Codee

Codee is my 7 year old, female German Shepherd. She is the 3rd purebred German Shepherd I have had. I consider them to be one of the best of the dog breeds. First bred as a farm and herding dog, later they became well known as a guard dog. They have been used for police and military work more than any other breed. Not only are they good watch dogs but they are great family dogs. If treated and trained right they are the gentle, loving, and loyal. I would never want to be with out one of these wonderful dogs.

Micro Chips

I took Codee in to get her yearly rabies and vacintions. She did real good. For once she didn't throw up. Just drooled everywhere. I was going to get her micro chipped but they had run out. So guess it will have to wait a bit. I think micro chipping pets is a good idea. I am sure a lot of lost pets could be returned to the greaving owners if they had been chipped to start with. I understand it will be required in some areas. A lot of people are complaining about added expence and trouble but it can sure save a lot of headaches in the longrun.

Where is Spring?

We had a couple of warm days so I have the erge to plant some seeds. I know it is way to early. But I did pick up a handfull of morning glory seeds at the store anyway. Altho it is warm I am sure it will turn cold again. March always had to throw another storm or two at us before it will allow Spring to arrive. My roses are starting to think about putting on leaves, and the flower buds on the trees are getting bigger each day. It will be so good to see green leaves on all the trees, and srubs, and plants again. In the mean time it is clouding up again. I guess it was just the barest of hints of the spring weather to come.

New Neighbors

We have new neighbors to the south of us. The old neighbors were asked to leave a few months ago. Apparently they weren't paying there bills. So far the new people seem like they might make better neighbors. At least that is the impression I got after talking to them for a bit this past weekend.

But they have a lot to learn about living on the desert. They are planning to put down landscap rock to help keep down the sand that blows. Little do they realize that the sand will just cover up the rock.

They will live and learn out here the same as the rest of us have.

Candle

Playing with the camera.

Weekend

We had some decent weather over the weekend. It was greatly appreciated after a week of high winds and blowing sand and cold. I spent as much time as I could - most of the daylight hours actually working with the horses and giving them as much attention as I could. We set up a makeshift round pen and worked the horses in it. Then I decided to ride BlackJack, but he acted as if he was real tired already or was he just lazy. Anyway I was tired after roundpenning four horses and we made it a short ride. But it was a ride - first time in a long time. He may have been just trying to get out of it because it had been at least a month since I had ridden him. He is a smart horse and always seems to be tring to figure out a way to get out of doing what I want him to do.

Links

I am finally able to add links to my blog. You will find some links about horsemanship, plus my son's site for his horse business - Gold Stud Stallions. And there are links for my email and computer friends - Cindy, Josie, and Cyndi. Also, some links I have found that I like.
Check them out - you might find something you are interested in, too.

Eye Dr.

Talked to the eye Dr. about these tri-focal glasses I can't use. She agreed to redo them again. This will be the third time. Why do my eyes have to be so screwed up? I had a detached retina about 4 years ago, and had to have lazer surgery to keep my other eye from doing the same thing. Now everytime I go to get new glasses it seems to be a long fight to find what I need to do the work I do.

Tumbleweed Crossing Time

We had snow last week and now the spring winds have arrived. The left over, dried up, tumbleweeds are blowing across the crossing here where our place meets the intercection of I St and 10th St. here on the Mesa west of Albuquerque, NM.

Snow Pony

This is BlackJack in the 6 inches of snow we had last week.

Tri-Focals

I was told by the eye doctor that I needed tri-focal glasses. After a week of wearing them I am still having trouble seeing through them, especially on the computer.

change

These times they are a changin'.
Words to an old song, and how true. My blog may be changing it's looks.

change

OK everybody things everything has to change. Nothing is good enough, it's got to be made better. All right I'll try this new blogger look. If this blog goes away, or changes or what ever it may not be my fault.

Sandia Mountains

Photo of the Sandia mountains from my home when the snow had started to melt, after the big storm of December 30, 2006

Melt Down

Now that the snow is over it is time for it to melt. The sun has been nice and warm past couple of days so there is plenty of melting snow. Have you any idea how much water two feet of snow makes when it melts. And even worse is how much ice it makes when it freezes each night. I watched my mare Nita go skating yesterday and it was a horrifing sight. Being a quarter horse she made a mad dash around the turn out field as she frequently does and then come running up to the gate to make her sliding stop. Only there was a big patch of ice where the horses like to stand and wait for there feed, treats and anything else they might wish for. This time Nita was unable to stop her slid on the preverable dime, as the cowboy saying goes. She slid about ten feet and did some fancy footwork to stay on her feet, hit the gate a glancing blow, which helped her stay up, then looked back as if to say "what happened".

Needless to say I have not encourgaed any running or trotting. It is not necessary at this time. And I won't be riding until the snow and ice is gone.

Yesterday I also saw several kids riding their horses on slick icey roads. Don't they or their parents have any brains at all. Those horses could easlly slide down, injuring themselfs or the children riding them.

Tumbleweed

Even after all that snow we found a tumbleweed hanging on the fence. There was a sunset the night of the 30th that was really nice. But anywhere I try to take a photo of a sunset from my property there is always someone elses house. This one is across the street from us. And our street happens to be a dirt road.

Snow Storm

The picture below is one I took on Saturaday, December 30, 2006. It shows my dogs, Codee and Tuffee running and playing in the snow storm that we had that day and the day before. On Friday we had 8 inches of snow. By Saturaday morning when this was taken we had about 2 feet of snow. It took us all day to plow out the drive way, using our ATV with a blade attached. We did not even attempt to leave the property until Monday January 1, 2007. This snow storm was the worse that had hit Albuquerque, New Mexico in about 50 years. It was certainly the worst in my memeory and I have lived here about 30 years. It brought the northern half of the state to almost a complete stand still. Many travelers and truck drivers where stranded here, as the highways going west, north, and east were closed to all traffic from Albuquerque to the Texas border, and the Colorado border and the Arizona border. It was open going south but still snowy and icey in a lot of places while trying to get out of the metro area. The airport was shut down for about 3 days. Sometimes due to fog as much as snow. The airport reported only 11 inches of snow which was a record. but most places over the city had more. Near the Sandia foothills it was nearer to 3 feet of snow.

As of today most things were open again, although most stores where still waiting for their shipments to arrive by truck.

What a way to start of the New Year!