Roly Poly gets a shave

Roly got his annual hair cut and bath yesterday. Last year we tried to do it ourselves and worked all summer on it b/c he really doesn't like it too much. THis year we hired the professional and although his dad says he looks "ridiculous" he really looks good without those dreadlocks! And he thinks he looks quite good himself, he even posed for his picture to be taken.
THe groomer gave him the bandana but it was gone this morning on our walk so I think he didn't like that so well. I will take more pics of him as it starts growing back... isn't he sweet?

continued from last post, read it first

You should start at the previous post and work your way back up here....
Here is another shot of the river as I was going back UP the trail. The trail starts out as a lovely meander as you can see from the trail head. When you think there is no river and are about to give up you get to a gate and the trail goes back the other direction so you can see the beautiful green trees indicating water... then the steep decline starts and you have already come this far and there is hopes of a hot springs at the bottom. Well, not this time! I was let down like I said but the river was a bit facinating and the trees just budding out were a beautiful testament to spring. But I did have to climb back up out of there and that was a chore. The last picture is those same Gila Mountains now closer to sundown instead of sunrise. I got home just after 9pm and started this journey at 5:30am so it was a long day and only took me 5 min from the time I got home until I was in bed!!

Day trip to Siver City and the Gila

On my way to Sliver City for a workshop on grant writing... BORING!! I took some pics on the way down and then stopped for a hike on the way home. The 1st pic is the Gila mountains at sunrise. Then the next is looking the other direction at the foothills bathed in first morning light.

The beautiful purple tree which I think may be a crabapple b/c it was the Crabapple B&B in the community of Glenwood NM and it was just the best example of spring I have seen yet in Catron County.

THe pics of the river were on my hike in the afternoon... in the next post (didn't have enough room for all the pics) I will show you the name of the trail. This is the San Fransisco River which eventually joins up with the Gila River, I think. Anyway, there had been a flood of sorts here in January when some snow melt from the mountains came down in a rush from some unexpected rain and it was amazing how fast the water was running and the amount of damage and destruction that was left behind. I could hardly get to the bank due to all the log jams and debris. I was disappointed because there is supposed to be a Hot Spring down there and I couldn't find it after much exploring.

This cat is driving me crazy

About every morning between 3-5am this cat, Tigger is his real name, wakes me up scratching loudly at the door wanting to go outside. I got so I was letting him out maybe twice a night and of course letting him back in!!! Well, I decided this had to stop so I got out the squirt bottle... now I chase him down the hall and squirt water at him and he goes away at least for a while. When he comes back scratching all I have to do is say NO, Tigger and he goes away without being chased. I figure another week of this and he just might get the hint!
Isn't he cute sitting on the back of the couch on the folded laundry?? I eventually just left the blanket there for him. He is so spoiled I am aware but sometimes you have to pick your battles and mine is the 3-5am wakings...

SOOOO glad to have my hot tub back...

It's been 6 months almost to the day that I last emptied my hot tub and went to Arkansas for a week. I was supposed to fill it back up when I got home but I got curious to see how much different my electric bill would be without it running. One month ended up being 6 months but what I learned is that during the coldest months I spend an extra $30 on electricity to run it. I also learned that it is worth every penny. I have a muscle condition that most certainly benefits from the warm water. I only built a shower in this house b/c I had the tub outside so I have missed it muchly! You can see the door in the back round leading into the house. That is actually a bathroom door so that I can easily slip back into the house and dry off or whatever when it is cold. Today is March 29th and although it could be cold, wet or windy this time of year in the Datil Mountains it is sunny, warm and very nice to be outside. You can see I had my morning coffee out there. You can also see in the pic that there is a spout coming off the roof. Behind the fence is an 1100 gallon water tank that collects rain water. THat is what I filled the tub with yesterday. Cool huh? Well, that is where you will find me nearly every morning and many evenings now for just about the rest of my life!! I love it...

A chair and a half

I allowed my old comfy recliner to go out into the cabin so I needed a new recliner for the house. My good friends living in a 5th wheel while they are building their house got a new reclining love seat for their motor home due to the uncomfortable thing called furniture that comes with those things. Anyway, I was in love with it and wanted something similar. My living room is small so I got the next best thing... a reclining chair and 1/2 as they call it. It looks leather in the picture but it is not. It is a pretty neat fabric that animals can't destroy too easily (that is NOT a challenge oh cats o' mine). It sits two people that like each other a lot quite comfortably and one person can take a great nap in it as well so it fits the bill just fine.
I hate spending money on things like this especially with just having bought a used car and a new freezer. I think I have spent my quota for 2008 already. It's a good thing I took that extra assignment at work this month. I now work 2 days a week instead of only one.
I wish we could all just have what we want when we want it without it causing any harm to our planet but that isn't the case. Read the Pencil Warrior's comments in this weeks edition of the www.MyMountainMail.com and see what you think about the idea of luxury and convenience that we take for granted in this country.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I better get out there and enjoy it so...later!

A creek in Arkansas

This isn't Rainwalker Mesa, it isn't even in NM but my brand new daughter-in-law took this picture in Decatur Arkansas right after a recent snow. She got some really good shots and one of my favorite pics to take myself is looking down a creek, stream or river and shooting.
So, way to go Nichole! I was going to put wedding pictures on here but I just can't bring myself to do it. I am not comfortable putting pictures of my children on the world wide web. I am too fearful of weirdos out there so if you are one of them please do not visit my blog again. There! Now maybe I can feel better about putting pictures of my kids on here. Maybe one day I will even be able to put grandkids on here....but not yet.
We did have a small smackering of snowfall yesterday morning. It looked like powdered sugar on a strawberry or cake or something like that. Today is cool but beautiful. It is supposed to get windy again by the end of the week. Last weekend the wind must have blown 50mph here but it is March in NM so don't complain, just hold on. April will get here and things will get back to the normal 20mph winds. I don't mind, we have a wind generator so it is just electricity to me but lots of folks don't like getting dirt in their teeth when they smile. And the chickens know it is March cuz they are laying better again. We are getting about 6-9 eggs a day and I can't sell them fast enough. One of us are going to have to go on a selling campaign. The price of feed went up (read the price of fuel went up) so we increased our egg price to $2.50 a dozen. This still beats store prices around here so it is a bargain. They are wonderful eggs and I think I will go make myself an omelet for breakfast. To-da-loo!