So the pilot calls around seven-thirty.

We're not going to fly. Besides the fact that it's snowing, and windy, there are clouds camped clear down to the ground along the Divide.

And when you're flying close to the ground to locate signals from radio-collared elk, well, it's nice to be able to see where the ground is.

Kinda important, ya know?

So, an uneventful day of monthly reports. Interrupted by a half-hour visit with a warden and two biologists from out of town.

The little maskless heeler's first trip in the truck since tearing her knee on 23 October.

Yeah, she was thrilled. And hyper.

And both sisters sorely disappointed when we parked where their other sister is supposed to live, along with Aunt Coal.

Their ears were down in depression when I came back out and did not smell like either their sister or Coal. But Coal is gone and buried, and the sister a couple hundred miles away.

They just don't understand that. And the new guy ain't the sort who would understand that I want my dogs to search his entire house so they'll know no heelers live there any more.

Need to find some excuse to take them to see their sister in her new home.

Aaaanyway. Pilot called again this evening, complaining we could have flown this afternoon if my phone line hadn't always been busy.

Well, as I explained to the wife, I gave up on him and the weather at 12:30, and finally had something to eat and drink. And after that, I'm sure he would not have wanted to fly with me anyway.

So, we're going first thing tomorrow morning. Supposed to be good air.

But, it'll be a short flight over a white and brown land. With all the elk down on winter ranges, there's no longer any opportunity to fly over the pretty mountains.

So, a colourful shot from September, to remind me what was there.

Oh, and to those of you on my notify list... no, I haven't been forgetting. Parts of Andrew's system have apparently been down, including the notifylist server. So, if you haven't noticed, there's a bunch of entries back there around the end of 2005.

And I see my guestbook is still not sending notification of entries. So, to Deb, umm, yeah, she had a delightful baby boy, named Grove.

'Course, you knew that already by now.

And Ms Brazil, thanks for the kind words. And yeah, wife's godson, in his brief visit before the holidays made the same observation and recommendation.

But I'm half-way torn to go back and start reading number 1, first.