by rakeeter It was hot in Las Vegas last week, where Joyce and spent several days. ICS asked me to visit a customer there that was asking for user training. People at ICS were taking vacations during August when the customer wanted to schedule the training, and with ICS running shorthanded, they turned to me. I was glad to help and Joyce was glad to go along for the fun of it. Continue reading “Las Vegas”
by rakeeter We’ve had a busy month here on SA. The neighbors got back from Switzerland last Monday evening and all were suffering from jet-lag, though not all would admit it. Joyce and I held down the fort while they were gone, including administering to Tino the dog. No small task, that. Currently Abigail is in Denver at a volleyball camp and is scheduled to return Monday sometime. School starts August 16th here in Amarillo, I believe, so there will be little respite for her when she gets back. Tascosa has scheduled VB tryouts for the day she gets back, or maybe it’s the next day. Then the team plays a tournament in Dallas the weekend after school starts, which is going to take her out of school almost as soon as it begins. Continue reading “July wrap”
by rakeeter 
Last rain we got was on the 4th of July. Chris claims we got half an inch. I’ll have to take his word for it since we were in Red River. Since then, hot and dry. Changing into work clothes in the shop I already feel damp and that changes to drenched once out in the sun and working. I particularly like the feel of beads of sweat rolling down my back Continue reading “Damp weather”
by rakeeter 
by rakeeter 
When I drove into the Bluff last week, this fellow was sitting on a bench by the driveway. It seemed unconcerned even though I was only about fifteen feet from it. Hawks are usually pretty shy and I was afraid there was something wrong with it. As I parked I saw it fly from the bench and land on the ground by some bear grass about 50 feet away. He then started chasing after the numerous grasshoppers around. Again I thought there must be something wrong with it and it was sustaining itself by eating grasshoppers since it couldn’t do better for whatever reason.
Later I spoke to WCB director Victoria Saker who told me wildlife rehabber Stephanie Oravetz determined that there wasn’t anything wrong with it. Rather, she speculated that it was a juvenile from a nest observed in the trees west of the Bluff. It appears to be a Swainson’s hawk. At least that’s the closest description I found in the field guide.