Bloom where...

The little Sally Holmes rose is blooming at the hovel.  

 She comes from humble beginnings. Starting out as a little snippet from her mother, who grows at the side of an old abandoned home in Fort Bragg, CA.  Taken from the cool, foggy ocean front climate she traveled over the coast range to the hot, dry environs of Red Bluff. Once there she was planted in a small pot.  Now, she could have easily given up at this stage, but no, she put down a few roots.  

In spite of lackadaisical care from her gardener, she continued to grow. 

With four rough moves around the country under her branches she could have easily bit the dust. There were a few setbacks along the way. When all those around her were attacked by the dreaded black spot, and aphids she took it all in stride and got tougher. She never complained about having to ride 500 miles in the back of a pickup in 100 degree heat, she just got tougher.

This latest move to the hovel saw her, in her old and cracked clay pot struggling to leaf out and then bloom. 

But bloom she has, and some day may yet be given a permanent home in a garden where there is a trellis for her to climb on... In the meantime she blooms where she is.

Warrior...

On this Memorial Day it is important to remember those who gave all in support of our freedoms. 

And so I want to share a glimpse into the life of one amazing Warrior...

The Legend of Chief Shannon Kent

 https://coffeeordie.com/shannon-kent/ 

Wandering off...

I was looking at a set of scales in an antique store here and it brought back so many memories of the times and people of Bosse's Meat Market. 

 Back in the day the Cowman & one of his brothers worked after school & weekends, when they weren't needed on the ranch, in Bosse's Meat Market in Red Bluff.  Bosse's was a fixture in town, just across the street from Blue's Barber shop (where all the guys went for haircuts and the news).

It was where my MIL and the Cowman's grandmother called in their meat & grocery orders. The order would be ready for pickup when who ever was sent to pick it up got there.  Curbside service was the norm, and it was put on a running tab, that my FIL paid off monthly.

When my kids were little, I would go in and they would be given wieners straight out of the case to gnaw on, or a small ball of raw hamburger.  My MIL had done it with all her kids, and not one of the seven suffered from it (or turned vegan), and neither did mine.
 

Bert Bosse's daughter Diane, and son in law, Jack Burgess worked in the shop.  My father in law would later go in as a silent partner with Jack on a butcher shop & meat locker. Lots of elk, deer, hog, and cattle would be processed there.

Both Bosse's Market and Jack's Meat's are long gone now, but the memories remain of salt of the earth, good people.

I typed Jack's name in FB and his son, Jack Burgess came up. Low and behold, he has posted photos of his grandfather Bosse's ol family place and surrounds in Idaho. 

trailing sheep Ketchum, Idaho

      

Kueterville, Idaho

Jack resides in Ketchum, Idaho where he has a woodcarving studio. To say he's talented is an understatement.

Western red cedar totem hand carved with chisels

weathering nicely

You can see more of his art at:

https://www.facebook.com/WoodCarvingSculpture/

LOL, once again I have wandered off the beaten path because of an item from another time and place...

Maxwell revisited...

Because I have recently watched another amazing dog work (the link to her video is at the bottom) in much the same way Max worked, I'm re-posting this from June of 2010.

 

The best cow dog around passed away recently, after being our sidekick for many years.  Maxwell The Wonder Cow Dog was a Border Collie, McNab cross that was given to me as a yearling. Cute as could be with his black and white coat, one blue eye and one blue/brown eye.

He had had no training on working cattle, but was schooled on basic commands.  

Everyone he met loved him, as he was ever the gentleman.  After he got the hang of working cattle he was amazing to watch.  He could handle just about anything.  
One time, moving cattle from one large pasture to another, with the gate on top of a knoll, the Cowman sent Max to gather the pasture, push the cattle up the hill, thru the gate, and turn them in the right direction.  Not an easy task for anyone, let alone one dog. As the Cowman was watching Max, and giving commands, up drives a fellow. 

"I've been watching your dog work for a while, would you be interested in selling him?"

The Cowman had been down this road before with people, "Well I couldn't take less than $5,000 for him" thinking this would end it.  The guy never batted an eye, and asked what form, cash or check, the Cowman wanted the payment in. 

The Cowman replied, "You know by watching him that dog is worth any three cowboys, so I don't think I will be interested in ever selling him."

The guy said, "Here's my name and number, if you ever change your mind give me a call, he's a Great Dog."

He was a Great Dog, he greeted you with gentleness and a wagging tail, he loved to work cattle in the pastures or the corrals, he could fetch and look after grand babies, he was a constant companion, he could make you laugh with his cow skiing trick, and a thousand other things. 

Gentle, wonderful Max, I miss you dearly.

~~~

Here is:

"Gathering Yearlings with Dagley's Annie"

https://youtu.be/pKR5TXifakU

Unpredictable...

I'm really tired of posting about me and my everyday life, and sorta wondering if I'm not boring you as well.  

Sooo...

 

Let's delve into bells: 

Back in the day

1 bell trimmed into the tail meant the mule was broke to pack, 2 bells meant he was broke to drive, and 3 bells meant he was broke to pack, drive, and ride. This way, when looking at a corral full of unknown mules, it was easy to identify which one to select for the job!

In the old military a new mule had his tail head shaved. So every one could be aware that the mule was unpredictable until it was known better.

That is why a new lieutenant was known as a shave tail.. unpredictable until known better.