and my niece, Lisa, today. Good lunch, good conversation. Then, when Lisa went to drop me back at my car, we talked for a long time. I haven't seen her for quite awhile, so this was nice connecting again.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 30, 31, and June 1, 2009

Saturday - Rosemary drove over this morning, and we went over to Mesa Verde.  The entrance is only six miles from here, which is awesome.  Woo woo warning:  I lived there in a previous lifetime, so it's good to be back in the same neighborhood!

We walked down to see the Spruce Tree House ruin first, and from there started the Petroglyph hike from the bottom.  When I took the hike earlier this year, I started and finished from the top, because the bottom was still closed.  After we had hiked quite awhile, we found some fresh scat on the trail.  It was flat and black and kind of diarrhea.  I'm not as good at recognizing scat as I once was, but thought it might be a small bear.  I didn't have the nerve to stick my finger in it to see how fresh it was . . . something I later regretted!  We walked on along a beautiful trail, and found more of the same scat every once in awhile.  

After walking what seemed like forever, we came to the beautiful petroglyph panel.  Then, onward we went.  Shortly after the petroglyph panel, we had to climb upward on some rocks.  I had done this the last time I took this hike.  Rosemary was in the lead.  She starts climbing up the first rock, and all of a sudden lets out a yell, and comes tumbling backwards over the rock.  I thought it might be the bear belonging to the scat!  Poor Rosemary landed on her tailbone.  I asked what it was . . . I could still run for it!  She said it was a snake . . . I am so bummed that I wasn't in the lead so I could have seen the snake.  It took her awhile to get up, but she did, and with a little pain we finished our hike.  I decided that the scat was much too small to be even a small bear, but we never found out what it was.  We found older identical scat on the trail back.

After that, we went on a tour of Balcony House ruin, which was incredibly cool.  You have to climb up a twenty or thirty foot ladder, and then crawl through a small tunnel.  The ruins are awesome.  I forgot my camera!  Sorry!

Back at home, I put more stuff away.  Time is running short before I leave.

Sunday - I continued cleaning and putting stuff away, with a short break for a walk through town.  It is such a nice town!  I am so happy and so lucky to be living here!

Monday - I drove to Durango today for last minute errands, including getting my oil changed.  Back at home, I put more stuff away.  Getting close now.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday May 27, 28, 29, 2009

Wednesday - Moving more stuff, and brushing horses in Mancos.

Thursday - Helped out at therapeutic riding.  The mare finally accepted her new foal, and the other mare had her colt.

Friday - I moved more stuff - - the rest of it, actually.  I was still loading stuff in my car when Pam got home from work.  Luckily, the cleaning was finished, so I just had the loading left to do.  My car was packed full when I left Pam's house for the last time.

And Friday night - - my first night in my new place!

Friday, May 22 thru Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Friday, May 22

Tonight, I danced the night away at square dancing, and had a blast as usual. I told Judy that I wouldn't be coming for awhile after I get my puppy. She said that Ruth, Richard the caller's wife, used to bring their puppy! So, I can bring my puppy and not miss any square dancing! I am jazzed!

After square dancing, there was a carnival next door, so I walked over there. Lots of cool rides and carnival stuff, but I enjoyed just walking through there.  I would have loved some cotton candy, but I resisted!

Saturday - I went to a few garage sales this morning, and then went to Farmington with Rosemary.  New puppies at Pam's house.

Sunday - Thad reinforced the bookshelves that I had bought earlier this month.  Then we loaded them up in his truck, along with my mattress, and a few other big things.  I loaded my car up, and off we went toward Mancos.

When we arrived, I looked in the place they were to leave the key . . . no key.  I knocked on the door of the back house, but no one answered.  We looked all over, and then Thad discovered an open window.  He took the screen off (where it had already been taken off before), and I crawled in.  I opened the front door, and before we unloaded anything, I brought in a loaf of bread and a broom.  My Mom used to tell me that when you move into a new place, that's what you have to do first.  

Then we unloaded everything, and Thad left.  I stayed awhile putting stuff away, cleaning up, and washing dishes.

Monday - I drove out to my new place again today, and ran into Nance, the renter in the back house . . . and luckily, she had the key.  In the house with the windows open, I can hear the river!  It's awesome!  Picture shows front wall made of mostly bottles.  When the light shines in it's really cool.

On my way home, about two miles from my house, I saw some cowboys on horseback herding some cattle . . . with a border collie to help.  If that road in Durango is called Epitome Road, then Mancos, for me, is Epitome Town!

Tuesday - I had to clean with bleach the new dog kennel that I bought, and a couple other things I bought from garage sales.  I bleached it all up, and then washed it off with the hose.  But, I noticed that there was a nest of magpies in the tree above where I was working.  So, when I finished, and saw a bunch of earthworms coming up where the water ran . . . I was concerned that Mama Magpie would feed these bleached out worms to her babies . . . and I didn't want to be responsible for hurting them.  So, still with my gloves on, I picked up worm after worm after worm and transplanted them into Pam's garden.  Every time I made a trip over there thinking it was my last, I'd come back and check and find a bunch more worms.  It was getting humorous!  

It reminded me of something I did to my Mom when I was about four years old.  I had been out playing in the yard, and I came inside and told Mom to stick her hand in my pocket to see what was there.  She stuck in her hand, and pulled out a handful of slimy, writhing earthworms!  Some things never change!

Monday thru Wednesday, Mary 18 to 20, 2009

Monday, May 18

Stealth died today.  He had been having many health problems, and for awhile he seemed like he was getting better.  But, today he looked worse.  He had itchy lumps all over his body along with his other ailments.  Poor Stealth has been pretty depressed since he got here because he wanted to stay with his old owner.  The kindest thing was to let him move on to greener pastures.  He was a cool horse.  I'll miss him, but know that he's feeling better in a better place.  I sent him Reiki several times during the day to help him on his transitional journey.

Tuesday, May 19

Therapeutic riding was cancelled today.  Last night or the night before, a new baby horse was born.  The mare wouldn't let the new baby nurse, so Ron and Katie were up all night caring for the baby.  They're tired.

Wednesday, May 20

I walked in today knowing I wouldn't see Stealth, but with no other expectations.  What hit me when I walked in to the main horse area was intense sorrow.  I didn't know if it was human or horse sorrow, but it was palpable.  It was like walking through something heavy and dense.  I felt it strongly in the first two corrals, but when I got to the third corral and pasture, I didn't feel it much.  I brushed out the two three-year-old mares and didn't feel it at all.  But, when I got to JJ, I felt it again.  Not as strong, but I definitely felt it.  When I talked to Michelle about it, she said that JJ and Stealth were rivals and didn't like each other very much.  But, still, it's like reading about someone your age or younger in the obituaries . . . it makes you feel your own mortality.