TEAM ROPING AND STEER WRESTLING

Our local July 4^th rodeo was an excellent place to take action photos. 

There was something happening all the time.

One of the events was team roping which features two mounted riders and a steer. 

The first roper is called the “header” and typically ropes the front of the steer usually around the horns.

Note the protective gear put around the steer's head to keep it from getting hurt by the rope.
I'm guessing Put the Gear On the Steer would be a pretty entertaing event in itself.

The second roper is the “heeler” who ropes the steer by its hind feet.

  The team that does it the best and the fastest wins.  

A lot of credit goes to the skill of the horses as well as the riders.

Steer wrestling also involves two riders, their horses and more hapless steers.

One rider is the "hazer" and he keeps the steer running straight.

 So the “bulldogger” can literally grab the bull by the horns while it is running flat out.

The steer wrestler is yanked off his horse.  

He plants his heels, reaches down, and grabs the nose of the steer pulling it off balance.

They both are thrown to the ground.  

Once all four of the steer’s legs are off the ground an official waves a flag marking the time.

The steer is released.

And he trots off wondering what the heck just happened.

There are all kinds of rules and penalties involved 

like there is in any competition but you get the idea.  I just enjoy the show.

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.