RED HAIR ALERT

Yesterday evening the sunset was a red one.  From the hill above town there’s usually a clear view from the Grand Tetons on the Idaho-Wyoming border to the east all the way to Diamond Peak in the Lost River Range to the west.  However, the wind has brought in smoke from wild fires on the eastern side of the state.  The Upper Snake River Valley is hazed in and the air has a burned taste.

Photo borrowed from the Idaho Statesman

According to area newspapers there are at least eleven blazes, mostly started by lightning, that are being fought in the dry, grassy areas along Interstate 84 between Twin Falls and Boise.  One fire jumped the four-lane highway and shut down traffic for several hours on Monday.  A steady 20 mph wind helped spread the fire to 15,000 acres and caused evacuations of homes and businesses.  Another fire covering over 190,000 acres of open range and sagebrush near an air force bombing range has been reported contained.

The low visibility from the smoke around here has not only messed up the view but we are being warned about the health effects from smoke inhalation. 

I’m reminded of a similar situation when I was picking up my grandson from school.  He came sprinting to the car and jumped in all wild-eyed.  He said the teacher had told him the air was dangerous to breathe.  He said it was a “Red Hair Alert” and since he had a head of copper colored hair he was extra worried.

MORRIGAN AND CORVUS

"Passing Shadow"

The new crop of crow youngsters are noisy and busy.

I see them all over the neighborhood trying out their flying skills

and getting into trouble with the squirrels.

Since I like to paint what I know I used some of my photos of 

my feathered neighbors as references for my latest paintings.

"Morrigan's Companion"

Morrigan is a goddess of Irish mythology and her companion

is a crow.  A crow flying overhead could either cause fear

or courage in the hearts of warriors.  This painting is 

another one inspired by my crow, or corvus, neighbors.  I like

to watch them walk across our lawn searching for a breakfast

of crumbs from a picnic or an unfortunate bug.

For the Virtual Paintout I submitted one more sketch for Latvia

called, "The House at the Bend in the Road."  This month's 

subject for the paintout is Thailand.  I'm excited to 

do a virtual Google Maps tour of that place for inspiration.

Just a reminder.  You can see all the paintings I have for sale 

by clicking on the red "Watercolors by Leenie" icon in the 

upper left column of this blog.

LADIES OF THE RODEO

Long before Buffalo Bill Cody created the first major American rodeo in 1882 

there were ranch-versus-ranch competitions to test the skills of the people 

of the cattle industry in events such as bronc riding, bull riding and roping.

Most rodeos have queen contests for several age groups. 

Being a rodeo queen requires skills in western style horse riding, 

public speaking, rodeo knowledge, appearance and personality.

At our July Fourth rodeo there are always plenty of cowboys 

showing off their strength and flair in the riding of...

...the bucking horses and bulls and the wrestling of big calves to the ground, 

but more and more I’ve seen the ladies enter and win in the events 

that demanded horsemanship and dexterity.

Barrel racing has traditionally been an event for the cowgirls.

It is almost a dance involving horse and rider as they 

speed through a course around barrels in the arena…

…and then race full tilt back to the start to try and score the quickest time.

Muttin’ Bustin’ is open to any boy or girl willing go for a ride 

while hanging on to a rope around a sheep’s middle.

This year’s first place trophy went to a very feminine red head.

Some of the best calf roping was done by the ladies.

Lady ropers and their horses compete with the same rules as the men.

When the calf scramble was announced for anyone between the ages of 

eight and eleven our granddaughter and her BFF jumped up 

and hurried down to the arena with the rest of the kids.  

That’s her in the burgundy shirt and her friend is on the far left. 

Note the granddaughter is wearing flip-flops.  

That didn’t seem to slow her down at all.

When everyone was ready a calf covered with dollar bills was turned loose.  

The crowd of youngsters kicked up quite a cloud of dust 

in the stampede to grab some cash.

Check out that burgundy shirt on the right just missing the money.  

Her friend was right there too.

They came back empty handed.  Granddaughter said she was going for the 

five dollar bill on the calf’s head or nothing.