hot crossed buns

No doubt thanks to all your crossed things, there's some good news today.

First, the wind is down, the humidity is up (here in Colorado, that could mean a woo-hoo! whopping 30%), the Reservoir Road Fire up north of the ranch is 25% contained, and there's lots of firefighters on the ground as well as in the air. They all expect to make good progress today. That's critical because there's a red flag warning (lots of hot, dry wind) for tomorrow. Then it will ah-h-h cool down for the rest of the week.

Second, the bear cub was found this morning! Hallelujah!!! Though we didn't see him up in the tree where he was spotted, I think we walked right under him. Someone called the DOW. Hopefully, the cub was darted and successfully taken to the bear rehab, where he can spend the next 2 years safely learning how to take care of himself out in the wild world. Oh, I hope so.

Now, if everything will just chill out (including Hurricane Igor), our 10-day trip on Saturday to see my mother in Maine will actually include some R&R. Keep 'em crossed, everyone!

waiting for spring

Up at the ranch last weekend, I took some pictures, quick, before spring springs. I love the way its winter-bare bones look. Before the cottonwoods and willows leaf out, the view goes further up the river and deeper into the trees. It's always a peaceful place, but for this moment before the trees and the river fill up with birds and critters, it seems suspended in a quiet waiting. When the snow melts and higher water comes to the river, everything living thing follows, and life gets loud.

The ranch is right at the foot of the mountains and is surrounded by protected land. Wildlife enjoys that protection and is abundant. Everybody's there and everybody's welcome. Some are shy, and some have no shame. For example, this very impressive 16-inch pile of plum pits begs the ago-old question, "Does a bear shit in the woods?" 

The answer is, "No, he shits anywhere he wants to, including in our yard." 

Here are some observations: 1) this scat is old and has had all winter to decompose, meaning it was much bigger last fall and its producer is a big bear, and 2) the white tape is the high-voltage electric fence. It's about four feet off the ground and packs enough of a wallop to keep the one-ton cows and their piles away from the house. It didn't seem to impress the bear at all. I mean, did he even notice it?

Now that spring is here, that big ol' bear is waking up. 

He'll be back.