Wintry Home On The Range

Oregon was treated to a heavy snowfall, which lasted for several days during February 7 and 8th.  For those of you who do not live in Oregon, this was welcomed since we have had very little moisture in the form of snow or rain throughout the winter months.  I share with you several photos of "snowstorm feeding"on the ranch. Despite the weather, daily feeding must be done to sustain livestock during the winter season in Eastern Oregon.

Today's post will be more on photographs and less on words.... but then, it is said that a picture can be worth a thousand words....

  "Snowstorm feeding"

 

Countryside scene beyond the back of a snowy horse

Chow time!  Come and get it...

Delicious!... (if you're a horse)

We inherited a special cat that came our way that decided he liked our ranch home and hasn't left since.  He is more like a "dog-cat"!  Charlie, (which we call him), doesn't think like a normal cat... he plays with the dogs and is very involved when ranch stuff is happening.  You can find him walking on irrigation pipes and wheels, on the top rafters of the arena and doing a balancing act on just about anything he can find just to be part of the action.  Charlie shows up at the door for his dinner and a warm bowl of milk and then he's off again for more adventures. Since the dogs have accepted him as one of their own, you can occasionally find him curled up with one of them for a warm nap.

"Charlie"

As I write this particular post, we are now experiencing rain and warmer temperatures.  The snow has fast disappeared into a very wet and soggy land in the John Day Valley.   Such is the experience of winter's fickle weather at home on the range. 

One last photo that I'd like to share with you, my friends.  Several days ago, while driving through mountain scenery on Hwy 26 east of Austin Junction, fog had settled in the higher altitude causing this effect on the forest trees.  What is amazing is my camera - a Nikon Coolpix 510, which captured this great image out of the window of a moving truck as we traveled down the highway....

"See you" on March 3 for my next post on The Turn-Up Patch....  how quickly time is flying by!  Until then, enjoy your remaining winter days with or without snow, for the promise of spring is fast approaching.

Here is an interesting thought by Charles Kingsley that could apply to all the seasons we go through in life:  Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say:  "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day."  I could also add a footnote to the above thought and include our animal friends as well.