Who Knew?

That when Bill clicked the picture of me and Estes trotting through the meadow a few years ago that it would make him a twice-published photographer?

The picture on the left, that's Beel's work

Twice-published, you ask?  Yes, twice!  His debut picture was "Contemplating a Murder", the picture gracing the cover of Momma Fargo's book, THE BOOGIE MAN IS MY FRIEND: THE ROOKIES.

He's pretty excited to have his photos become as well known as his stick figures fine art.

In fact, if you go to Amazon and search "TALES FROM THE TRAIL Bill Martin", the book pops right up.  If, however, you go to Amazon and search "TALES FROM THE TRAIL CS Wilson", the book does not show up.  Even Amazon shows preference to Bill's photography over my mad writing skills.  (Or it might have something to do with the fact that I forgot to tag myself as the author.  Shhh, don't tell Beel, let's let him enjoy the moment.)

If you are too lazy, like I am, to go to Amazon and search for a book, but you still want to read it, just click here and it will take you directly to the book without having to type anything unnecessary into the search bar.  Just don't sprain a thumb by clicking too hard on the mouse or touch pad in your rush to go buy the book.  Beel would feel terrible, just terrible, about that.

YouTube Thingy

A friend of mine sent me this link.

I don't normally use other folks material on our blog, but after watching this film short, I came to a realization.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVI4fyXo9cY



There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with us.

Bill

One of Our Neighbors Wanted our Manure Pile

One of our neighbors wanted our manure pile for a firebreak/meadow he was putting on his property.  So we haven't had our manure pile hauled off in a couple years now.  He got the new road cut on his property so the "stuff" could be hauled and spread.

Yesterday was scooping day.

It had been several years since THE PILE had been hauled out so it was as big as it has ever gotten.  And this may be the biggest front-end loader our horses have ever seen.  We weren't to worried about how Washoe and Jesse would react- they are usually just interested in what is happening, not afraid of it.  Ranger, on the other hand doesn't much like big strange new stuff.  So we peeked in on them in their little pen, right next to THE PILE.  The front end loader hauled stuff out for a half hour.  No reaction from any of them.

They just ignored it.

I later asked Ranger why that big yellow monster didn't scare him.

                         "It was on the other side of the fence Beel."

                        "It is against the rules to go through a fence Beel."

Yes, it is.

Bill

All Hail the Weather

About a dozen years ago, a couple friends and I put up the "cross-buck" fence that holds our horses.  Most of the time, anyway.  So when Juanita's horse Jesse came out to visit the neighbors, and eat grass, without using the gate, we realized the fence was past it's prime.

Monday I went with one of the folks in town and picked up a couple dozen corral pole sized 15 to 20 foot logs and hauled them to our pen and dumped them.  We had to use the neighbors truck as my ford...well, don't ask.

Wednesday, Juanita and I busied ourselves rebuilding the old fence.  First step was to lock up the peanut gallery.  Three of the nosiest darn horses you could hope to meet.  Once they were in lock-up we set to replacing the worst of the downed fence.

After about 4 hours, we stopped for lunch, and then we took a weather related break.

It hailed like a big dog.

We looked out and all three horses were running it tight circles in the pen they were in. "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

We realized our horses wouldn't go into the shed in the pen they were in (too much noise), and they had no trees to hide under.  So I went to turn them out into the big pen.  It pretty much quit by the time I headed back to the lodge.

Ya know, when I rode a motorcycle, I didn't have this sort of problem.

Not sure I'd give it up, though.

Bill

Weather or Not

B-  Hey Ranger!  Let's go for a quick ride with Juanita and Jesse over in the national forest!

R-  Okay Beel.

B-  Well, darn.  It's starting to rain.  Eh, just a little.  Let's go anyway.

R- Okay Beel.

B-  It's starting to rain a little harder.  Let's pick up the pace a little, Buddy.

R- Okay Beel.

B-  Wow- the rain is coming down pretty good now, and the sky is getting pretty dark.   Juanita,  maybe we should head back.  No Ranger, not that way.  Stay on the trail.  Stop heading for the trees.  We're going home now.  Stop heading off trail, we're heading back *Ow*!  That's hail!

R- Yes Beel.  Now can we go stand under the tree?

B-  Okay Ranger.