G'day Ewe

Sheep Shearers from Australia did the honors. The man in back is kicking a sheared fleece out the hatch while the others are shearing. The seasons being reversed makes a longer season for them to ply their trade on two continents. Their portable shearing station is of ingenious design. I enjoyed the diversity. Aboriginal, Native American, Australian, and Wyomingites all working, joking and breaking bread together. The Ewes seemed glad to lose some of their insulation although the weather here is very unpredictable. Snow one day, and hot the next.

Docking and Shearing at the Givens Ranch

Rasty and Sue Givens needed to dock and shear their sheep. Rasty in his late 70's is cutting back a little so his son Guy, guy's wife Janet and their son Hollis as well as some local helpers gathered to do the job 4/29/06. It was a fine day in every way. Good people, weather, food, humor, and productivity. 

Alicia's Senior Recital

My niece Alicia performs at the Fine Arts Auditorium at the University of Wyoming. She has developed a great voice. Her Casper families put on a post-concert reception and it was nice to visit with the them. I met the Brazilian students Alicia will visit in Brasilia on her graduation reward trip. She has worked hard and has excellent grades to prove it.
I took old highway 30 home-avoiding the barely controlled mayhem of I-80. It was a pleasant journey on a decent road and down memory lane. There is more prosperity along that road than I have seen in awhile-all related to energy whether from minerals or the miles of wind turbines. Very little traffic- my new route of choice. A very nice day in Wyoming. 

From Technicolor to Sepia

From Technicolor land to Sepia land has felt like visual deprivation but these warm, if windy, days are gradually coaxing some green out of lawns and the prairie. It is nice to see Spring arriving. I have been busy. The de-junking continues- three bags a day is the goal but a lot remains. The businesses have required attention. The "modular office" that travels with me after the downsize from coach to van works well. It carried into the dining area in three trips and set up easily.

Still no flowing water but my old well works and I have been using buckets. Not convenient nor very luxurious but functional. The plumbing needed some attention anyway. I am looking for a worker to retrofit it. I will do the house like a motorhome. There will be a quick-connect and valves so the pipes can be "blown" and the house winterized. I am nearly done with the "design" phase. I am contemplating an alternative 12 volt electrical system as well. "Greening" a little as well as preparing for eventualities. Energy costs are skyrocketing. I do not enjoy paying them nor this government. The Indian Health Service has been out of money for most of last year and the U.S. is spending a billion dollars a day trying to subdue another tribal culture. I hear Bob Dylan singing "When Will We Ever Learn"- wait... that is my iPod!

The pups are doing well. Goody is looking well and alert. Buster is a little bored. He wants to go all the time.

Have had the crockpot bubbling for a week or so. "Copywriter's Stew" starts out fairly conventionally but is augmented every couple of days with new ingredients. Started over yesterday with baby lima beans and ham. Can't decide whether to head to Italy or Mexico with it.

Settling in (sort of)

Gosh, a lot to do and a lot to process. There is no water flowing in this house. I have never had the water freeze, though the drains usually are slow this time of year-the outlet from the septic tank often freezes but there is reserve. I left heat in the critical areas. It is perhaps a waiting game. Fresh eyes assess the old homestead and things are happening. Things that I thought I needed do not seem so necessary after not needing them for three months so a lot is going to the dump. Fresh eyes also assess the community and environs.

The pre-tax work on the businesses has been a pain in the patoot. Assessing that too on the Roberts "Aggravation vs. Reward" scale. Aggravation 10, rewards 0. Travel is supposed to produce a change in perspective. What to keep and what to toss applies to all aspects of life. I am sure my age affects this too. Most folks start to winnow at some point. I have watched friends do this and did not yet feel the urge. Simplification does seem more attractive, now.

Then, too, as life seems actuarially more finite, quality assumes higher value. What brings me joy? What does not?