Oil and Water

OTERO MESAThis is not the ideal tourist destination. Mountain lions are infinitely more common here than humans, because there are no humans for miles except for an occasionally occupied cattle ranch. Two exploratory gas wells have been drilled, but there is a move afoot to call a moratorium on further work until the underlying water has been evaluated. In a water desperate country the possibility of contamination of good water by drilling makes just about everyone uneasy. Of course there is another issue that has galvanised the environmentalists. The mesa is an expanse of desert grassland spanning two states. Wild flowers, birds, mammals and reptiles abound, but most of the mesa is relatively flat and looks despairingly empty.
I had three flat tires on the mesa day before yesterday. I ended up driving nearly 200 miles on a tire meagerly inflated with a bicycle pump and a Fix-a-Flat can. Say no more. I made it home in serious adreniline deficit having used it all up in the process. There were DC environmentalists and a couple of political aides on the mesa. They clung to their cell phones trying frantically to find places where they would work so they could keep in touch with ongoing legislation. I was impressed. These people were real pros, not like the touchy-feely environmentalists of the outback.
Because my beloved eldest son was here last week, I visited just about all the geographic areas around, desert, mountain and also the mesa. It was a wonderful week. I will return to the mesa with my new tires to try and rephotograph some wild flowers because my photos did not turn out too well.

Lost Puppies and Felled Trees

I found the puppy cowering in a dry ditch. He really wanted to be petted so I picked him up which was hard as I already had two dogs on a leash. I took him to J's house, hoping she would attach as she lost her dog a few months ago. She put up signs about a lost pup needing a home and in no time he was gone to some huge ranch family. J had to wear sunglasses as she couldn't stop crying but I don't think she really wanted a dog. I probably should have taken him straight to the humane society as I think he would have found someone pretty quick. He certainly is a charmer. I haven't had such luck with my Catahoula. I can't put up signs because the guy I took her from might want her back and that would not be good for her.
The other picture is of the old hippie logger with a broken back working on one of my pecan trees. He and his associate took down some trees at the end of my yard that blocked out all the sun. I think they were Russian Elm. I want to put in a small orchard. I want to plant paw paws because I don't know what they are except they are native American (I think) and supposedly the fruit is good. Last week I helped plant twelve pistachios. It was intense work as we had to break up the clay soil and mix in some river sand to try to help drainage which sounds weird but I guess they get root rot. I also helped hand harvest a small barley planting.... all this for Tibetan Buddhists when I am not a Tibetan Buddhist. They are way too much like Catholics for me.
The old hippie used to live thirty miles down a dirt road from Garberville and I think he can't go back. Wonder why. I now have a neighbor who was a roadie for the Dead so the tone of the conversation in my yard today was quite interesting to me, student of human nature as I am....
After being hot for a couple of weeks it was nasty cold today.
Had a negative cancer check. Good for another three months!