Big loop'n...

 Took Dad for an airing out car ride the other day. We made a big loop to the West towards the Atwood Ranch, and saw some of my favorite country. Dad enjoyed getting to see some new (to him) country.

Atwood Ranch pic

 It's the perfect time of year to be in the rolling hills with everything so green, the creeks running, and the huge old oaks budding out in the draws. You could hear the grass growing. Redbuds were in full bloom in some of the creek bottoms. Dad was on the look out for deer, but we didn't see any game except for one wild turkey and a covey of Gambels. Lots of cows and calves were about. Saw one of the most even herds of Angus cows I have ever seen in a commercial operation. 

I stopped in one draw to repair a piece of fence that was down. Dad asked if I knew who's place it was. No, but the cows inside it were eating their way to that gap in the fence. It only took a few minutes to repair, and we were back on our way.

 

Dad is getting less and less able to get around, thankfully his mind is sharp as ever.  He amazes me with his memories of hunting camps in the back of beyond, and flying machines from eighty years ago. He can look at an unmarked map and tell you where he got a buck, or where the best fishing creek was.

I'm going to try to road trip him to Idaho to see my brother this spring. Just waiting for the weather to be a little more stable. 

Quit digging...

 A Blessed Easter

Other than a couple hellacious spring thunderstorms, it has been too beautiful to stay inside a moment longer than necessary.

Last week I ducked yoga and headed to the range for some much needed cow, rock, grass, blue sky, and boom therapy.

 ***

Marymine is constantly telling me that Lauren is my mini me.   I don't see it but, I don't mind at all.  When I was down at Marymine's for the 5K I asked Lauren if she had dyed her hair brown.  She said "Oh Nanny, yes I did! I got so tired of that white trash blonde look!"  I looked at Lauren and said with a straight face, "really, hmmm..."  It took a second and Marymine over in the corner of the kitchen laughing so hard she couldn't speak, for Lauren to realize that she had just mightily insulted her granny.  Lauren came over hugged me and said " Oh No, I didn't mean you Nanny, your hair is white... like old people have!"  My words were, "I love you Lauren, quit digging."  

Bedpan Liner...

Being a caregiver is not well suited to my irreverent personality.  Standard Operating Procedure is not the norm for me.
What the heck is wrong with putting one of those musical buttons on the edge of the bedpan. That way it plays music when I put mom on it.  
So what if the RC heli wars get a little out of control and someone does a semi-hard landing on mom's backside.
 What does it hurt to make mom a milkshake for breakfast.  It has milk, eggs, frozen OJ, and bacon bits for crying out loud. My grandkids love them. 
The hospice crew are shaking their heads, Dad is looking to out fly me, mom is laughing.
Maybe I'm better at critters than people...

 
I have fixed a prolapsed heifer with a couple of boluses, a coke bottle, and a shoelace. I have put my arm up the butt of more than a few cows to help with a delivery.  Breathed into the snotty nose of many lambs, kittens, puppies, colts, calves, and one goat. And no one raised an eye brow.
  
The veterinarian I worked for said, "B,  If I let you do two sutures when I'm closing, will you get your head out of the operating field!" 

"Throw in that old pair of hemostats and you've got a deal, Doc."