Be Generous

I've been working on acts of generosity.  Last night, I made a batch of chili to bring to work, but it did not turn out as I wanted and I nixed that idea.

So today, I donated some hair!  I've been in need of a trim for awhile.  All it takes is 8" to donate one's hair. 

Here is the lock that was cut.  I hope it will help someone.  I wish it was thicker, but it is what it is!!

I keep my hair pulled back and in a braid 99.9% of the time.  The ends are good.  The whole lock should be useful for someone.  I hope so....

Here is what is left!  Taking bets.....when Mike returns from Cody, will he notice?  I'll be $20 he won't notice for weeks!!  Haha!

Optimistic Opening Day

We arrived as the moon, weighted down by a waning crescent, sunk to the eastern horizon.  The constellation, Orion The Hunter, stood out boldly in the southern sky.  As we heaved ourselves atop our trusty steeds and headed down the trail, Sassy - the white pack mule - glowed in the morning darkness ahead.  She and Cosmo carried pack saddled; just in case we got lucky.  A sparky-red meteor zipped straight down through the sky in front of us.  It seemed like very good luck and I had on my boots I always wear when I kill an elk, my black silk scarf, my camo pants and coat, my binoculars, and my riding helmet.  Not that I am superstitious or anything!! 

Up and over the ridge and down the other side.  The yellow aspen leaves shuttered in the morning diurnal breeze, cold and in our faces.  Things began to light up as the sun pushed over the horizon's edge in the same place the moon sank.  The forest was quiet. 

Our optimism for the day translated in a nice ride with our stock!  Nothing showing today.  There will be another time, another opportunity.  For today, it was a good hunt and a great ride.  We were ready!!

Really Great Salad!!

The thing about Swiss Chard is it isn't really Swiss.  No one seems to know how the word "Swiss" got associated to this plant.  The other thing about Swiss Chard is you have to kind of love it.  Most people saute it in a bit of butter with some shallots and it turns out to be a spinach-like side dish.  Good for you, for sure!!

Last night, I tried the below recipe with great success!! If you happen upon, or have some out in your garden, try this out!  Delicious!!  I want to have this salad every night with dinner, please!!

Delicious Recipe!!

Enjoy!!

For the Love of Swiss Chard and Rifles

Every year I plant rainbow swiss chard in at least one of my gardens.  It comes up in plants sporting yellow, red, pink, and white stalks.  Their big green leaves tower over the garden and practically sing out, "I am full of goodness!"  And so they are.  This relative of the beet is full of antioxidants and vitamins.  Slice it thin into a salad, add some pine nuts and thin sliced onions, top with a just-made vinegar/oil dressing and call it good and good-for-you! 

But I plant it for the visual effect.  The yellow stalks are especially noteworthy and the pink laced stem a real show piece in the garden lineup. Keep the slugs away and you will see giant leaves, firm and lush.  What a delight.  Here is tonight's harvest.  What they don't take at work, I'll turn into something good and good for us!

 

This garden harvest happened tonight as the sun dropped below Munger Mountain and the day grew now shorter.  Welcome fall.  There are so many things to like about this time of the year.  The manic life style becomes tolerable.  The days become longer.  The promise of white snow, cold air, and sharp blue winter skies lures one into almost being ready for the next winter season.

Thursday is opening day for elk season.  Mike and I renew one of the fundamental pieces of our relationship and meet at the shooting range to ensure our rifles shoot properly.  This building block of our attraction toward each other - starting a way way long time ago - sparks that ol' feeling and we are happy and shooting next to each other.  I shoot.  He looks through the scope.  I shoot again.  He looks again, examining the target.  An adjustment is made.  I shoot again.  He looks in the scope.  I aim for the metal platter at 200 yards.  Shoot.  Wait.  "Pling" goes the target.  We cheer!  I have hit the target and am content.  My rifle is ready.  And so am I.  He shoots.  Checks the target through the scope.  He shoots again.  Checks.  He shoots the 300 yard metal platter.  Shoot.  Wait, wait.  "Pling"  We cheer again, together! It is the little things that bond us together.

I tried being a vegetarian once in my 30s.  When I continued to get turned down to give blood because I didn't have enough red blood cells, the light finally turned on.  Hey, no one is really that smart at 30!!  As a meat eater, I would much prefer a freezer filled with wild, organic meat.  We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have this opportunity to hunt in Wyoming.  To seek the elusive wapiti, and to simply be out in the back wild country. 

I took a vacation day on Thursday and hope it isn't pouring rain when the alarm clock goes off (far too early, I'm sure).

Happy Hunting, Friends! 

One Twelveth of a Teaspoon

One hard working honey bee will collect and process 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime, contributing to the survival of the colony and the continuation of the gene pool.  New bees will chew out of their waxy room and carry on after her work ceases with her death, six maybe seven weeks later.

Last year, I harvested about 3/4 cup of honey from my first hive.  I wanted to be sure the colony had enough supplies to get them through the winter.  They survived while many other local hive owners opened their boxes this spring to see no living bees.  It was a long hard winter.  If a colony does not have enough stored, they starve. 

This year, the girls gave us six cups of honey.  Think of how many bees that takes to make six cups of honey.  A local bee keeper - one equipped with many hives and is afforded the luxury of more than ample funds - harvested 50 gallons of honey this year!  Wowzah!

I have learned much about bees this year.  One colony lost to disease.  The Freedom colony wraps up its second year.  Two colonies here in Hoback and I am not certain how to get them through winter - more learning.  They are amazing creatures.  As the aspens turn yellow and the mountains white, I hope my bees have a good winter supply in their boxes.

Apologies

Dear Fans:  I sincerely apologize for my lack of blog postings of late.  Tis the end of the season for so many things!!  Mike's brothers and their gals all came west for an awesome Labor Day Weekend visit.  We had a great time of drinking, eating, fishing, and relaxing. Here is a rare photograph of all three Trumbower boys having their eyes open for a photograph!!

Mike and I have enjoyed fishing the Salt River down by our place.  Last weekend, Friend Janet joined up and we made a great 4 1/2 hour drift.  It was great!!  I was making the last cast of the day when this happened!! Caught myself with the fly on the end of my line!  Mike got to practice some EMT skills - his first try was not so good.  We worked a different method and the fly was released from the very big Fish!!  Too bad the barb had not been flattened.  Extrication of the black ant fly might have gone a bit easier.  I am happy to report there is not infection and I am healing well.  Now I know how those little fish lips feel.

They say this is a big fish for the Salt.  I have been the big-fish catcher on most of these trips.  They are fun to catch, for sure!!

Off to Big Sky, MT tomorrow for a presentation on Wednesday!  Stay tuned; I'll try to post more often!

Big Deal Fire

Not much time to write for me!  You can read the news.  Big fire in town yesterday.

Saddle Butte Fire