Slight Detour: Visiting Ravenwood: Not Just about Pretty Horses

There's a "T" floating around somewhere, maybe Lightning Creek, but the message at Clark Fork's Pantry comes across loud and clear with the first whiff of fresh-cinnamon rolls or pumpkin muffins----and it captures all visitors outside the door and leads them in. We purchased custom-made sandwiches, chocolates and a heavenly raspberry pastry ring for our lunch on the way to Ravenwood yesterday.

Then we sat at the National Bison Range picnic area and enjoyed that lunch. Barbara and Laurie's pups ate the doggie snacks. Roxzene, left, bought a new horse as did Barbara and Laurie. Debbie and I were invited along to Ravenwood Arabians in Ronan, Mont., to pick up the new additions to the North Idaho herds.

Ravenwood is an Arabian Ranch with a spectacular view of the Mission Mountains, but it's a lot more of that. I'd call it a study on how all the peoples and the critters of this Earth could co-exist and lead happy lives. There are hundreds of animals living at Al and Jane Bohn's ranch near Ronan, and I'd be willing to bet they're ALL happy campers. Visitors see horses, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows, pigs, cats, dogs and even skunks. The skunks chose not to visit with us yesterday, but Al tells me they like the place. In addition to picking up horses, we met a lot of the Ravenwood residents and can report that they all seem very happy and they have all embraced diversity. It was a fun day, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the photos. By the way, that's Jane with just a few of her feline friends, and that's Al with Debbie and their happy but sleepy Pyranees. Thanks, Bohn's, for a great visit and another reminder of how love of animals can enrich our lives.