Saturday Slight

 

Sat in the sun yesterday.

A week or so ago, I pulled out my mounting block, which also serves as a nice place to sit down.

It's been sitting outside the barn, so it will be ready any time I have a moment and want to just sit and soak up some sun.

Yesterday's session was particularly fun because of the warmth and the activity around the barn.

Liam was doing his usual laps around the outside of the barnyard, keeping track of horses, while Bridie sat at the end of her leash watching Liam. 

I sat and watched and loved it all. 

Parts of the ground are softening up a bit, but we can't get excited for spring just yet cuz we have to endure a few more subzero nights and cold days early next week.

Knowing that and spotting my first robin, I was wondering if anyone had shared the weather forecast with this first harbinger of spring. 

When I first spotted the bird in one of our plum trees, I thought it was a robin but felt a bit skeptical that the it would be arriving in this type of weather. 

The bird remained in its perch, and, as I got closer, sure enough it was a robin. 

The afternoon saw a lot of outdoor activity.  Bill took his chain saw to an area just off the road south of the house where the tree trimmer fell a dead Scotch pine tree. 

Bill's mission was to start cutting off the limbs.  He spent about an hour out there.  

When I walked down the road to take pictures, a steady stream of cars and trucks began to pass by. 

First came our neighbor Ann Coward and her loyal pup.  We enjoyed a nice visit as cars kept coming. 

I waved most of them by, but when three in a row turned on to the road, we said our good byes.

And, by golly, one of those was my new friend Sara, a local vet with her vet tech.

After a quick visit, the two drove on and turned into the driveway.  I wanted Sara and her Cassandra to meet our three dogs. 

So, there was a nice get acquainted session in the driveway. 

It was just that kind of day---early spring luring folks out and about and sunshine adding an extra bounce to the step. 

We've got a ways to go before we can get seriously excited about spring, but yesterday offered a nice little sample of how good it's going to feel.  And, to see a first robin on top of it. 

Hope that robin brought some extra feathers for the cold spell next week. 

In other news, Willie and his team finished their season last night with a much improved effort from the night before. 

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2022/feb/18/sometimes-they-fall-sometimes-they-dont/

The Bulldogs lost 50-45, but I think they probably learned a lot about themselves too.

They'll all be heading home today and re-acquainting themselves with winter after enjoying spring-like weather and dry ground to walk on in Boise. 

Annie's back in Southern California this weekend, geocaching with friends.  I'm sure she's enjoying some sun. 

Rounding out today's post, you can read The Gooby Ranch report from Montana and find out what amazing feats Mary Ann has pulled off lately. 

And, so the beat goes on.  

We're getting through February and aiming toward some March Madness soon. 

The ZAGS are playing at home tonight, hosting Santa Clara and having senior night for four players. 

Next week, they'll be preparing for the West Coast Conference tournament in Las Vegas. 

Tonight's game starts at 6 p.m. PST.

Televised on NBC Sports---DISH 159; DirecTV 220.

And, then, the Spokesman-Review says Fox 28.   

GO, ZAGS

🏀🏀🏀🏀

Ann Coward, our neighbor and her pal. 

Gooby Ranch Report

We have a bull that is totally crazy and wilder than a March Hare.  When Mary Ann goes out to feed him, she can’t go in the bull pen to feed him in the tub.  She has to throw the hay over the fence.  

While Mary Ann is throwing the hay over the fence the bull is bucking, blowing, snorting and charging toward Mary Ann on the other side of the fence.  It’s like he is thinking of jumping the fence and taking her out.

We decided we needed to take the bull to the sale yard and get rid of him before he hurt Mary Ann.  Mary Ann got the stock trailer hooked up and put into place so we could load the bull.  We got everything ready but the bull refused to go down the alley to the trailer.  We tried everything but he refused to go. 

Finally, we decided that Mary Ann would take some hay, get in front of the bull and draw him down the alley and into the trailer.  Our trailer has a small section at the front of the trailer that Mary Ann could jump into but the bull couldn’t.   It worked great.  

The bull ran full blast after Mary Ann and followed her into the trailer, Mary Ann jumped into the small area, I closed the door.  We spent the next two hours trying to get Mary Ann out of the trailer.  But every time I started to open the trailer door the bull would charge the door. 

We finally decided that Mary Ann would stay in the trailer with the bull and feed him some hay as we drove to the sale yard.  The weather was really cold and Mary Ann would probably freeze to death before we got to Butte.   It’s over 60 miles. 

When I finally got to the sales yard, I got the trailer in place to unload the bull.  I looked in the trailer and Mary Ann was sitting on the bull.  What a surprise! 

Mary said she got so cold she couldn’t stand it anymore so she hopped on the bull and put her arms around his neck so she could get warm from his heat.  The bull looked like he liked Mary Ann’s heat as well. 

I opened the door and Mary Ann rode the bull out of the trailer.  The bull told her he only wanted a friend to talk to, not hurt her.  Mary Ann said they are now friends and she didn’t want us to sell the bull.  She rode the bull back into the trailer, I closed the door and we headed for home.  

Mary Ann is now known as a Bull Whisperer.