Snakes alive!

We had a little excitement on the ranch yesterday! It wasn't Mom Vae going through her cards, letters and notes, although that's a favorite activity at least once a week.

Along with a few related stories.

Our excitement began with me spotting a rattlesnake less than a foot away. And I was wearing flip flops! I quickly backed off and yelled for Sam.

My hero! He grabbed a flat shovel and with several chops on the writhing body, off came the head.

I'm so thankful he was home for Good Friday!

It's so weird how they keep moving after they're dead. This is a Western Diamondback. We measured him at 38 inches long, and his middle section was pretty thick, like he had eaten a mouse or two recently. We thank the Lord that no one got hurt. Although Mom now wants to move back into town!

("Snakes Alive" title courtesy of Sam. He has a way with words!)

Mornings

Mom's been getting outdoors to work on the yard occasionally. This driveway is her main view from her little house and it bugs her that the weeds are growing up between the tracks. It doesn't bother me! I think they'll die off soon, but it's good exercise for her.

We had a nice visit with our old neighbors, Amber and Kevin, and 3 of their 10 kids (!). They used to send over fresh eggs for my Mom and Dad, so they were glad to see Ma again. They moved to Show Low a few months ago and we've been storing their cool old Bronco on the ranch. We're sure sorry to lose them as neighbors, but they love their new "hood."

This is the view from our bedroom window and the first thing I see in the early morning.

This is Dingus's favorite morning spot, in the sun and in front of the heater. Double bonus!

And this is my next view, as Mom and I eat breakfast. Usually she's looking out the window to her right, but this morning she was more contemplative.

On the other hand, Sam's view every weekday morning, afternoon and evening is out the front window of this yellow behemoth. He has his own bus and route now and is starting to get to know the kids who ride. Especially the ones whose parents he contacted about their behavior! I'm seeing already that Sam's going to have a positive influence on a number of young lives. He's fair and firm and uses humor. I'm very proud of him.

I'll close with an update on our native spring blooms. The purple bush is on the PPR and the orange daisies are down the road.

These goats in a field of poppies are off the main road a few miles away. We need to harvest those seeds in a few weeks and spread them around the ranch. So pretty!

Variety

Dingus and Frankie are always a bright spot in my day. Sam recently put in a cat door leading to a storage compartment where we keep the litter box. I clean it through an outside door. So much better than having it in our small living space.

Dingus found his way into the laundry bag last week. He loves clean laundry.

Frankie loves high shelves. I heard a noise and looked up to see he had made a mighty leap from the TV cabinet to the top of the TV!

Yesterday Sam and I moved about half of the bucket garden to our new spot behind the house. The trenches for the water pipe have to be leveled first, so the buckets all have equal access to water.

Then Sam drilled holes in the second pipe, with help from Mom.

When we ran out of energy on the garden, I spent a little time in Mom's front yard. I loosened the soil, worked in some mulch and transplanted the marigold seedlings. The jury is still out on whether they will survive.

Then we all rested a bit at the patio table. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, with only a slight breeze.

Spring continues to evolve on the ranch. Sam and I took a walk the other day and saw two different kinds of yucca blossoms we've never noticed before.

A few days later, the dark red one burst out with these creamy blooms.

Our adventures culminated last night when our friend Ray brought his band to our local Mescal Bar and Grill. Ray and Sam have been friends almost 20 years and worked together twice. Ray is a great musician and his band, Chip Tortilla and the Nacho Problem, did an awesome job.

I hope you all had a great weekend! Blessings on you and yours this week.