Hi Jolly or Hadji Ali

I didn't make that name up, he was a pretty well known character in the South West, camel driver for the Army, later ran a freight business after the Army kiboshed the camel experiment, but they tell me he was later known as Philip Tedro. He died here in Quartzsite in 1902 and his name, at least one of them is seen all over this area including the 14 Day BLM area we are camped in presently.

We have been sticking pretty close to camp but have taken a few runs into town, one for lunch at an old favourite spot the Grubstake, they used to have some of the best fish and chips in the area, it is advertised as cod and it still tastes like cod although the pieces were so narrow it could very well have been from an eel. Pretty skinny and the price had been pushed up a couple of bucks so probably not high on our list of places to repeat.

Today, Monday, was laundry day, we had not done any since back in Las Cruces so it was time, we got our clothes all caught up and over the next day or two will probably be doing another load or two of bedding before we move on down the road.

At this point we are not sure which way we are going, we need to get our rig washed up and that is pushing us towards Yuma at least for a few days, but then we heard Wandering Willie was hiding out at an old favourite spot so who knows we may go that way, or just maybe some other direction all together. When we know, you'll know so till then we'll just keep wandering Down the Road from Dogpound.

A Mixed Bag

Not a lot happening here at Dogpound North. September has not been the nicest month around these parts, kind of cool, a little rain and some flurries, yes flurries. We ran up to Rocky a couple of weeks ago for "Bring your Grandparents to School Day" at Ella and Alle's school. It is nice to check out where the girls spend their days and they seem pretty excited to show Grandma and I around their schools. After spending the afternoon with them we met up with their Mom and Dad to break a little bread before skedaddling for home.

Ella's Art

I did manage to get out a couple of days and see a little country, it was raining much of the time on the Eastern Slopes but once I broke over the front ranges it seemed that there was a little more sunshine to be found. The shot below is on the Forestry Trunk Road south of Highwood House dropping down into Cataract Creek.

This shot is of a new gate out in the Yaha Tinda's horse pasture looking west towards Warden's Rock on of my favourite views at any time of the year.

It was pretty obvious out in the West Country that fall was in the air and winter not far behind. And even here at Dogpound North the leaves are turning and the horses are wearing their winter coats.

This past weekend Justin came down to Carstairs for a couple of days riding bulls so I managed to sneak over and take a photo or two. The bulls weren't cooperating with me and most of the daylight shots they decided to show me their heels so this one was taken late at night. Justins first bull came out of the chute backwards so he got a re-ride option but that meant he was riding at 10:20 at night so the light wasn't great for the camera but the ride was pretty nice.

You can see the legs just under the bull and the shadow to the right of the picture, those are the bull fighters, these guys are the heroes in these events making sure these kids get down off these bulls safely. I know Justin has a lot of faith in them and depends on them to get him out of tight spots and make sure the bull doesn't grind him into the ground after his ride. Thanks guys.

Remember back a couple of paragraphs ago when I said September wasn't the greatest weather, but as it turns out October isn't looking much better, at least with what we have seen these first few days. Monday night it started snowing and pretty much kept it up all night and most of the next day. I took this shot of a gang of robins hanging around under our apple tree enjoying a little frozen fruit salad and discussing when would be a good time to head out of the country.

The snow came down thick and steady and when it finally quit we had a little over ten inches out in  middle of the yard away from the buildings. You have all seen the moose we have hanging around here in the winter, well we frequently have other visitors as well, this photo is one half of the onsite security that hangs out here all winter. He was doing his morning rounds when I captured him checking the perimeter. 

The last couple of days we haven't had any snow which is probably a good thing as many of our neighbours still have crops in the field to harvest, but it will take a while and a different forecast for harvest to resume around these parts. Till next time.

Gone Home

Alle has moved on down the road. Yesterday she passed her car seat test and was given clearance to move on down the road to Rocky Mountain House. I guess when you are a preemie, and as is quite usual, have breathing issues they make you sit in your car seat for 90 minutes while they monitor your breathing and pulse rate just to make sure you are OK to travel. Now a time or two in my life I have been on car rides with folks where if I was being monitored they most certainly would not have given me clearance to travel again. But I am positive it was the driver and nothing to do with my heart. And just for the record I am NOT mentioning any names, nope, not ever!

She is bundled up for the trip home, not sure where her folks are taking her but it has been pretty nice around here. Our day time temps are in the 60’s sometimes even low 70’s and it doesn’t drop below freezing to many nights a week. All in all pretty nice spring weather. Below is a picture of Miss Ella and her little sister Alle Kitten a day or two before they left the hospital.

And here is a bunch I have taken over the last day or two.

Alle Kitten VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

And here she is lounging around at home today.

Now I have probably overdone the baby pictures but I guess it is my blog and I can tell it like I want to but although it is hard to believe we do do other stuff here down the road from Dogpound. Over the last week I have been doing my homework with Blue and introducing Oscar, Claire’s pony, to some of the things I hope I learned at Terri McKinney’s clinic 10 days or so ago. I have also spent a lot of time just setting in the sun and enjoying being part of the herd and here are some pictures of all the ponies we leave at home in the winter.

Dogpound North’s Herd VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The two dark geldings are Razz and Coal, the dun with the high withers (swayback) is Hank, the paint is Oscar, my grandddaughter Claire’s pony while the dark pony with the blond mane belongs to our other granddaughter Madison, Smokey is the gray on the right and in the back behind Smokey is Rosie, my gelding Blue’s dam. Brenda used to ride Rosie regularly but she has developed a little arthritis so is relegated to a pretty easy life getting ridden just around Dogpound North on short rides. Hank has a sore shoulder and comes up lame if he is used hard so he to is a pasture ornament here.

Yesterday while Alle was working on her car seat test Brenda and I decided to run up to a friend of ours Old WR and his new wife Tracey to check out this years crop of foals. Wayne as well as being a good friend is where we bought Rosie and he owned the stud that was Blue’s sire. He always has some great cow horses around and this year was no exception. Brenda would have brought these two home with us if we had brought the trailer I think.

 

And the little filly in the bottom picture may make it yet.