September 26-October 1 : No Guests

Sunday, September 26, 2004

I loaded up my tools and headed to the fence on Bearwallow Mtn. When I got to the top there was about an inch of snow on the ground and it was sure cold. I had been working fairly quietly, walking along the fence splicing wire when I looked up the path, which runs along the fence and saw the largest bobcat I’d ever seen. He was coming down the fence towards me with the wind behind it. It was as big as a medium sized dog. I stood behind a large fir tree and on he came. He got to within 10 yards when it finally stopped and started looking around. He knew I was there but didn’t know where. Casually turning, it went off the trail and unconcerned walked a half circle around where he smelled me then went back to the trail on the fence and continued on with whatever business he was taking care off. This was the first day in weeks I didn’t have my camera on my belt, of course.

It started raining late in the afternoon and I headed home getting soaked and cold along the way.

Hi 58 overnight 29

Monday, September 27, 2004

I went back up to the fence, but only worked till noon when some cold rain forced me home. The afternoon was spent finishing the roof on the chicken coop, which I built a few months ago. I had never gotten wire over the yard area and the ravens had been going in and stealing all our eggs. Maggie would go out every couple hours and gather an egg before the hen left the nest and the ravens got it. She was lucky to get two eggs a day out of fifteen hens.

My little cow mare Annie was there, her corral is next to where I was working. Oh a lot of help she was. I had a roll of chicken wire, which I wondered if it would scare her. Nope, she was walking all over the wire as I layed it out then while I was on a ladder she walked under it but of course was too big. That didn’t stop her; she just pushed her way through and knocked the ladder with me on top out of her way. Down we came with a crash and a cuss; she looked at me like to say it wasn’t her fault. She then proceeded to nose the wire down the slope of the corral unrolling about 75 feet as she stood in amazement of what she’d accomplished.

The raven robbery is over…I got 14 eggs today.

Hi 55 cloudy most of the day. Lo was 30

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Maggie got home from Dallas for a 24-hour stop over before heading to another show in Denver . I spent the day in the studio with her getting another pile of silver and gold ready to go. These are her two big shows of the year and has been working months getting ready. Now it’s not like a big jewelry trade show she goes to. These are “Trunk Shows” meaning a store, which carries her jewelry, has her come so the customers can meet the artist. There are Margaret Sullivan Jewelry groupies all over the country. It’s good for her motivation to get out and meet her fans and realize just how much folks like her designs and work.

Hi 58 lo 30 cloudy in the afternoon

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

I drove with Maggie as she headed to the airport as far as Socorro where I picked up my truck. It has been in the shop most of the summer trying to get a starting problem fixed. They say they have it finally figured out. It did start and ran well all the way home. I got in about 3pm after stopping and getting a pickup load of horse hay.

Gusty winds and rain off and on hi 51 lo 28

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Gambler and I headed down to Snow Lake to hunt up some strays I knew were around that area. We rode all over the place and only found old rained on tracks. I was headed back to the trailer when I came across fresh track near the east corner of Snow Lake trap. I followed the tracks about a mile down into T Bar Canyon along a scary trail I had never ridden before. I figured if a cow could do it Gambler and I could too. Down in the bottom I found 3 pairs and a heifer enjoying life in the willows along the creek. It was an easy push down to the trap where I eased them into the branding pen then rode up and got the trailer, loaded Gambler and then went and loaded the cattle. I hauled them back to the north trap and put them out there then went on home. Gambler is just the absolute best horse I have ever ridden when we are working alone.

Hi 55 lo 30

Friday, October 1, 2004

Gambler and I went out again, trailering to Big Loco tank. As we pulled up, there were three pairs and two dry cows right at the tank. I had seen them driving by last week and it was just the number I was looking for. I swung in the saddle and Gambler headed right to the cattle with a spring in his step, ready to get to work. We pushed them down Loco Canyon then through the Gates of Hell and into Snow Lake trap where we once again put them in the branding pen to load. It wasn’t as easy to get them in the pen as it was yesterday. I sure could have used another rider or two. One old bag of a cow kept turning back right at the gate but we finally got them in. When I loaded them there wasn’t room for Gambler to get on so I had to leave him there while I hauled the cattle. I pulled his saddle and headstall turning him out to graze. He looked a little concerned as I pulled away leaving him there, hollering at me as I left. It took about an hour to drop the cattle off and get back to the Lake . As I pulled in I saw Gambler way off on a hill grazing. I honked the horn and he came over at a lope. As he was coming I opened the gates on the trailer and without hardly slowing he leapt in and slid to a stop with a smile and a spark in his eye. He is so cool.

Hi 50 windy as hell a bit of rain then clear and cold Lo 22.