Girlfriend Getaway

Heading back to the Big Bend tomorrow, via the Gage Hotel in Marathon, for a girlfriend getaway/research trip with Kathleen. We're going to bike and camp--things I'm loathe to do by myself--and I'll be taking notes to augment our biking, hiking and adventure woman web pages, and possible pitches to magazine and newspaper editors.

Another soft sunset

Some good news for a change!

Now that we have funding for five more years, and increased funding at that, my board has given me some good news...they voted a very, very nice raise for me starting in May!

grateful for time

It was slow, rolling and painful, the news coming out of Iowa City starting on Monday morning. I am glad now the news has stopped, and there seems little chance of learning anything more that might explain what happened. I am grateful that I'm not still toggling back and forth between the two newspapers and local television channels' websites, trying to learn the latest from so far away. But this week, I wish I had been with my Iowa City friends. It would have helped to honor and remember my ex-father-in-law, and to be with friends and colleagues whose connections to the Sueppels were stronger than my own. I'm grateful it is easier at the end of this week than it was at the beginning to appreciate the simple things that make living so sweet--the color of the sky, the cacti trying to blossom, the caring of others.

Goodbye to a good man

This morning I learned of the passing of my former father-in-law, a sweet and respectful man. He seemed to know when a gentle hand on the shoulder would support and encourage, when praise would help, when listening would do the trick. He was the quiet, solid core of the family, and I've missed his influence and friendship. A good man.

Last Sunset at the Ranch

Today's walk

Javelinas at the water hole

Directly across the front yard at the ranch is a ready source of water, so there's often a show out the living room window.

Two nights we've seen javelina strutting down the road, or coming from the back yard to the front to drink. Yesterday, a red tailed hawk paused to take some water. We might have seen loggerhead shrike and others.

Jackrabbits, as big as dogs, frolic in the yard.

We've heard coyotes singing to each other.

We keep an eye out for snakes, but haven't seen any yet.

This morning the mountains were in the clouds and it was cold (for here) so we kept inside until noon.

Meet Frankie, the girl who is making the ranch stay possible

The Ranch, as described in the 1940 WPA Guide to Texas

"US 90, rounding the northeast shoulder of the Baylor Range, heads north up the broad arid valley that lies between the frowning rampart of the Sierra Diablo (6,513 alt.) on the west and the Delaware Mountains (5,870 alt.) on the east, traversing one of the most desolate yet weirdly beautiful stretches of country to be found in Texas. The view sweeps almost level reaches, gray-green with sage and greasewood, dotted here and there with prickly pear, yucca, and ocotillo. Beyond the middle distance a streak of blazing white gleams (R) like a hazy silver ribbon. It is the crystal-encrusted shoreline of a salt lake. On the horizon the ragged crest of the Delawares looms stark against the sky. Closer at hand, the sheer wall of the Sierra Diablo rises (L). Somewhere in the tangle of ridges and deep narrow canyons of this range are mines, lost and active. Gleaming white salt lakes appear. Far ahead lifts the blunt nose of the Guadalupe Range where it shoes its triangle of lofty peaks across the State Line from New Mexico. Higher and bolder loom the broad cliffs."

signs of a critter

First of the spring wildflowers

Morning at the Ranch

Texas Two-Step

Today I voted at the County "Barn" for Obama, where the Culberson County workers report and where the trucks are housed. Tonight the four of us wanting to participate in the caucus were greeted by a locked door, and then some bewildered election officials who said they'd had a good turnout of about 70 voters for the primary.

Texas has a two-step process. You vote in the primary during the day, and come back at 7:15 to participate in the caucus.

I was the only one with caucus experience, the only one with any idea of what was to take place, and since I brought instructions from Obama headquarters, I was elected precinct captain and we proceeded to select our one delegate to the county convention. Since two of us were for Obama and two for Clinton we were initially deadlocked, but one voiced a willingness to go for Obama. After that, all we had to do was select someone to go to the county convention and double-check our paperwork. I called the results in and we were done. Not as much to-do as in Iowa, but still a heck of a lot of fun. And I got to know three more people in town. Three dedicated Democrats!

A March 3rd Surprise

Yesterday, it was warm enough to wear a sleeveless top; today, we have snow! Hardly any, but still a great surprise.

It will melt off in a few minutes; today's high is supposed to be in the 40s, tomorrow 66!