It was late in the year, so we planted mums and asters to offset the three ponds and two waterfalls.  After moving 30,000 pounds of stone, dirt and mortar, I was plumb, wore out.  It’s about time to take a break and go off to work - more on that later.

Hunting season is getting underway.  Bighorn Sheep was the first season to open. Tags are issued for hunting sheep on a lottery basis.  A hunter is lucky to draw a single opportunity in a lifetime.  Last week we had a party of hunters stay in the RV park.

Abert Rim is host to a thriving herd of Bighorn. Fish and Game issues a select number of permits to keep the flock from overgrazing their range. Brandon, who stayed in the RV park, was fortunate to bag this beautiful ram on the side of the rim (about 700 feet from the top and 2000 feet in elevation above the valley floor) in what could only be described as one of the most physically challenging hunts a man could make.  If I had a telescope I could have watched the hunt transpire on the side of the rim, only three miles away.

This week, Craig, a local Deputy Sheriff, shot this nice antelope buck from a large herd just up the road.

In another week, I have to leave the ranks of the unemployed and return to work. The day after Labor Day I should be returning to work at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant in Nebraska.  In the meantime I have a list of chores to compete. After a Champagne Brunch wagon cruise tomorrow morning, I have to pull horseshoes and trim all of the horses feet. This is only the first step in what will be a busy week.

Trip #5 is currently in it’s first planning stages.  When fresh spring grass returns to the high desert of Central Oregon, Jacquie and I plan on hitching up the lads and spending a few months cruising around the Pacific Northwest.  That’s about as detailed as the planning has gone so far.  In the next few months, I’ll drink a few more beers and come up with a few more details.  Or maybe, we’ll just hitch up and see what’s over the next horizon.