Unexpected, but welcome!
Monthly Archives: January 2016
Cyclone Rim: Important Bird Area
corn-fed birds (Horned Larks, according to our friend Brian Rutledge)
We feed corn to our sheep on the Red Desert from the time we put the bucks in, in mid-December, until at least the end of January, when the ewes have had two heat cycles to get bred. In late January (now) we assess the winter and either order more corn (if the snow is deep) or not (if the desert is open and the natural feed looks good). Even though we are buried in snow in the mountains, conditions on the desert are good, with just enough snow and lots of available grass. We find that we are also supporting the bird population, who are very happy to help out with the consumption of the corn!
Pepe and Pat at Cyclone Rim
Guard Dog puppies waiting for a job
a feast
Frosty the Snowman
Rhen contemplating the snow
We decided to build the first snowman of the season. The snow was soft and powdery–great for skiing, but not ideal for snowman building. Still, after a lot of rolling and patting, our snowman is somewhat respectable.
Megan, Maeve, Rhen and McCoy with snowman and Marley
Which one of these is not like the others? (Hint: not dressed for winter!)
More Winter
Adolfo as St. Nick ( the snow was too deep to drive the cake to the waiting critters)
I feel like I’ve stepped into “Dr. Zhivago” with piles of deep snow everywhere. It’s more like an old-fashioned winter, and we are glad to have lots of hay in the stacks. Luckily the temperatures aren’t very cold (relatively speaking) and it just keeps snowing. I know this is making our friends in California very happy! Glad to help out, folks, but you could come help shovel the sidewalks!
Note the magpie who was riding the grub line.
Llamas on the feed line
waiting for feed in the Wyoming Field
Ladder Ranch
