Discoveries

On the farm in Illinois, we had three peonies bushes.  Sprouting out of the ground, year after year, we would watch their golf ball size buds, covered in ants, split open in a dazzling ball of fluffy-looking flower.  These lovely flowers are old-fashioned, short-lived, elegant and sought after.

An old legend, passed on from generation to generation, is that a peony flower will not open without the help of ants.  Turns out this is simply legend.  The ants seek nectar found of the opening flowers; check out this article  Ants and Peonies 

I've planted at least a half dozen peony plants since I arrived in Jackson.  To date, not a one of them has bloomed.

Over the long holiday weekend, Mike and I got to spend quite a bit of time at the "Franch" - the name "Tin Cup Ranch" is in consideration.  We cleaned out some unbelievably gross couches out of the garage, cut a big yard's worth of grass, and found an amazing and most likely, very old peony plant.  It's dark red flowers are just beginning to open under the warm, western sky.  Here is a treasure!

Today, the weeds on the 60 tillable acres were sprayed.  Soon, half the acreage will be planted with an alfalfa grass mix.  What to do with the other 30 acres??  We don't have enough pipe to water the entire place.  I have been researching dry farm crops.  Sunflowers?  Millet?  Peas?  I don't know what there will be, but leaving ground bare and fallow is not this farm girl's idea of good farming!!

Annual Physical Work Capacity Test

No doubt, an annual physical test of a firefighter's health, stamina, and general physical ability is good practice.  The test, called the work capacity test, pushes the firefighter's heart to its capacity, stretches muscles to their maximum load, and requires significant lung work.  Most of us hack for a couple of days afterward! 

Geared up in bunker gear, air tank, helmet and gloves, the firefighter starts at the far end of the course, pulling an in-charged fire house 200 feet.  The hose is dropped and a hose pack picked up, thrown over a shoulder, as the firefighter commences a three story climb up the training tower.  Thighs screaming, lungs aching for air, the firefighter reaches the top of the tower, sets the hose pack down and pulls up a rolled fire house to the top of the tower, then hand over hand, lowers it to the ground.

Descending back down the training tower, the firefighter has a brief opportunity to recover.  As soon as ground is hit, the Keiser sled is next.  Climbing on the rails, the firefighter takes a sledge hammer and pounds a weight down the sled.  Once achieved, a walk across the course to a ladder which is picked up and carried to the tower, erected, and then replaced on the ground.

The last task is to pull a 185 pound tire down the course and return (uphill) to the finish line.  At this point, the firefighter is in a breathless state, tugging and pulling and putting out the maximum output. 

Finished!  For another year!!

Janet expresses her great joy for this test!!

To Be Human

She was pushing a wheel chair filled with the wrinkled and frail body of an incoherent old woman.  The old woman’s eyes closed shut in her white face of cascading wrinkles.  There were three, they traveled slowly, south down the wide, concrete sidewalk, out for a walk in the afternoon sun next the road which traveled next to the sea.  The streets were lined in over-pruned sycamore trees, their fingerless knotty fists punching at the blue Mediterranean sky overhead. 

I noticed the bird first.  Sitting on her left shoulder, its feathers gray like the woman’s hair who pushed the chair.  A red cloth lanyard draped from the bird’s foot to the woman’s wrist.  With delight, I looked into the woman’s eyes and she stopped our group with the warmth of a friend. White eyed, the bird peered at me as her owner commanded his tricks.  Drawing me in close to the bird, she ordered the handsome bird to kiss me.  A gentle peck on the check – we all shouted out in glee! The bird and I gave each other a high five.  Cheers from the group!  She handed me the fine feathered friend and it cradled in my arms like a baby, peering all the time with those white eyes above the black shining beak.  The bird, back on its owner’s hand, gave a squawk and we cheered again in delight.  What a priceless gift!

This connection of human beings.  Her world so far from mine.  We do not share languages, we do not share countries.  We share only the act of being human.  We connected through the delight of a parrot.  Her gift was priceless. To be held forever in my and our group’s memory. 

Thinking about this wonderful experience on this, my birthday.  

And the Flood Season Begins

Finally warmer weather.  This is the confluence of the Snake and Hoback River.  And so, flood season begins.

The view downstream....

What did you do last weekend?

We helped brand cows!  Saturday, up early to move cows at the Walton Ranch.  Beautiful morning.  First time on my trusty mule, Gus.  He was great and it was just one of those breath-takingly beautiful mornings.  Then, jump in the truck and head to Alpine to brand friend Benni's "herd".  Twelve moms and twelve babies.  More of a back yard setup, this work was a bit more complex.  Happily no one/no cow was hurt (beyond castration and branding) and we zoomed back to Hoback Junction to get in the shower so we could make the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquet.  A nice fundraiser with oodles of people and prizes.  It went on a little long, ending at 10:30pm.  Home to sleep fast.

