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July 30, 2006

Wildfire in the neighbor's valley

wildfire in the next valley.jpg
I dread the summertime!
It used to be a time when we could look forward to get-togethers such as rodeos and picnics, and even maybe a few days off. Now it's the time we always are on edge and find ourselves looking at the mountaintops for telltale signs of a new wildfire. It's only been a few years since we had our last huge fire and I watched my family disappear behind a wall of flame while desperately moving cattle out of the way of a fast approaching fire only minutes behind them. At the same time, we all thought one son had been enveloped by the fire while making a fire break on his cat. I still get tears in my eyes writing about the terror of it all.
And worse than anything is the helpless feeling that I don't know when or how it will all end.

July 26, 2006

Willow Corral at Quinn River Ranch

willow corral quinn river ranch.jpg
Nearly every ranch in this country has a willow corral such as this one at Quinn River Crossing Ranch. Miller & Lux had willows along the Quinn River cut to build their corral sometime after the turn of the century. We do know that a neighbor of ours, Harold Woodward, worked for Quinn River in 1921 and the corrals were old at that time. Most ranches still use the corrals for working cattle and sheep.

July 16, 2006

The Path

golf course road - death valley.jpg
While golfing at Death Valley we crossed this path. I went back and took this photo that has become a favorite of mine. The atmosphere in the rest of Death Valley was so bad I didn't take another good picture during the rest of the week, but luckily I was in the right place at the right time.

July 9, 2006

Slumbering Sows

slumbering sows.jpg
While wandering around the fairgrounds in Burns, Oregon I found these exhausted sows. It was the end of several days of primping and prodding and they were taking a well-deserved rest. Several people have bought this photo for a wedding anniversery present!!

July 2, 2006

White Line

white line.jpg
There have been so many thunderstorms lately. It's been very scary with all the wildfires around - but beautiful at the same time with all the magnificant clouds and dramatic light. This photo is near Denio, Nevada. Stormclouds are over Continental Lake with the sun just shining through on the shallow line of water.

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