Trail notes...

The ol doe is back. She has been missing from the trail that Willie and I run, since the fire.  No signs of the buck or the fawn...

Rocky raccoon has moved back into his condo.

 Willie thinks he would like a piece of Rocky, not a wise idea.

The lone wild turkey has left sign that he is back as well.  He has a predilection for a certain shrub in a neighbor's yard. The neighbor that is very anal about his landscaping, and not an especially friendly fellow. I have seen the gobbler gobbling away on his shrub, laughed quietly and walked on... 

The Crow by Rudi Hurzlmeier

Buzz'n Idaho...

Happy 64th Birthday to my little brother, Buzz! Who is now older than dirt, too...

 From the expressions on our faces and if I remember rightly... he had just peed on me...

Head Up...

Took Dad up to the Veterans clinic today to get him checked out by the ENT doc.  He has been having trouble with his voice. Practically shouting to get words out. His NP had suspected he had reflux so put him on meds for that til he could be seen by the ENT doc.  I always go in with Dad.  So there we are, with Doc and his nurse getting ready to scope Dad's vocal cords.  With the camera down Dad's throat, the nurse turns to me and says,  "you want to see don't you!"   "Oh Heck Yes, it's interesting!"  She laughs and says "I thought so just by the look in your eyes!" She sets it up so I can see it on the monitor and Doc walks me thru what we are seeing.  It was very interesting. Dad will be staying on the meds as they are helping, and was cautioned to not force his voice, but there are no other problems.  

I told them I had worked for a large and small animal veterinarian and was always getting in trouble... Doc, bless his heart, would ask me if I wanted to scrub in. "Yes Sir!"  And away surgery would go, until Doc would lean over to me and say, "I can't see to close with your damn head in the way!" 

The range is Hot...

A friend, Tim, let me know he was going to the range Friday afternoon. Did I want to go?  Oh Heck Yes!  Bring plenty of ammo, he said.

I made an emergency trip to see the guys and get more ammo from the gunny place.  Something tells me I might be spending too much time/money at the gunny shop. The owner calls me by my first name, and his guard dog comes up and smooches my hand.

 It was hotter than a two dollar pistol Friday afternoon, which is not unusual for here.  The range was vacant when we got there. Too hot out for others, I guess.

 

Put a little over 150 rounds thru the little Sig and then shot Tim's AR-15.  The little Sig was great, her owner not so much.  I'm working on a group of drills that should help.

The AR was a dream to shoot.   I like that ping, ping sound a bunch.

As much pruning and sawing that I do in the yard I never thought my hands would not be up to an afternoon of shooting.  It appears I was wrong, as my ol scarred up hands are sore...

on the way home from the range

Maxwell...

 

Max's puppy pic

Gone four years now but never forgotten, Maxwell, the Wonder Cowdog, a Border McNabX. Always a gentleman around people, hellaciously good on "eat your lunch" cows & bulls, gentle and guarding of babies & ol folks... 

Max waiting for the next go...

His ashes are on Sun Mountain in Oregon, along with the Cowman's. I'm sure they are together doing what they loved best, working cattle...

The view from Max and the Cowman's

more of Max's story HERE