Field Log 3/28/2010

North Erath County, Texas, 32.43 lat., -98.36 long. Elev. 1,086 ft.  Turkey Creek Quad.

The wind continues to blow today, approx. 15-25 m.p.h.   Yesterday, the wind was so strong it blew the mistletoe off the trees.  That’s gotta be high wind.

Yesterday, looked at Cooper’s in Stephenville for hackamore.  No good choices.  Too much metal.  Duncan Steele-Park used soft rope, no metal for the hackamore.

Fanny adjusting back to the ranch, but the colt down in the arena is having a hissy-fit to get close to her.  Shiney the colt is all-boy.  He’s eleven-months old, doesn’t know what his body is all about right now, but he will.  We mature males and females went through this period, I think — puberty.

Today, let Fanny, Hija and Lilly into pasture.  Shiney runs around the arena trying to attract Fanny’s attention.  Shiney is a full-brother to Fanny (same sire, same dam).  He calms down, then I put the mares into the Broke Tree Corral and stall area.  They seem relieved to get away from the peppy little guy that just wants to play.

Evening feed, two-hours ago, they all settled in.  Calm, for awhile.

Buttercup (Oenothera triloba Nutt), Poprock Ranch House, March 2010 (click to enlarge)

I searched for genus and species typing for the wildflower above.  Found it in Irwin and Wills, Roadside Flowers of Texas, that I have cited before.  These blossoms open in the morning and in the later afternoon shade.  The plant falls under the Evening-Primrose Family (Onagraceae).  Brenda first called it an evening-shade plant and she was correct.

This next blossom is from the same vicinity of the Buttercup.  This is the Wild Onion (Allium mobilense) that I found this morning.  I go out for the third time to the Poprock Ranch House grounds, to the southwest, prior to the barn, and I find this Wild Onion.  It is next to the fence line and the morning sun is rising fast.  Don’t want to lose the shadow for this framing.

Prickly Pear Cactus and Wild Onion (Allium mobilense), March 2010 (click to enlarge)

Then, upon scanning the ground, I find these other wildflowers.  I will identify them later, but I thought to end the weekend, I’ll go ahead and post them.

Unknown No. 1, Poprock Hill Ranch House Grounds, March 2010 (click to enlarge)

Unknown No. 2, Poprock Hill Ranch House Grounds, March 2010 (click to enlarge)

Unknown No. 2, Close-up, Poprock Hill Ranch House Grounds, March 2010 (click to enlarge)

This is a close-up view of the previous wildflower, having a distinctive scent.

Wind has died down.

Neighbors across on the country road that live in the trailer house have moved.  I liked the family.  Young woman with child.  She wrote letters and lifted up the red flag on the rural mailbox so that Jeannie Chisolm, our mail carrier and caretaker, could take the letters to friends far and wide.  Sometimes both our red flags for Jeannie would be up and I felt close to the family across the country road.

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Fanny Returns

Shiners Fannin Peppy and Jack Matthews, GCH Land & Cattle Co., March 2010 (click to enlarge)

Shiners Fannin Peppy, “Fanny,” came back to Flying Hat yesterday.  At the hands of Duncan Steele-Park, her teacher, she has had three months of the best training I could afford.  Fanny will be a excellent pleasure horse, a fair cutter and all-around riding horse.  Duncan assessed Fanny:  She’s a good horse, but in this high-dollar business of cutting horses, she could not compete at the super-athlete level that is required to succeed.  I’m not a swimmer, either, he said, and I and you, Jack, have to play to her talents, to her disposition and behavior.  It’s unfair to force her into being the athlete she is not.

I could not have asked for a better teacher for my horse.  Let her be herself, play to her strengths.  Fanny came back home and was welcomed by the remuda: they kicked and ran and whinnied, communicating excitement.  I’ll have more photographs about Fanny, but for now, you’ll have to settle for the photograph above: myself, my companion.