Wildlife Encounters

The first time I saw elk was over ten years ago on the Moreno Ranch West owned by Bobby Butler. Within the past two days, I have seen three herds of elk on the Moreno Ranch and on Philmont Scout Ranch. The elk were all magnificient. Quietly watching these huge beautiful creatures was such an experience.

In addition to the elk, we saw antelope and buffalo. I warned Philip not to allow the buffalo to smell his breath because he had just eaten a buffalo burger in Eagle Nest. I felt rather smug, being vegetarian, I did not have to worry about "buffalo breath".

Snow Shoeing in New Mexico

Everyone said if you can walk you can snow shoe, but I had my doubts. It couldn't be that easy, but it was. I have only fallen once, and I was standing still when that happened. Philip & I have been exploring all the trails and closed roads around Red River.

If you have never tried snow shoeing, I highly recommend this activity. It is so much fun, and it is easy. If you have ever tried walking around on tennis rackets, you know exactly what snow shoeing feels like. The forest trails are so quiet and beautiful. The only sounds are the squishing of the snow shoes in the snow. However, there is the occasional "click & clack" when the edges of the snow shoes hit each other. I know you are not supposed to let that happen, but I get carried away and forget my feet. You must remember to maintain a wide stance.

In addition to being great fun, snow shoeing is also a fantastic exercise. Very invigorating. This is my new favorite activity.

Housecall Gone Wrong

I had a surprize visit from a client of many years ago. She was updating me about her family, and maybe looking for a kitty. We relived a housecall I made to treat her son's dog. The patient had a laceration, and I planned to sedate him to suture the wound. I carefully explained to the teenage boy how important it was to hold the dog securely to prevent it wandering off.

The young man's attention span was shorter than anticipated, and you guessed it. The patient escaped into the crawl space beneath the house and found a comfortable place to sleep off the sedative. There was nothing left for me to do but return to the hospital. I laugh everytime I remember that housecall.

In Your Easter Bonnet

One of our patients always wears her denim cap whenever she comes for a visit or an exam. I think that cap is so cute, and she really likes to show it off. She knows she is the center of attention and loves it.

Just today a client was asking if I was the doctor that saw the precious little Pomeranian puppy with the pink coat and hood? Yes, she is my patient, & she is so beautiful. She had just flown here from Washington State. I'll take some pictures of her next visit and post them. I hope she doesn't outgrow her little pink outfit.