Balloon Festival from my yard

The Balloon Festival in Panguitch is underway.
I went outside with my coffee and took pictures.
I thought you'd enjoy the sight from my door.
I enjoy waking up to something different,
something unusual, Smoky Bear.
I'm having a problem...I can't seem to post
Smoky...but he is floating close by.
In the top picture, the balloon came down
to let off some passengers
and pick up more then floated off.

Soul of the Dog

Soul of the Dog by Jon Katz
is an excellent discussion
on the subject...as well as the
souls of other animals.
The above is Taz..the last
picture I took before he died
and the one in water he loved.
(He dived for rocks...would stay
under looking for one an amazing
long time.)
My question is: To have a personality
does an animal need a soul? Does the
personality emerge by instinct? If so,
is it instinct that gives all living humans
that same personality? In my thinking..
I would combine personality with a soul
rather than instinct...by that token
all animals have souls as they definitely have
distinct personalities. If personality is part
instinct, then do people have souls?

My dog Taz was not nearly as smart
as my dog Turk, same breed,
but he was much funnier. He acted out jokes.
He made me laugh. Boz, same breed, could smile
but he was primal and turned to killing sheep.
Taz would run from a sheep (not having seen one).
Don't forget Jerk (twins named Turk and Jerk)
who was a gentle giant German Shepherd with
kids, but turned mad at the smell of a skunk.
He had a great life following kids around.
Meeting Keno, the giant Cat, was a dangerous
experiment, while Kat just looks on.
We had Honey, a sheep, for nine years.
She followed kids around..and Folly, a fawn,
that jumped on the bed. Each had a distinct self.
Each had personality. Each had a soul.

What more can I say? Read Jon Katz
Soul of a Dog and decide for yourself.
It is absolutely good reading!

Dad - Father's Day

My dad died in 1968.
I don't have a picture
of him on Hank
with boots, spurs and hat.
So this one works...
I brought the wild dead steer
up from the lower country
that had run for eight years.
Dad stuffed the head and carried
it around for a few years.
Dad loved horse races.
Dad built a huge cabin type house
in Phoenix not far from the track.
Dad was divorced by my mother
after 35 years.
Dad was a drunk.
My sister thinks he was gay.
I didn't see that growing up
but I wasn't looking.
He spent years off riding for cattle.
I worked with him.
We got the jobs done.
In Phoenix, I lived in a trailer next door.
Dad went to the races...I didn't.
He died when in the bathtub of a stroke.
My sister found him.
I lived in his cabin house
and had doors open and close..
his ghost, they say.
I thought he visited often!
Still does upon occasion.
Happy Father's Day, DAD.

Swim Lessons

This is 'free time' at the pool.
Just thought you might like
a look at my second home.
We have more this year than
last..too many kids per class
in the lower classes,
not quite enough in deep water.
It's not easy get through
all the skills to pass.
Meadow had to help yesterday
as too many were to Girl's Camp.
It's interesting to try to get
swimmers from all over
Garfield County...a two-hour drive
one way, just for lessons.

Last House?

This may be the last house
my son as Ken and Ren Construction
builds in Panguitch.
He is dashing off to Austin, TX
to have more fun and taking
his kids with him.
I will miss those grandkids!
And the new houses that pop up
and the home improvements
and the cabins on the mountain
and the motorcycle buzzing up
and the new plans for business
and the firemen events
and the new postors drawn
and other artwork
and the rushing off fishing
to parts unknown..
and hunting who knows what
and having new little dogs
or new big dogs
and going up in balloons
to promote business
or off on motorcycle rides
for those in need..
sneaking off to Vegas
to do comedy
buying something different
This son just enjoys life!

PEONEYS

Back to planting flowers...
and enjoying the ones we fleetingly have..
(I think these are Peonys)
Marge brought the Asiatic Lillies and Silva,
Exotic names for new blossoms,
I hope lived through last night.
The Lavender is planted
We have giant corn with 16 inch ears
that Tom stuck in the ground along
with onion and asparagras,
a few peas to eat off the vines
with spinach bushes and strawberries.
We look like a forest home with quakies and pine
and our pink crab apple tree is a beauty
for a few days in spring.
Growing is spirit food!!

THE QUILT WALK

The official quilt for the
Quilt Walk Festival is the one
with seven men who walked
over the mountain from
Panguitch to Parowan and back
on quilts for flour to save
the starving pioneers
that first winter in 1865.
The names of the seven are
under the hats...a poem
was written about the event.
The Indian Basket quilt is
my favorite for this year's
festival which had more
hanging quilts posted
than ever before.
There is a tractor parade,
an art festival, races,
and many quilt classes.
Women flock to this event.
It is unique.