The Day after Rain

The chorus was loud and in perfect sync:  Northwest residents were resoundingly happy to see some rain-----even those of us who occasionally grouse and moan because sometimes Mother Nature refuses to turn off the spigot. 

This time, however, she's turning it on and off.  We received a much-needed wash down Sunday night and Monday morning.  

Then, pretty much the rest of the day turned out to be downright glorious with billowy clouds and blue skies and sunshine and clean earth and fresh air and all that stuff we desperately needed after nearly three months with very little moisture. 

This morning, the runs at Schweitzer are not pure white, but they're covered with a noticeable thin layer of snow.  We had lightning and thunder and hail and rain overnight, and, again, we all hope there was enough moisture to prevent any forest fires from starting.

Bill and I spent our "Monday after the rain," visiting with Trish, a longtime friend and fellow journalist who came to the Lovestead for a few hours.  

Trish is now a member of our Lodgepole Society AND she even helped us formulate some ideas for making the area in the far pasture more attractive after the unfortunate collapse of the huge, double-trunked tree last year. 

Since then, we have continued to induct people into our society, and now we have some ideas for using portions of the tree as a setting for future inductions.  We just have to get busy and do it!  Stay tuned. 

After Trish's visit, while Bill was doing some planning for a meeting he's attending this week about a program next spring, he asked me if I knew about a game rescue facility in Clark Fork.  I said no but that I did know about Mystic Farm Wildlife Rescue at Jewel Lake.

https://mystic-farm.com/

* Mystic Farm is fully licensed under the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

*Orphaned fawns are not pets. If you find any wild animal - DO NOT TOUCH! 

Call Mystic Farm Wildlife Rescue at (208) 241-7081 or your local Fish & Game officer immediately. The situation will be assessed as to whether or not a rescue is warranted. Often times the mother is nearby and a rescue not necessary.

*To succeed in being released back into the wild, orphans must not be handled or fed by anyone other than the primary caregiver. The baby will bond to and consider the caregiver his "mom" and will not associate other humans with food and affection. this is extremely important for the future safety of the animals, as well as any humans with whom they may come into contact after release back into the wild.

*Mystic Farm is operated solely by donations and volunteers.

*Mystic Farm is a non-profit 501 (C) 3. all cash donations are tax deductible.

*Thank you for supporting the stewardship of our wildlife!

After he asked a few more questions, I told him I'd been meaning to get out there some time and meet Dory, who owns and runs the facility.  There was just enough time left in the afternoon to take a drive out that way. 

And, when we did, I enjoyed a bonus:  four anglers trying their luck off the dock at beautiful Jewel Lake.  I took a few photos and then walked to where they were seated at the end of the dock.  

One had had some luck, catching a couple of rainbows.  As for the rest, they agreed that the fish had had a good day. 

Still, I couldn't help but think their day at the dock was a win-win situation, having to sit there, totally relaxed and looking at that gorgeous scene all day long.  Tough life, but someone's gotta do it. 

Then, we spent some time with Dory, whom we had never met, but one would never know that.  

"I'm a hugger," she said as she wrapped her arms around me while her four dogs made a ring around me.  

We both felt immediately at home with Dory as we stood getting acquainted near the beautiful log home with its expansive view of the valley below.

Later, Dory took us to her facility where 12 orphan fawns are thriving, some about to experience a soft release into the wild.  Dory has a system where she gradually weans them and lets them roam out the gate and come back for a once-a-day meal before they finally head off on their own.

She was feeling kinda sad because an orphan elk and some special needs fawns, which she had rescued, had left Mystic Farm a few days before enroute to their "forever" home at a facility at Yellowstone. 

It's hard, she says, to let them go after putting all that care and love into these orphans, but she figures she'll continue providing this valuable resource for young wildlife in need, even if she ends up in a wheelchair.

We enjoyed meeting Dory, and it's for sure, Bill will stay in touch with her regarding a speaking engagement next spring's program. 

In the meantime, if anyone wants to learn more about what she does, visit the website, and, yes, she's happy to receive donations to help support this program. 

Overall, it was a wonderful and inspiring Monday where the earth had received a needed cleansing, and Bill and I enjoyed our day's worth of visiting with some nice folks. 

Happy Tuesday to all, and to our beloved Kea, on this second anniversary of your unfortunate and unfair death, we still miss you dearly.  

Some emotions just never go away.