Oops! Nancy from Montana sent that beautiful Selway River picture yesterday, but the Selway is in IDAHO, not Montana. As Nancy reminded me, (not wishing to sound like Sarah Palin, but…) she can see Idaho from her living room window. I should have known that, having stumbled into Corvallis, Montana (Nancy’s town) back in the 1980s when we were leaving a whitewater trip in Idaho on the Lochsa River. The Lochsa and the Selway are tributaries of the Clearwater River. There is your geography lesson for today.
The Selway River in IDAHO
Here, the day started with a good, long wander on horseback, discussing all the world’s problems, followed by a bit of work on the ring. I jumped a couple of jumps to make sure I still could. On the way down to the ring, a black and yellow lichen moth landed on Bart’s mane. Not that I knew it at the time. I took a picture, then consulted my insect book and the internet. Incidentally, I would call it black and orange. The caterpillars feed on lichen, sometimes for years, before becoming moths. They are day fliers and good pollinators. There is your insect lesson for today! Derry and Bart were very bored by the long conversations and no doubt would be now, by my holding forth about an insect…
A black and yellow lichen moth 
Derry wonders “Will we ever get back to our stalls?”
The friendship between weird Twizzler and handsome Tom Morris continues to delight me. I didn’t have my good camera to document it, but they do love each other, and even share a breakfast bowl.
Later in the day, I took a few pictures with the good camera. I failed to photograph Marianne, despite having a long discussion with her about why we personally ride horses.
Male goldfinch at the birdbath 
Female goldfinch in the apple tree 
Skittle kitty
Marmalade was resting after dinner near the shed. Then, just as I was about to go to the house, I looked up and there were TWO orange cats at the barn. This was an encouraging sign that Marmalade is getting brave, though the light was too low to get a good picture. As soon as I aimed the camera, he fled.
Marmalade 
Seeing double!
It was an overcast day, and cooler, which was nice. The sun arrived in the late afternoon and created some beautiful light.
Ornamental grass 
Night blooming jasmine 
Varmints! 
Leaving the shed to join the deer in the pasture
As the sun went down, the aroma of jasmine filled the air. Good to know we can still smell and taste so far!
Harry with night blooming jasmine
Finally, one still life of horse shoes on the dumpster ramp. Hoping they are collecting luck for all.
Stay safe, stay well, stay lucky.
Ah, Sunday morning, cup of coffee in hand, and Anne’s blog, a pure pleasantry. The West is calling many of us today; it has always symbolized Freedom. I yearn for a camper to take to the roads, visit friends, and explore the beauty that is our America then I remind myself that evryday I drive through the most beautiful land in this country, groomed horse grazing with plenty of weanlings, yearlings and their dams. Can’t beat it! We’ll maybe Bronze Fox Farm can!
I need an editor!! Ha ha ha ha
This blog, with its appreciation of the black and yellow lichen moth, the Selway river, night jasmine, double ginger cats plus Bart and Derry; is such a wonderful contemplation of things in the present. St. Louis humidity can wear you down, but it holds summer fragrance close to the earth which can be a compensation.
I wish the night blooming jasmine had been in its fragrant glory when you were here, Anne. It’s almost overwhelming. An unpreposessing flower is blessed with an unforgettable perfume.