Cool! Two Morbid Photos in a Row!

Before lunch last Sunday, Dino took me to a spot on the Northwest Territory where he'd seen a deer carcass in one of the dry creekbeds there. Our uphill neighbor blogged a few days ago they'd seen mountain lion tracks so the timing is just about right for this particular deer to have been cat food. It was already well picked over, but there was a certain je ne sais quoi when it came to odor. 'Course what with all of the carrion trees (or whatever those are called) in full bloom all over the place, it was hard to tell the difference. The insect life in the vicinity was vigorous as well.

It Wasn't This One

We returned from our journey to Oregon to attend the funeral and found a number of pig tracks around the house. I had left a pair of hiking boots on the porch to dry off and had forgotten to take them back in - one of them had been picked up off its perch and carried several feet and (luckily) dropped. I would have been highly put out if that pair had been ruined, they are my favorite. I stand warned. Dino also found that the dragonfly fountain had been molested as well. That will be moved tomorrow behind the fence.

At any rate, since this picture was taken from the truck looking down off the paved road, we are certain it wasn't this pig that did the deed(s). There were seven of these vultures lurking about.

This is a photo from Sunday morning's early walk. Down on a neighbor's property, just off the road are the Abandoned Houses. These are two very small houses, both not much more than glorified cabins, along with an outhouse/shed - that are in the process of slowly collapsing. Every year they fall more into themselves, and one is nearly down.

We are both heavy-hearted this week, as Dino learned that his best friend, who he's known since childhood, passed away last weekend. I know that I am grateful for the solace of living in a beautiful place and for the daily routine that has kept us going.