The Gals

My pride.
My joy.
My girls.....

Meet Cocoa & Penny Buffalo Bea.

Let's get this outta the way first. Yes. It is absolutely ridiculous how much I swoon over these little ladies.
I can't help it, though. The little eight year old girl inside of me is just so very thrilled.

 The facts are these:

Cocoa is a Barbados Blackbelly.
Penny is a Navajo-Churro.
Cocoa looks more like a deer than a sheep.
Penny looks more like a buffalo than a sheep. 
Cocoa was bottle-fed and has imprinted on me. You cannot convince her that I am not her biological mother.
Penny came wild and a little older, but now eats out of my hand, rubs her forehead on mine, and rubs on my legs like a purring cat. She's a sucker for a back rub.
Many Navajo-Churros have four horns (even females). Penny has three budding horns (they probably won't grow to maturity, though).
And one more thing. They are the bee's knees.

Irrigatin'

When we first came out here looking for a place to live, while still living in LA, we passed by a property that looked like it had completely flooded. My first reaction was that of intense concern. I asked Stuart if we should knock on their door and tell them. Maybe a pipe burst and they didn't know!

Had I actually gone and knocked on their door.....well.....they'da probably died laughing.

What I didn't know then, and am now quite familiar with, is the concept of irrigation. There's a canal that runs along the back of the pastures and every couple of weeks you suddenly live on lakefront property.

The best part is the water birds it brings.  Great Egrets, Black Necked Stilts, Killdeer, plenty of ducks....
Pinch me.



Update : My neighbors are irrigating today and their pasture was full of White-faced Ibis! 

Reluctant Hunter Re-launch

Pssssssst. Hey you.

Yes. You.

The store is back open & ready for you to pick out some prints.  

There are a few new additions as well. 

Head on over.

 

University of Chicago Magazine

'Bobo Soprano'
article by Dario Maestripieri
illustrated by yours truly

A Tribute to Olive

I have been eagerly anticipating sharing the arrival of our two newest members. Our little lambs.
I have hesitated, though, because one lamb, Olive, had been incredibly sick and I was struggling just to keep her alive. We made it over one huge hurdle and were elated that she seemed to be rallying and committing to sticking around, only to find her this past weekend completely listless and unable to even raise her head.
Then the seizures started....

It became clear that despite my best efforts, my sheer will could not keep her alive. She was just too delicate. She slipped away with Charlotte gently rubbing her head.

In what can only be described as the shittiest of coincidences, she died a year to the day that we lost Bailey.  

As sad as we are losing such a gentle little soul, there is some solace in knowing that her days, though few, were filled with love.

On a semi-related note:
I found this in the pasture the other morning.

A subtle little reminder that it's all cyclical. 

Sweet Surprise

I had no idea Mesquite trees bloom.

Indeed they do.   

** EDIT : So I was completely wrong. It's a Huisache tree, not a Mesquite. I was wondering why the other one wasn't doing the same! Thanks, Frajit for pointing that out. 

Back

I am pleased to announce that the print store is set to relaunch Monday, April 2nd.  

I also have a slew of new work to share, some projects in their infancy to announce, and a couple new additions to the family to introduce you to.

I'm afraid work will still go at a snail's pace for me as I teeter back and forth between caring for my charges, the studio, and ranch(ette) chores. I'm learning to accept this and set my expectations up for such. I only have a little slice of work time available and I'm just not willing (or able) to forgo sleep and beat myself up in order to hammer out work any longer. I'm still motivated, but I'm trying to carve out time for picnics in the pasture, working in the garden, & trips to the feed store.

With this in mind, Reluctant Hunter will function a bit differently. Instead of a constant stream of inventory, I will be preparing a set number of prints regularly. Occasionally, this may mean that an edition will sell out. In this event, check back as I will restock on a regular basis.

Thank you for your patience during my much longer than expected hiatus. Glad to be back.