Moving on to Fall in Toronto

Hello Dear Reader(s),

When I drove west out of Yates Center last evening, it was towards a spectacular sunset outlined by sunflowers in full bloom and the beautiful prairie grasses. With the windows down and Toby with his head in the breeze we motored home on the gravel road. Toby got pretty excited when we saw the deer mama and her twins sprint along side then across the road to the cottonwood trees on our place. All four of our boys in the front pasture lifted their heads when I went by. As I drove around by Frog Pond, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw my pretty black mare sillouetted against the sunset. As I drove slowly on toward the house, I stopped to watch a flock of geese fly by. I've been gone for 3 days and I smile every time I come home.

This has been a summer to remember with the timely and plentiful rains that should offer us a memorable view from our deck this fall as we watch the foliage change colors around Lake Fegan. Come visit. ap

Field Trialing in South Dakota

Dear Reader(s), On September 2 Bud and I set out for Trail City, South Dakota to attend the Southwestern Derby and Championship on the Johnson Ranch. We went to watch Babe, pictured above, compete in the Derby. Our friend, Gary Hill handled her, showing her impressive race and natural bird finding nose. She didn't win this one, but we partied with Gary, Carol, Lisa and others, happy in the fact that she finished with style. One week later, Gary called with the news that Babe (aka Shadow's Prairie Wind) won the D.E. Hawthorne Border Classic in Columbus, N.D. which certainly calls for another celebration!

The red setter shown above is "Star", Gary's granddaughter's competitor, raised by our friends, Don and Lynda Beauchamp, KS. Star was third to Babe's win in the Border Classic. Below is a picture of some of Gary's trial dogs.

Of course, Joleen traveled with us and below are pictures of her and her pal, Mac.

I was entranced by the prairie dogs. See below.
And yes, that's me in the next pic.
Field trialing is not always easy. Here's where we kept our horses.
As you may imagine, catching was tricky, the weeds are really high and treacherous, just ask me sometime. It was not all hardship though, we saw a small band of "wild" horses, we rode across the high plains with no sign of civilization other than the many many well cared for cattle, and we were rewarded with a delicious home cooked meal each noon. Those amenities were enhanced by the comfortable cabin and hospitality at Howdy House and great dinners compliments of Carol and Lisa, chefs extraordinaire. We really had a wonderful time surrounded by good friends. The picture below was taken on our last morning in Trail City looking east from Howdy House.

As always, glad to be home, here's Bud in his new seating arrangement complete with shade, compliments of Eukanuba. Happy trails to all.

Anniversary, Birthday, Art

Dear Readers,

Mimi, Poppi and I celebrated their Anniversary enjoying sparkling spumante with dinner. Kyle had his birthday lunch with Mimi and Poppi on Sunday. Then Mimi took phone calls all day on her birthday and I think she had the perfect day. And finally, we started painting on the canvases that Robin and Rachel sent in Mimi's birthday package... I must say that the box of chocolates were over the top and are being thoroughly enjoyed!

Mimi's painting is titled "frog whimsy"...


Then Poppi put together this collage titled "3 peas in a pod"... the pods are actually "enlarged" carrot seeds, very cool! Actually, I did the pink "river" but Bob definitely claims the piece!

So then Mimi drew out the last piece and I painted it for her. This is "The Silent Scream"... note KU blue and crimson??? Thanks for the materials, we hope you like our "art"... we're taking orders :)

Bob rides bareback

Hi Reader(s),
Sometimes one is lucky and realizes it. I'm lucky. I spent last evening with Bob and enjoyed every minute. He's the one with the quick smile, dares to do anything and one minded in his commitment to family. He's a good guy and he's riding bareback. Just look!


And if you just can't believe your eyes, check out moving proof below.

Seeing Rachel on her big day

Dear Readers,

This is Rachel and Joey and her green apartment door overlooking her parking area. Having an apartment with a reserved parking space is a coup, I parked a block and a half away. Early on August 20, I tried to get to Lawrence in the trusty Miata, but due to a billowing white smoke problem I had it towed from Yates Center to Chanute to the car doctor, tracked down Bud, got a ride back home and set out again in the old "little" red truck for my meeting in Lawrence, but especially for my "real" reason... to see Rachel on her first day of Law School... and I have pictures to prove it. It was a lovely day all around. Thanks Rachel!

Hummers at home

Dear Readers,

I had the nicest surprise last night. I received this new hummingbird feeder from friends after dinner at Flint Oaks near Fall River, Flint Oaks is a world class shooting club. Beautiful accommodations and excellent restaurant.

About our hummers: We have 4 (and now 5) feeders up and we have to fill most of them every day. Sometimes the deck is truly filled with hummers. We have hibiscus in bloom on the deck and they take advantage of the flowers as well as the feeders. Bud got a new red cap the other day and one of the hummers took a really close look at him just in case he might be a new feeder! So enjoy seeing the "kids" and don't wait for an invitation to come here for some "deck" time.

too little too late too sad

My dear readers,

I did get up at 3:30 am, turned out Joleen, world's cutest English pointer pup, convinced her to camp in the kennel for a few hours and went back in the house to get the trusty Toby for company and possible protection ... from who know what and headed out for Perseids viewing. My first clue, should have been this: at no time have I had to use a flashlight, the moon is straight up above and shining like a huge beacon lighting the landscape so it seemed more like dawn. Oh, well, I put the lawn chair in the back of the little red truck, loaded Toby and me and drove up to the meadow, parked and peeked out... no meteors and where, the heck is the big dipper... the landmark to look for according to my internet source. I thought I could sit in the truck with the door open, but no, because the truck interior light shown as bright as the moon. So I pulled on the hat (again, internet advice) and climbed from the truck seat to the back of the truck... without touching the ground I'm pleased to say. I watched and waited... and waited and watched, but no 100 meteors an hour in my part of the sky. So I gave up and headed home, paused to peek out the window at the top of the hill and WOW I saw a good one. So I parked, moved myself to the back of the truck to my lawn chair and waited. I saw 2 small ones or possibly they were fire flies. So my report on meteor watching at our place in Woodson County, Kansas is that really, seeing 6-10 meteors in an hour between the hours of 10 ish and midnight works for me... wishing to see many at 4 am was disappointing and I'm sleepy. So next year when they come I'll try again... and I've got a year to work out a better plan... Mimi says that we quite often as children, joined her on a blanket in the yard and star gazed, maybe once or twice a month when it was warm... I wish I remembered that. She says that it's the climbing in the back of the truck that is troublesome with my plan, so next year, it's me and my mom in the miata. Now that's a plan. :)