Artists at Work

Fairchild insists on being tucked into my hoodie as I write everyday. Maybe she is my muse. This is the same cat that grows in pots. (see earlier post).

Bronwen, (Virginian Aussie girl) please share this photo with John. He didn't believe we could get the desk we bought at the Sisters Re-Store last August into my small writing room. We worked for two hours to get it in the truck, finally taking it apart. So we reassembled it in the room. I think if we ever sell the house, it will convey.  Hello everyone in Texas (Marlis says the wildflowers are in bloom), Florida (Pam says its balmy), Virginia, West Virginia (Barbara June has a new book out -- Sunny Side Up), and Pennsylvania (sister Pat says the weather is crazy there).  It was 12 degrees here this morning. But it is supposed to get up to 50 degrees on Friday!

Potted Cat

We are growing cat in our sun room. Fairchild, the Siamese cat, insists on sleeping in a flower pot. This is not the first flower pot she has staked out.  Maybe it's the warm, earthy smell she likes. Cats do the strangest things sometimes. Second only to humans.

Sprucing Up

Several days ago, John took advantage of the sunny, milder weather to give the horses a brushing. They're pretty muddy. They like to roll in it. He's also getting Blitzen used to a halter. The baby will be one year old on April 8 and is getting a bit much to handle. Remember he is still a stallion. He likes to bite and play. We are looking for new homes for them since we don't have the skills necessary to train them. They are all sweet and so cute.

The weather's turning colder today and windy. A storm is coming in from the Gulf of Alaska. We might get snow. 

Life continues in the outback

Temps are warming here to a balmy 40 degrees during the day but still are in the teens at night. The quail in this photo, who were with us all winter have, departed for better feeding grounds. We sold a dozen of our laying hens and butchered three roosters. A nice young couple bought the hens. They wanted to start their own flock.We're now down to a manageable dozen hens, no roosters. The hens get at least a year off. We'll have eggs enough for us but none to sell.  The horses are wintering well. We are talking of finding other homes for them, since the little guy will be a year old April 8 and he needs to be gelded and trained, something we're not going to take on. The cats are venturing outside more. John is halfway through his project of putting insulation under the floor. I got a new propane gas kitchen range last week and new pots and pans and am trying to figure out how to use them.  We still have one horned owl who roosts in the Russian Olive tree at night. No sign of his mate for weeks. The magpies have returned. It's been a pretty dry winter. The snow and ice have melted enough that I resumed my walks this week. The roads are drying out, too. The tundra swan and snow geese should arrive in another week.  Could spring be coming?  A special hello to Jeanne and Debra, my friends in Texas, who read my blog.  I know the beautiful Carolina jasmine are blooming there. Happy Spring!

A Simple Country Doctor by Dr. Kevin Johnston

 A Simple Country Doctor article.  Click on this link and it will take you to a wonderful article in the Fall Issue of The Oregon Quarterly by Dr. Kevin Johnston.  (It's on page 64 to the back.) I had the opportunity recently to meet Dr. Johnston, a medical doctor, and we had a great conversation about writing. Besides having a busy practice and a family, he's writing a novel and mentioned that the Oregon Quarterly (publication of the University of Oregon) published a short article he wrote about living and working in Burns. I read the article, and it brought tears to my eyes as well as a smile to my face. He's a great writer and I'm sure the novel he is writing will be as good.  Take the time to read A Simple Country Doctor. It might make your day.