ranch notes, mmix-ix-xxiv

This garden spider is so large that Cora stopped to check her out.

Also when we got to the open front gate when we were exploring this morning Cora was like, let's go, I'm out of here. That surprised me. I'm half-tempted to take her for a walk outside the ranch boundaries, but only half - I think too many things could go wrong.

trail notes, mmxix-ix-xviii

critter notes, mmxix-ix-xvi

in order of size

garden notes, mmxix-ix-xvi

smartypants

garden notes, mxix-ix-xv

another newcomer - a yellow-breasted chat!

trail notes, mmxix-ix-xv

garden notes, mmxix-ix-xiv

We had a pair of Baltimore Orioles in the garden for the first time ever.

This is the female. We saw the male too but I didn't get a picture.

trail notes, mmxix-ix-xiv

mule notes, mmxix-ix-xiii

A couple from a morning ride with Rumor and Koby out and about.

We were working on left and right - she's getting very good with hand signals.

quest prep ii, mxix-x-ix-x

y'all might wanna gather up the children

quest prep, mxix-ix-x

ranch notes, mmxix-ix-ix

that's Dexter with Cora in the first one

mule notes, mmxix-ix-vi

The ranch was crowded this morning and there's nothing left to graze upon up top so I walked Cora down to the only green grass left, in the low spot where the wet-weather stream goes under the driveway. It's like a whole other ecosystem down there - baby frogs and lizards, along with a bunch red wasps and grasshoppers and other insects. Cora liked the grass but not the location; being in a bowl-shaped depression probably had her feeling a little trapped. She would raise her head and look around after nearly every bite. We stuck it out for 15 or 20 minutes and then we moved up to the lawn above the streambank - nothing green to eat up there, but she was able to relax, so an even trade.

ranch notes, mmxix-ix-v

modernscience tells us our equine companions are not vengeful or spiteful or plotting our demise but you'll never convince me they got no mischief

mule notes, mmxix-ix-iv

yeah we're not going anywhere now

have to be careful about banging my helmet against the roof - makes her nervous

ranch notes, mmxix-ix-iii

Cora says hi.

I think this is all of 'em. Flowers, I mean. This is it.

ranch notes, mmxix-ix-i

that don't look right