Up and at it on Sunday to be on our trusty steeds for the 8am move the cows at the Walton Ranch, which was again quite beautiful and fun.  Gus was a bit more wound up with 18 other riders working the cows, but we all did just fine.

Branding, castrating, shots, and ear growth hormones over and over again as we worked our way through close to 200 calves.  The cows get worked as well.  Finished up to an amazing lunch with BBQ ribs, giant dishes of beans, potatoes, salads, and wonderful desserts.  Put all that with a Mike's lemonade, and you are worthless the remainder of the afternoon.  We came home and passed out for about an hour!!

And just like that, the weekend is over!!

SOLD!

After 21 years, I have sold my beloved AFrames on Jean Street.  They have taken very good care of Mike and me.  Quite the process, this real-estate stuff.  The closing for the AFrames was on Wednesday.  Today, we bought 80 acres with 2 houses, one airplane hanger, one huge shop, two barns, and farm equipment and have enough money left to begin planting and growing alfalfa.  It is really quite remarkable, the whole thing.  I am sad and happy and astounded. 

This is Mike's place.  Not sure if to call it a farm or a ranch, we have named it our "franch".  First priority is to get a crop in the field.  Alfalfa, once established, is productive for about six years.  The objective is to produce some good hay. 

Just on the other side of the Wyoming border, the place sits at the base of Tin Cup Pass just inside the Idaho line.  The past owners will stay at the main house while they decide their next move.  The other house, a smaller 1000 square foot house needs some work.  Priority number two. 

Here is a view, looking north.  Mike's Franch.  I think we did pretty darn good!

  

Pictures, Pre-Launch

Once one starts fishing in the Derby, there is no time for picture taking.  Shoot, there is hardly time to eat lunch.  I went the entire derby without peeing!!  Always a proud accomplishment!!  Here are some pictures from before and after the 0700-1600 hours derby.

And The Winners Are.......

The Derby day is predictably not a nice day for weather.  Saturday was predictable.  The 0700 launch time had choppy water and a breeze from the north.  By noon, whitecaps tossed frustrated fishermen (and two women) about, trying to keep lines from tangling and boats from getting sideways to the gale.  Overcast and cold, some boats snugged into protected bays and coves while changing fishing strategies.  

Tanner caught a winning cutthroat (17") to earn our boat second place and take home a $1200 prize money check!  

Let the fishing season begin!!

Saturday Weather REport

You've got to love the humor in the weather report for Saturday's fishing derby.  Wind makes fishing pretty hard.  Easy to get tangled up.  Hard to keep lines straight.  Can be very frustrating.  We'll do the best we can do.  When I checked in with my Captain this morning, his boat was not working.  He seemed confident he could fix it in time.  Here is a picture from the past from beautiful Jackson Lake.

Smoke is doing well.  Speculation is that he may have a torn ACL.  He seems happy and not in pain.  We will get him in for further examination.  In this picture, he is still a pup.  Awhhh!!

FDIC Video

During my FDIC presentation, I was filmed for this posting.  Here is a bit of my presentation.  Have a great day!!

Bits from FDIC

Too busy to post.....

May is a nuts month.  Derby is this weekend.  The ice is almost off Jackson Lake.  Signal is the only open dock right now.  We are hopeful Leeks will open by Saturday.  Lots of planning and details getting worked out.  Check out our Facebook page at JL Ice Off Derby  On top of this upcoming event, there is work, a greening yard, a need-to-be planted greenhouse, a garden that is not getting planted, and fence to fix.  Too much, too much!!  Have a great weekend and for my Illinois family and friends, I hope the rain quits one of these days!

Pack Test Success!!

Three miles.  45 pound pack.  In 46 or less minutes.  I got 'er done on Wednesday with my friends from Station 4.  We had an awesome "hike in the Park", admiring the grizzly bear mud tracks down the very road we hiked!

This old lady can still do it!!  My knees feel great and I wasn't even sore the next day!  Advil, energy drink, and great stories along the way!!

Yet, in another classroom....

Today we began a local car seat technician class in Jackson Hole.  It's a rare offering, condensed to three, rather than four, days with 9 students enrolled.  I recall Michael once saying, "the car seat program is the most important thing you do, Kathy."  I'll never forget him saying this.  It has stuck and continues to inspire me to push this program forward.  We finish with a car seat check-up event held in conjunction with the annual Teton County Health Fair . 

Smoke displayed great improvement yesterday, running up the hill when I came home, looking happy, wagging his head.  I am suddenly hopeful he may make a full recovery!  Still being realistic, but very happy to see my friend feeling better. 

Back to class!!