Friday, June 10, 2011

Sunsets and Elephants

facing west at 6pm
The huge Arizona fire that started 10 days ago is still raging out of control. We get these plumes of smoke and ash when the wind kicks up.  Advised by the NWS to close windows, turn off coolers.  The sky gets to be a strange color and the sun and the moon turn orange.  It's a bit post apocolyptic looking.  The heaviness of the ash in the air, and the mountains and valley disappear from view.  I have only had my phone on me when I have seen these red sunsets.
Nicholas
Ethan and Nicholas in the pouring rain.
I haven't had a moment to write a proper elephant blog. However, I will share a few pics from our trip.
Thanks for reading.
Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

4 More At The Door

Australorp chicks
Last night I got an email from a chicken farmer in the East Mountains of Albuquerque.  I had contacted him in March about getting some of his Australorp chicks.  He was out of them but said he'd have some mid May to late May.  I wrote back saying I needed them before of after our trip to see the elephants.  However, I never heard from him again.  I also left several voice mail messages.  Imagine my surprise when he emailed me!  
Full sized Australorp hen.

So here we go again.  I now have a broken foot, and am in a walking cast. So I can't do the things I normally can do.  I will enlist help of Lloyd and Ethan to move the nursery back into the walled patio area.  There will only be 4, so that is much less clean up or work. They are a large breed, and will grow fast.  Eventually they will be commingled with our flock.  Of course Ethan is thrilled to have chicks again.  
I could have told him no.  But these are a favorite gentle breed of mine.  And for another week, I have a 13year old farm hand. :-)

Thanks for reading.

Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

Monday, June 6, 2011

Big Trees

The Dogwoods were just beginning to show their colors.
We have just come back from visiting Big Trees, the Sequoias in northern California.  We stayed at our friends ranch while we were there: Scott and Barbara Slobodian.  Scott is a Japanese sword maker, and his wife Barbara an engraver.  Barbara fixed us beautiful meals.  We enjoyed their two Rotties, and a young Great Dane.  As you know I broke my foot before our trip.  But I "played through" walking a mile long trail with a cane and boot.
Grandma and Ethan in the drive through tree.

The weather in California was cold and rainy.  When I booked the trip months ago I expected hot and dry.  The trees defy description.  Really.  One has a feeling of Natural History taking place right before their eyes.  I loved seeing Ethan's face as he eyed these giants.  They are magnificent in every way.  I knew he would be impressed, and he was.
One of E's photos with new camera.
E in the fallen tree.

Me taking a picture of Scott taking a picture of E tree hugging.
Barbara taking a picture of me taking her picture!

There was a car trip out to dinner with "Cochise" their 2 year old Boston Great Dane, and Kiowa their Rottie/Australian Shepard.  Cochise was rescued from a horrid past. He was shy, and didn't like eye contact.  We would say to each other: "I don't see anything." :-)  We began referring to him as 140lbs of invisibility. Eventually he began to trust us.  Sitting on Ethan's lap for the 1/2 hour car trip!
140lbs of invisibility :-)

Ethan has quite an eye. So I handed down my set camera that has taken thousands of continuity photos for TV/Movie work.  The beauty of digital is that there are no mistakes.  Only deletes.  He went to town with it, and got quite a few stunning photos.  I taught him how to use iPhoto in the airport on our way home.  The proud Grandma thinks he will do right by his new camera.  It has great history.  He practiced on the "trees" in preparation for seeing the Elephants the next day.  That will be my next blog.
E in the trees.
E's photo of tree tops
Abe framed in a knot. Ethan composition again.

 Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo, Suz