DRY CRIK Journal

Robbin and I took so many pictures at the “Kids' Branding” on the Elliot Ranch up the North Fork of the Kaweah River on Sunday that we actually forgot for a few hours that this year’s feed season hinges on tomorrow’s forecasted showers – south slopes now all but brown. Children of children I watched grow-up with a rope in their hands, I was frankly surprised by the enthusiasm that four to eight year olds can still maintain to be part of the culture. We were certainly encouraged by all the wild fun engineered by Kyle and Dina Loveall.

With little time to actually look at all the photos, I’ve included two for the Stone family as a preview of a project we’ve yet to define.

Wil Stone on "Masher"

Libby Stone
March 18, 2007

Posted by John Dofflemyer at 9:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greasy Creek Corrals
February 9, 2006

                                                 MOTH TO FLAME

                                                 We will awake to the same sad news
                                                 we went to bed with – hundreds of us
                                                 knowing: it is no dream.

                                                 Easy to be angry at the Great and
                                                 lesser gods who have stolen him
                                                 away from us and his young family,

                                                 to rend our flesh in grief and rage, to
                                                 curse the righteousness in each of us
                                                 he craved as much as herding flames.

                                                 Everywhere you look is something
                                                 of him – chrome-plated gate valve
                                                 to fill a fire truck, steep hillside pad

                                                 for a water tank he chiseled
                                                 with pick and shovel for a friend.
                                                 You can see him in his son’s eyes,

                                                 his daughter’s smile. Always there
                                                 to help, we'll shake his hand
                                                 in each branding pen as the irons get hot .

                                                                                                    for Robbie

Libby, Rob & Wil
TCCA Playday
April 8, 2006

Continue reading "Tribute to Rob Stone" »

Posted by John Dofflemyer at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)