driveway notes, mmxxi-x-xxi

anole on my windshield

trail notes, mmxxi-x-xx

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-xx

wood sorrel

new gelding at the ranch, Nicholas

i wasn't fooling anyone, the crow knew i was there

critter notes, mmxxi-x-xix

garden notes, mmxxi-x-xix

carolina wren

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-xvii

a beautiful Sunday

PJ got to come out and ride at the new place for the first time

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-xv

Cora was not super-excited about a new platform one of the other boarders built -

she said, "Now why would I want to walk on that? There's no grass up there."

Ah, no, you're right my love, but there might be carrots...

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-xiii

it's like Cora has a kitten

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-xi

critter notes, mmxxi-x-x

critter notes, mmxxi-x-ix

good boys

trail notes, mmxxi-x-viii

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-viii

One of the newer boarders mentioned she had already taken her shy horse out to the main road.

I hadn't done that with Cora yet so this morning I thought, let's try that, and

when we got out the front gate Cora turned into Crazy Happy Adventure Girl. 

"LET'S GO THAT WAY!" she said, and I had to turn myself into a hitching post.

Her face twisted in her halter, then her neck and finally her body came back around,

so she said "LET'S GO MEET THAT HORSE ACROSS THE STREET!"

 I said, uh, no, so she said "OK LET'S GO BACK THE OTHER WAY!"

Which worked out once I got her to slow down and graze a little.

We stayed up there 10 or 15 minutes, mostly grazing in front of Chief's paddock.

One car went by and she had no problem with it, and when it was time to return

she followed me back in calmly and quietly. 

IDs: monarch, gulf fritillary, and one of the last coreopsises of the year.

garden notes, mmxxi-x-vii

white-winged dove

garden notes, mmxxi-x-vi

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-vi

weird cloud in the east, maybe smoke trapped in an inversion layer?

saw another monarch go after a dragonfly in midair

(i wouldn't have believed me the first time either but that makes twice now) 

garden notes, mmxxi-x-iv

ranch notes, mmxxi-x-iv

monarch in flight!

(i saw one turn mid-flight and chase off a dragonfly)

and a garden spider with a wrapped-up grasshopper

(she has her web in a great spot)

cora and the weather were both glorious

garden notes, mmxxi-x-iii

trail notes, mmxxi-x-ii

trail notes, mmxxi-x-i