west fork fire, take 2.

When we moved into our current house the yard was all but dead.  We watered it a lot the first summer we were here and then last summer while we were gone with Elly it became neglected again.  This summer Dave has been deligent with watering it which has been difficult due to the dry weather and wind but it looks great.  

There are a few sad spots here and there.  One just happens to be in the corner so I decided rather than struggle to get grass growing I might as while transplant some lilacs from the sprouts that are ever present in the back yard.  And I love me some lilacs.  Even only they would bloom all year.  

I took out the shovel and want to work on a large clump.  And dug, and dug and dug.  I finally gave up and just transplanted smaller sprouts instead.  The large clump was too much work and I was hot.  I got enough for my transplant and a few extra for my friend Sue.  Here's hoping they survive.  If it does I may plant a row along the fence.  Our bedroom window faces the neighbors drive.  Now they would really have to be looking but lovely lilacs seem like a good idea.  For them and me.  :)

west fork fire.

Our area isn't a complete stranger to forest fires.  In the summer of 2002 over 9,300 acres were burnt near Millions Reservoir between dry conditions and beetle killed trees it seems inevitable.  I wasn't around during the summer of 2002... I was out playing counselor at a summer camp in Pennsylvania so taking this all in has been an experience.  

I have been helping a friend run shuttles for river guides on the river recently so I have been getting out a bit more than normal and was astounded at the spreading of smoke yesterday.  I couldn't believe it could get much worse.  But today in the same spot I couldn't see the hills I knew were oh so close and there was a steady sprinkle of ashes on the windshield.  

Thanks to a little encouragement from a photographer friend I dug out my real camera and ducked below the house for some "real" pictures.  A subject I hope to not have around very often.  It's amazing how mother nature can be so dangerous and stunning at the same moment.  

henna experiment.

Despite my attempts I haven't been able to find a hairstylist here.  Perhaps because I love my Deedee in Denver so but it leaves me going too long between cuts.  I finally caved and got a trim back in January from a local gal and it was awful.  I felt like I was having a teenager cut my hair - she kept text messaging and checking her phone during the process.  Ugh.  It made me feel old and cranky.  I love the cuts I get from Deedee but more importantly the experience.    

Anyhow, because of this I've taken things into my own hands a few times.  I cut some bangs for myself just to try something new.  They are alright but wasn't the change I was craving.  So I decided maybe I should color it.  Just for fun.  I always wanted to try red but I didn't want anything that was full of chemicals so I stumbled upon reviews for Henna online.  Decided I couldn't do too much damage and went for it.  

Ta-da... the process was relatively easy but certainly a little on the messy side doing it myself.  Might be better with a girlfriend and a bottle of wine :)

Before... notice the white streak at my forehead and grown out highlights.

And now I'm waiting and wondering what I've done!

Will now need to find a new favorite sweater.  Too matchy matchy.  

Overall I'm happy with the outcome. The spots where I had my highlights are a little more 'orange' than red which is a bummer but it's none the less a fun change.  

boys and their toys.

Dave's new toy.  I was conned into this purchase with the promise that it was going to be a work vehicle.  Something small and practical for irrigating.  Sure, sounds great.  But I'll have to take my boots off before getting in the thing.  It's too clean for a working ranch vehicle.  But he's got some fancy shovel holder for the back so we're getting close.

I'm looking forward to some mountain drives with the top off!

in bloom.

All the irrigation work is paying off.  The fields are a beautiful green and dandelions are in full bloom.  I love this time of year.  Pretty soon the cows will be back and we'll be busy rotating them through the pastures in our new grazing program.

cloudy evening.

after the ants.

Man.  Do we have an ant problem in our yard?!  They are everywhere.  I can't hang laundry on the line without them crawling up my leg.  It's irritating and I want my baby girl to enjoy the yard and I'm terrified they'll try to carry her off.  There's probably enough of them to do it!

We battled them last summer and the summer before.  Hopefully this is the year we win.  I'm determined.  I'm on a mission.  Chemical free and ant free.  Surely there is solution.

Round one.  Diatomaceous earth.  Eh.  Not the results I was hoping for.  I mean, it killed plenty of ants but it only takes care of ants that come into physical contact with it.  So the darn ant hills are still thriving.

Round two approaching.  Boric acid and jelly in mason jars.  The little ants will take it home to their queen and die from within.  I hope.

I don't really like killing things.  I mean, I pull drowning mice out of ditches while I irrigate.  But ants - well, they just need to die already!